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

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

T' nose cone and cockpit are built from t' same cardboard that was used t' cover t' fuselage. Again, templates were created from t' paper model plans. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! A 2.6" coupler was epoxied inside t' nosecone t' allow attachment t' t' fuselage. 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. Arrr! There are pieces o' wooden flower pots, bowls, arrr, milk cans, etc. Begad! R2-D2 is from an old Estes mini-engine powered kit. Avast, me proud beauty!

Durin' final assembly, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 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. All gaps were filled with an epoxy paste called PC-11. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 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, matey, let me know!), ya bilge rat, arrr, Testors Yellow and Krylon Red. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! A mask was created t' spray t' "red five" pattern on t' wings. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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

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

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

This be me first scratch built high power model, ya bilge rat, and it was a great experience. T' excitement is much higher when you are flyin' a model you built from scratch. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! I highly recommend givin' it a try. Begad! Blimey! Blimey!

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.