Question about historic rockets.

Maybe this post belongs in the Watering Hole, but I am hoping that scale hounds will know the answer.

Is there a technical reason why some classic rockets have one fin of a different color than the other three? Two examples would be the D-Region Tomahawk (3 black, 1 red) and the Nike Smoke (3 red, 1 yellow).

Is it just cosmetic, or does it serve a technical purpose?

Just curious. Thanks.

It allows you to tell how the rocket is rolling in flight.

Otherwise, you might not be able to tell that w/o really clear camera/telescope images.

Some rockets (say the Black Brant II) don't have a different colored fin, but have a roll pattern that serves the same function.



Though there is a photo that shows a BBII with a variation on the fin patterns.



HTH
Jim

For the first several decades of rocket and missile development, the only way to "see" what was happening with experimental launch vehicle designs and test flights was to track the rockets optically from ground stations. These stations were located near the launch site, a few miles downrange, and as much as hundreds of miles away.

Rockets and missiles were painted with bold colors and contrasting roll patterns so that in case of mishaps, analysts could later examine the photos and learn if the vehicle had rolled or turned. Because there was little or nothing left after an inflight failure, these clues were just about the only thing the analysts had to work on, so they were pretty important.

As to oddly painted fins, stripes, checkerboards, etc, you will often still see these markings applied to aircraft missiles and bombs during development programs to see how stores behave during separation or ejection.

These markings are a little less important now that advanced electronic telemetry is available, but you will still see them used in some cases.

Cool. I knew you guys would know. Thanks.