I'm putting the finishing touches on an Estes LTV Scout and I'm almost to the point of laying the decals.

Question is: should the final finish be gloss or flat? The instruction don't specify nor does ROTW.

Thanks!

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

See if these help.

It looks "kinda" shiney.

But that's a museum model not an operational one.

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

http://sandmandecals.com/

Thanks Gordy. Where are those photos from?--it's definitely not Hutchinson.

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Here's photos of mine. Going by the photos that Sandman sent, I believe I'll finish it in gloss--but with the carbon vanes in flat black. The vanes are the only part left to paint now. The red circles on the vernier section I did by cutting dots from Missile Red adhesive film using a leather punch. All of the black sections are painted by hand. TBC

Attached Thumbnails

       

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Gordy's pics are of the LTV Scout at the Smithsonian. I saw it May of '12 and May of '13. It's between a flat and satin white. Not glossy.

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

Yea..like I said...."kinda" shiny.

__________________
"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

http://sandmandecals.com/

I would still paint it glossy before putting on the decals though, and then go with a Testor's overcoat for the final shine, whatever that might be.

Beware that unless you fly from soft grass you will likely break a fin when it comes down on the parachute.

Here is mine FWIW. It is more of a flat finish.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Almost done!

All carbon vanes are painted flat black and all decals are on. Just a few touch-ups and it will be ready of the clear coat of choice.

I think THIS time I'll try erasing the pencil marks on the model BEFORE clear coating. TBC

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

That's a really cool looking rocket (I like the early ones) and your build of the kit looks great (your Jupiter C, as well). It'd be real nice if it was re-released.

I wonder how well it flys?

NASA just had a bit of a to-do with the Italians at their embassy recently, celebrating the cooperation between the agency and Italy on that particular rocket. I believe it was Italy's first science experiment involving sounding rockets. I could be wrong—my memory isn't what it used to be.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Retro-grouch

My 2 LTV Scouts built from the Estes Kit fly really well.
One of very few rockets produced by Estes that had only ONE recommended engine, the C6-5. It is fairly heavy for it's size. I have flown mine on the recommended C6-5, the OOP C5-3, a LONG OOP Cox D8-3, Aerotech D10-5, and a D21-4.
The engines OTHER than the C6-5 work a LOT better if there is ANY wind.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !