- Joined
- Jun 14, 2017
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 2
Hello! I used to build & fly rockets as a kid, but havent been near one in 20 years....then I got back into it in a big way this Spring. I'm in the DC area (Arlington), and we launch in a very large field out by Manassas, but I'm also really looking to get involved in some local clubs if possible. I'm starting to get interested in mid power and high power....but in any case, here's the progression of kits I've built over the past several months. My skills have been progressing slowly but surely along the way.
Started with a Mosquito...fun rocket but man its easy to lose sight of:
Then I built these 3 - Little Fat Boy is definitely is a favorite performer. Had to dig the Baby Bertha out of the trees. Lost a Big Bertha over the fence....but got another kit ready. The finishes on these are kindof ugly, didnt figure out sealing fins, filling spirals, enamel paints, etc.
Estes Bull Pup and Mini John are lot of fun, but I did convert the Mini John to streamer recovery due to my inability to get the parachute to deploy:
The Red Max kits unexpectedly became a favorite of mine - even have a MDRM on the way!
To get into bigger stuff, a Big Daddy. I wish I had been more adventurous getting a fade in the painting, maybe next time.
One of my favorite rockets, the Estes Mercury Redstone. With this one I started using Duplicolor automotive filler primer and enamels using the techniques outlined in the forum here and I'm starting to get much better results:
One that I always wanted as a kid, but just too big, the Mean Machine. I was able to find an older 90s kit on eBay UK for $20 plus $12 shipping. Can't beat that! Kit was a little banged up on the tubes but some filler and primer smoothed it over. The weather in DC is incredibly humid now so I'm holding off on painting the black (and painting the following rockets) until it clears up because I get really bad blushing.
Estes V2 and Mega Mosquito with their yellow base coat. Waiting for lower humidity to mask and spray the black:
R2D2 also waiting for the dry weather!
Lastly a pair of cluster rockets, a Screamer (2x 18mm) and a Semroc Ranger (3x 18mm). Not going to wait for the weather to spray & sand the primer, but will wait for final painting. Really looking forward to launching these!
Oh....and there's a pile or two of kits waiting to get built! Starting with a fiberglass 1.6" Black Brant kit I bought from Madcow on their 4th of July sale....separate thread to follow!
Started with a Mosquito...fun rocket but man its easy to lose sight of:
Then I built these 3 - Little Fat Boy is definitely is a favorite performer. Had to dig the Baby Bertha out of the trees. Lost a Big Bertha over the fence....but got another kit ready. The finishes on these are kindof ugly, didnt figure out sealing fins, filling spirals, enamel paints, etc.
Estes Bull Pup and Mini John are lot of fun, but I did convert the Mini John to streamer recovery due to my inability to get the parachute to deploy:
The Red Max kits unexpectedly became a favorite of mine - even have a MDRM on the way!
To get into bigger stuff, a Big Daddy. I wish I had been more adventurous getting a fade in the painting, maybe next time.
One of my favorite rockets, the Estes Mercury Redstone. With this one I started using Duplicolor automotive filler primer and enamels using the techniques outlined in the forum here and I'm starting to get much better results:
One that I always wanted as a kid, but just too big, the Mean Machine. I was able to find an older 90s kit on eBay UK for $20 plus $12 shipping. Can't beat that! Kit was a little banged up on the tubes but some filler and primer smoothed it over. The weather in DC is incredibly humid now so I'm holding off on painting the black (and painting the following rockets) until it clears up because I get really bad blushing.
Estes V2 and Mega Mosquito with their yellow base coat. Waiting for lower humidity to mask and spray the black:
R2D2 also waiting for the dry weather!
Lastly a pair of cluster rockets, a Screamer (2x 18mm) and a Semroc Ranger (3x 18mm). Not going to wait for the weather to spray & sand the primer, but will wait for final painting. Really looking forward to launching these!
Oh....and there's a pile or two of kits waiting to get built! Starting with a fiberglass 1.6" Black Brant kit I bought from Madcow on their 4th of July sale....separate thread to follow!