Clone a Quasar without the chrome sticker?

[Spacepirate R]

An (almost) easy classic rocket to clone is the Estes Quasar; get an Alpha III, use a longer body tube, and paint the orange fin can and nose cone white/grey. The hard part is the sticker as many of us do not have an alps printer. Ideas I have had are trying to find chrome sheet sticker material or just using a good metallic paint. Any other ideas out there?

 

[neil_w]

Chrome Trim Monokote?

https://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHX87#technotes

 

[Joe_Shockcord]

I've been working on the same problem. You could print the original artwork on a white adhesive-backed sheet of paper (like MacTac) and apply it as a wrap, then cut and apply small pieces of chrome MonoKote on top, or vice versa, or like you suggested, a good aluminum paint may do. Without an ALPS printer, any way you do it will be a compromise. I once made a gray Quasar with the attached decal wrap.

I wish Estes would re-release this classic.

View attachment Quasar Decal Wrap.pdf

 

[Initiator001]

Count me in on a re-release of the Citation Quasar (KC-1).

About six years ago I made a clone of the second version of the Quasar using an Alpha III kit and a body wrap from Excelsior Rocketry (Sandman).

It turned out great.

Here's a picture of my original Citation Quasar with my clone.

 

[dpower]

Check with StickerShock, perhaps Mark could reproduce the decal.

 

[EXPjawa]

I've had good luck using aluminum foil tape as well. You can wrap tubes and fins with it, but an ogive cone would be tricky (I have done a straight conical cone). I've thought about the same sort of issue with regards to cloning an Estes Silver Streak. I still have my original, but the tube is hosed. I could reuse the chrome cone, but would need to replace the mylar banding and decal...

 

[Joe_Shockcord]

I think I have a solution here for Spacepirate R and anyone else who ventures to make a Quasar clone:

Attached is an improved version of my Quasar wrap. The first one I posted had the chrome areas replaced with gray so it could be printed on a laser printer but the measurements were way off. This one is a compromise where the chrome behind the name is replaced with white with black outlines and the star is gray, but the measurements are nearly perfect. If you wrap the first 1 7/8" of the body tube with chrome MonoKote and then apply this paper wrap to the rest of the tube, it could make a reasonable facsimile of the original Quasar wrap. Not perfect, but close. Since this PDF is vector-based you can scale it up to make a larger clone.

Please note that I neglected to include the launch lug notch at the bottom left so you'll have to cut that yourself. I hope to include the notch for the final version. Bear with me, as I am still learning Illustrator.

View attachment Quasar Wrap Beta.pdf