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  #1  
Old 05-09-2023, 02:12 PM
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Solomoriah Solomoriah is offline
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Default Astron Drifter

So, at long last, a new project. "New" in the sense that I took a 50% complete rocket from about 6 years ago and finished assembling it; it's an Astron Drifter clone, built from BMS parts. I've put the first coat of primer on and then filled some blemishes in the tail cone; when that dries, I'll give it a light sanding (remove "hairs" from the fins and smooth out the filler) and start priming and sanding in my usual fashion.

But that means that "soon" I'll be to the painting stage, and then what? BMS doesn't seem to have any of the Drifter decals. It seems that some Drifter kits have had varied decals; the first appearance in the 1966 catalog has a complicated-looking roll pattern that may not have been a decal. It's depicted in that livery up through the 1970 catalog, and then the photo shows numbered fins and an "Astron Drifter" stripe. That design survives until the 1976 catalog; the 1977 catalog shows the numbered fins but no name stripe, and the last two years, 1978 through 1979, shows no decals at all.

SO. I don't want to go with a "naked" paint job; I want it to stand proud next to my Centuri Starfire clone (from Semroc) which has nice decals. I have seen, in my Google searching, a number of vintage Drifters wearing a basic block roll pattern similar to the Centuri/Semroc Astro or Astro Jr., and I suppose that would be better than nothing, but this is a BT-50 Estes sized tube rather than the Centuri sized tube of the Astro rockets.

Ack. I guess what I'm asking for, in my usual long-winded way, are solid suggestions for how to dress this rocket when it's done with painting. With sources for the decals, of course.
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Old 05-09-2023, 05:36 PM
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The folks that took over/bought out Tango Papa decals have a Drifter set: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3254528300...ABk9SR5ybv6qAYg

I have not done business with them (yet), but they have come up in other contexts here.
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Old 05-09-2023, 08:32 PM
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Well, let's find out. I've ordered a sheet.

Enough for two rockets in catalog dress. ... now maybe I need another?
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Old 05-09-2023, 08:48 PM
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I have gotten decals from the folks that took over Tango Papa.
They are generally made to order and take a few days to fill orders, but are GREAT decals.
Worth a few extra days wait.
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Old 05-09-2023, 10:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
I have gotten decals from the folks that took over Tango Papa.
They are generally made to order and take a few days to fill orders, but are GREAT decals.
Worth a few extra days wait.

That’s good to hear. Thanks.
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Old 05-09-2023, 11:10 PM
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+1 to that. CMR Products’ Tango Papa decals are top notch.
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Old 05-09-2023, 11:54 PM
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Well, I will share the finished build here. If I have time tomorrow I should be able to apply the gray primer and then when that's dry I can get started on the sanding.
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Old 05-09-2023, 11:54 PM
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+2. The CMR decals are nice, relatively inexpensive and totally worth the slight wait.
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Old 05-10-2023, 01:06 AM
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Since there's all this love for CMR here....does anyone know if they will take on new rocket projects/rocket-related decals that aren't in their current "catalog"?

I suppose I could just ask them....
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Old 05-10-2023, 05:48 AM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
Since there's all this love for CMR here....does anyone know if they will take on new rocket projects/rocket-related decals that aren't in their current "catalog"?

I suppose I could just ask them....

Yeah, I was thinking about asking them for a price on the Centuri Spacemaster decal. They're selling individual decals via eBay quite a bit lately. I have a set coming for my just finished Estes Python, and I recently got an old school Estes Yankee decal.
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