Enerjet by Aerotech Initiator Build, Part 11, Sticker Planning

Don't simply jump in and start laying down stickers - 

Plan ahead to see which stickers need to be placed first for everything to be centered and all to be lined up.

The INITIATOR name is centered up the body tube between two fins lines, on the opposite side of the launch lug.

I find the center by pressing a piece of paper between two fins. Press in and crease the paper at the root edge. Match the creases, and fold in half to find the center.

Mark the body tube with a pencil at the centerline.  

The decals aren't stuck down yet, but are held in place with tape on the back.

Notice how the orange trim line cuts through the word INITIATOR and lines up with the orange down peak of the upper body wrap.

I set the INITIATOR name sticker by visually centering it in the white area between the leading edge of the fin and the upper wrap. 

Lightly mark the center with a pencil. 

You'll want to see the center mark after the backing is peeled off.

Also lightly pencil mark the top and bottom at the base and top of the INITIATOR sticker. 

Enerjet by Aerotech Initiator Build, Part 10, Rear Centering Ring & Nose Cone Color Match

The rear centering ring did need some edge sanding to slide into the rear end of the main airframe tube.

You'll find it easier to fit it into the top end of the tube. If it ends up too tight you can remove it by spinning (turning) the ring to grab and slide it out.

You can't turn and flip the ring if inserted into the motor mount end.

The rear centering ring is slid in place until it contacts the back of the low ring lock ring. 

Apply a wood glue fillet. Here I'm smoothing out the fillet with a Q-Tip. It's too narrow an area for a fingertip.

Here's what I was talking about earlier, matching the nose cone color to the red on the decal sticker.

The sticker still has the backing on it, it's not stuck down yet. 

The nose cone will need some passes of the regular Ace Banner Red to lighten the burgundy color.

Before I just grab a can of paint I already have - I'll take the face card off the instructions (or cut the picture off the box) to the hardware store and try to match colors with the cap on the spray paint can.

At the time, burgundy was the closest color. But, things looked different when the sticker wrap was set next to the nose cone and placed over the white paint.

Plan ahead:

I didn't tie the shock cord to the nose cone because I thought there might be some color matching. With the nose cone untied, I could spray it off the model.

Color Wheel Compatible Colors?

From the Facebook Estes Model Rocket page: Eric K. posted: 

"I was thinking this might help in color choices for your next build."

   

Kirk G. responded:

"No. it doesn't help at all."

 

White isn't even mentioned.

Another thing that always struck me as strange - When light color filters are used, white ends up as the combination of all colors. Black is the absence of all color. 

Explain that concept to a five year old with a box of crayons. To a kid, white is the paper you add colors to. When color crayons are layered and combined, you end up with a dirty purple/brown - almost a black.

I never found the Color Wheel helpful when picking out compatible color combinations on model rockets. In my teens, spray paint color picks were whatever was left in the garage.

Now, I tend to go with a three color "rule" on sport models.

First major color, usually a light color overall. White, maybe yellow. White works best if decals are to be added. Never an overall green! Did you ever try to find a green Centuri Star Trooper in the grass?

Secondary color, a bright darker color used on fins or nose cone (one quarter to one third of the total surface area) Orange, Red maybe Purple. 

Third color accent - Black nose cone, decals and/or some chrome trim.

If you want a good idea how it should be done, peruse the pages of the 1973 Centuri Catalog: CLICK HERE

For me, this is the work by which all catalogs (previous and new) can be compared.

Fin "Ink"- spiration

Richard L. Thompson posted on the Facebook Estes Model Rocket page:

   

 "Just a little DIY Fin detailing without paint. Just Sharpies over a few coats of yellow Krylon."

That's a great fin treatment! It looks to be a pretty even color coat from a felt tip Sharpie!

Don't expect a perfect even color when using marker pens.

This would work best when used over a light background color like this yellow.