Brief:
This is a plastic model conversion (PMC) o' t' Heller 1/130 X-15, using MicroMaxx motors. I got t' kit on-line from Model Expo. Avast! Model Expo provided email confirmations o' t' purchase and o' shipment, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and their service was prompt.

Modifications:
T' instructions provided with this kit consisted o' step-by-step diagrams. Avast! No text description is provided. Aye aye! In general, this be sufficient, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but this presentation omitted some details, such as t' slight downward cant o' t' rear wings. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' kit consists o' 35 pieces, 10 o' which weren't required due t' the PMC.

T' LOC ¼" launch lug is heavier than a standard MMX tube and is a skosh larger. Blimey! Blimey! However, it works fine for those o' us who haven't gotten around t' buyin' 'real' 6mm tubes. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! However, matey, with some minor trimmin' of flashin' and other bumps inside t' fuselage, ya bilge rat, matey, this tube fits nicely. There is a recess, just inside o' t' tail end o' t' main body, matey, shiver me timbers, which accommodates the tube well. Begad! Blimey! I measured t' distance from this recess t' t' point just ahead of the side fairings, shiver me timbers, and cut me tube t' fit. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Contrary t' other guidance, I used this tube as a guide t' cut t' nose section off t' main body with a razor saw. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I glued t' tube inside t' body with black rubberized CA, and t' body halves together with liquid plastic cement. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I added t' back nozzle cap, ya bilge rat, arrr, and then installed a section o' a spent MMX casin' t' serve as a motor block. The Keelhaul®©™® twine be tied around t' block before its installation.

I assembled t' plastic nose cone usin' plastic cement. Blimey! Blimey! I then filled the cone most o' t' way with lead shot, epoxied in a small piece o' the ¼" lug and t' remainin' part o' t' spent MMX motor. Avast, me proud beauty! I inserted the end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® twine, filled t' MMX motor section with more shot, ya bilge rat, and capped it all with epoxy. Begad! This works nicely as a shoulder, but requires wrap o' maskin' tape to fit snugly. T' CG is 2 1/8" from t' nose cone tip (minus t' needle nose). Arrr! Arrr! It be suggested that t' CG should be about 2.032 from t' tip (from a known stable conversion o' this kit), shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but no more #9 shot will fit, matey, so I'll try it as is. Oh, and I decided t' leave t' needle off until I have assessed the rocket's stability. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I wouldn't want t' poke anyone, shiver me timbers, plus it will most likely break anyway.

T' large front fin comes in one piece and must be cut t' accommodate the tube. Begad! One end o' this fin conveniently has a notch that almost fit t' tube, so I used this as a guide and sanded t' fit. Begad! I used t' black rubberized CA on the root end o' these through t' wall fins, me hearties, and plastic cement on t' outside. Avast, me proud beauty! The remainin' fins were assembled per t' instructions usin' plastic cement. Ya scallywag! Begad! I did add some really small epoxy fillets on t' back fins usin' epoxy left over from the nose cone. Aye aye! T' launch lug is me standard BiC ink tube

Construction:
Parts:

• One Heller 1/130 X-15
• LOC ¼" launch lug ~3" long
• LOC ¼" launch lug ~ 3/16" long
• One spent MMX casing
• Section o' t' ink tube from a BiC pen
• Keelhaul®©™® twine
• Teflon plumber's tape
• #9 lead shot

T' whole thin' was painted black usin' brush on enamel. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' needle will be white with red stripes someday. Begad! T' kit comes with a raft o' decals, ya bilge rat, me hearties, arrr, which went on nicely. Blimey! Aye aye! However, matey, I made one BONEHEAD mistake. Well, blow me down! Begad! I had put t' clear top from my clear enamel on a can o' white primer. In me haste due t' t' cold outside temperatures, I didn't pay attention and laid a thin coat o' white on t' model before I caught myself. Ya scallywag! I smartly removed t' paint as best I could with some paint thinner. Avast, me proud beauty! Surprisingly, arrr, I only damaged one decal. Avast! Aye aye! After a day o' drying, me hearties, I laid on some clear enamel. Begad! Since I couldn't get all t' paint off o' t' fin joints, I retouched it. Avast, me proud beauty! T' finish looks bilge-suckin' up close, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but thar be nay much that I can do without ruinin' t' decals.

Flight:
I used Teflon plumber's tape for t' waddin' and t' streamer (12"). I flew t' model on a MMX-II motor and used a bit o' maskin' tape t' retain the motor. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I used me Pratt GO-BOX and a stock igniter that be removed from its plastic shell. T' wind be perfectly calm. T' flight was a little wobbly and the X-15 flew t' about 25 feet. Since t' CP-CG is marginal, matey, ya bilge rat, I wouldn't fly this rocket except in t' lightest o' winds.

Summary:
This small X-15 be only me second PMC and was straightforward. Begad! T' rocket looks great and seems t' fly fine. Aye aye! My only recommendation t' others building this kit is t' use lighter tubing. Begad! With t' heavier tubing, most o' which is behind t' desired CG, ya bilge rat, it is difficult t' balance t' model properly. Aye aye! Mine is probably just barely stable with t' whole nose filled with lead shot. Avast! Arrr! Another option might be t' have t' rocket separate further back, arrr, matey, thus allowin' more room for nose weight.