Estes Alien Invader clone

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

The cone is from Mike Schmidt at Moldin' Oldies. This one's a bit of a pain to cut out, sand and seal as it has a MESS of balsa, but the end result is worth it. For some reason I chose to shoot the pic from the bottom view. I'll do better later.

[ShieldWolf]

That one's on my list of rockets to clone, eventually.

I really enjoy the SciFi style rockets that I used to drool over as a kid, but never had the money to buy. Now I have the money, but the kits aren't there any more. At least, not on the shelves of my local hobby shops.

Moldin' Oldies for the nose cone, huh? I had assumed that I would have to add the pods to an existing cone. I'll have to check them out and see if they offer some of the other cones I'm looking for. Thanks.

Randal

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I'm not sure he's updated the web page yet, but he has a ton of new cones available that a bunch of us sent him last year. Ask if you don't see something,

[Ltvscout]

I'm not sure he's updated the web page yet, but he has a ton of new cones available that a bunch of us sent him last year. Ask if you don't see something,
No, Mike hasn't sent me an update yet for the website.

Besides, I still have to get BARCLONE updated for Craig first! ;)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I did some more work on the Alien Invader tonight before going in to watch the Reds/Cubs game on TV. Now I know why I took so long to start this project. Sanding is a cast iron b1tch! There's almost no way to get into the spaces between the fins with my snausage fingers, so if you see me at a launch with the AI, promise to check it out from 10' or so. With a little luck it gets primered tomorrow, so I should know more then as it tends to accentuate any areas I missed. ;) :cool:

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Wxcept for decals (and LAUNCH LUGS,) the Alien Invader is flight ready. I'm hoping to get it flying next Saturday, but weather and work could still throw a monkee wrench into things. I decided to paint it in a non traditional scheme. It's Valspar Bumble Bee Gloss up front, but the back is a Model Master blue/black that I was hoping would turn out darker. It applied almost purple at first, but darkened to an almost bruise-like blue. Not as dark as I would have liked, but it's distinctive and it makes the Day-Glo inside the tubes really pop.
(Also got a new grill. All is well in Kentucky right now.)

[Ltvscout]

Wxcept for decals (and LAUNCH LUGS,) the Alien Invader is flight ready.
Lookin' good!

[Doug Sams]

Bill wrote:
> the Alien Invader is flight ready


Bill,

Suhweet! You did great on the paint - looks beautiful.

Doug

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Thanks. Yeah, she's purdy, and no one is more shocked than I am. The fins looked rough after I primed them, so I resealed them and tried again. They still looked rough, even after a weeks worth of detail work, so I just went ahead with the paint. Apparently Model Master paints have good coverage because they look very nice, even under close scrutiny in full sun. I'm not out of the closet yet. I still have to get the decals on. :eek: Hopefully the next set of pics will be of a completed clone.
And then, on to the Andromeda, 1/2 finished for almost 4 years now. :o

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Tuesday is rocket day around here. Tonight I finished the Alien Invader clone. It turned out looking pretty nice. I still have to attach the shock cord to the Kevlar and epoxy a screw eye into the nose cone, but that should be finished by tomorrow.

[CPMcGraw]

Really nice job, Bill.

Craig...

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Thanks. Any ideas on what kind of gloss coat might work best? I was thinking about hitting it with a couple of coats of Future, but does that really protect the decals.
Speaking of which, the decals all went on easily except for the big wrap decal at the front of the body tube. It broke into three pieces and had to be fit into place like a puzzle. Luckily the decals didn't grab all that fast, so I was able to reposition them fairly easily.

[Eagle3]

Thanks. Any ideas on what kind of gloss coat might work best? I was thinking about hitting it with a couple of coats of Future, but does that really protect the decals.
Speaking of which, the decals all went on easily except for the big wrap decal at the front of the body tube. It broke into three pieces and had to be fit into place like a puzzle. Luckily the decals didn't grab all that fast, so I was able to reposition them fairly easily.

Nice job Bill. The Alien Invader never really did anything for me when it was produced, but your clone changes my mind.

I've used Future on two models so far. Both still look brand new. Both have flow and show no signs of wear. I applied the Future with a foam brush and it tended to bubble and the more you brush the more it bubbles. It eventually cleared up though. If there's one con it's the tendency to run. I thought I got all the runs spread out but after it fried I noticed a couple I missed. You really have to paw over the models to find them though. As far as protecting the decals, I think it does just as fine a job as any clearcoat.

[ShieldWolf]

Tonight I finished the Alien Invader clone. It turned out looking pretty nice.

Correction- It turned out looking VERY nice. :D

Great job, but if you guys keep posting such nice work, I'll never get up the nerve to post any of my stuff. :o

Randal

[CPMcGraw]

Thanks. Any ideas on what kind of gloss coat might work best? I was thinking about hitting it with a couple of coats of Future, but does that really protect the decals.

As for Future, I haven't tried it out yet, but it's a very old trick that I saw back around 1979 in an IPMS publication. :rolleyes: Their recommendation was to airbrush it, and I think they said go straight out of the bottle with it. It was thin enough to be used as-is. Don't remember the pressure setting, though. :o


Craig...

[CPMcGraw]

It was thin enough to be used as-is. Don't remember the pressure setting, though. :o

Went back to this website:

http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com/howto/matt_01/matt_01.htm


Matt Swan recommends 15-20 psi on the brush, straight from the bottle. :D

I seem to think :eek: that IPMS recommended a little higher, like 30 psi, but you get the idea... :rolleyes:


Craig...

[ScaleNut]

works great from the airbrush. the trick is getting it wet but not runny ..a fine line

the model looks great! why do you do the launch lug so late in the construction? or did you just forget(done that before)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Forgetting the launch lug is apparently a tradition, but it's one that I wouldn't mind making a break with. :D :rolleyes:

[Ltvscout]

Tuesday is rocket day around here. Tonight I finished the Alien Invader clone. It turned out looking pretty nice. I still have to attach the shock cord to the Kevlar and epoxy a screw eye into the nose cone, but that should be finished by tomorrow.
Looks great! Next time pose your rockets next to a bottle of beer instead of a vase. ;)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

That's my mug.

[Ltvscout]

That's my mug.
Then it should be full of your favorite malt beverage. ;)

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

It was. :cool:

[pdrake]

hi, i'm sorry to just pop in as a newbie and ask a question, but, i will anyway.

i'm building an upscale alien invader. approximately 12x. i have the original plans and know the tube diameter, but i'm not sure of the body tube length. can someone help me on that?

i'm a high power guy. level 3 tripoli.

i'd be happy to share photos and updates of the build and launch.

perry

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

12.7"
Good luck with this project. I'd love to see the pics. :cool: