1970s Big Berth Decals

[jqavins]

I recently picked up a Big Berth to build for redemption. (It's not important.) I want to finish it in the catalog scheme from the '70s. I don't remember what if anything on that was decals. Maybe the top stripey section? And if so, I'd like to track a set down, or get a picture, scan, whatever.

 

[samb]

I think 1986 was the first year BB came with decals, that cool "I Love the 80's" font.



Before that it was all paint, or paint and electrical tape, or paint and trim Monokote or paint and whatever else you wanted to come up with.

 

[kuririn]

Yup, samb is correct, as usual. The K-23 Big Bertha did not come with decals, so old school mask and paint or vinyl tape.
https://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/estes/k-23.pdf

 

[jqavins]

Thanks.

 

[Mugs914]

If the rumors are correct, yellow and white paint with black electrical tape will be 100% correct to the catalog photo...

 

[GlenP]

For a roll pattern with bands around the rocket and lines along the body, if I were painting them black, I would mask them separately and paint them one at a time, ie all the vertical stripes in one masking and then the bands in another masking. Not sure if that would make it any easier.

 

[JJSR]

I seem to remember mine had decals.
A roll pattern or something, it was one of my first rockets, and a patriot.
I still have BB in storage somewhere, it's been painted (by my daughter) since then, but decals are still on it.

 

[samb]

I seem to remember mine had decals.
A roll pattern or something, it was one of my first rockets, and a patriot.
I still have BB in storage somewhere, it's been painted (by my daughter) since then, but decals are still on it.

I'd like to see that if you ever dig it out of storage.

 

[JJSR]

I didn't tell ya, she painted over them though,,,,
It had to be from the mid 70s

 

[PhlAsh]

I use the roll pattern from '74

 

[jqavins]

Except for a color change between yellow and orange, all the catalogs from '71 through '85 show that pattern. It is what I intend to apply. If I'm not mistaken the kits these days come with 24 mm motor mounts (I haven't opened the bag yet) but I'll substitute an 18 mm so it's totally period correct.

I'm currently daydreaming a whole series of up and down scales with different motor sizes:

• Small Selma, 13 mm
• Medium Martha, 18 mm
• Big Bertha, 24 mm (so it won't be the redemption rocket in my pile now)
• Large Laura, 29 mm
• Giant Jenny, 38 mm
• Huge Helga, 54 mm
• Colossal Cathy, 75 mm
• Titanic Tina, 98 mm
• Outrageous Olga, 150 mm

It'll probably never happen. But maybe just Laura and Jenny. And maybe Helga.

 

[kuririn]

I'm currently daydreaming a whole series of up and down scales with different motor sizes:

• Small Selma, 13 mm
• Medium Martha, 18 mm
• Big Bertha, 24 mm (so it won't be the redemption rocket in my pile now)
• Large Laura, 29 mm
• Giant Jenny, 38 mm
• Huge Helga, 54 mm
• Colossal Cathy, 75 mm
• Titanic Tina, 98 mm
• Outrageous Olga, 150 mm

It'll probably never happen. But maybe just Laura and Jenny. And maybe Helga.

Don't forget Wee Wanda, 6 mm (MicroMaxx).

 

[kuririn]

PS the current Big Bertha still comes with an 18 mm mount. The old Super Big Bertha had a 24mm mount. The current SBB is a PS II model with 29mm mount.

 

[jqavins]

Don't forget Wee Wanda, 6 mm (MicroMaxx).

Ooh, nice.

PS the current Big Bertha still comes with an 18 mm mount.

Thanks, that makes the kit build a bit easier (not having to find or buy new rings).

Edited list:

• Wee Wanda, 6 mm
• Small Selma, 13 mm
• Big Bertha, 18 mm (now can be what's currently on the pile)
• Large Laura, 24 mm
• Giant Jenny, 29 mm
• Massive Martha, 38 mm
• Huge Helga, 54 mm
• Colossal Cathy, 75 mm
• Titanic Tina, 98 mm
• Outrageous Olga, 150 mm

 

[PhlAsh]

My 4"er is called 'Weird Uncle Bertha'

 

[kuririn]

Giant Jenny? G and J? How about Giant Gisele (as in Bundchen). Hubba Hubba.

 

[jqavins]

Yeah, that stuck out a bit, but they're a match phonetically. It also breaks the ending 'a' pattern, and Gisele is no better there. Colossal Cathy breaks that too.

Maybe Giant Gina (or Geena) and Colossal Clara.

 

[kuririn]

Maybe Giant Gina (or Geena) and Colossal Clara.

+1

 

[GlenP]

I can’t find the picture now, but a while back I remember seeing a post of someone’s Large Marge which was decorated like Homer Simpson’s wife, perfect hairstyle for it, not alliterative but a good rhyme. Not sure what motor mount it was.

 

[Ez2cDave]

"Behemoth Bertha" . . . "Humongous Henrietta" . . . "Gargantuan Gretchen" . . . LOL !