MPC Taurus-1

[bernomatic]

So why finish one of my other builds? Let's just start something new!

Received via mail from an unnamed benefactor, The Taurus was a gift to show special accoutrements added to kits by MPC when they were in the model rocketry biz (I'll go into those in a later post).

Parts Layout

P9280003.JPG (81.56 KiB) Viewed 4188 times

The design is a 4FNC with some optional additions

Fin Pattern (scale is inches!)

P9290008.JPG (115.5 KiB) Viewed 4188 times

The kit was in decent shape when I received it, with the exception of the nose cone having swelled a bit over time to the point it didn't quite fit in the Body Tube. Speaking of the Body Tube, MPC used a non-Estes size tube here, my calipers are saying a 14.38mm I.D. by a 15.14mm O.D. This is basically a slip fit over the standard Estes BT-5. That brings me to the next unique feature of this kit. The "engine mount" is just a 13mm tube with an engine block that is slip fitted into the main body tube. The engine mount tube tube is 57.3mm long with the 4.5mm engine block being shown in the directions as positioned flush with one end. This leaves 52.8mm for the mini-engine, which means if I plan to use this with the available Estes mini-engines I'll either need an adapter or to reposition the engine block. In reading through the directions, I note that the "Minijet" model rocket engines to be used with this model were available in a B total thrust variant. It is too bad they are no longer available.

[bernomatic]

Been painting this thing, actually priming and now a base coat. I decided to use the Createx Colors in my airbrush. Well I started to get spatter. With most paints this is not a major problem in a base coat.

MPC Tauraus paint spots.JPG (602.43 KiB) Viewed 1397 times

With Createx, it can be a major issue as, if you followed the thread in the Airbrushing sub-forum, you really can't sand coats easily.

We'll see how it turns out

[bernomatic]

Spent a bit of time on painting the Taurus this past week. Went with the Createx Wicked colors over A Rustoleum filler primer and a few layers of Createx Airbrush Colors white (see previous post).

MPC Tauraus-1.JPG (436.65 KiB) Viewed 1391 times

I've had some learning experiences with the Createx Paints, both the Wicked Colors and the Airbrush Colors. The majority of the knowledge deals with patience. I'll put my reflections on such things in the Airbrush Section. Suffice it to say, I dealt with the spatters.

As to the photo above, I think I will have to use a different back drop as even the camera was focusing on the wrong place.

[bernomatic]

Oh, for anyone interested, here is a scan of the supplied decals in the kit. Pretty generic, although a couple of the roll patterns are unique.

[bernomatic]

And the finished photos:

MPC Taurus reporting for duty.JPG (366.59 KiB) Viewed 1313 times

back side.JPG (397.12 KiB) Viewed 1313 times

as can be noted in the photo above, I has a bit of a problem matching the ends of the roll pattern up.
Other than that, looking good. The Wicked Colors paint finished nice and smooth.

We'll she how she flies some time this week.

[Trident]

The colors look great! I tried Createx years ago in my airbrush and finish looked bad. But I’d really like to revisit using them. Did you clear coat over these? I’d read that clear coating is the secret. Your rocket looks pretty glossy.

[bernomatic]

The colors look great! I tried Createx years ago in my airbrush and finish looked bad. But I’d really like to revisit using them. Did you clear coat over these? I’d read that clear coating is the secret. Your rocket looks pretty glossy.

Yes, I used the Rustoleum Acrylic Clear coat. If you go to the Createx sub-forum in the Air brushing forum, you will see a topic on some of my recent findings. Besides the proper drying and curing of the Createx paints, I have found a better finish by the use of Pledge *with Future shine as a thinning agent.