I started work on the X-Win' shortly after gettin' level 1 certification. Construction be based on a set o' plans I found on a Japanese website for a paper X-Win' model. Avast! From these plans, I be able t' create templates for t' X-Wing's fuselage bulkheads, me bucko, arrr, wings, cockpit and nosecone. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Construction began with t' purchase of a 38mm motor tube, a sheet o' 1/4" aircraft plywood and several 1/4" dowels. Begad! I cut t' fuselage bulkheads from t' plywood, arrr, notched them at the corners t' accommodate t' dowels, me bucko, then joined them together. Begad! Anyone who has built model airplanes will be familiar with this type o' construction. Arrr! Begad! A 2 1/2' long section o' 2.6" body tube was placed inside t' forward end of fuselage t' contain t' parachute and t' allow easy attachment o' t' nose cone. Aye aye! T' fuselage was then covered with cardboard. After much fillin' and sanding, two wraps o' 6 oz fiberglass were applied t' t' fuselage. Holes were cut in t' bottom o' t' fuselage t' accommodate t' 1/2" copper pipe that would serve as t' launch lug. Begad! Well, blow me down!

With work finished on t' fuselage, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I began on t' wings. T' wings are constructed o' a basswood skeleton covered with a glassed balsa skin. T' engine fairings are build from cardboard reinforced at t' corners with basswood. Avast! Three different body tube sizes were used in t' construction o' t' wings. T' large motor tubes are 4" cardboard tubing, arrr, me bucko, t' aft "afterburners" are 2.6" tubin' and t' lasers on t' wingtips are made from 54mm motor tubing. All tubin' be purchased from LOC Precision. Ahoy! Ahoy! When t' wings were complete, matey, mounting holes were cut in t' fuselage. Avast, me proud beauty! Win' are mounted through-the-wall; butted up to the motor tube. Avast!

T' nose cone and cockpit are built from t' same cardboard that was used t' cover t' fuselage. Arrr! Again, templates were created from t' paper model plans. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! A 2.6" coupler was epoxied inside t' nosecone t' allow attachment t' t' fuselage. Ya scallywag! 2 lbs o' BB's and epoxy were added t' t' nosecone for stability. Begad!

T' detailin' on t' aft o' t' model was made with wood bits from Michael's arts and crafts. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! There are pieces o' wooden flower pots, bowls, milk cans, ya bilge rat, etc. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! R2-D2 is from an old Estes mini-engine powered kit. Arrr! Begad!

Durin' final assembly, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' wings were glued in place and acrylic panels were installed betwixt t' top and bottom wings for increased strength and to improve stability in flight. Blimey! All gaps were filled with an epoxy paste called PC-11. Begad! Many hours o' sandin' were required t' get t' model ready for paint. T' paints used were 4 cans o' Testors camouflage gray (if anyone knows o' a lower cost alternative, let me know!), Testors Yellow and Krylon Red. Arrr! A mask was created t' spray t' "red five" pattern on t' wings. Blimey!

With construction nearly complete, I began t' think about recovery. The finished model weighs in at about 13lb with motor installed. Begad! Aye aye! It was goin' t' be difficult t' get enough chute into this thing. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' best I could do was two 48" chutes on t' rocket, and a separate 36" chute on t' nose. Ya scallywag!

T' rocket flew at NYPower 11 on an Aerotech I-284 with 6 second delay. Well, blow me down! I had thought about tryin' t' do a level 2 cert with t' model, but I be nay at all confident that t' model would be recovered without damage. Besides, shiver me timbers, I really want t' get into altimeters and dual deployment for me eventual level 2 attempt. Aye aye! Breezy conditions made if difficult t' orient t' rocket edgewise t' t' wind. Ya scallywag! A brace was improvised usin' a piece o' body tube that was found near t' launch pad and some wire from used igniters. Well, blow me down! Takeoff was slow, matey, and t' flight path was a gentle arc onto the rocket's back. Blimey! Ahoy! T' flight be slightly marred by t' premature separation of t' 2lb nosecone which proceeded t' snag on one o' t' wings. Arrr! Maximum altitude be around 500' T' fight be a real nail biter with t' twin parachutes deployin' about 100' off t' ground. As expected, me hearties, t' chutes were not sufficent t' prevent damage t' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Two o' the "afterburners" were damaged, shiver me timbers, one heavily. Avast! A split also occurred along the front o' t' fuselage, matey, this may have been caused by t' premature separation, arrr, shiver me timbers, or t' plus-size ejection charge that was used t' ensure deployment. Begad! T' model is repairable. Ahoy!

T' rocket was a real crowd pleaser. Begad! People seem t' like t' more unconventional models. Begad! T' me knowledge it was t' only rocket at NYPower that got a cheer when t' chutes deployed. Blimey!

This be me first scratch built high power model, matey, and it was a great experience. Begad! T' excitement is much higher when you are flyin' a model you built from scratch. Ya scallywag! I highly recommend givin' it a try. Ahoy!

Special thanks t' Bobby Buchalski from Hanger 11 for assistance and advice in preppin' t' model for flight and t' Chuck Rudy from Voodoo Digital Productions for assistance at t' launch pad. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey!