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

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

I assembled t' plastic nose cone usin' plastic cement. 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. Ahoy! I inserted the end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® twine, ya bilge rat, filled t' MMX motor section with more shot, and capped it all with epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! 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). Begad! It was suggested that t' CG should be about 2.032 from t' tip (from a known stable conversion o' this kit), ya bilge rat, but no more #9 shot will fit, ya bilge rat, so I'll try it as is. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Oh, and I decided t' leave t' needle off until I have assessed the rocket's stability. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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. I used t' black rubberized CA on the root end o' these through t' wall fins, and plastic cement on t' outside. Well, blow me down! Blimey! The remainin' fins were assembled per t' instructions usin' plastic cement. Avast! 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' be painted black usin' brush on enamel. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' needle will be white with red stripes someday. Aye aye! Arrr! T' kit comes with a raft o' decals, which went on nicely. However, I made one BONEHEAD mistake. I had put t' clear top from my clear enamel on a can o' white primer. Arrr! In me haste due t' t' cold outside temperatures, matey, I didn't pay attention and laid a thin coat o' white on t' model before I caught myself. Aye aye! I smartly removed t' paint as best I could with some paint thinner. Avast! Surprisingly, ya bilge rat, I only damaged one decal. Blimey! After a day o' drying, arrr, I laid on some clear enamel. Arrr! Since I couldn't get all t' paint off o' t' fin joints, matey, I retouched it. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' finish looks bilge-suckin' up close, arrr, 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"). Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I flew t' model on a MMX-II motor and used a bit o' maskin' tape t' retain the motor. Well, blow me down! I used me Pratt GO-BOX and a stock igniter that was removed from its plastic shell. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' wind be perfectly calm. Arrr! T' flight was a little wobbly and the X-15 flew t' about 25 feet. Aye aye! Since t' CP-CG is marginal, ya bilge rat, I wouldn't fly this rocket except in t' lightest o' winds.

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