Manny Trotta just finished a beautiful build o' this kit and it is only because o' a question he asked me from me last build (the Estes - Scorpion) that I am postin' this one as I continue t' experiment with different paper coatings. Well, blow me down! I first learned about paper coatin' balsa from a tip in a magazine that t' N.A.R. Avast, me proud beauty! sent me when I first joined. T' first two or three dozen rockets that I built after that I covered usin' regular printer paper because I had an almost unlimited access t' used printer paper at a job I worked before retirement (so I stock piled a bunch o' it figurin' I could use it for future builds).

On me last build (Estes - Scorpion) I tried a different paper (brown packin' paper that came with me order) with mixed results. Arrr! Pro: It be easy t' apply Con: but t' thin and fibery and required more sandin' t' get a good finish which resulted in much of t' paper bein' sanded off (won't be usin' it again).

This build I opted for a sheet o' 22x28" poster board that I bought at Michael's Art & Crafts store for less than a buck. I must say at this point this be t' best material I've worked with so far. Avast! It is thicker than regular paper but yet thin enough t' cut easily with an E-xacto cutlass and has a surface that will be a breeze t' paint. May very well be me goto paper in t' future. Begad! Followin' are some pics o' t' build so far.

MM & Scoop Fin Assembly

(I used a magic marker t' blacken t' fins)

Balsa parts before and after paper coating

Baffle assembly. Ya scallywag! Bottom has aluminium duct tape added t' help prevent burn through o' wood.

(another o' me experiments carried over from another build that worked)

Top o' baffle showin' steel wool insert that I added t' help trap hot gas particles

(another o' me many experiments with baffles) 

Startin' win' assemblies

Wings glued on

Shot from tail

(rudders are nay glued on yet and have nay done any paintin' or priming)

Small bottom fins added

Scoop and top fin glued on

 T' black insert in t' scoop and tail rin' on MM are nay glued on yet as I'm doin' all t' primin' and main coat before they are glued on. Due t' expected difficulties o' paintin' betwixt t' small fins on t' bottom, they also will be painted before gluein' them on, but will be glued on before final clear coats are applied.  

Bottom aft end o' rocket

Started snowin' again. Begad! 2" o' snow on t' ground this mornin' when I got up and weatherman is callin' another 4-6'' through t' day so don't look like I'm goin' out t' t' garage t' paint any time soon. Aye aye! I am soooo tired o' snow. 

Well I must admit I almost forgot about this build what with doin' 3 projects at t' same time. So once t' weather broke I started t' paint work by primin' t' entire rocket with Rust-Olium 2X white primer followed by a light sanding. I then removed t' two small bottom fin pieces and t' win' tips and painted them separately with Rust-Olium White Gloss. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I then painted t' rest o' t' rocket Gloss White. After givin' everythin' a day t' dry I masked off t' raised section o' t' win' tips and then painted them with Gloss Black. T' tail rin' was also painted at this time. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After allowin' all parts another day t' dry I then removed t' tape from win' tips and glued them on. Begad! Blimey! Wings and BT were then masked and t' black trim was added.

Win' tips glued on

Black trim added

Note: MM removed 

Once all paint was dry all tape and paper was removed and rocket was taken back outside t' air dry for t' rest o' t' afternoon.

MM was next on t' list and was glued in as per instructions. With it glued in t' tail rin' was set in place and tacked on with super glue. Arrr! T' intake vanes were then put back in place and tacked in with super glue as well. T' 2 fin tabs under t' win' were also glued on at this time with wood glue. Rocket was again given t' afternoon t' dry while I turned me attention t' t' NC.

Air drying

I'm sorry I neglected t' take any photos o' t' next set o' steps but I'll tell you what I did. Begad! T' NC has 5 black panels and 2 black vents shown in t' cover photo t' which thar are no decals provided on t' decal sheet. So takin' me frog tape, shiver me timbers, I masked off all o' these. I then took an exacto cutlass and followin' t' indent on each I cut them out. T' rest o' t' NC be then masked off and t' exposed areas were then painted gloss black. Once these areas were dry I removed t' tape and then masked off t' tip o' t' NC and spray painted it Bright Red. After allowin' paint t' dry a bit paper be removed and NC left t' dry overnight. T' followin' afternoon I again masked off t' tip for t' black section. Ahoy! After sprayin' it with gloss black I then gave it t' rest o' t' afternoon t' dry. 

T' final step was t' add t' decals. Begad! All decals were trimmed as close as possible and as such were a bit difficult t' apply but with t' aid o' some Windex all were applied t' me satisfaction. Begad! After givin' rocket one more afternoon t' dry I clear coated it with two coats o' Rust-Oleum Clear coat t' seal everythin' up.

CI - 1351 Top shot 

Another angle 

CI -1351 Bottom shot 

Yet another angle

Just need t' finish installin' t' parachute and this bird is a wrap 

Sorry I took so long in postin' t' flight o' this kit. Maiden flight was on 05-28-16 on an Estes E9-4. This was a slow lift off t' pad and weather cockin' badly. End result saw rocket goin' horizontal. Way under powered as it didn't gain much altitude. Begad! Had t' new Jolly Logic Chute Release System onboard and set for 400' and it deployed just after ejection charge fired. Forgot t' get a recovery photo. Definitely needs a bigger motor. Second flight was on 07-29-17 at NARAM 59 on an Areotech E20-4. Begad! This was a near perfect flight. Ahoy! Will definitely be usin' this motor for future flights.

Maiden flight

Second flight for Cosmic Interceptor

Cosmic Interceptor recovery