Brief:
This is a plastic model conversion o' a Revell X-15 kit.

Modifications:
T' first thin' I did was use a Dremel t' grind out t' wheel well in t' bottom half o' t' X-15. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This makes room for t' nose cone. After removin' t' wheel well, ya bilge rat, I epoxied t' nose cone/body tube in t' lower shell. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! There were some gaps along t' body tube side where t' plastic wasn't touching. T' reinforce this area, ya bilge rat, I cut some strips from t' frame which holds t' plastic parts for t' model. I wedged them along t' side o' t' tube and used airplane glue t' weld them t' t' shell. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Then I painted epoxy over that and along t' tube where t' strips touched. I assembled t' rest o' t' plane per instructions only leavin' out parts which would nay fit. Begad! Blimey! In this case, it be only t' little man inside t' canopy. Blimey! Blimey! There were two versions t' build. Avast! Blimey! I chose t' one without t' wheels. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' smaller lower fins needed t' be reinforced. I used some flat strips o' styrene scrap from t' kit and welded it in with airplane glue, matey, followin' with epoxy. Begad! Blimey! Then I wrapped m askin' tape along t' point where I needed t' cut t' nose off and used an extra fine razor saw t' remove t' piece just above t' nose cone. I made a tiny tri-fold shock cord and glued it in t' tube. I recommend doin' this beforehand as it be a pain t' get in. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also packed some clay in and around t' nosecone. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I wasn't sure about gaugin' CP. Arrr! Blimey! I probably should have made a cardboard cutout. Aye aye! Blimey! I chose t' place t' CG about 1/4 inch forward o' t' leadin' win' edge.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 Revell X-15 plastic model kit
• 1 6.5" BT-5 tube
• 1 10mm t' 13mm centerin' rin' for engine block
• 1 15" piece o' 1/8" elastic cord
• 1 12" x 1" polyethylene streamer
• 1 4:1 ogive 13mm nosecone

Finishing:
I painted t' X-15 flat black and applied t' waterslide decals.

Flight:
It was very windy on t' day I flew this, and I think that contributed t' t' inconsistent results. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I flew t' X-15 three times, shiver me timbers, all on A10-3T motors. T' first flight was very straight. Ahoy! T' second was mostly straight but a little squirrelly near apogee. Ya scallywag! T' third flight was very unstable, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, was wafflin' around sideways, and landed before motor ejection. Begad! There was no damage from one flight t' t' next. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I think either t' rocket was marginally stable and/or t' wind caused some problems.

Recovery:
I used a short polyethylene streamer which didn't help much for slowin' t' descent. Aye aye! Begad! It be about t' only thin' I had which would fit in t' 13mm tube. Blimey! T' X-15 be durable enough t' take hard landings in grass without any damage.

Summary:
This be me first attempt at a plastic model conversion. Arrr! Avast! Actually I did start a plastic model Jedi Starfighter, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but abandoned t' idea. Avast, me proud beauty! I was pleased with t' results o' t' X-15, but I don't think this is somethin' I would do often.

Videos:
Flight 1:

Flight 2:

Flight 3: