Quest Astra Stickers, Part 2

On the left - 

I couldn't figure out why the tip of the fin sticker wasn't laying down. The back of the sticker sheet was scored and some backing was still left on the sticker.

Below the nose cone is a body wrap. 

TIP: Start the joint end directly over the launch lug, glued on below. When setting your rocket on the launcher, position the lug and sticker joint seam facing to the rear. You won't see either when you take a picture before launch.

Notice I leave the backing on and peel it off as the sticker is rolled around the body tube. This is another way to keep the back of the sticker clean for a smoother finished surface.

I did my best to match the sticker color of the darker blue to the spray painted blue on the third fin and nose cone.

TIP: I'll often take the kit face card into hardware store to match up the color cap on the spray paint can.

Royal Blue was a close match to the dark blue on the stickers.

Here's the finished model.

A clean color combination with just the right amount of interest.

Quest Astra 1 Stickers, Part 1

This won't be a full blog build. 

The Astra I is Quest's answer to the Estes Alpha. Both designs have three clipped Delta fins and an Ogive nose cone. The Quest tubes are Metric, this one is 25mm diameter. Both the Estes BT-50 and Quest 25mm tubes are close in diameter. The Quest tubing feels stronger.

The Astra I has balsa fins and a plastic nose cone. The Quest Astra III has a plastic fin can.

TRIVIA: The Quest Metric body tubes go back to the MPC days when in 1975 the United States was trying to adapt the Metric System. The lazy U.S. pretty much stayed with inches, feet and yards.

TIP: Some Quest stickers are printed on paper, others on clear plastic. Some Quest instructions mention dipping (plastic) stickers in water to allow repositioning. Never dip paper stickers in water!

Somewhere down the road you will need to place glossy paper stickers on a rocket. 

Plan ahead before placement, wash and dry your hands before peeling off the backing paper. 

TIP: Clean off your work area. Any dust and grit will end up under the sticker surface and show as a bump on the sticker surface.

On the left are the stickers provided in the kit.

Note the dashed lines outside the blue triangles. You'd think you should cut along these lines, but then the root edge of the sticker wouldn't fit tight into the fillet area.

The picture on the right shows a dry fit into the root edge. The backing has not been peeled off the sticker yet.

On the left - 

This shows the edge cuts against the solid color, inside the dashed lines.

On the right - 

TIP: If you can avoid it, don't touch the sticky back with your fingers. Pick up and position the sticker on a clean (wiped off) knife blade. Again - Any speck of dust or dirt will show up as a bump under the sticker when pressed in place.

More tomorrow -