Reviews : Estes Black Star Voyager Model Rocket Kit

Overall this is a really good looking rocket. I have painted mine differently though & dubbed it the Minion Star Destroyer. I have to say this is the hardest rocket build I have ever done. Its 3 main fins have no less than 10 different pieces of balsa wood that come together to form each fin. I recommend using insta-cure gap filling glue for its quick drying otherwise you will go nuts trying to hold the parts together for cure time. I also used some plastic wood to fill gaps on fins & then sand smooth. If you take your time it builds up very nicely. As an experienced model rocketry guy I added some upgrades of my own. The nose cone is attached to the main frame through elastic cord tied to kevlar string which is anchored to the motor mount. I also added a stainless steel pot scrubber under the upper reducing coupling. This is pulled apart & stuffed into the lower tube. It cools the ejection blast so no wadding is needed & the upper tube can be used for just parachute & cord. This is a hefty rocket & I can tell it will take some umpf to get it off the stand. I set mine up for 1/4 launch rod & only fly my large rockets with Aerotech reloadable motors. They give plenty of power to get it off the stand & flying true. Happy rocketing. Steve

I thought this rocket would be super hard... in fact it was really simple to build... Estes did a great job with the instructions... if you have built a QCC explorer then you are completely capable of building the BSV... I highly suggest using your CWF on the balsa before you attach them... it will make for sanding a whole lot easier... The build looks awesome when you are done and you will have a feeling of accomplishment when finished... a couple hints for when you are building... ditch the tri-old shock cord anchor and use some kevlar anchored to the transition piece (there is a loop to anchor too) then use some elastic at the end of the kevlar... also add a little bit more nose weight then what Estes gives you... what i really like about this rocket is that Estes had incorporated a baffle like system with this rocket... I'm giving this rocket an excellent rating because it is super fun to build and does offer a challenge to even skilled rocketeers...

It's a really nice appearing rocket, but it was a sad day when I saw the launch of an Estes Black Star Voyager, shredding the fins about 30 feet off the ground, on an E12-4. One word of priority, when constructing the BSV, *EPOXY* only. Reinforce the balsa wood, by laminating plain printer paper, with thin liquid CyA adhesive, after the assembly of the fins, this keeps it lightweight, but strong and won't flutter in flight. Upgrade the shock cord to braided nylon, or Kevlar and mount to a body tube coupler. Upgrade the parachute to nylon. Leaving the engine block out will enable you to use higher grain number 24mm motor casings, instead of limiting to only BP E motors. It's a long enough rocket to handle these casings and only have to add nose weight for balancing C/G. BSV would look even more impressive on a composite blue, green, or red flame motor and deserves that chance, reaching over 2,000 feet.

This is a fantastic model - a challenge to build, but not so difficult that you want to cry. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. The kit has some fun aspects to the build that stray from a normal model rocket. This is a beautiful rocket and is a fantastic flight on a E9-4! The price is outstanding for the quality of the model and components

This was fun to build with the 3 dimensional fins. It looks awesome. You need to take your time building the Black Star Voyager, The fins are all quality balsa and each one must be constructed, It is so beautiful I am almost afraid to fly it.

Overall, the rocket worked pretty well. Putting the fin pieces on gave me a little trouble, but I was able to cement them into place. I would buy it again.