Estes Gemini Titan #1978 Build, Part 10, Wrap Around Roll Pattern Decals Part B

The bulk of the black fill was done with a larger permanent marker. I blackened the area wider than the tunnel so even if the cut open decal was too large I would still have black coverage.








Here's how the decal band was cut to fit over the tunnel.
First it was marked and triple checked before a hole made with a rotary punch. The sides were cut with a knife straight down from the circle.




The UNITED STATES and 12558 decals were home printed.
The kit supplied vertical UNITED STATES decals were too tall to fit the paint masked areas as shown in the instructions. My home print decals fit the area and better matched the decal placement shown in Alway's Rockets Of The World.

I see now why this kit did not last long in the Estes lineup. The mistakes in the masking  instructions and (even when new) unusable decals probably made some unhappy customers.