Folks,
At the beginning of this year, the last rocket I built and flew was the Estes ODYSSEY back in the early ninties. Since then, I sort of left rockets behind.
Then, one day at the beginning of this year, I started thinking about rockets again. Approaching middle age will do that I suppose. And during one of my daily visits to the Hobby Talk website, I asked if anyone knew where I could get an Estes ATLANTIS and someone sent me the link to the Sirius website and their Refit Atlantis.
It totally freaked me out and delighted me to no end that there was an entire cottage industry of individuals making upscale kits of my favorite rockets from back when I was president of my sixth grade rocketry club. I was always partial to what I considered science fiction subjects, because I could always display them right next to my action figures and other model kits.
Needless to say, since then I've managed to buy some terrific kits. I picked up the Sirius Atlantis and most of their other rockets (I stare at their Saturn V box every day and wonder if I'll ever have the courage). I bought the Q Modeling Mars Snooper, Starship Andromeda and Starship Vega, which are all of the very hightest quality. Got an Estes Interceptor E and what I think is the coolest rocket kit ever made, Pem Tec's Space Ark from WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (although the Bucky Jones kit is pretty astonishing, too). Just the fact that Mr. Pemberton is out there making flying model rockets of 50's sci fi subjects makes me think all is right with the world.
So, all of you, my profound thanks.
Anyway, I finally got around to actually start BUILDING them. My just finished Snooper came out great. And while my glue fillets were a little chunky and required a week's worth of sanding and priming, the two tone Tamiya Metallic Red and Metallic Black paint scheme I came up with, covered with their clear coat, made for one smashing-looking rocket. My buddies have all commented on how beautiful it is. I'm amazed at how many people remember the rocket. I'm gonna' fly it next month.
Since then, I've buit the Interceptor, the Sirius Cestris and just cracked the bag on the Atlantis, the first kit I actually purchased.
Please keep posting pictures of your build progress, because I, too am a little scared of the Atlantis. I'm a perfectionist and I really want my own Atlantis to come out great. You've got some terrific ideas and I can't wait to see how it all turns out.
And between Pem Tech's, Sirius' and Q Modeling's upcoming releases I know I'll have things to build for quite some time to come...
Uh...LPR HMAS Bonestell?!?!?!? Color me stoked.
I have no real reason for posting, other than to share my excitement about all of this...