Apogee Components X-15 ROCKET PLANE Build Log

[JoeFilgas]

My Apogee Components, Inc NORTH AMERICAN X-15 Rocket Plane build log: well it went from Primer round one, sand and fill from yesterday to primer round two and sanding to primer round three today. I can’t do anymore so when this drys it will get a quick 400 grit sand (dry this time) and it’ll be ready for the gloss black!

 

[Doug Rocket]

Thread 'Apogee X-15 Build' https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/apogee-x-15-build.174841/

Looking great..here's mine.

 

[JoeFilgas]

Thread 'Apogee X-15 Build' https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/apogee-x-15-build.174841/

Looking great..here's mine.

Yours turned out great very nice work!

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Apogee Components, Inc NORTH AMERICAN X-15 Rocket Plane build log: she got her black on today! Decals and reveal in a few days!

 

[billpr]

The black paint job is Awesome, Looks too nice to launch.

 

[ljwilley]

You know you have put an amazing finish on a rocket when you can see the reflection of the entire room on it!

 

[JoeFilgas]

The black paint job is Awesome, Looks too nice to launch.

Thanks so much! Decals in a few days and then bye bye gloss finish in about a month for the matte clear coat!

 

[JoeFilgas]

You know you have put an amazing finish on a rocket when you can see the reflection of the entire room on it!

Thanks so much! I’m pretty happy with the result. Decals in a few days and then a matte clear coat in about a month to tone it down.

 

[JoeFilgas]

You know you have put an amazing finish on a rocket when you can see the reflection of the entire room on it!

Thanks so much! I’m pretty happy with the result. Decals in a few days and then a matte clear coat in about a month to tone it down.

 

[Lord Rory Gin]

Thanks so much! I’m pretty happy with the result. Decals in a few days and then a matte clear coat in about a month to tone it down.

+10 on using matt clear coat for the best realism compared to the actual plane. That's what TVM used on his.

 

[ljwilley]

I agree, a matte finish would look better on the X15. I was just saying that you had gotten the rocket smooth enough for such a perfect finish.

 

[bschultz32]

Wow, the gloss black coat looks SO good. How about a compromise. Fly it just once in gloss black mode, to amaze the spectators, then apply the matte clear after you successfully recover her.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Apogee Components, Inc NORTH AMERICAN X-15 Rocket Plane build log: well after 72 hours since painting the black I put all the decals on today and there are a bunch holy smokes! Unfortunately my beautiful, smooth gloss black paint job has decided to come back and chomp me in the butt dagnabit! Got several patches of low level gatoring and frankly some defects appeared that were absolutely not there before. I could have sanded the whole rocket and tried again, but I have no interest in that so I’m moving ahead with what I have. In a month when I matte clear coat it I may be able to hide some of the defects, but it is what it is. I’ll likely do the reveal on this project tomorrow sometime. It still looks nice, but not as nice as I was hoping for. Oh well!

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Apogee Components, Inc NORTH AMERICAN X-15 ROCKET PLANE build log: well after the decals had dried overnight here she is! I will be spraying a matte clear coat on this in about a month which hopefully will tone down the egregious paint errors I chose to leave alone. Even some defects came through which were not there or at least I could not detect them, but the black sure did. All in all this was/is an amazing kit to build and I’ll send her skyward at some point in the future. A few stats: 1:21 scale model for 29mm F-G rocket motors. On the real thing the aircraft still holds the altitude and speed world records for a manned winged aircraft! Speed MACH 6.7 or 4,520MPH and 354,200 AGL altitude! This is a first rate kit with quality components and a great price and I highly recommend it! Nice offering Apogee! MORE PICS TO FOLLOW THIS POST AS WELL AS A YOUTUBE VIDEO!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Some indoor lighting pics!

 

[JoeFilgas]

View the YouTube video here!

 

[ljwilley]

That is one awesome rocket! Thanks again for doing these build threads. Very entertaining! You are going to have to do one for the new Apogee Nike Hercules!

 

[Lord Rory Gin]

Some indoor lighting pics!

Mine was nice until I put it on a "stand" and let it sit in the corner. (Not as nice as your paint job, but decent). Then apparently it fell over about 4 different times and it became my most "hanger rash" damaged rocket in my inventory! It had more dents and dings than most of my flown rockets! LOL

 

[NOLA_BAR]

I have both the Apogee kit and the Radical Rocketry 3D printed X-15. I decided to build the Radical Rocketry version using the Apogee decals. Came out nice, but heavy. Probably will need something like a G64. You need a gloss coat for decals, adding a matte clear coat does look nice.

 

[JoeFilgas]

That is one awesome rocket! Thanks again for doing these build threads. Very entertaining! You are going to have to do one for the new Apogee Nike Hercules!

Thanks and I appreciate you following along. Haven’t seen that Apogee yet. Next up I have a new LOC Precision #780 that should be here tomorrow. I also have a LOC 4” Phoenix in the build pile. I also have and old Estes SR-71 in my scale build pile. So many to build LOL! I think the LOC #780 will be next. I’d like to do a log on something not very many have done yet.

That is one awesome rocket! Thanks again for doing these build threads. Very entertaining! You are going to have to do one for the new Apogee Nike Hercules!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Mine was nice until I put it on a "stand" and let it sit in the corner. (Not as nice as your paint job, but decent). Then apparently it fell over about 4 different times and it became my most "hanger rash" damaged rocket in my inventory! It had more dents and dings than most of my flown rockets! LOL

Sorry that happened, but when the nice wears off mine they’ll likely get launched!

 

[ljwilley]

The apogee Nike Hercules is not released yet, but it is on the website.
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Model-Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-5-Model-Rocket-Kits/Nike-Hercules

 

[JoeFilgas]

I have both the Apogee kit and the Radical Rocketry 3D printed X-15. I decided to build the Radical Rocketry version using the Apogee decals. Came out nice, but heavy. Probably will need something like a G64. You need a gloss coat for decals, adding a matte clear coat does look nice.

I’d love to send mine up on a G80 whenever I can get to an appropriate launch site. Mine will be going matte in about a month. I really wish I could have added an Aerotek retainer, but Apogee recommended against the added aft weight.

 

[JoeFilgas]

The apogee Nike Hercules is not released yet, but it is on the website.
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Model-Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-5-Model-Rocket-Kits/Nike-Hercules
View attachment 661085

That’s pretty sweet! Might have to consider that one at some point.

 

[Lord Rory Gin]

Thanks and I appreciate you following along. Haven’t seen that Apogee yet. Next up I have a new LOC Precision #780 that should be here tomorrow. I also have a LOC 4” Phoenix in the build pile. I also have and old Estes SR-71 in my scale build pile. So many to build LOL! I think the LOC #780 will be next. I’d like to do a log on something not very many have done yet.

When you complete the Phoenix, don't forget the nose weight like Terry Dancer did. The resulting flight was many loop-to-loops before crashing.
!

 

[burkefj]

Anyone reading note the usaf/starbar are incorrect on the bottom wings, not Joes fault it's wrong on the instructions. They should akways look the same when viewed with nose facing front, star/bar on left.

 

[Rocket-Fan]

Another outstanding rocket! I really enjoy your build threads. Thanks for sharing.

 

[JoeFilgas]

Anyone reading note the usaf/starbar are incorrect on the bottom wings, not Joes fault it's wrong on the instructions. They should akways look the same when viewed with nose facing front, star/bar on left. View attachment 661313

Well dang it! Oh well!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Another outstanding rocket! I really enjoy your build threads. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for following along with me on this great kit! I just started a new build today on a LOC Precision #780 check it out here: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/loc-precision-780-build-log.187884/

 

[JoeFilgas]

Fixed the wrong decal location of the Star and Bar/USAF on the bottom of the wing fins. These decals are bullet proof and would not come off without damaging the surface. So I sanded the bottom of the wings and repainted. Just placed the new decals in the correct location.