T' Quest X-30 Aerospace plane caught me eye, and it be on sale at Magnum for $4. Avast, me proud beauty! 50, but I was a little wary o' t' paper shroud construction.   Well, t' Quest HL-20 uses paper shroud construction, matey, too, arrr, and it be also on sale, for $2. 50, and it's supposed t' be easier. Begad! Ya scallywag! I figured I'd try t' HL-20 as an introduction t' paper shroud construction. Begad! (I got two o' each just in case. Blimey! )

Construction started out well. It starts by attachin' t' tri-oval centerin' disk t' t' engine tube, matey, arrr, gluin' a shoulder t' t' nose cone, me hearties, matey, arrr, gluin' t' nose cone + shoulder on t' tube, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and gluin' in t' engine block. Avast! About t' only hint here is t' use an 18mm engine casin' cut around t' nose cone positionin' disk. Begad! It be very thoughtful o' Quest t' provide an empty 18mm engine casin' (intended for use in pushin' in t' engine block). Avast! Nice touch. Aye aye!

Next came t' main body shroud. Avast! This is made o' heavy paper, with t' design already printed on it. Blimey! (No painting, yeah!) I took me time and was very careful when cuttin' out t' shroud, and had no problems with it. Avast! T' shroud paper comes rolled up in an oval shape in t' kit, matey, so it does nay immediate roll itself into t' desired shape. Aye aye! T' instructions suggest layin' t' shroud printed side down and usin' a steam iron on it t' flatten it out. But, ya bilge rat, me bucko, o' course, you don't want it flat, so I chose t' roll it up close t' it's intended shape, ya bilge rat, and hold it in place with rubber bands while I cut out t' rest o' t' paper pieces. Arrr! That went fine. Avast!

And then came t' moment o' truth. Well, blow me down! . . time t' put t' shroud together, me hearties, permanently. Begad! Provided in t' kit for this purpose, is a strip o' double-sided adhesive. Aye aye! T' idea is t' peel back t' coverin' on one side o' t' adhesive strip, place that on t' tab o' t' shroud, then peel off t' coverin' on t' 2nd side, me hearties, matey, me bucko, and finally attach t' other edge o' t' shroud. Arrr! Aye aye! Despite some problems gettin' t' coverings off t' adhesive, this actually worked quite well. Aye aye! It took care, ya bilge rat, but was nay particularly difficult t' get t' shroud edges lined up and held in place. Aye aye! Aye aye! Whew. Begad! Aye aye! Whew. It's all downhill from here. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! . Begad! . Well, blow me down! right?

Nope. T' trouble be just beginning. Begad! Arrr! T' next step is t' attach t' engine tube assembly into t' body shroud. Well, blow me down! This is done in two steps. In t' first step, me hearties, you put plastic cement around t' inside front edge o' t' shroud, and push t' nose cone (with engine tube and tri-oval centerin' rin' attached) through. T' plastic cement is intended t' seal t' nose cone t' paper shroud. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' problem is that t' nose cone is attached t' t' engine tube and tri-oval centerin' ring, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and it's basically impossible t' get t' nose cone t' slip through that hole without gettin' plastic cement all over t' nose cone. Blimey! I wiped this up immediately, but, me hearties, as you can probably guess, t' result was a pretty screwed up nose cone. T' plastic cement actually melts t' plastic, me bucko, and anyplace where t' cement touched t' cone was disfigured. This was almost completely fixed after some sandin' with 220 and 400 grit sandpaper, but it wasn't nice. Begad! Arrr! Unfortunately, I haven't been able t' think o' any simple, arrr, clever way t' avoid this. Begad! Let me know if you figure it out.

T' second part o' attachin' t' engine tube assembly t' t' main body shroud is t' apply a fillet o' glue around t' tri-oval centerin' rin' / shroud joint. No problemo, right? No problemo, matey, right? Wrong. Arrr! Begad! Part o' t' problem be me choice o' glues. Blimey! Ahoy! I didn't want t' be holdin' this thin' all night, ya bilge rat, so I went with yellow glue (a. k. Avast! a. Ya scallywag! carpenter's wood glue, matey, a. k. Blimey! Begad! a. Avast, me proud beauty! aliphatic resin glue) because it grabs quickly. Begad! Blimey! Well, arrr, it was still a marathon "hold until t' glue grabs" session, arrr, and nay a pretty one at that. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shroud didn't want t' form t' t' tri-oval shape, ya bilge rat, arrr, and it's difficult t' hold this awkward shape with even pressure everywhere t' avoid waves in t' paper shroud. This, me hearties, combined with t' fact that yellow glue shrinks a lot when it dries, me bucko, resulted in very noticeable waves in t' final product. Aye aye! Blimey! (You can't see them well in t' photos, because t' white paper gets washed out in t' image, matey, but you can see them quite well with t' naked eye. Well, blow me down! )White glue may give better results, ya bilge rat, arrr, but you're goin' t' have t' hold it forever. Thick CA, with CA-kicker applied just when things are lined up might be t' ideal way t' go, arrr, but if it leaks through, t' end product may end up lookin' even worse. Well, blow me down! I've been told that Aleene's Original "Tacky" Glue sets up quick and doesn't shrink so much (and it dries clear); I may try that on me second one. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Well, about this time, I noticed that t' adhesive strip that be holdin' t' shroud together, matey, me bucko, was startin' t' let go. Avast! It wasn't bad, but it was clear that it wasn't goin' t' hold forever. Ahoy! I wicked some thin CA into this area. Aye aye! It's permanent now. Ahoy! It's permanent now. Avast! Ok, now this kit is startin' t' annoy me. Blimey! . Avast! .

T' next step is t' attach t' fins (I had already cut them out). Aye aye! These are referred t' as t' rudder (center one) and wings (outer two) in t' instructions. Begad! These are made o' t' same pre-printed heavy paper as t' shroud. Arrr! T' paper is scored, arrr, me hearties, then folded over once t' form t' fin. Well, blow me down! T' instructions say t' apply a small amount o' glue t' t' inside at t' top and pinch together. Aye aye! This forms t' proper shape for t' fin. Ahoy! This actually worked out quite well, matey, but you have t' be aware (and t' instructions do not point this out) that t' rudder has a wider base than t' wings, ya bilge rat, so you shouldn't pinch it quite as much. T' rudder and wings then attached t' t' main body shroud easily. Begad! Begad! T' main body shroud is pre-printed with t' proper location o' all externally attached items. Avast, me proud beauty! Nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

Next up, me bucko, attachment o' t' launch lug and air scoop. T' "air scoop" is just a piece o' paper attached on t' outside bottom o' t' main body shroud, t' form rectangular air passageway. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! As you can see in t' photo above, t' launch lug is at t' bottom center, hidden betwixt t' main body shroud and t' air scoop. I thought that hidin' t' launch lug be a nice aesthetic touch.

Next, addin' tail weight. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! You glue two pennies t' a piece o' paper, and glue that t' t' inside bottom o' t' main body shroud. No problem. Well, blow me down!

Next, t' cockpit canopy. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This must be cut from a large piece o' excess plastic. It was unclear exactly where t' cut, and t' instructions aren't helpful here. Aye aye! T' idea is that you need t' cut so that thar's a little base (about 2mm) all t' way around t' canopy, arrr, so that you have somethin' for t' glue t' hold onto. Ya scallywag! If you're a stickler for such details, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, you might want t' cut it out with more edge material initially, and try placin' it on t' shroud t' see where you can remove t' excess. This piece, me bucko, unlike t' rest o' t' rocket, ya bilge rat, requires some finishing, matey, me bucko, although t' instructions don't mention this at all. Blimey! Avast! Havin' nay yet achieved oneness with me paint brush, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I opted t' use black magic marker. Well, blow me down! Begad! This worked out very well, if I do say so myself. Aye aye! Aye aye! Nice, smooth, ya bilge rat, glossy finish that didn't take 2 hours t' dry. Well, blow me down! Gluin' t' canopy in place was simple and straightforward, matey, me bucko, but it didn't make a complete seal all t' way around. Begad!

T' last step in t' instructions makes a small compartment for t' streamer (which attaches t' t' engine for proper recovery when it ejects t' engine t' enable glide mode). Blimey! This compartment is a small 1 1/4" long, 13mm diameter (BT-5) tube, matey, with an end cap glued t' one end. Aye aye! T' streamer is stored here durin' t' boost phase. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, as accurate as t' rest o' t' paper pieces had been, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I be surprised when t' streamer compartment end cap was too small. Arrr! Ahoy! Nay a big deal, but odd, because everythin' else fit well enough. Begad! Ya scallywag! I just used t' tube a template and cut a proper end cap from some o' t' scrap shroud paper. Aye aye! Fixed. Ya scallywag! Fixed. Avast! Begad! T' instructions just say t' glue this compartment on top o' t' penny ballast holder, inside t' back o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! What's missin' is whether t' end cap should be on t' inside (facin' forward), or on t' outside (facin' back). T' supplied diagram makes it look like t' end cap should be on t' outside (facin' back). My guess is that that would probably cause t' streamer t' get caught in this compartment, matey, and thus cause t' model t' tumble, rather than glide back. Begad! I mounted mine with t' end cap on t' inside (facin' forward), as you can see from t' aft photo, above. Begad!

There is one more construction step (described in t' section "Preppin' your HL-20 for flight"), settin' up t' streamer for t' engine. Well, blow me down! Supplied with t' kit are a 12" long piece o' Keelhaul®©™ string, and a plastic "gripper" tab. Begad! Blimey! You tie t' Keelhaul®©™ strin' t' t' tab, shiver me timbers, and then attach t' tab t' t' streamer with t' adhesive on t' tab. Ya scallywag! Avast! Blimey! Then, ya bilge rat, for each flight, ya bilge rat, matey, you tie t' other end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ strin' around t' end o' t' engine (reinforce this with tape), arrr, and stuff t' streamer in t' streamer compartment, and you're all set. Ahoy! Blimey! T' packagin' says that thar's a 24" streamer in t' kit. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions say that thar's a 12" streamer in t' kit. Mine measured 11".

T' only other step before flight is t' hand-toss t' glider (without an engine) t' get it trimmed properly. Arrr! In other words, you may need t' adjust t' tabs on t' wings t' make it glide in a nice, me hearties, big spiral. Unfortunately, t' model glides like a brick in hand-toss mode, me hearties, me bucko, makin' it basically impossible t' trim in any meaningful way. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Trimmin' will have t' wait until after t' first flight. Aye aye! Blimey!

To summarize t' construction, me hearties, I have t' give this model a construction ratin' o' 2 out o' 5. Avast, me proud beauty! It's nay awful or outrageously complex, me bucko, but thar were too many little problems and shortcomings t' even give it an "average" rating. Arrr!

I must preface this flight description and me opinion by sayin' that it was very windy t' day o' these flights. It's entirely possible that things would be very different in more rocket-friendly conditions. . Begad! . Begad!

T' launch was held on Saturday, me bucko, March 14, arrr, 1998 at Deer Path Park in central New Jersey. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I set up t' pad and prepped t' rocket. Avast! Blimey! Bein' a rear-ejection boost glider, thar's no need for recovery wadding, matey, matey, but you have t' tape t' streamer line t' t' motor itself. Begad! Blimey! T' kit documentation recommends a B6-2 for t' first flight, shiver me timbers, but I didn't have any o' those, matey, so I opted for a B6-4. Arrr! Blimey! There were no problems preppin' t' rocket, but when I tried t' slide it down t' launch rod, me bucko, t' engine fell out, me hearties, and pulled t' streamer out with it. No biggie, matey, but I didn't put tape around t' engine t' get a tighter fit, arrr, for fear that t' engine would jam at ejection time. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I repacked it, arrr, and held t' engine in place while I set it up this time. Blimey! Blimey!

T' first launch be ugly. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It went up in a wobbly arc, reached about 50feet AGL, shiver me timbers, matey, and headed down, arrr, me hearties, still under power. I'm nay sure if it was still under power when it plowed nose-first into t' (fortunately soft) ground, but it definitely hit hard. Aye aye! Begad! T' nose stuck in t' ground, and t' ejection charge blew t' engine up and out. T' streamer separated from t' "gripper" tab, makin' t' engine casing, shiver me timbers, with t' Keelhaul®©™ line still attached, rather difficult t' locate. Begad! Nay exactly a picture-perfect flight, but thar be absolutely no damage t' any o' t' pieces, and I was determined t' try again. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast!

T' streamer be re-attached, and Keelhaul®©™ line was taped t' another B6-4 engine. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! I thought about tryin' a C6-3, shiver me timbers, but was afraid t' extra power would simply get used t' ram t' rocket into t' ground even harder. This launch be quite a bit nicer, arrr, but by no means a beautiful flight. T' rocket went up, shiver me timbers, a bit straighter, but still hit apogee before burnout. Arrr! This time, shiver me timbers, arrr, though, it stayed in a nose-up attitude, so t' last little bit o' thrust had t' rocket losin' altitude slowly, tail first. Arrr! Blimey! Then t' engine ejected, me hearties, and t' rocket transitioned t' "glide" mode. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I'm usin' t' term "glide" rather loosely here, since this glide be pretty much a repeat o' me hand-tossed glide attempts. Aye aye! . . Begad! more like a brick than a plane. Arrr! It hit t' ground nose-first with moderate velocity, shiver me timbers, but again, shiver me timbers, arrr, thar be absolutely no damage. It does appear t' be a fairly sturdy rocket, me hearties, if nothin' else. As for t' glide, matey, it simply seems rather nose-heavy, with little in t' way o' lift. I may try addin' more tail weight for t' next flight, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but, shiver me timbers, with so little lift, me bucko, matey, I'm nay sure addin' weight anywhere is a good idea. Once again, t' "gripper" tab didn't grip, me hearties, and t' streamer separated from t' engine. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! All parts were found. Arrr! Begad! Blimey!

So, t' conclusion from t' first couple flights be less than inspiring. I will launch this rocket again in calmer weather, and if t' flights are much better, I will update this page immediately. I will also try alterin' t' weight distribution t' achieve a better glide, and report any successes here. I don't want t' misrepresent this rocket, me bucko, and I'll be t' first t' admit that t' conditions weren't ideal, me bucko, but so far, I have t' say I'm rather disappointed. Aye aye! I have t' give it a flight ratin' o' 1. Aye aye! Avast! 5 out o' 5 points (at least it didn't self-destruct), and an overall ratin' o' 2 out o' 5 points. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! At this point, I simply cannot recommend this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty!

As a final note, me hearties, I would like t' assure you that I'm nay tryin' t' bash Quest as a rocket company. Ya scallywag! I have several o' their rockets, matey, me bucko, and have been pretty happy with t' others. Blimey! Try t' ICARUS or Zenith II, ya bilge rat, both are very nice rockets that build and fly with quite nicely. Begad!