How Would You Guys Build the Torellian Invader?

[wz2p7j]

Remember the old Estes Orion Starfighter / Torellian Invader combo? I've almost completed a clone of the Starfighter. Since the decals are all on one sheet, I'll have leftover decals for the Torellian Invader and am thinking about building it.

How would you guys tackle all those body tubes glued around the base of the rocket? It looks like they fit so tight it would be impossible to build the rocket and paint it after. I'm thinking I'll need to build and paint the main body tube and "auxilliary engine" body tubes before assembly. Maybe with a thin line of tape where the tubes will be glued and mated together. What do you guys think?

Instructions here:

http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/estes/est1343_StarfighterCombo/est1343.pdf

Thanks, Chris

[stefanj]

I built the Invader back in the day. My standards were a lot lower; I didn't bother with filler or primer. It is the sanding that would make the tube fins difficult to properly finish.

I'm doing something like you suggest right now, for a Viking II upgrade. The root edge of each tube fin, and the matching areas on the body tube, have a strip of 1/2" masking tape. When I'm done priming and sanding I'll strip off the tape and glue and fillet the fins on. When the fillet epoxy is dry I'll spray them white.

[chrism]

Remember the old Estes Orion Starfighter / Torellian Invader combo? I've almost completed a clone of the Starfighter. Since the decals are all on one sheet, I'll have leftover decals for the Torellian Invader and am thinking about building it.

How would you guys tackle all those body tubes glued around the base of the rocket? It looks like they fit so tight it would be impossible to build the rocket and paint it after. I'm thinking I'll need to build and paint the main body tube and "auxilliary engine" body tubes before assembly. Maybe with a thin line of tape where the tubes will be glued and mated together. What do you guys think?

Instructions here:

http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/estes/est1343_StarfighterCombo/est1343.pdf

Thanks, Chris

Hi Chris,
I remember building these when they first came out. I built the TI completely and painted it Pactra zinc chromate spray. I did not have any coverage problems. I think you can build and then paint it, making sure you get full paint coverage by using light misting coats and buildng up to a final coat. If you would like, you can brush paint the insides of the tubes, cover the ends with tape and spray the rocket.

[wz2p7j]

Thanks so far for the suggestions. I guess I'm wondering how the paint gets to the underside of the tube fins if I build then paint? The gap between the tube fins is very small.

Chris

[mrhemi1971]

I'd just assemble it first, I built them when they were new, and when I painted them, I just sprayed light coats around the ends of the tubes and undersides before laying on the regular paint coats, and they came out nice, flew the invader till the shock cord broke and it tried to core sample a parking lot...

[jharding58]

There is a very tiny gap. Go by the instructions and you should not have an issue. Also paint with many light coats from multiple angles. You are never going to get completely inside the inter-tube, nor completely into the tubes, but it will cover nicely.

[wz2p7j]

Thanks for the advice. Very nice builds, by the way.

Chris

[wz2p7j]

I see now. There is a VERY slight gap between the tube fins. I thought it was, like, 1/8 - 1/4 inch or something. So the issue I have raised regarding the underside (root edge side) seems moot.

Chris

[Ironnerd]

Now you just need to build a Starblazer X-20

[Ironnerd]

I was looking at the fins of the Orion Starfighter and thought "I have seen those before!"

I think they are right here...

The Battlstar Galactica "Eastern Alliance Destroyer (http://www.shipschematics.net/bsg/images/others/destroyer_easternalliance.jpg)"...

Or was it here Buck Rogers Earth Directorate Star Fighter (http://www.kitsune.addr.com/SF-Conversions/Rifts-Other-Vehicles/Buck_Rogers_Starfighter.jpg)

Both series were done my Glenn Larson, Buck got a few BSG props and a LOT of sound F/X, so it only seems natural that they would steel cool fins from Estes...

Ya, know... That Starfighter (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/79cen032.jpg)might make a nice model... or two (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/estes91/91est48.jpg)...