Mylar Streamer Material?

On TRF, Mike Haberer posted about Streamer material:

"I bought a 500' roll of mylar bird scare tape on Amazon and cut a 1/4" wide by 12" long streamer from it."

A quick search on Amazon and I found this.

It is available in a 2" wide by 350 foot roll for $7.00.

No word on how thick it is, but would have to be fairly strong to stand up to outdoor use. Mylar can easily melt if you don't use enough wadding.

Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 5, Paint, Shock Cords & Streamers

The black paint was scraped off the low end to glue on the engine retaining rings. (I really should have masked off the gluing areas!) I used the Beacon Fabri-Tac glue here for a strong bond between plastic and the Kraft tubes.

The shock cord was tied off to the nose cone using a square knot.

TIP: instead of cutting off the loose end, stuff it into the slot under the shoulder eyelet.

This shows how the rolled loop of masking tape sits on the back of the fin for spraying. The root edges are butted up against each other to keep the paint off.

The way I'm building it, I have to spray one side and let it dry for two days. The fin is flipped over and the other side is sprayed.

The streamer is taped onto the shock cord with clear tape.

I like to set the streamer down on my work table and center the shock cord on top. The tape is dispensed oversize so it the ends can be held with my fingers. It is centered and pressed in place.







The overhand is carefully cut off with scissors.

Streamers - Food For Thought

Streamers were mentioned in a Facebook post. In a response, Bradley Lawrence Smith said he uses Kite Tails for streamers.
At ROCK club launches, I've always like the streamer Tom Dennon uses. It's a very colorful rip-stop nylon streamer his Mother sewed up for him. It is very easy to follow after ejection.

A quick search brought up these 2" X 60" rip-stop streamers for what seems to be a reasonable price.
There is a grommet, the description implys that all five streamers are joined together at the top.
You could get quite a few strong streamers from this array. The efficient 10 to 1 ratio could yield 15 nylon streamers for $5.49!
Here's the link: CLICK HERE

And for all the "Children Of The Sixties" there's even a three strand Tie Dye!

Ribbed Streamers TIP

On the Rocketry Central Forum I asked Dave from Hot Rod Rockets where he got the ribbed Mylar streamers used in his kits. Here's his response:

"Ribbed streamers ... Well  here's more insider info: Little old Special effects magic there!
If it's real Shiny Sparkly Mylar it's from the party store Gift wrapping.  Makes perfect streamers. Bright and reflective in the air and on the ground in the tall grass!
Crimping is done with a paper crimper.   Make it by the mile!" 

http://www.joann.com/fiskars-paper-crimper/4121422.html
Thanks Dave! A tool like this might also be useful for some corrugated wraps.