Nike-Ajax Paint Scheme

[barone]

I'm looking for the paint scheme for the Nike-Ajax. I understand there were several variations but any would be helpful. Thanks.

[sandman]

I know of only a few different variations.

Booster olive drab sustainer white

Booster flat black sustainer white

All olive drab (I don't have a pic readily available...but you don't wanna paint it that color)

All white. That's the 71st anti aircraft battalion defenders of Washington D.C.

There are a few other variants
That's about all I've seen for operational models.

Gate Guards...whole different ball game.

[barone]

Thanks Gordon. The second picture is what Estes modeled their paint scheme from. I'll probably go that route but was interested in perhaps another scheme. Your first picture looks interesting except being primarily white. Looks like white with one black fin?

[sandman]

Don, I think that first pic is a test model.

I was examining one close up this summer at the Selfridge ANG base.

They are tiny! :confused:

They were much bigger when I was 7 years old! :rolleyes:

[Race58]

Don,,
Here are the ones I modeled my Ajax/Duece after:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q276/rvfulltime/nikeajax2.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q276/rvfulltime/nikeajax5.jpg.


This is what I ended up with:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q276/rvfulltime/IMG_1209.jpg

Below are a few sites with a bunch of info and pictures with different paints schemes.
On the first site and about half way down there is a video of some launches. Kinda grainy but does show some other paint variations if you look close. ;)
The second one is pictures of the site I saw first hand when I when down to the beach to swim or to the harbor to fish long ago (50's-60's).
Hope this helps. :)
Ed

http://m-epperson.home.comcast.net/~m-epperson/nike/
http://ed-thelen.org/TPage-C-03L-Then-Now.jpg
http://www.nikemissile.org/
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-3.html
http://www.wsmr-history.org/NikeAjaxAction1.htm

[ghrocketman]

Most were produced in the "Estes" scheme with all olive "Nike" booster and all white "Ajax" sustainer/seeker/warhead package.

[barone]

Ed,

Are those olove drab booster and fins on the sustainer or black?

Thanks for the links. Opens a lot of other possibilities.

[Race58]

Ed,

Are those olove drab booster and fins on the sustainer or black?

Don,,

Olive Drab for mine. I have seen real ones done both ways. I suspect that the pictures shown are Olive Drab because they seem to match the fatigues on the military personnel there. ;)
Pretty sure I used Krylon. When I get over to the paint room I'll look and find out for sure. Only black is the "Army" insignia and the black stripe below them. The decals are from Excelsior which shows an all white sustainer and white fins on the booster.
Here:
http://towrowrow.tripod.com/excelsiorrocketry/id31.html

Thanks for the links. Opens a lot of other possibilities.

Your Welcome,,I thought it would. :D

Ed

[barone]

Don,,

Olive Drab for mine. I have seen real ones done both ways. I suspect that the pictures shown are Olive Drab because they seem to match the fatigues on the military personnel there. ;)
Pretty sure I used Krylon. When I get over to the paint room I'll look and find out for sure. Only black is the "Army" insignia and the black stripe below them. The decals are from Excelsior which shows an all white sustainer and white fins on the booster.
Here:
http://towrowrow.tripod.com/excelsiorrocketry/id31.html



Your Welcome,,I thought it would. :D

Ed
Ed...you're such a mind reader. I was going to get with Fred about decals. I didn't know he already had them. Another big thank you. I started this kit about two years ago and I'm just now getting around to finishing it (once I get some missing pieces from Carl).

[Eagle3]

There's always the University of Toledo's Nike Ajax in front of the Glass Bowl. :D

[NJNike]

When I painted mine I used the scheme from the one on exhibit at the Air & Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. They have the booster airframe and fins in OD, then the fin looking parts of the inter-stage section OD but the cone portion was white. The rest of the "sustainer" section was white except for some little red and yellow circles and rectangles that I've been meaning to put on for a little more detail. And I used the Excelsior decals for that extra special touch, even though I absolutely haaaate water-slide decals.

[barone]

There's always the University of Toledo's Nike Ajax in front of the Glass Bowl. :D
LOL.....Thanks but I think I'll pass on that particular color scheme....... :chuckle: