I've decided t' do a skill level 5 kit from Estes. Blimey! Apparently thar must be someone at Estes that builds balsa planes who designed this very exotic rocket.

 Instructions are skimpy as always for a skill level 5 but they are complete sans tips.

I'm nay goin' t' cover t' motor mount and t' J1-3 tube assembly as that is fairly straightforward. How's that for a level 5 build review? T' real challenge on this baby be t' fin assembly. First up is an initial coatin' o' aero gloss filler on these sheets. This was probably premature as thar are plenty o' chances later t' fill and seal.

If you think you are goin' t' put this kit together over t' weekend think again. This rocket needs t' be crafted and will take time and patience t' complete properly. This step starts with tapin' t' two sides o' t' lower fin together with a brace. Ya scallywag! Blimey! TIP: Use clear scotch tape. It gives a nice snappy action t' close t' fins on t' brace.

There is a middle brace for t' upcomin' pieces that needs t' be beveled and glued in. T' bevels in this kit can be very slight or absurdly extreme. Aye aye! Blimey! Test fittin' reveals which one you need. T' braces here need a very slight bevel if at all.

This step involves placin' upper sides t' t' fin assembly and are probably crucial t' t' flight stabilty o' this craft. Ya scallywag! While it is nay specified in t' instructions I employed t' scotch tape procedure on these pieces as well with excellent results.

OK all done. Ya scallywag! It looks kind o' goofy but thar be much sanding, shiver me timbers, fillin' and sealin' t' be done.

This step be t' same as t' lower fin assembly but easier. Two sides and t' middle brace. Aye aye! Scotch tape again makes it easy.

These fin assemblies are crazy looking. Ahoy! Brushed on Aero Gloss filler 3X sanded and finished with Aero Gloss sandin' sealer 1X

This is where you can really screw this thin' up if you are nay payin' attention. This step requires you t' sand t' fin assemblies against t' body tube upon which you have taped sandpaper. (i used 220) Keep it straight.....forward and backward. Finally and most importantly check t' angle o' t' fin when test fittin' it on t' tube. Measure t' distance from t' tube t' t' bottom end o' t' support. All three lower fins should be t' same. Two o' mine were 4 1/2". Blimey! If they are different you are goin' t' have problems later.

T' lower and upper fins need t' be mated in t' next step.Yeah....too steep an angle so I resanded and got it t' fit.

There are 27 fins from card stock t' be installed as well as t' main fin assemblies. Begad! T' awesome "G" part helps with alignment.

T' kit is supplied with 3/16" launch lugs. Well, blow me down! I opted for 1/4" since this thin' is kind o' a monster.

There are 9 strips o' 1/8" balsa that needs t' be cut at each end t' 45 degree angle and then shaped t' a point. Blimey! They are then mounted on t' upper body tube.

Drilled 1/8" holes in t' top o' t' coupler and then thought better o' it as it didn't seem t' let much air through. Ahoy! So I widened them t' 3/16. Then it was glued t' t' upper body tube.

Now t' fun part begins.

Get out your sandin' sticks with this one. Arrr! Lots o' nooks and crannies. Begad! I can't imagine how much fun this would be with balsa fins instead o' t' 27 cardstock ones.

First some white.   Then some really dark gray. Begad!

  No grain visible.

Painted with black lacquer after t' humidity finally dropped. I am goin' t' attempt a mid-coat when t' humidity drops again. 9.3 oz. Avast! right now.

I decided t' put a prism metallic mid coat clear on it because it was just beggin' for it. Avast! It's very subtle until t' light hits it. 9.6 oz. Ya scallywag! right now

T' decals are pretty tough. I had no real problems other than truly thinkin' this thin' out. Begad! T' finish is a bit flat awaitin' t' final clear coats. Arrr! 9.65 oz. Blimey! now.

Applied 6 coats o' clear lacquer. Begad! I then sanded and polished most o' it down t' a nice glossy finish. Avast! I used an acrylic floor finish on t' 27 cardboard fins which nay only provided a good clear but strengthened their structure.

T' finish on this beast was originally an idea I had for a guitar project. Arrr! Blimey! I thought I would try it out on this rocket first. T' finish looks very deep and it is almost impossible t' photograph. T' guitar will be a walk in t' park now. T' transition was seamless until I began wet sandin' upon which both joints broke. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I was testin' some glues at t' time I put this together and I used Loctite's Go2 glue for t' transition. Avast! Blimey! Well t' Go2 can Go2 t' round file. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' Black Star Voyager is a great kit from Estes. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I had me doubts but I have increased me skills t' a much greater degree after doin' this project. How does it fly? Heck if I know. Arrr! Blimey! It would be like launchin' a violin in some respects. Aye aye! Blimey! I will build another in flat black and report back.