T' Quest X-30 Aerospace plane caught me eye, and it be on sale at Magnum for $4. Ya scallywag! Begad! 50, but I be a little wary o' t' paper shroud construction. Avast!   Well, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' Quest HL-20 uses paper shroud construction, too, me hearties, and it was also on sale, shiver me timbers, for $2. Avast! 50, and it's supposed t' be easier. Begad! Blimey! I figured I'd try t' HL-20 as an introduction t' paper shroud construction. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! (I got two o' each just in case. )

Construction started out well. Avast! It starts by attachin' t' tri-oval centerin' disk t' t' engine tube, gluin' a shoulder t' t' nose cone, me hearties, gluin' t' nose cone + shoulder on t' tube, ya bilge rat, and gluin' in t' engine block. Begad! About t' only hint here is t' use an 18mm engine casin' cut around t' nose cone positionin' disk. It be very thoughtful o' Quest t' provide an empty 18mm engine casin' (intended for use in pushin' in t' engine block). Nice touch. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr!

Next came t' main body shroud. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is made o' heavy paper, me hearties, with t' design already printed on it. (No painting, shiver me timbers, yeah!) I took me time and be very careful when cuttin' out t' shroud, and had no problems with it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' shroud paper comes rolled up in an oval shape in t' kit, so it does nay immediate roll itself into t' desired shape. Begad! Blimey! T' instructions suggest layin' t' shroud printed side down and usin' a steam iron on it t' flatten it out. Avast! Blimey! But, ya bilge rat, me hearties, o' course, you don't want it flat, arrr, so I chose t' roll it up close t' it's intended shape, arrr, matey, me bucko, and hold it in place with rubber bands while I cut out t' rest o' t' paper pieces. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! That went fine.

And then came t' moment o' truth. Begad! . Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! . Avast! time t' put t' shroud together, permanently. Provided in t' kit for this purpose, matey, is a strip o' double-sided adhesive. Avast, me proud beauty! T' idea is t' peel back t' coverin' on one side o' t' adhesive strip, place that on t' tab o' t' shroud, then peel off t' coverin' on t' 2nd side, and finally attach t' other edge o' t' shroud. Begad! Begad! Despite some problems gettin' t' coverings off t' adhesive, ya bilge rat, this actually worked quite well. Blimey! It took care, matey, but be nay particularly difficult t' get t' shroud edges lined up and held in place. Ahoy! Whew. Blimey! Whew. Begad! It's all downhill from here. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! . . right?

Nope. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' trouble be just beginning. Avast! T' next step is t' attach t' engine tube assembly into t' body shroud. This is done in two steps. Begad! In t' first step, you put plastic cement around t' inside front edge o' t' shroud, arrr, and push t' nose cone (with engine tube and tri-oval centerin' rin' attached) through. Blimey! T' plastic cement is intended t' seal t' nose cone t' paper shroud. T' problem is that t' nose cone is attached t' t' engine tube and tri-oval centerin' ring, and it's basically impossible t' get t' nose cone t' slip through that hole without gettin' plastic cement all over t' nose cone. Aye aye! I wiped this up immediately, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but, me hearties, me hearties, me hearties, as you can probably guess, me hearties, t' result be a pretty screwed up nose cone. Arrr! T' plastic cement actually melts t' plastic, and anyplace where t' cement touched t' cone be disfigured. Ahoy! This was almost completely fixed after some sandin' with 220 and 400 grit sandpaper, ya bilge rat, but it wasn't nice. Blimey! Unfortunately, I haven't been able t' think o' any simple, clever way t' avoid this. Begad! Let me know if you figure it out.

T' second part o' attachin' t' engine tube assembly t' t' main body shroud is t' apply a fillet o' glue around t' tri-oval centerin' rin' / shroud joint. Well, blow me down! No problemo, right? No problemo, ya bilge rat, arrr, right? Wrong. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Part o' t' problem was me choice o' glues. I didn't want t' be holdin' this thin' all night, so I went with yellow glue (a. k. Arrr! a. Avast, me proud beauty! carpenter's wood glue, a. Avast! Begad! k. Ahoy! a. aliphatic resin glue) because it grabs quickly. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, it was still a marathon "hold until t' glue grabs" session, and nay a pretty one at that. T' shroud didn't want t' form t' t' tri-oval shape, and it's difficult t' hold this awkward shape with even pressure everywhere t' avoid waves in t' paper shroud. Ya scallywag! This, ya bilge rat, combined with t' fact that yellow glue shrinks a lot when it dries, me hearties, resulted in very noticeable waves in t' final product. Avast! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! (You can't see them well in t' photos, me hearties, because t' white paper gets washed out in t' image, me bucko, but you can see them quite well with t' naked eye. Arrr! )White glue may give better results, but you're goin' t' have t' hold it forever. Thick CA, me hearties, with CA-kicker applied just when things are lined up might be t' ideal way t' go, but if it leaks through, t' end product may end up lookin' even worse. I've been told that Aleene's Original "Tacky" Glue sets up quick and doesn't shrink so much (and it dries clear); I may try that on me second one. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey!

Well, about this time, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I noticed that t' adhesive strip that was holdin' t' shroud together, was startin' t' let go. It wasn't bad, but it be clear that it wasn't goin' t' hold forever. Begad! Aye aye! I wicked some thin CA into this area. Well, blow me down! It's permanent now. Avast! It's permanent now. Aye aye! Ok, now this kit is startin' t' annoy me. . Begad! Well, blow me down! .

T' next step is t' attach t' fins (I had already cut them out). Begad! These are referred t' as t' rudder (center one) and wings (outer two) in t' instructions. Ahoy! These are made o' t' same pre-printed heavy paper as t' shroud. Avast, me proud beauty! T' paper is scored, me bucko, me hearties, then folded over once t' form t' fin. Ahoy! Avast! T' instructions say t' apply a small amount o' glue t' t' inside at t' top and pinch together. Well, blow me down! Arrr! This forms t' proper shape for t' fin. This actually worked out quite well, me bucko, but you have t' be aware (and t' instructions do not point this out) that t' rudder has a wider base than t' wings, so you shouldn't pinch it quite as much. T' rudder and wings then attached t' t' main body shroud easily. Ahoy! T' main body shroud is pre-printed with t' proper location o' all externally attached items. Nice.

Next up, attachment o' t' launch lug and air scoop. T' "air scoop" is just a piece o' paper attached on t' outside bottom o' t' main body shroud, t' form rectangular air passageway. Avast! As you can see in t' photo above, ya bilge rat, t' launch lug is at t' bottom center, me hearties, me hearties, hidden betwixt t' main body shroud and t' air scoop. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I thought that hidin' t' launch lug be a nice aesthetic touch. Ahoy! Aye aye!

Next, addin' tail weight. You glue two pennies t' a piece o' paper, and glue that t' t' inside bottom o' t' main body shroud. Aye aye! Blimey! No problem. Aye aye! Blimey!

Next, arrr, me hearties, t' cockpit canopy. This must be cut from a large piece o' excess plastic. Well, blow me down! It was unclear exactly where t' cut, and t' instructions aren't helpful here. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' idea is that you need t' cut so that thar's a little base (about 2mm) all t' way around t' canopy, me hearties, so that you have somethin' for t' glue t' hold onto. Blimey! If you're a stickler for such details, you might want t' cut it out with more edge material initially, and try placin' it on t' shroud t' see where you can remove t' excess. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! This piece, unlike t' rest o' t' rocket, requires some finishing, me bucko, matey, although t' instructions don't mention this at all. Aye aye! Havin' nay yet achieved oneness with me paint brush, I opted t' use black magic marker. Begad! This worked out very well, me bucko, if I do say so myself. Ahoy! Nice, arrr, smooth, glossy finish that didn't take 2 hours t' dry. Begad! Gluin' t' canopy in place was simple and straightforward, but it didn't make a complete seal all t' way around.

T' last step in t' instructions makes a small compartment for t' streamer (which attaches t' t' engine for proper recovery when it ejects t' engine t' enable glide mode). This compartment is a small 1 1/4" long, 13mm diameter (BT-5) tube, ya bilge rat, arrr, with an end cap glued t' one end. T' streamer is stored here durin' t' boost phase. Aye aye! Begad! Well, as accurate as t' rest o' t' paper pieces had been, I be surprised when t' streamer compartment end cap be too small. Nay a big deal, me bucko, but odd, because everythin' else fit well enough. Arrr! I just used t' tube a template and cut a proper end cap from some o' t' scrap shroud paper. Begad! Fixed. Fixed. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions just say t' glue this compartment on top o' t' penny ballast holder, arrr, inside t' back o' t' rocket. What's missin' is whether t' end cap should be on t' inside (facin' forward), me bucko, matey, arrr, or on t' outside (facin' back). Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' supplied diagram makes it look like t' end cap should be on t' outside (facin' back). My guess is that that would probably cause t' streamer t' get caught in this compartment, me hearties, me hearties, and thus cause t' model t' tumble, rather than glide back. Avast! I mounted mine with t' end cap on t' inside (facin' forward), me hearties, as you can see from t' aft photo, ya bilge rat, above. Well, blow me down! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!

There is one more construction step (described in t' section "Preppin' your HL-20 for flight"), settin' up t' streamer for t' engine. Blimey! Avast! Supplied with t' kit are a 12" long piece o' Keelhaul®©™ string, and a plastic "gripper" tab. Blimey! You tie t' Keelhaul®©™ strin' t' t' tab, ya bilge rat, matey, and then attach t' tab t' t' streamer with t' adhesive on t' tab. Blimey! Then, arrr, for each flight, matey, you tie t' other end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ strin' around t' end o' t' engine (reinforce this with tape), and stuff t' streamer in t' streamer compartment, matey, me bucko, and you're all set. T' packagin' says that thar's a 24" streamer in t' kit. Begad! T' instructions say that thar's a 12" streamer in t' kit. Avast! Begad! Mine measured 11".

T' only other step before flight is t' hand-toss t' glider (without an engine) t' get it trimmed properly. Aye aye! In other words, you may need t' adjust t' tabs on t' wings t' make it glide in a nice, big spiral. Unfortunately, me hearties, t' model glides like a brick in hand-toss mode, makin' it basically impossible t' trim in any meaningful way. Arrr! Trimmin' will have t' wait until after t' first flight. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty!

To summarize t' construction, me hearties, I have t' give this model a construction ratin' o' 2 out o' 5. Begad! Avast! It's nay bilge-suckin' or outrageously complex, but thar were too many little problems and shortcomings t' even give it an "average" rating.

I must preface this flight description and me opinion by sayin' that it was very windy t' day o' these flights. It's entirely possible that things would be very different in more rocket-friendly conditions. Arrr! Ya scallywag! . Avast, me proud beauty! . Begad! Begad!

T' launch be held on Saturday, me hearties, March 14, 1998 at Deer Path Park in central New Jersey. Avast! I set up t' pad and prepped t' rocket. Bein' a rear-ejection boost glider, me bucko, thar's no need for recovery wadding, but you have t' tape t' streamer line t' t' motor itself. Arrr! T' kit documentation recommends a B6-2 for t' first flight, shiver me timbers, but I didn't have any o' those, arrr, so I opted for a B6-4. Arrr! There were no problems preppin' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but when I tried t' slide it down t' launch rod, matey, t' engine fell out, and pulled t' streamer out with it. Begad! No biggie, matey, but I didn't put tape around t' engine t' get a tighter fit, for fear that t' engine would jam at ejection time. Blimey! Blimey! I repacked it, shiver me timbers, and held t' engine in place while I set it up this time. Ya scallywag!

T' first launch was ugly. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It went up in a wobbly arc, reached about 50feet AGL, and headed down, arrr, still under power. I'm nay sure if it be still under power when it plowed nose-first into t' (fortunately soft) ground, matey, but it definitely hit hard. Blimey! Blimey! T' nose stuck in t' ground, and t' ejection charge blew t' engine up and out. Ahoy! Blimey! T' streamer separated from t' "gripper" tab, me bucko, makin' t' engine casing, shiver me timbers, with t' Keelhaul®©™ line still attached, rather difficult t' locate. Nay exactly a picture-perfect flight, me hearties, but thar was absolutely no damage t' any o' t' pieces, me bucko, and I was determined t' try again.

T' streamer was re-attached, shiver me timbers, and Keelhaul®©™ line be taped t' another B6-4 engine. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I thought about tryin' a C6-3, matey, arrr, but was afraid t' extra power would simply get used t' ram t' rocket into t' ground even harder. Blimey! Blimey! This launch was quite a bit nicer, but by no means a beautiful flight. Arrr! T' rocket went up, arrr, a bit straighter, me bucko, but still hit apogee before burnout. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! This time, though, it stayed in a nose-up attitude, me hearties, so t' last little bit o' thrust had t' rocket losin' altitude slowly, tail first. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Then t' engine ejected, me hearties, me hearties, and t' rocket transitioned t' "glide" mode. I'm usin' t' term "glide" rather loosely here, since this glide was pretty much a repeat o' me hand-tossed glide attempts. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! . . Well, blow me down! more like a brick than a plane. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! It hit t' ground nose-first with moderate velocity, shiver me timbers, arrr, but again, thar be absolutely no damage. It does appear t' be a fairly sturdy rocket, if nothin' else. Avast! As for t' glide, shiver me timbers, it simply seems rather nose-heavy, arrr, me hearties, ya bilge rat, with little in t' way o' lift. Blimey! Blimey! I may try addin' more tail weight for t' next flight, shiver me timbers, but, with so little lift, matey, I'm nay sure addin' weight anywhere is a good idea. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Once again, ya bilge rat, t' "gripper" tab didn't grip, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and t' streamer separated from t' engine. Blimey! Blimey! All parts were found.

So, matey, t' conclusion from t' first couple flights was less than inspiring. Aye aye! I will launch this rocket again in calmer weather, and if t' flights are much better, I will update this page immediately. Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I will also try alterin' t' weight distribution t' achieve a better glide, and report any successes here. Blimey! I don't want t' misrepresent this rocket, me hearties, and I'll be t' first t' admit that t' conditions weren't ideal, matey, but so far, matey, I have t' say I'm rather disappointed. Aye aye! I have t' give it a flight ratin' o' 1. Ahoy! 5 out o' 5 points (at least it didn't self-destruct), matey, and an overall ratin' o' 2 out o' 5 points. At this point, I simply cannot recommend this rocket. Begad!

As a final note, I would like t' assure you that I'm nay tryin' t' bash Quest as a rocket company. Avast, me proud beauty! I have several o' their rockets, and have been pretty happy with t' others. Blimey! Ahoy! Try t' ICARUS or Zenith II, both are very nice rockets that build and fly with quite nicely. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down!