I'm getting ready to start building the re-released Estes Alien Invader, but I want to give it the old paint job from the 1970's catalogs. The main difference of course being the fluorescent red/orange on the inside of the side tubes. There is also a bit of black just inside the tubes (maybe 1/8").

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/78est034.html

Any advice on a simple way to achieve this result?

I can't give you much advice on doing the red, but for the black ring, you can use a brush to get a little paint inside, very close to the end making sure the very end of the tube is colored. Then, after that paint dries, use black trim tape inside the opening to give you a clean, neat line 1/8" wide (or 3/16" or 1/4").

Doug

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That sounds like it will work nicely. Thanks Doug!

Here's how mine turned out. I didn't use any color except black on the insides of the side tubes, but I DID use thin CA and then de-fuzzed the ID's.

Hence:

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Looks great! Hope it flies as nice as it looks.

Use a brush and acrylic paint like Testors bottle. The water based paint along with a good brush will hide the brush strokes. It will probably be best to first paint the inside tubes flat white to act as a primer then go over it with fluorescent red-orange.

I lined the inside with orange Trimkote. It has to be very carefully applied (cut long in the axis and even in the inside surface). This picture is the clone from from PDR with Excelsior decals. I used the same technique on later builds and had very good response. Second image is the Estes re-release. with clear coat. To add the band you could run a balck strip of trim and then touch up the lip with a Sharpie.

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I used orange construction paper.

Lots of good ideas here. Thanks everyone!

Aren't those BT-50 size tubes? Could you paint the inside orange then slide a spent D motor in from the other side just short of sticking out? Then spray the black layer?

Chris