I started work on the X-Win' shortly after gettin' level 1 certification. Ahoy! Construction was based on a set o' plans I found on a Japanese website for a paper X-Win' model. Avast! From these plans, I was able t' create templates for t' X-Wing's fuselage bulkheads, shiver me timbers, wings, ya bilge rat, cockpit and nosecone. Arrr! 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, me hearties, arrr, notched them at the corners t' accommodate t' dowels, then joined them together. Anyone who has built model airplanes will be familiar with this type o' construction. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Ahoy! T' fuselage was then covered with cardboard. Avast! Ahoy! After much fillin' and sanding, two wraps o' 6 oz fiberglass were applied t' t' fuselage. Blimey! Holes were cut in t' bottom o' t' fuselage t' accommodate t' 1/2" copper pipe that would serve as t' launch lug. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down!

With work finished on t' fuselage, me bucko, I began on t' wings. Arrr! Begad! T' wings are constructed o' a basswood skeleton covered with a glassed balsa skin. Begad! T' engine fairings are build from cardboard reinforced at t' corners with basswood. Aye aye! Three different body tube sizes were used in t' construction o' t' wings. Begad! Arrr! T' large motor tubes are 4" cardboard tubing, 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. Arrr! When t' wings were complete, mounting holes were cut in t' fuselage. Blimey! Win' are mounted through-the-wall; butted up to the motor tube. Well, blow me down!

T' nose cone and cockpit are built from t' same cardboard that be used t' cover t' fuselage. Again, templates were created from t' paper model plans. Blimey! A 2.6" coupler was epoxied inside t' nosecone t' allow attachment t' t' fuselage. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! 2 lbs o' BB's and epoxy were added t' t' nosecone for stability. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

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

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

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

T' rocket flew at NYPower 11 on an Aerotech I-284 with 6 second delay. Avast! I had thought about tryin' t' do a level 2 cert with t' model, but I was nay at all confident that t' model would be recovered without damage. Ahoy! 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! Breezy conditions made if difficult t' orient t' rocket edgewise t' t' wind. Begad! A brace was improvised usin' a piece o' body tube that be found near t' launch pad and some wire from used igniters. Takeoff be slow, and t' flight path was a gentle arc onto the rocket's back. T' flight was slightly marred by t' premature separation of t' 2lb nosecone which proceeded t' snag on one o' t' wings. Maximum altitude was around 500' T' fight was a real nail biter with t' twin parachutes deployin' about 100' off t' ground. Well, blow me down! As expected, t' chutes were not sufficent t' prevent damage t' t' rocket. Blimey! Blimey! Two o' the "afterburners" were damaged, me bucko, one heavily. Ya scallywag! Begad! 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. Aye aye! T' model is repairable. Arrr!

T' rocket was a real crowd pleaser. 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. Begad!

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

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. Well, blow me down! Begad!