Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Build, Part 14, Tomahawk Wrap Decal

I should have checked beforehand - 

That upper black band goes right over the lumpy shock cord cover! I've seen this a few times in kits. As an example: Decals are sometimes placed over launch lugs. Poor planning and kit design. 

If I had looked ahead I could have put the shock cord cover lower, just beneath the black band decal.

Before placing the black band, I ran a black Sharpie around the top edge of the body tube. It will make for a cleaner color separation if you cover up the white paint.

Start the decal with the left side set into the edge of the shock cord cover.

The decal rolled around all right but there was a bump directly above the raised shock cord.

While it was still malleable, I cut through the decal from the center area forward. This made a "flap" where after one side was pressed down, the other side layered on top. 

The raised area is now pretty flat. Not perfect, but better.

Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Build, Part 13, Color Coats - Finally!

I had the two models prepped for color coats - ready to move onto my patio to spray paint. I looked out the back window and saw this - 

Two hours later the rain had dried up. I was risking some "bluing" or a dulled finish, but decided to spray anyway. Enough delays!

The upper body of the Exocet was painted orange. The final black on the lower body will fully cover the orange and white fade.

The Tomahawk nose cone was taped to a dowel and painted red.

There was some dullness in the gloss white caused by the humidity after the rain. Sometimes you can shine it up using automotive polishing compound and a microfiber cloth. 

On the left is the dulled white - 

On the right, the same fin after polishing.

Apollo Spacecraft Video

While I wait for the white undercoats to dry - 

 Here's an interesting, in depth video: CLICK HERE 

Rain! . . . and more rain!

Just about the time the humidity drops at 2:30 p.m.  It rains! I can't paint.

Work continues on the Mini Scale Combo Pack rockets, but is stalled by the weather!

School Supplies - Rocket Supplies

An annual reminder - Back To School Supplies are on sale!

I don't use school glue. I use wood glue.

But - the wood glue nozzle is too wide! 

Buy a bottle of school glue, and change the two nozzles.

The threads are the same.

At the Dollar Tree store - 

Clay nose weight for $1.50.

It's also good for trimming boost gliders.

 

Occasionally I can use glue sticks.

They are great for paper body wraps.

Another buy at the Dollar Tree store.

Mylar table cover sheeting for streamers and parachutes.

Also available in a chrome finish.

This sheeting is pretty thin, it's more prone to ejection charge  damage. 

So, be extra careful when packing the wadding: CLICK HERE

Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Build, Part 12, Sanding White Undercoats

Here's the same fin, before and after fine sanding after a white undercoat.

The die-cut pressure crimped the backside of the fin edges.

It's finally smoothing out after initial sanding, filler/primer and sanding and now sanding the white undercoats.

The paper shock cord anchor looks okay after light sanding. There is still a shock cord hump.

 

The tube joint should look better after the color coats.

Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Build, Part 11, The Exocet Launch Lugs

Here's the instruction launch lug illustration:

The forward lug should be set back 3/8" to hide it behind the leading edge of the upper fin. 

The lower lug is set into the root edge of a lower (offset) fin.

If the lower lug is set into the root edge,

(The upper picture is a dry fit)

Enlarge the picture - 

Note the lugs aren't in line if glued on this way. This could cause friction on the launch rod.

The lugs are larger than the instruction illustrations suggest.

The lower lug was glued on a little to the right of the lower fin root edge.

Now the two lugs are in line.