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

Modifications:
T' instructions provided with this kit consisted o' step-by-step diagrams. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! No text description is provided. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! In general, this was sufficient, ya bilge rat, but this presentation omitted some details, shiver me timbers, arrr, such as t' slight downward cant o' t' rear wings. Begad! T' kit consists o' 35 pieces, me bucko, 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. However, it works fine for those o' us who haven't gotten around t' buyin' 'real' 6mm tubes. Aye aye! However, matey, with some minor trimmin' of flashin' and other bumps inside t' fuselage, me hearties, this tube fits nicely. Begad! There is a recess, just inside o' t' tail end o' t' main body, shiver me timbers, arrr, shiver me timbers, which accommodates the tube well. Begad! I measured t' distance from this recess t' t' point just ahead of the side fairings, me bucko, me bucko, and cut me tube t' fit. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Contrary t' other guidance, arrr, matey, I used this tube as a guide t' cut t' nose section off t' main body with a razor saw. Blimey! I glued t' tube inside t' body with black rubberized CA, shiver me timbers, and t' body halves together with liquid plastic cement. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I added t' back nozzle cap, arrr, and then installed a section o' a spent MMX casin' t' serve as a motor block. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! The Keelhaul®©™® twine be tied around t' block before its installation.

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

T' large front fin comes in one piece and must be cut t' accommodate the tube. One end o' this fin conveniently has a notch that almost fit t' tube, shiver me timbers, me hearties, so I used this as a guide and sanded t' fit. Arrr! I used t' black rubberized CA on the root end o' these through t' wall fins, matey, and plastic cement on t' outside. Avast, me proud beauty! The remainin' fins were assembled per t' instructions usin' plastic cement. Blimey! I did add some really small epoxy fillets on t' back fins usin' epoxy left over from the nose cone. 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. Begad! Blimey! T' needle will be white with red stripes someday. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' kit comes with a raft o' decals, me hearties, which went on nicely. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! However, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I made one BONEHEAD mistake. 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. I smartly removed t' paint as best I could with some paint thinner. Surprisingly, I only damaged one decal. Begad! Blimey! After a day o' drying, ya bilge rat, matey, I laid on some clear enamel. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Since I couldn't get all t' paint off o' t' fin joints, I retouched it. Arrr! Blimey! T' finish looks bad up close, matey, 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. Begad! I used me Pratt GO-BOX and a stock igniter that was removed from its plastic shell. Blimey! T' wind was perfectly calm. Avast, me proud beauty! T' flight was a little wobbly and the X-15 flew t' about 25 feet. Avast! Since t' CP-CG is marginal, I wouldn't fly this rocket except in t' lightest o' winds.

Summary:
This small X-15 was only me second PMC and was straightforward. Begad! Avast! T' rocket looks great and seems t' fly fine. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! 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, me hearties, it is difficult t' balance t' model properly. Blimey! Begad! Mine is probably just barely stable with t' whole nose filled with lead shot. Another option might be t' have t' rocket separate further back, thus allowin' more room for nose weight.