Shear Insanity: a build thread
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Oh, I misread that as "in same direction", as there's some doubt that the pieces might all do that.
By golly I actually shot some primer today.
I wrapped some blue tape around the coupler joining the front and rear sections, and jammed them together just enough so they'd stay in place. The separation enabled me to get primer on the centering rings.
Also featured in this image: assorted crap in my shed.
I wrapped some blue tape around the coupler joining the front and rear sections, and jammed them together just enough so they'd stay in place. The separation enabled me to get primer on the centering rings.
Also featured in this image: assorted crap in my shed.
Aaaaaaand white:
I did a quick dry sanding of the primer with 800 grit paper (I mean *quick*) and, then applied the Rusto 2x Semi-gloss white topcoat. It seems to have come out very good, although (obviously) I won't be able to properly evaluate it until it's comes inside. So far, two rockets in, I have had good luck with the semi-gloss white. Too bad it's so hard to find in stores.
I did observe a shocking number of gaps in my fillets, more than I have ever has on a build (there are also more weird seams on this rocket than most). Many are in the area that will eventually be black, so they'll be pretty much invisible. The white ones... well I'm not going to worry about it.
I did a quick dry sanding of the primer with 800 grit paper (I mean *quick*) and, then applied the Rusto 2x Semi-gloss white topcoat. It seems to have come out very good, although (obviously) I won't be able to properly evaluate it until it's comes inside. So far, two rockets in, I have had good luck with the semi-gloss white. Too bad it's so hard to find in stores.
I did observe a shocking number of gaps in my fillets, more than I have ever has on a build (there are also more weird seams on this rocket than most). Many are in the area that will eventually be black, so they'll be pretty much invisible. The white ones... well I'm not going to worry about it.
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
Dwight S.I. Rocket
?????
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
"Who, Me"? "I am Neil's White Shear Insanity Rocket, but you can call me Dwight".
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Is there an emoji for "Swish, right over my head"?
Brought the rocket inside to look at the paint. Pretty good. As previously mentioned, there are some horrid gaps in my fillets, e.g.:
Actually, that's so bad that I assume I completely forgot to fillet it at all. Bummer! Not sure I'm going to do anything about it, though. Will see.
Thought I might get a chance to shoot the black tonight (perfect weather!) but the opportunity did not arise. It is masked and ready to go. I suppose I should finalize my decals, I'm still not 100% happy with the design.
Actually, that's so bad that I assume I completely forgot to fillet it at all. Bummer! Not sure I'm going to do anything about it, though. Will see.
Thought I might get a chance to shoot the black tonight (perfect weather!) but the opportunity did not arise. It is masked and ready to go. I suppose I should finalize my decals, I'm still not 100% happy with the design.
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
One of those things that only you will notice/ point out. No worries.
No Worries. Everyone will so terrified pre launch that no one will notice a missing fillet. 
Cosmetically, I like it better that way. It makes a clean cut plane. As long as it's OK structurally, just leave it.
Structurally, this thing is a tank.
So, no fillet = a good thing.
The white paint came out fine; so far so good with the semi-gloss so far. The black will be a good test because my experience with gloss black has not been great. It could probably use some sanding before the black but I'm feeling especially lazy right now.
The masking job was destined to be incredibly simple until I added those white fin edges. Of all the ways I could do them, I decided that masking would actually be the least-bad option. Still a non-trivial challenge. The little front finlets were especially troublesome.
Looks good at this point but I've learned not to get cocky about this sort of thing; in my experience masking tape removal tends to be both exciting and disappointing.
Black paint will go on as soon as (opportunity ∩ weather).
The masking job was destined to be incredibly simple until I added those white fin edges. Of all the ways I could do them, I decided that masking would actually be the least-bad option. Still a non-trivial challenge. The little front finlets were especially troublesome.
Looks good at this point but I've learned not to get cocky about this sort of thing; in my experience masking tape removal tends to be both exciting and disappointing.
Black paint will go on as soon as (opportunity ∩ weather).
I'm not 100% satisfied with the decal design but I'm finished messing with it. The only change since the last render is the roll pattern. Here it is, ready for printing on white decal paper. This is going to be a trickier-than-usual set of decals to apply, I think, due to alignment requirements on weirdo airframe.
As is my new practice, All decals with black edges that will go on black paint are given some extra border. After soaking the decal, I will trim it, thereby removing the bit of edge where the ink inevitably runs. This worked well for me on... um... I think it was Plasma Dart. I'm hoping it works well here. To be sure, trimming the wet/soaked decal is not fun, but I'll stick with this approach as long as it keeps working.
As is my new practice, All decals with black edges that will go on black paint are given some extra border. After soaking the decal, I will trim it, thereby removing the bit of edge where the ink inevitably runs. This worked well for me on... um... I think it was Plasma Dart. I'm hoping it works well here. To be sure, trimming the wet/soaked decal is not fun, but I'll stick with this approach as long as it keeps working.
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Would doing the fin tips with white decals be easier than paint and masking? (says the peanut gallery after masking already in place)
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Hooray for the peanut gallery!Would doing the fin tips with white decals be easier than paint and masking? (says the peanut gallery after masking already in place
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
Seems like a less than optimal place for decals.Would doing the fin tips with white decals be easier than paint and masking? (says the peanut gallery after masking already in place
That was my primary alternative to masking, and in fact that's what I originally planned to do. It has its advantages but the problem I foresaw was the need to cut a whole bunch of perfectly-sized pieces, and with the tight spaces (front finlets) and various angled and curved edges I'd need to wrap around, it seemed like it was going to be a miserable job and very hard to get right. With masking, I can build up each edge with multiple pieces of tape, and trim a bit here and there as needed. And only the mask edge needs to be precise; the other edge of the tape can be whatever.Would doing the fin tips with white decals be easier than paint and masking? (says the peanut gallery after masking already in place
The price I pay for masking is the cleanup of the inevitable paint seepage.
What happened on that one fin and fillet? Is there masking under it or something? Everything else is so perfectly smooth (to the precision of the photo).
What method are you using to make the cuts? I'm thinking of how I would attempt it; you've probably worked out something better but, for what it's worth:
- Put the decal on a non-permeable surface, like waxed paper of some such. (OK, that part is obvious.)
- Place a straight edge, something hard, thin, and that lied all the way down on the decal, such as a steel ruler. The ruler (or whatever) goes over the part you'll keep, and the waste is visible.
- Cut along the straight edge while pressing down on it more than firmly; press hard.
- This is one of those situation where I would use the curve of a blade, not the point. My experience is that the point, even of a very sharp blade, can catch and pull in very thin material, but the curve will not.
What about the seal coat of base color or clear?
All the fins look like that. Possibly a result of not having done a coat of filler/primer to smooth it out. The fillet is just not a very good one, now that I look at it there.
I'm familiar with technique but am generally reluctant to add another coat to my paint session. I dunno, maybe I'll try it here if the mood strikes.
I'm amazed that works well on a wet, floppy decal. But if it does it does.
As long as I keep it on the backing paper and cut them together, it works.
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
If you don't have any of the base color, spraying clear and then the next color works also.
I tried it once and it didn't work (still had leakage). Could have been my bad technique. In any case, I certainly do have more white on hand.
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
Probably a timing thing. We're always walking the tightrope of "Is it too soon for the next coat" vs "Did I wait too long to shoot the next coat"
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My best success has been thin clear sprayed from an HVLP gun or airbrush, but I absolutely accept that different tools, different people and different scenarios yield different results. Personally, I will spray thin clear with good quality tape when doing things moving forward, but I know for fact that others get good results otherwise. I can also say for sure, I won't spray complex patterns, even with good tape, without a barrier coat of some sort. Spray can color on color is my last choice, but I'd do it before trying to spray black over white with just tape. I believe plenty of people have success doing it, but 100% of the time I have failed. Maybe I have oily skin or something. . .
Looking forward to the next step in the process!!!
Sandy.
Looking forward to the next step in the process!!!
Sandy.
Another weekend has gone by where the humidity hasn't dropped below 60%. My fully masked rocket continues to sit and wait.
We can turn those frowns upside down, because I got an unexpected opportunity after work today and was able to apply the semi-gloss black. I did try a shot of white beforehand to seal the tape... we'll see how that works out.
The black looks like it came out.... "OK". We'll see.
Also printed out my decal sheet, which looks great. Still need to clear-coat (yellow tinge is from photograph; actual sheet is white background).
The black looks like it came out.... "OK". We'll see.
Also printed out my decal sheet, which looks great. Still need to clear-coat (yellow tinge is from photograph; actual sheet is white background).
