Masking and Painting

Just last night I read the recent Peak of Flight article #495 from Apogee. It covered in detail different masking and painting techniques on how to paint scaled model rockets. I found the article well written and very informative. So much so that it makes me want to buy the SV or S1B and build it. Also considering an airbrush system as well.

Has anyone here build either one of the kits listed and if so do you recommend one or the other to start first? Also has anyone converted either kit to a cluster arrangement? What kind of configuration did you go with?

Lately I've been building at a snails pace so I thought taking my time on one of these kits would be a stress outlet and hopefully I'll get some great results.

Thanks!

Well, I just finished painting an Estes Saturn V 1969 (just before that Apogee issue was released!), and I'm about to try out a custom cluster mount so here are my thoughts:

1. This was my first "Level 4" or "Master" rocket, but I built one each of the lower levels in the prior months, so technically, I was ready for it.
2. I tried 3 kinds of making tapes (Frog, Tamiya, Testor's) and found them all useful, but mostly because of their different widths.
3. I'm pretty satisfied with the results, but still had to brush on corrections after using spray cans (I'm not into airbrushes yet). I won't win any scale competition, but I'm fine with that.
4. Be ready to spend at least 2 hours (possibly 3 or more), just to mask everything properly. Masking was longer than I expected, but if you're ready for it, you should be fine.
5. I drilled motor mounts out of basswood to accommodate 1x central 24mm motor, and 4x 18mm motors in the periphery. However, I didn't think about canting the motors inwards, so I'm debating whether I should start over.

All said, building the Saturn V is enjoyable, but it takes much longer than I was expecting. Having prior experience definitely helps.

An airbrush will give you superior results compared to a rattle can. However, don't expect to be a master without significant practice. You need to learn what pressures to use for the specific paint you are spraying (and it can vary by color even in the same brand), how a moisture trap works, how to thin paint for spraying, how to spray, how to control paint flow, etc. Plus you get to clean an airbrush after you use it!

Thanks for the good advice guys. Very helpful. I definitely want to do a cluster and canting the motors would be a nice option

I also just built the 1969 kit, I did swap out main tube for a LOC tube. Also it is now 29mm mmt. 2 Top Flight chutes and top stage comes down nose first, not level like stock. Lost LES on first flight. Great kit to build, looks very scale in air. I have 4 flights on her with a F67W, gets to about 400', pops both chutes and drifts little. Mine does weigh 22 oz. The engine fairings are frail, broke one on first landing. I have since filled them with expandable foam, stronger now. I like to use the 3m fine line tape, vinyl, goes around curves without stretching, blue in color.

David Schwantz said:

I also just built the 1969 kit, I did swap out main tube for a LOC tube. Also it is now 29mm mmt. 2 Top Flight chutes and top stage comes down nose first, not level like stock. Lost LES on first flight. Great kit to build, looks very scale in air. I have 4 flights on her with a F67W, gets to about 400', pops both chutes and drifts little. Mine does weigh 22 oz. The engine fairings are frail, broke one on first landing. I have since filled them with expandable foam, stronger now. I like to use the 3m fine line tape, vinyl, goes around curves without stretching, blue in color.

Click to expand...

Looks beautiful! Nice job on the build and plenty of detail

Thanks

Zeus-cat said:

You need to learn ... how a moisture trap works, .

Click to expand...

And depending on where you live you will also learn how absolutely mandatory one is during the summer.

Zeus-cat said:

(and it can vary by color even in the same brand)

Click to expand...

- yep, and also by whether that color is gloss or flat.