Estes Puma #7256 Build, Part 12, Nose Cone Mask

This is actually a picture from the second time I had to mask the nose cone canopy.

A 1/8" wide strip of marked Scotch tape was set around the edges. Start the strip in the mid point at the side of the curve, It would be very hard to start at the small front tip or back end curves.
Masking tape went above that and was closed along the top.

Here's the first mask.
The right side was fine -


The left side had a white paint lift. Dang! 
I tried a brushed touch-up but the results weren't good enough.
The lift area was sanded smooth and shot again with grey primer/filler. Sanding and another coat of white.

Then the second mask was done, shown in the first picture.
This time the tape lift was fine.



Both sides are clean and just need the black canopy decal to finish up the model.

Estes Puma #7256 Build, Part 11, Touch-Up

Before painting I cleaned up a touch-up brush in a drop of dish soap and water in my palm. A little bit of grey came off. Good thing it was removed here and not transferred onto the model.









Paint was sprayed in a baggie pressed in a mixing cup. spray enough until you get a puddle of paint in the cup.

This touch-up went well. You'd really have to look close to see it.
The Rusto 2X paint have their problems but the touch-ups easily blend.









After you are finished, zip the bag shut and throw it away - No mess!

Estes Puma #7256 Build, Part 10, Masking Reveal

Here's the mask after the tape was pulled.

Everything looked great on the back end.

I've mentioned before, you can use Scotch tape to mask if your surfaces and fillets are smooth.





There was a small bit of orange pulled up on the left side of the strake.
On the underside of the winglet was another paint lift!
Touch-ups are needed. I don't want to mask and shoot this again.
That small smudge of dirt on the winglet will be cleaned off with a Mr. Clean magic sponge.

My First NARAM, 1975!

George Gassaway posted a link to the CAPCOM Newsletter from September of 1975. George is looking for a different issue of the newsletter with the plans for the Rotoroc 3.
The linked issue had extensive coverage of NARAM 17, held in Orlando, Florida. Who would have ever thought I would end up living here.
To see the issue: CLICK HERE

At NARAM 17, I did enter in the Boost Glider, Rocket Glider, Robin Egg Loft, Pee Wee Payload and Streamer Duration. I did place, tying for second place in Streamer Duration. Check out the names - I was in some pretty good company!

One great thing about the NARAM was meeting all the rocketry celebrities. G. Harry Stine, Vern and Gleda Estes, Dane Boles (Estes), Howard Kuhn (CMR), Lonnie Reese and Doug Pratt (FSI), Bob Del Principe (Centuri) and all the competitors I had read about in magazines and newsletters.

5,000 Posts!

5,000 POSTS!

I think I need a hobby.

Estes Puma #7256 Build, Part 9, Masking For The Orange

This is NOT an easy mask. Take a close look at the face card. I'd make a bet it was touched up in Photoshop!
Notice the mask line down the vertical stab and the step down from the wing to the body tube.

The inset picture shows the very small piece that went over the front tip of the strake.
Scotch tape was used for the mask. Notice the square end piece to go into the step at the front of the wing.




The small forward winglets had the root edges masked with a strip of Scotch tape. The rest of the winglet and rest of the vertical stab was covered with brown masking tape.

Most of the model is sprayed with gloss orange.

Estes Puma #7256 Build, Part 8, Engines Paint

Two balsa pieces were cut to the width of the tab openings on the top of the wing engines. This gave me something to hold onto while spray painting.

The engine mount centering rings were masked and a dowel slid in for a painting handle.

I learned from another forum build by Scigs30 to paint the engines before gluing them onto the wing extensions.

Instead of just black, I used Rusto Metallic Black for a little extra shine.




UPGRADE: To add a little more detail, I cut some small squares of aluminum Monokote trim. These were stuck into the front end of the engines.