Deltie Airshow In Primer

 The Airshow model has now progressed through the lengthy primer and sanding operations, and is now ready for paint.

Once again, I plan to brush paint the model with hobby acrylics. 

That begins...tonight.

In parallel, I can now also turn my attention back toward continuing work on the Viking IV scale model. 

How To Get Yourself 'BAR'-ed !

 During our recent trip to Maryland, we stopped for lunch after the trip to Goddard Space Center at this little restaurant near Laurel called 'The Ram's Head".

Nice little place.  Right on the Bay. Pretty good food.

I was amused at this sign I saw on a telephone pole right in front of our parking space:

Interpreted by a curmudgeonly old model rocket enthusiast, this sign could have several meanings.

And again, would that be 'engines' or 'motors' ?

Goddard Space Center - Finally Made It !!

This past week, Mrs. BlastFromThePast and I spent another week visiting family in Maryland. This was my third jaunt to the state within a five-year period. The previous two times I was there, I had planned to pay a visit to Goddard Space Center, but various circumstances prevented that from coming to fruition.

Third time was a charm.

Finally there ...!

Here are some pics.

The first are some highlights of the indoor section of the museum:

A detailed model of the Space Shuttle deploying Hubble.

An equally great model of the ISS.

And... a moon rock!

Here are some shots of the Rocket Garden display outside:

Thor Delta

Black Brant VIII

Nike- Tomahawk

Argo D-4  Javelin.

Apollo Command Module.

Somebody really needs to do a little paint touch up on these birds!

A quick visit to the gift shop revealed a fair amount of Estes product.  We ended up buying some small air-powered foam rockets for our 5-year-old grand-kiddo.

While at the visitors center, I chatted briefly with one of the museum's employees who, as it turned out, was a member of NARHAMS! Of course, the conversation turned abruptly to the subject of model rocketry.

Anyway, I can now mark off GSP as 'done' on my 'Rocket Nerd Bucket List'.

Cheers!

Viking IV Scale Model Back On The Bench

 Now that the Deltie Airshow construction is finished and the model is in the paint queue, I've pulled out the tray containing the parts of a Viking IV scale model, first started about this time last year.

If you remember, the model was included in the 2022 binge-build, which never quite fully materialized.

So far, the main tube is cut to length, seam-filled, and marked out.  The motor mount is also assembled and installed.

The fins are cut to size, and I am now in the process of sanding the airfoil facets into them.  

This is my first serious attempt at shape-sanding scale fins, so they may not turn out exactly perfect.  

Here's a progress pic:

Even though I am attempting to do my most careful and precise scale-building work, this model is intended to be flown as a sport bird, with which (I hope) to log a lot of flights. 

It definitely will never see anything close to NAR-style scale competition!

I'll let you blog readers in on a little secret - I've modified my upcoming build list to include a goodly number of scale models.  Some will be from kits, while many more will be scratch-built.

Many of the single-stage sounding rocket replicas on the list will be built at BT-20 size and powered by 13mm motors.

Think NAR 'Peanut' Sport-Scale. 

With all of the 'fiddly-little-parts' experience gained from the recent build of the highly detailed Steampunk Protostar, I perceive that I am equipped to tackle a lot of small detail on BT-20-sized scalers.

Should be fun...and challenging!

Deltie Airshow - Ready For Primer

 The booster fin sealing and sanding, a model rocketeer's favorite part of any build, is now finished.

And the all important launch lug is in place.

Next stop is the BlastFromThePast Painting Facility (a corner of the back yard) to apply the first coat of primer.

I may just get this one finished yet!