Brief:
180% upscale o' t' classic Estes Astron Star Blazer (K-31) usin' BT-55 (1.325") and parts from t' spare parts box.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• BT-55 11 5/8" long
• BT-55 4" long
• PNC-55 (5 3/8" long)
• balsa sheet 1/8" x 4" x 36"
• strip basswood 1/8" x 3/16"
• JT-55 tube coupler
• block balsa t' carve canopy
• BT-20 3" long
• 2 AR-2055
• EH-2 engine holder
• AR-520 engine block
• 18" parachute
• screw eye
• elastic shock cord
• shock cord mount o' your choice

Estes rated t' original Star Blazer as a Skill Level 3, which I feel is accurate based on t' curves o' t' fins, the long, me bucko, thin root extensions, t' cockpit canopy that is supposed t' be carved from a block o' balsa, and t' 4-color paint scheme. I decided on BT-55 and after downloadin' t' instructions and patterns from JimZ and makin' correctly sized patterns on a photocopier, shiver me timbers, I began construction. Aye aye! I decided on a suitably shaped plastic nose cone from a designers special or nose cone pack. It may nay exactly replicate t' original BNC-20N from t' kit, arrr, arrr, but it works for me. Arrr! I suppose I could have special ordered a near clone from BMS, but I opted for what I had on hand. Avast! Avast! I decided on an 18mm motor mount t' keep flights on t' (relatively) cheap. Like t' original, me hearties, t' body tube separates behind the canopy. Avast! Rather than usin' a relatively pricey balsa nose block, I scratchbuilt a nose block from t' JT-55 tube coupler and some scrap 1/8" balsa. I strengthened t' lower end with a cardstock centerin' rin' for t' recovery system screw eye t' attach to. I traced t' inside diameter o' t' JT-55 on t' balsa and cut it out, securin' it inside the JT-55 with a good fillet o' yellow glue. Ahoy! I then glued t' cardstock centerin' rin' t' t' balsa and cleaned it up to ensure a smooth fit in t' body tube.

I secured t' nose cone in place t' t' short length o' body tube t' canopy will be glued to. Blimey! T' 4 inch payload section is non-functional. Avast! Its only purpose is a place t' glue t' canopy to.

For t' fins, me hearties, I first traced t' pattern onto 0.040" sheet styrene and carefully cut that out, me hearties, bein' careful to preserve t' curvature o' t' pattern. This would serve as a guide t' help me cut t' graceful fins from a 4” wide piece o' 1/8” balsa. These are big fins! I used 1/8” strip basswood for t' root extensions, shiver me timbers, me hearties, thinking they would stand up t' finishin' and handlin' better than balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Then I started thinkin' about how t' tackle t' carved cockpit canopy. Avast! My first attempt didn't work out well. Avast! Avast! I selected a piece o' square balsa stock cut it in half lengthwise on t' diagonal (corner t' corner) and traced t' basic kite-shaped pattern as indicated in t' original instructions downloaded from JimZ. Then I wrapped a piece o' coarse sandpaper around a length o' BT-55 and started sandin' longitudinally. Before too long I was creatin' a dusty mess. Blimey! Arrr! Instead o' gettin' t' desired results, shiver me timbers, I realized I was sandin' off course... Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' resultin' cavity was driftin' t' one side as I sanded. Arrr! I shelved that idea and decided on gettin' a larger block o' balsa. Begad! Before cuttin' it in half, I chucked a 1.25” spade bit in me drill press and drilled a lengthwise hole down through t' center o' t' balsa block. Then I cut t' block in half as before. Ahoy! Now at least I had a cavity t' start with, even though it was a bit smaller in diameter than a BT-55. After layin' out the kite pattern and cuttin' off t' excess balsa, I started sandin' on t' body tube again. Well, blow me down! This time me efforts were workin' as planned. Arrr! I be gettin' a piece o' balsa that would conform nicely t' t' diameter o' t' BT-55. Satisfied with that effort, t' next task was t' shape t' canopy. Begad! Try as I might, I just couldn't (or didn't want to) replicate the relatively complex shape o' t' original. Avast, me proud beauty! I decided on a fairly simple canoe-shaped design that would probably pass for a canopy once painted. Begad! Avast!

Once t' fins and root extensions were attached and dry, me bucko, I glued t' canopy t' t' tube and used Fix-It epoxy clay t' blend t' canopy t' t' tube as best I could. Durin' this time I was realizin' me finishin' skills needed much improvement. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I broke out me 8-year old pint can o' Sandin' Sealer and started applying. Ahoy! Begad! I used some Fix-It t' fill some shrinkage holes in t' yellow glue fin fillets, shiver me timbers, matey, which worked quite well.

Finishing:
After sealin' and primer, I painted t' red/white/blue scheme shown in t' early Estes catalogs. Avast! T' canopy is gloss black. I don't have any decals for t' Star Blazer yet. Avast! I might try Tango Papa. Ya scallywag! Engine selection will be C6-5 and recovery by 18” chute.

CONs: fairly complex maskin' required t' get good separation betwixt t' body tube and fins/fin fairings, matey, 3-color pattern on fins, and isolatin' t' black on t' canopy.

Flight:
First flight be conducted at SSS "SpringBlast" in April 2007 on an Estes C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Good motor for this rocket given t' 3.5oz weight. Nice straight boost with successful chute deployment and recovery.

Recovery:
Nothin' unusual t' report. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!

Summary:
PROs: Nice challengin' build o' an Estes classic but on a slightly larger scale. Well, blow me down! Tests your skills at cuttin' curved fins, ya bilge rat, alignin' long, matey, skinny fins, matey, shapin' a block o' balsa into a canopy, me hearties, and fairly complex maskin' and painting. Nothin' t' experienced builder can't tackle successfully. Begad! Avast!

CONs: Gettin' t' canopy shaped correctly is probably as difficult as on t' original. Arrr! Use your thinker and come up with a workable solution like I did.