The black band in the model represents the gap that seperates teh fin can from the main body of the Redstone.

Oh yeah, I see it now! I looked at that photo and saw a black band. Guess I was letting the 35 years of staring at the catalogs color my vision

So now I am OK with no black band. I feel better...

Yes, but now you have to saw your Mercury Redstone in half at the top of the fin can, for scale purposes, of course.

John Pursley's superbly built 1/12 Mercury Redstone DOES have a scale gap at that point, as
well (the fin can separates from the main bodytube, held together with tiny screws). His model also has all of the bolts, rivets, etc., anything and everything someone with a keen
attention to scale and detail would include.

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

Look's like the completion of this model will take a bit longer; started to apply the decals
last night and the first two attempts failed. After a few seconds in the water, each decal
quickly cracked and somewhat dissolved. The glossy coating on the original MR7 decal
sheet looks good, but I guess the age of the kit caught up with it (strange, the original decals
of the recently built Centuri vintage Saturn - V, Estes vintage Patriot, and Maxi STAR WARS
X-Wing worked ok).

Will check and place an order with Tango Papa for new decals to complete what's been started.

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

That's a shame

Good luck.

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Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

No problem. While waiting for the decals to arrive from Tango Papa, I can go ahead and start
working on my clone of the Centuri V-2 model now that I have the balsa nosecone and tailcone from BMS. At least, this is one model where decals aren't needed...

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

The Mercury Redstone decals from Tango Papa Decals arrived a few days ago, and today
I got the model completed. The Challenger 498 model rocket club has a club launch set for
tomorrow at Rushing Park, Katy, TX , and I should be able to get a test flight of
the MR7 on a C6-3. Plan on taking plenty of pics (also the Centuri clone V-2, discussed
elsewhere here, will get a test flight too).

Assuming we get good weather, wish me luck.

BTW, the quality and service from Tango Papa Decals is excellent!!

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

Flew the Mercury Redstone today at Rushing Park, Katy, TX on a C6-3. Nice liftoff, but after
burnout the model tended to wobble a bit (my old Estes vintage MR does the same sometimes). Both parachutes ejected ok, but for some reason the main 18" chute for the
body section failed to open. One fin tab was broken loose & damaged on landing (easily
repairable). The Mercury capsule drifted a bit on a 12" chute for a soft touchdown. Also
flew the clone Centuri scale V-2 and Estes Blue Ninja. Took a lot of pics and hope to have them posted by mid-week.

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

Here's the pics of this model's first flight at Rushing Park, Katy, TX Challenger 498 club launch. Each pic has its own captions:

http://www.challenger498.org/gallery/album25/FH000017

http://www.challenger498.org/gallery/album25/FH000018

http://www.challenger498.org/gallery/album25/FH000019

http://www.challenger498.org/gallery/album25/FH000020

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.