Friday, January 6, 2017

Oh No . . . More Stuff for the Build Pile!

More new products have been added to the Coming Soon page on the Estes website: CLICK HERE

The Porta Pad II, (III, IV, V or VI, whatever it is now) and standard controller are back, this time molded in red.

With the newer orange pad I thought this one was going away. Those orange launchers and 9v controller are on clearance now. I won't been seen using a launcher with lightning bolts in the legs - Sorry!

The Space Twister has long tabs that go down the leading edges of the fins that cause a spinning boost.
The Protostar looks like a fun build.
The fin pods are three nose cones like the one included in the Alien Invader. Those nose cones have pods on the pod, so to speak. A smart design element.
It reminds me of the old Centuri Quasar but longer. This one uses the nose cone and tail cone from the Sprint XL kit.

Get ready - too many builders will try to use chrome spray paint on the Protostar.
Not recommended! 
TIP: For those who haven't used chrome spray paint, it never seems to dry! Fingerprints will show up even when the paint seems to have cured. You'll have better luck with silver or aluminum paint.

7 comments:

  1. Hi Chris,
    What brand of aluminum paint spray paint do you get the best results with ? I have always had great results with Model Master Enamel Aluminum but I have to use my airbrush.

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    1. Hi Moontana,
      I use the Rustoleum Aluminum and their Metallic Aluminum with great results. These aluminum paints go on smooth, dry very quick (within minutes) and look great. Careful with any Rusto Metallic colors though. If you mask over them they can pull up when the tape is removed.

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  2. Hey Chris,
    You are spot on with the problems of chrome paint. I learned the hard way a few months ago. Did a scratch Mercury Atlas build and a clone of the Titan IIIE. Paint was tacky for days after application. Used the chrome as a base paint then masked for secondary colors, the tape marred the chrome finish.
    Would like your opinion on another problem with chrome paint that I haven't seen mentioned. Occasionally there are areas where the paint seems to be repelling itself, leaving an uneven finish. If it's OK with you can I send some pictures to your Odd'l rockets e-mail? This is driving me crazy!

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    Replies
    1. Hi BAR,
      You are welcome to send pictures, but I think we are all in the same boat. I just sprayed the Solar Warrior and had a very small spot where the paint bubbled up! I don't know what to say except be sure you are using paint from the same manufacturer and follow drying and re-coat times to the letter!

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  3. Agree with you on the lightning bolt theme to the launch pad. yuck.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Naoto,
      Yeah, I don't think I would want that launcher when I was 10 years old!

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    2. Anybody happen to know if this pad is the same size or smaller than the old Porta Pad? If the same size, I'd worry about the durability -- the legs don't look as substantial as on the Porta Pad.

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