I had some extra parts laying around and decided to build a rocket. One day I was sitting on the patio with my girlfriend and she had just finished getting her nails done. They were black, silver and hot pink and I though what a cool combo. So I told her I would build a rocket for her using those colors. I figure by doing so I would get her more involved and we could spend weekends when I have the time and cash and shoot them off.
The rocket itself is just a BT-80 4x24 cluster for "D and E" motors. It has an Apogee nose pictured in the background and the fins are 3/16" balsa fins that have been skinned with copy paper. The nose cone I started painting to match the upper portion design on the rocket should have it done soon.
I used Duplicolor primers and the top coat is Rustoleum Ultra 2x cover Gloss White. After I painted the gloss white two days later I handle the rocket to inspect the paint job and by doing so I left some small finger prints. I should have just left them alone, but being a perfectionist I had to wet sand and then spray another coat of white. Well the paint crazed and it was even worse. Yeah just my dumb luck! I waited a couple days and wet sand the craze out. this time I just left the finis dull and started with the other colors, which consist of Rustoleum Neon Pink, Tester's Metallic Silver and Duplicolor Flat Black. I pretty much just painted the rocket with paint I had laying around and wanted to use up what I thought would look good. The nose as I write this already has the "Van Halen" design on it and is painted hot pink. All I have to do tonight and add some more tape lines and paint over it flat black. So when I pull the tape up it will match the pink and white under lines. Yes I did line up the lines coming off the top of the body tube to match the nose. I even keep the same pattern on the shoulder.
Someone on here suggested using Rustoleum Crystal Clear 2x for the top clear coat, which is what I want to do to finish the rocket and bring the gloss out on the white that I wet sanded and also the other colors on the rocket. I just hope that it doesn't craze and that it's compatible with the other paints. IDK? It seems every paint something always happens:lol:
Any feed back on the clear coat would be greatly appreciated. Can you guys steer me in the right direction. I know you have to use very light coats and gradually build it up until you get the desire finish.
My question is how light coats do you use and what is the time frame that should be allowed for this process?? I know even when painting top coats some manufacturers suggest light coats when applying paint and to gradually apply heavier coats each time until you get 3-4 coats evenly within an hour time frame spread out every 15 minutes.
I'll post the nose cone later tonight when I finish it.
As you guessed it I will be using a 24" neon pink Top Flight chute. I was also considering maybe a Topflight "X" type parachute. As far as size I would have to put the specs in ROCKSIM and sim it out. Since an "X" chute has less drag I was thinking maybe a 30" pink and black.
The rocket itself is just a BT-80 4x24 cluster for "D and E" motors. It has an Apogee nose pictured in the background and the fins are 3/16" balsa fins that have been skinned with copy paper. The nose cone I started painting to match the upper portion design on the rocket should have it done soon.
I used Duplicolor primers and the top coat is Rustoleum Ultra 2x cover Gloss White. After I painted the gloss white two days later I handle the rocket to inspect the paint job and by doing so I left some small finger prints. I should have just left them alone, but being a perfectionist I had to wet sand and then spray another coat of white. Well the paint crazed and it was even worse. Yeah just my dumb luck! I waited a couple days and wet sand the craze out. this time I just left the finis dull and started with the other colors, which consist of Rustoleum Neon Pink, Tester's Metallic Silver and Duplicolor Flat Black. I pretty much just painted the rocket with paint I had laying around and wanted to use up what I thought would look good. The nose as I write this already has the "Van Halen" design on it and is painted hot pink. All I have to do tonight and add some more tape lines and paint over it flat black. So when I pull the tape up it will match the pink and white under lines. Yes I did line up the lines coming off the top of the body tube to match the nose. I even keep the same pattern on the shoulder.
Someone on here suggested using Rustoleum Crystal Clear 2x for the top clear coat, which is what I want to do to finish the rocket and bring the gloss out on the white that I wet sanded and also the other colors on the rocket. I just hope that it doesn't craze and that it's compatible with the other paints. IDK? It seems every paint something always happens:lol:
Any feed back on the clear coat would be greatly appreciated. Can you guys steer me in the right direction. I know you have to use very light coats and gradually build it up until you get the desire finish.
My question is how light coats do you use and what is the time frame that should be allowed for this process?? I know even when painting top coats some manufacturers suggest light coats when applying paint and to gradually apply heavier coats each time until you get 3-4 coats evenly within an hour time frame spread out every 15 minutes.
I'll post the nose cone later tonight when I finish it.
As you guessed it I will be using a 24" neon pink Top Flight chute. I was also considering maybe a Topflight "X" type parachute. As far as size I would have to put the specs in ROCKSIM and sim it out. Since an "X" chute has less drag I was thinking maybe a 30" pink and black.
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