T' followin' article was a submission t' t' FlisKits, Inc Deuce-Bash Contest and is archived with permission from FlisKits. Avast, me proud beauty! Some o' these designs are nay actually kitbashes, ya bilge rat, however, all come from t' basic motor design feature of t' FlisKits Deuce's Wild.

Brief:
After watchin' t' Discovery Channel program “Black Sky: Winnin' t' X-Prize” about Spaceship One and the claimin' o' t' X-Prize about 5 times, I was motivated t' build a model with fins like on Spaceship One. Avast! Blimey! I figured if it be good enough for Mr. Arrr! Rutan, ya bilge rat, it be good enough for me. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! (I learned how t' work with composites from one o' his books.) This model is nay really t' scale o' t' Spaceship One as it uses t' Deuce's Wild! Blimey! engine mount with BP (instead o' bein' a hybrid), t' body is too long for its diameter, shiver me timbers, t' fins are too long, and t' back end is not tapered laterally.

Cut t' body tube t' 9.5”.

Cut out t' fin template and mark engine cut out and launch lug lines. Begad! Turn 180 degrees and mark t' launch lug line again.

Build motor mount and install as per Deuce instructions.

Cut out fin template and mark one fin on very edge o' sheet. Ahoy! Blimey! Slide t' fin template 2” along t' leading edge and mark another fin (you will be crossin' t' lines o' t' last fin you marked.) Slide t' template another 2” and mark t' root edge only. Cut t' 3 root edge lines. T' two 2” wide pieces are your standoffs. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Cut the little triangle off o' t' trailin' edge line and keep it.

Cut t' other piece o' fin stock t' 8” long. Begad! Now cut two isosceles triangles 2.5” wide on t' base and 8” tall.

Glue t' standoffs onto t' launch lug lines. Well, matey, blow me down! Glue t' 8”triangles centered t' t' standoffs. Arrr! Glue the little triangle centered on t' bottom outside o' t' 8” triangle.

Build t' recovery system and nose cone as per instructions and you are good t' fly.

I flew mine on A8-3s and had interestin' success. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' first flight was OK but was slightly unstable. Arrr! T' second flight be in heavier winds and was very unstable. Avast, me proud beauty! It flew in a huge arc with ejection about 30' above t' ground and recovered with no damage. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I think t' tube needs t' be longer or some nose weight should be added, me hearties, but I wanted it short and did nay use ballast as t' Deuce kit doesn’t come with any and I wanted t' confine myself t' those parts. I will however be addin' ballast before I fly it again.