I'm getting ready to start on an Estes Super Neon. I read reviews of the rocket on Rocketreviews, and it looks to me like the instructions for aligning the tube fins/fins are lousy. I figure I can get the tube-fins on the body okay, and just eyeball the fin placement.
But I am at a loss as to how to paint the rocket. I expect I'll brush paint the interior of the tubes, after trying to spray some primer in there. But how in the world does one paint the rear tube fin area, with all those recessed areas? I don't want to leave them unpainted as they will be visible to some extent.
I thought about masking two thin strips up the sides of the tube fins (one for gluing it to the main body, and a shorter strip where the fins will attach) and painting them prior to assembly. Then remove the tape where the fins will go, attach the fins, and spray paint them. Then attach each tube-fin to the body. But I had wondered if it would be a good idea to glue the tube-fins to each other to increase the strength or is that unnecessary?
Or is there a better way that I haven't thought of?
But I am at a loss as to how to paint the rocket. I expect I'll brush paint the interior of the tubes, after trying to spray some primer in there. But how in the world does one paint the rear tube fin area, with all those recessed areas? I don't want to leave them unpainted as they will be visible to some extent.
I thought about masking two thin strips up the sides of the tube fins (one for gluing it to the main body, and a shorter strip where the fins will attach) and painting them prior to assembly. Then remove the tape where the fins will go, attach the fins, and spray paint them. Then attach each tube-fin to the body. But I had wondered if it would be a good idea to glue the tube-fins to each other to increase the strength or is that unnecessary?
Or is there a better way that I haven't thought of?