Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Part 17, Recovery Streamers

Before simply turning the screw eye into the nose cone shoulder - 

Find the center with a pencil point. It might take a few tries to find the actual center. If the screw eye isn't centered you might rub against the inside of the tube.

Screw in one full turn and check the vertical alignment. Adjust before continuing.

Here's the Exocet nose cone, the forward fins require the nose weight washers for stability. The diameter of the washers are another good reason to be sure the screw eye is centered. 

The shock cord is tied on using the Duncan Uni-Knot: CLICK HERE

Using this knot the shock cord end points down. When packing the shock cord you'll appreciate the shock cord end facing down into the tube.

The streamer (dollar store table cover) material was gold on one side and chrome on the other.

Tape the shock cord to the streamer . 

Fold the overhang and tape again.

Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Build, Part 16, Exocet Paint & Decals

Earlier in the build I questioned why there two tubes joined by a coupler. As it turns out, the upper tube on the Exocet is the color separation line between the orange and black paint!

It's a simple mask, body tube color separations usually come out very clean. The upper body was covered.

The Scotch tape mask left a very clean line.

Only two decals, centered between the upper fins. 

The same decal is on the other side.

These decals are old, but held up very well when transferred. They just needed a longer soak time.

Estes Mini Scale Combo Pak, #0874, Tomahawk & Exocet, Build, Part 15, Tomahawk Fin Decal

The Tomahawk also has black decals that cover both sides of one fin.

That leaves all the exposed edge white. 

Before placing the decal fins, I blacked the edges with a Sharpie.

The root edge is cut right up to the black ink. This gives you a clean root edge color separation. The rest of the fin though -

The fin decals are slightly larger than the fin face.

Roll over the edges as best you can. They aren't long enough to stick to the other side of the fin.

Apply one side of the fin decal and let dry.

You can trim them to the fin edges using a new single edge razor blade.

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!