Estes Colonial Viper #1310, Part 8, Decal & Template Drawing

The decal scan at Jim Z's site is usable but not as sharp as I would like. The original kit provided die-cut stickers, I wanted to use water slide decals.

I spent more time redrawing these decals than any other project to date. There's a lot of detail in the engine wraps.

The decals are now available to Patreon supporters as a PDF for home printing.
Email me at oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and ask for the Colonial Viper Decal PDF.

The templates shown below are also part of the PDF package.

You could print these on self adhesive paper (stickers, like in the original kit) or on water slide decal paper. 

This is not an exact copy of the Estes kit decals. I made a few subtle changes so I could identify them. These decals are for Single Builds Only - Not for sale or to be used in commercial kit production.

Note there is two canopy decals so you can do a double layer of the black if desired.

EDIT: As it turned out, the single layer canopy looked fine set over the gloss white painted canopy. The double layer is available if your decal print isn't dark enough.

The picture posted above right is the second of three revised decal draws. After the decals were placed on the model, a third edit followed to better fit the assembled parts.

The templates were also redrawn.

At the bottom of the fin template is the rudder piece. In the old Estes kit, the balsa grain ran parallel to the root edge, not the leading edge. I drew the rudder fin with the stronger grain orientation. 

In the old Estes instructions, they explain: 

"You may notice that the grain direction of the upright fin is not parallel with the leading edge . . . By running the grain direction parallel to the body, the fin will most likely break off rather than transmitting shock to the body. Since it is much easier to glue the fin back in place than to rebuild the rocket body, the fin was designed in this manner."

Say what? 

Any hard landing could break off a fin. There is so much extra stuff at the tail end of this rocket, it seems very stocky and strong. There are two other fins that could touch down first. Granted, the trailing edges of the other wing fins taper away from the body. I'll take my chances with the grain running down the leading edge of the fin. 

There are some extra canopy pieces. When folding and forming card stock, the first try never seems to be right. I made a few adjustments to the sides curves for a better fit on the BT-50 body tube.





The alignment guides were also drawn.
Print on 110 lb. card stock and back with a second piece of card stock before cutting out.