Fliskit Tiberius "Steam-Punked"

The Rocketry Forum

Help Support The Rocketry Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Micromeister

Micro Craftman/ClusterNut
TRF Supporter
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
15,074
Reaction score
101
Location
Washington DC
Since May I haven't really felt much like building anything but my family and doctors keep telling me I have to do something.
That said I've been looking at the Tiberius Kit I purchase earlier this year for some time. I decided that since Jim is closing down the company I really wanted to build this kit and Steam-punk the heck out of it.
I didn't bother taking any kit building photos as this kit like everything Fliskit produced was Well documented and outstanding parts and materials.

Once the basic kit was build it was time to start thinking about what and how to begin the steam-punking of this outstanding retro looking rocket.

First the fins needed to be Avery label laminated then, edged and buttressed, rivet patterns applied external piping and other details fabricated and micro watch gears added just for fun.

Micro-Marks is currently selling a 1lb assortment of watchmaker parts that include thousands of tiny gears and spars that make the whole process much easier.
Making the various size Rivet heads was accomplished with the help of my better 2/3rds Ceramic Snow that hardens to a very hard material. I made two wooden dowel Dotters. These were used to apply rivet heads to the various area on the fins, port holes and entry door flanges. Lots of card stock and Plastruct tubing were used to add external piping valves and gauges.

The only real problem was the kits 3D printed Aero-spike, which was broken off at it's base by a very gentle tap against my computer screen during photo taking. This ticked me off no end so.... I turned a new Aero-spike from a 1/8" brass round about 1-3/4" long. 1-1/4" is embedded in the Balsa nosecone.
That Aero-spike will not break off again:)

Another concern was the 1/8" x 6" Launch Lug provided with the kit. For me this was just not something I wanted to use. Instead I formed two oversize 1/4" diameter Stainless steel "Antenna Lugs" out of .022" stainless music wire installing them as shown in the photos below. I believe these lugs are less objectionable while allowing a standard 1/8" Launch rod to be used to launch the Tiberius vertically.

Painting was a breeze using cheap gray primer (3 coat system) and all Rustoleum spray paints.
after sanding the primer the entire rocket was base coated with Gloss Black, when dry the rocket was coated with Silver Metallic. When mostly dry the entire model was highlighted with Metallic gold tilted right and Metallic Copper tilted Left. several hand painted details were added with Chrome Silver, Gold and Dark Blue.

Another great asset to Steam-punk modifications has been the raised Rivet HO and O scale Clear/Black water slide decal sheets from Micro-Mark. These 8.5 x 11 sheets contain plenty of different Single & double lines, rounds, and grid raised rivet head dots that take a lot of the fight out of hand dotting rivet heads.

While the kit comes with some great water slide decals. I had to reduce the size of the Major "TIBERIUS" decal and could only use the 121214 decals from the original sheet. I redrew the other decals needed on clear Micro-Mark Clear decal material and printed them in black. Next day the entire model (less the port-holes) were Pledge-with-Future over-coated. Model is now complete with an empty mass of 99.9g which should still fly just fine on B6-4 or C6-3's.

Below are the Steam-punk construction photos. enjoy. 701uc06_Avery Self-Stick Labeled Fins_08-13-18.JPG 701uc07a_Oversize Antenna Lugs_08-13-18.JPG
 

Attachments

  • 701uc07b_Rear Lug Close Plus_08-13-18.JPG
    701uc07b_Rear Lug Close Plus_08-13-18.JPG
    197.9 KB · Views: 178
  • 701uc08_Fin Reinforcing & straps_08-13-18.JPG
    701uc08_Fin Reinforcing & straps_08-13-18.JPG
    202.4 KB · Views: 174
  • 701uc09a_CardStock Door Parts_08-13-18.JPG
    701uc09a_CardStock Door Parts_08-13-18.JPG
    433.1 KB · Views: 160
  • 701uc09b_CardStock Door & Parts on_08-13-18.JPG
    701uc09b_CardStock Door & Parts on_08-13-18.JPG
    81.9 KB · Views: 167
  • 701uc09c_CardStock Door & Parts close_08-13-18.JPG
    701uc09c_CardStock Door & Parts close_08-13-18.JPG
    76.2 KB · Views: 172
  • 701uc11b_Plastic piping details_08-15-18.JPG
    701uc11b_Plastic piping details_08-15-18.JPG
    235.5 KB · Views: 172
  • 701uc11c_Plastic piping & detail gage_08-15-18.JPG
    701uc11c_Plastic piping & detail gage_08-15-18.JPG
    87.9 KB · Views: 155
Last edited:
more photos of the steam punk application.
 

Attachments

  • 701uc12a_Broken 3D Printed Nose Probe_08-15-18.JPG
    701uc12a_Broken 3D Printed Nose Probe_08-15-18.JPG
    310.5 KB · Views: 114
  • 701uc12b_Brass Replacement Nose Probe_08-15-18.JPG
    701uc12b_Brass Replacement Nose Probe_08-15-18.JPG
    281.6 KB · Views: 115
  • 701uc13a1_After Primer Decal Rivets & Gears_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a1_After Primer Decal Rivets & Gears_09-23-18.JPG
    291.7 KB · Views: 116
  • 701uc13a2_After Primer, Rivets, Gears & details_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a2_After Primer, Rivets, Gears & details_09-23-18.JPG
    304 KB · Views: 127
  • 701uc13a3_Close Gear,Details & Rivets_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a3_Close Gear,Details & Rivets_09-23-18.JPG
    240.4 KB · Views: 117
  • 701uc13a4_Close Upper Pipes & Porthole_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a4_Close Upper Pipes & Porthole_09-23-18.JPG
    254.2 KB · Views: 123
  • 701uc13a5_Close Door & Gears_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a5_Close Door & Gears_09-23-18.JPG
    291.9 KB · Views: 126
  • 701uc13a6_Close Ladder Details_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a6_Close Ladder Details_09-23-18.JPG
    265.9 KB · Views: 121
  • 701uc13a7_Close Upper Gears & rivets_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a7_Close Upper Gears & rivets_09-23-18.JPG
    290 KB · Views: 115
More Steam-punk photos
 

Attachments

  • 701uc13a7_Close Upper Gears & rivets_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a7_Close Upper Gears & rivets_09-23-18.JPG
    290 KB · Views: 81
  • 701uc13a8_After Primer Overall side 2_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a8_After Primer Overall side 2_09-23-18.JPG
    262.5 KB · Views: 85
  • 701uc13a8_After Primer Overall side 2_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a8_After Primer Overall side 2_09-23-18.JPG
    262.5 KB · Views: 78
  • 701uc13a9_Close lower Rivets & Gears_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a9_Close lower Rivets & Gears_09-23-18.JPG
    242.6 KB · Views: 86
  • 701uc10_Lg & Sm Rivets applied (Snow)_08-15-18.JPG
    701uc10_Lg & Sm Rivets applied (Snow)_08-15-18.JPG
    74.2 KB · Views: 86
  • 701uc11b_Plastic piping details_08-15-18.JPG
    701uc11b_Plastic piping details_08-15-18.JPG
    235.5 KB · Views: 92
  • 701uc13a11c_Close Nose Port,rivets&lug_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc13a11c_Close Nose Port,rivets&lug_09-23-18.JPG
    247.6 KB · Views: 76
The paint & decal photos.
 

Attachments

  • 701uc14a1_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc14a1_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    314.9 KB · Views: 153
  • 701uc14a2_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc14a2_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    332.9 KB · Views: 157
  • 701uc14a3_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc14a3_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    327.7 KB · Views: 154
  • 701uc14a4_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc14a4_After 4 Color Spray + blue_09-23-18.JPG
    325.2 KB · Views: 155
  • 701uc15a1_After Decals & Future #1_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc15a1_After Decals & Future #1_09-23-18.JPG
    371.1 KB · Views: 161
  • 701uc15a2_After Decals & Future #2_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc15a2_After Decals & Future #2_09-23-18.JPG
    454.1 KB · Views: 168
  • 701uc15a3_After Decals & Future #3_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc15a3_After Decals & Future #3_09-23-18.JPG
    419.1 KB · Views: 172
  • 701uc15a4_After Decals & Future #4_09-23-18.JPG
    701uc15a4_After Decals & Future #4_09-23-18.JPG
    452.4 KB · Views: 144
He had Jyoti Amge do it for him.

MV5BMTk3ODU2ODc2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDI1OTU4MjE@._V1_UX214_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg


Nice work Micro. As much as I appreciate details, Steampunkin' isn't my forte.
 
Absolutely amazing. I love steam punk rockets and this one is one of the best I have seen
 
Thanks for the Kudo's guy's:
This rocket just screamed to be steam-punked.....I just had to do it:)
I have several other Models that I've Steam-Punked just for fun. why yes they are Micro's.

Actually the primer was sanded between coats "before most of the exterior detail was applied". For instance, I tried to apply the raised rivet decals before priming but the moisture from the decal distorted the tapered body shroud. Since they had to be applied after the shroud was sealed they were almost the last details added. Sanding around the larger "Snow" sculpted rivet heads were done with micro chisels, sanding sticks and the edge of very fine sandpaper folds.
Most of the exterior piping was added after priming. The ladder was primed and painted separately and epoxied in place with 5 minute epoxy tinted with copper paint after the rest of the rocket was painted.
 

Attachments

  • 381a2_MM ISM SF Frank-In-Space_09-15-11.JPG
    381a2_MM ISM SF Frank-In-Space_09-15-11.JPG
    98.4 KB · Views: 71
  • 383a_MM Buck Shot Decal & Futured_10-10-11.JPG
    383a_MM Buck Shot Decal & Futured_10-10-11.JPG
    95.1 KB · Views: 66
  • 401a_MM SteamPunk MACME Shrew accent left_03-18-14.JPG
    401a_MM SteamPunk MACME Shrew accent left_03-18-14.JPG
    80.8 KB · Views: 74
  • 401b_MM SteamPunk MACME Shrew Accent right_03-18-14.JPG
    401b_MM SteamPunk MACME Shrew Accent right_03-18-14.JPG
    97.3 KB · Views: 75
Last edited:
Why Yes Snrkl:
During the first stages of construction I considered using some weathering materials used on Aircraft and other spacecraft projects awhile ago.
After consideration I went with the Shiny paints because I really like the way they change colors in sunlight. depending on the angle you can see the base metal-flake silver, gold or copper. I don't believe I'd get that color change if I had weathered over them. Even a light lampblack wash would have dulled the surface to the point I doubt we'ed see any color change at all. Good thought though:)
 
Back
Top