Post a photo of your recently completed project(s)

[Steven]

All I seem to do is paint rockets black and white, Mercury Redstone's, Saturn V's and Nike Zeus's. Maybe a flame job on one would break up the monotony.

 

[Tyler P]

All I seem to do is paint rockets black and white, Mercury Redstone's, Saturn V's and Nike Zeus's. Maybe a flame job on one would break up the monotony.

That was happening to me. All my sounding rockets are variations of red, black, silver and white. I needed to break out and do something different.

 

[Steven]

It's a decades old virus.

 

[Nytrunner]

afternoon

Thats an amazing paint job.

Was it all airbrush by hand? Howd you do the chicken wire pattern?

 

[Tyler P]

Thats an amazing paint job.

Was it all airbrush by hand? Howd you do the chicken wire pattern?

Thanks! The colour blend and shadowing at the edges was airbrushed freehand but the rest was a whole lot of masking and re-masking. The honeycomb pattern was done with a stencil I picked up from Midwest Airbrush Supply.

 

[AfterBurners]

Behold...The Estes Centuri. I call it the "Big-Little Rocket". This model was a real fun build. I did leave out the small tail cone and used the new screw on 18mm retainer. I always disliked the engine hooks. I did pick up another one to modify for a 24mm mount to use D12's. This kit was a surprise...seemed like a little model rocket until it came together...it has some presence. It will be nice and slow on C6's...cant wait! I really recommend this kit. Fun build and GREAT decals.

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That is beautiful!!!!! Perfect paint job and great attention to details. Amazing!!

 

[John Taylor]

This is an Estes Mini Fatboy I painted this afternoon.View attachment 403926 View attachment 403927 View attachment 403928

Awesome job, very unique

 

[John Taylor]

Just finished three small models to fly at a DARS low power monthly launch. Tired of flying the same four , twenty year old beat up rockets.

 

[jnmiller]

Does this count? Art Applewhite Priority Stealth.. Great Winter project, no paint needed!

 

[BSNW]

Tyler
That mini-Fat Boy is incredible. Your posts are sure to increase the number of folks who are going to airbrush rockets. Rattle cans have limited color choices too. Wow! Too cool! I have to learn how to airbrush.....just dont know where to begin.....wish there was a thread on it......hmmmm.....who could do that?
Andrew
Andrew

 

[Tyler P]

Tyler
That mini-Fat Boy is incredible. Your posts are sure to increase the number of folks who are going to airbrush rockets. Rattle cans have limited color choices too. Wow! Too cool! I have to learn how to airbrush.....just dont know where to begin.....wish there was a thread on it......hmmmm.....who could do that?
Andrew
Andrew

Thanks, Andrew! Airbrushing isn't as hard as some think. It does take a bit of learning and experimenting but it's not super hard.

I'm thinking about doing a little video series on what I've learned and how I go about what I do. I'm far from pro, and there are a lot of more experienced guys on here, but I'm always learning and trying new things!

This is my painting page that started out mainly for RC bodies, but as I've learned how to paint more traditionally, I've been sharing all my rocket paintjobs too. https://m.facebook.com/TPaint-152419618909612/?ref=bookmarks

Also, I included a little step-by-step on this build: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/loc-iris-1-63-park-flier-paint-tutorial-at-end.156909/

 

[Wm Reid]

Here’s a little ship I knocked out while building my Resistance rocket...

It’s a BT 5 with an engine block inside...about 10” tall. No recovery system as she’ll tumble down after ejecting her engine. I can’t wait to test her out!

 

[jqavins]

Sweet. Sleek.

 

[neil_w]

No recovery system as she’ll tumble down after ejecting her engine.

Why will it tumble? Looks like it should be quite stable without the motor.

 

[Greg Furtman]

Thanks, Andrew! Airbrushing isn't as hard as some think. It does take a bit of learning and experimenting but it's not super hard.

I'm thinking about doing a little video series on what I've learned and how I go about what I do. I'm far from pro, and there are a lot of more experienced guys on here, but I'm always learning and trying new things!

This is my painting page that started out mainly for RC bodies, but as I've learned how to paint more traditionally, I've been sharing all my rocket paintjobs too. https://m.facebook.com/TPaint-152419618909612/?ref=bookmarks

Also, I included a little step-by-step on this build: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/loc-iris-1-63-park-flier-paint-tutorial-at-end.156909/

Tyler, I've watched a number of airbrushing vids on YouTube but none have been very practical to me as I want to cooly paint rockets. It woul really be great if you did a video tutorial on your process in painting rockets. I can do the masking/painting thing when there are 2 or 3 colors, but not the blends, the metal flake or pearlized process. The Mini you just built is gorgeous!

 

[Wm Reid]

Why will it tumble? Looks like it should be quite stable without the motor.

I guess I’m not using the term correctly, I just mean she’ll come down sans motor with no recovery system in place. I hope she doesn’t lawn dart [emoji51]. We’ll find out this spring [emoji1360]

 

[jqavins]

What you probably wanted to say is "featherweight" meaning simply that it's so light that it doesn't matter if it lawn darts. Which it probably will; with the motor ejected the CG moves forward, which increases the stability margin, so you should expect it to go nose forward down just like it did up.

And that's OK if it qualifies as featherweight.

 

[neil_w]

I guess I’m not using the term correctly, I just mean she’ll come down sans motor with no recovery system in place. I hope she doesn’t lawn dart [emoji51]. We’ll find out this spring [emoji1360]

What I’m saying is that it *will* lawndart unless you’ve taken steps to ensure it is unstable on descent. Just from looking at it, that will be quite stable on the way down, even more so if you’re ejecting the motor which will bring the CG forward.

IMHO this rocket is unsafe to fly in this configuration. Technically it violates NAR safety rules by having no recovery system.

 

[mbeels]

I'm thinking about doing a little video series on what I've learned and how I go about what I do. I'm far from pro, and there are a lot of more experienced guys on here, but I'm always learning and trying new things!

I'd be interested in seeing your video series on airbrushing, it'd be helpful for someone like me who has zero airbrushing experience.

 

[Arsenal78]

What I’m saying is that it *will* lawndart unless you’ve taken steps to ensure it is unstable on descent. Just from looking at it, that will be quite stable on the way down, even more so if you’re ejecting the motor which will bring the CG forward.

IMHO this rocket is unsafe to fly in this configuration. Technically it violates NAR safety rules by having no recovery system.

Tumble recovery is a recovery system in itself. If it violates NAR rules, how has Estes managed to have tumble kits all these years? Largest I've done tumble recovery on was a 24mm min-diameter upscale Luna Bug. NAR's rules are childish and outdated and don't take into effect that tumble can be done safely.

 

[Tyler P]

Tyler, I've watched a number of airbrushing vids on YouTube but none have been very practical to me as I want to cooly paint rockets. It woul really be great if you did a video tutorial on your process in painting rockets. I can do the masking/painting thing when there are 2 or 3 colors, but not the blends, the metal flake or pearlized process. The Mini you just built is gorgeous!

Thanks, I'm working on it! I have to make a little recording setup in my shop and I'll try to do a little video.

 

[neil_w]

Tumble recovery is a recovery system in itself. If it violates NAR rules, how has Estes managed to have tumble kits all these years? Largest I've done tumble recovery on was a 24mm min-diameter upscale Luna Bug. NAR's rules are childish and outdated and don't take into effect that tumble can be done safely.

Tumble recovery means the rocket is designed to be unstable on descent. The rocket pictured will be stable, therefore it will not be tumble recovery, it will be lawn dart recovery.

 

[Tyler P]

Tumble recovery means the rocket is designed to be unstable on descent. The rocket pictured will be stable, therefore it will not be tumble recovery, it will be lawn dart recovery.

If it ejects the motor, it will tumble quite well. However, I think ejecting the motor might be an issue.

 

[neil_w]

If it ejects the motor, it will tumble quite well.

Why? Ejecting the motor moves CG forward, improving stability.

 

[Tyler P]

Why? Ejecting the motor moves CG forward, improving stability.

Depends on weight. If it is super light, it probably won't stabilize. That being said, I had an Executioner that had the shock cord detach and the nose cone was on the chute. Opposite effect, but the body started spinning on the fins and floated down softer than it would've on the chute. The other option on the little rocket, if it has a shock cord it could separate and it really would flutter down.

Edit: The Estes Mini Mosquito is tumble with no recovery. It ejects the motor and flutters down. It doesn't stabilize.

 

[neil_w]

Edit: The Estes Mini Mosquito is tumble with no recovery. It ejects the motor and flutters down. It doesn't stabilize.

The Mini Mosquito is a very different rocket from the one in question.

In any case, I won't derail this thread any further. I stand by my previous assessment.

 

[Greg Furtman]

Thanks, I'm working on it! I have to make a little recording setup in my shop and I'll try to do a little video.

Good, I'd love to see your processes.
On the airbrushing thing I discovered a series of YouTube videos by Genessis Models, a British company, that provides a lot of good airbrushing info & tips.

 

[kuririn]

Gotta go with Neil on this. At 10" it's too long and stable to tumble. Even the much shorter Semroc Li'l Hercules needs washer weights on the fins in order to tumble. Otherwise it will come down nose first and ballistic. Hopefully not on someone's head. (Don't ask me how I know). Either break apart recovery (mid point separation with a tether) or streamer recovery will suffice on this one.

 

[kuririn]

Just recently finished clear coating these two: cardstock Little Joe and Quest DC-Y Space Clipper ( cardstock shell).
They go up at the next launch. Waiting for a weekend with calm winds.

 

[kuririn]

One more.

Thread is here: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/fastest-build-thread-evah.157156/
Laters.