T' Perseus is one o' t' entry level kits t' t' world o' TLP.  It's me second TLP build, t' first bein' t' BOLO.  Like t' BOLO, t' Perseus is powered by a single 24mm motor, and also like t' BOLO, it seems t' be a kit that if built light enough, could even be flown on a small field with an 18mm mount.

I ordered t' kit from Hobbylinc along with some other "necessities". Avast, me proud beauty!  Things got off t' a rough start for t' Perseus project when I noticed that t' tubes had been pretty well crushed.  Everythin' else was in decent shape, so I contacted Hobbylinc and informed them o' t' problem. Ahoy!  They initially wanted me t' send t' whole thin' back, me hearties, but I suggested that they just send me a couple o' BT-60 body tubes instead. Begad!  Two days later they arrived.  Impressive service. Well, blow me down!  Hobbylinc remains one o' me "go-to" retailers online.

With new tubes on t' way, I decided t' start on t' rest o' t' build.  T' motor tube had escaped damage, and t' rings were in good shape, arrr, so I built t' boattail/engine mount. Begad!  Formin' cardstock tailcones used t' be one o' t' parts o' a project like this that filled me with fear, shiver me timbers, but after a Doug Sams coachin' session, I got over it.   Construction was handled with Elmer's white glue since I planned t' fly it only on 24mm C and D motors.  

Vacation day that was supposed t' be spent in t' pool, but t' weather didn't cooperate, ya bilge rat, so I improvised.  I tied a 36" length o' Keelhaul®©™ around t' forward centerin' rin' and glued it into place just under t' ring.  When it had dried I cut a slice in t' rin' and threaded t' Keelhaul®©™ through. Avast!  T' remainin' length o' Keelhaul®©™ was dropped back into t' motor mount so that it wouldn't come in contact with t' glue. Avast, me proud beauty!  I then spread a healthy rin' o' glue around t' bottom o' t' inside o' t' tube and installed t' motor mount/boattail unit.

One thin' I did in t' interest o' makin' finishin' easier be switch out t' 3/32" balsa for 3/32" basswood.  More weight, but I'll take t' tighter grain as a tradeoff.

Attachin' t' flat fin sections t' t' round tube left some seams I wasn't thrilled with, matey, so I filled t' gaps with unthinned Elmer's Fill & Finish.  (Or whatever they've decided t' call it this week.)  T' rest o' t' body tube was coated with thinned Fill & Finish, me hearties, and t' joys o' sandin' commenced.

This was actually pretty cool.  T' lower fins were constructed from four separate pieces, ya bilge rat, three sections o' 3/32" basswood and a short section o' 1/4" dowel. Arrr!  I glued t' forward section o' fin into place first so that it would make placin' t' aft fin easier.  T' aft fin had t' be built slightly with t' insertion o' a length o' dowel into a pre-cut slot. Avast!  T' dowel be cut t' length, matey, glued into t' slot in t' fin, and sanded t' length. Begad!  I had previously drawn lines up t' length o' t' body tube t' help with keepin' t' fins straight. Well, blow me down!  Once dry, fillets were added usin' wood glue.