Also, Sirius Rocketry www.siriusrocketry.com makes hollow, cast polyurethane resin duplicates of the Centuri Viking's PNC-76 nose cone (they also make the shorter PNC-74 and the X-24 "Bug" nose cone [as a solid casting]) as part of their "Moldin' Oldies" line--I have two of their PNC-76s and PNC-74s. These often aren't listed on their "Moldin' Oldies" page, because their primary resin nose cones are duplicates of the Centuri and Estes ("Type C" and "Type E," as they list them) science fiction kits' plastic nose cones (the asymmetrical ones with cockpits and other molded-in details), but they do make the PNC-76 and the other two. In addition:

"Choose whichever pushes your launch button." Melikes this--I'll use it along with "Whatever lights up your alicorn." (depending on the situational context, of course)! :-)

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

That would be much better than a scan!

Thank you!

__________________
"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 painted Viking with Old Krylon Gloss white and decided not to paint the nose cone. The decal came out pretty good but a little yellow around the edges.

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Ah...the beauty of simplicity! Hopefully Sandman will soon be offering these Viking decals, sized for the original (Centuri) Viking's #7 tubing. Between parts that are available from several sources, anyone who wishes to can recreate the original Centuri kit.

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

When I have yellowed decals, I tape them to a southern exposure window for a couple of sunny days. The sun bleaches out the yellowing without harming the main colors. Just don't forget about them or the regular colors may eventually fade.

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I love sanding.

The first rocket I built in my current incarnation as a BAR, though, it was the Estes version (Black Diamond?), with a hard plastic nose cone. My second rocket, the Javelin had the red Centuri NC, but, of course, it was a Centuri kit. The Viking is still flying (it's my wind-check rocket), but the Javelin disappeared on a thermal.

Nice clean build. The NC goes with the decals rather well.

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Retro-grouch

Alrighty,

How about this for turn-around? Here's mine with some newly-printed decals from Excelsior based upon the scans from Scigs30. Of course, mine's built from a new Estes kit and I decided to go with the painted, flat black nose cone. The one in the Estes kit is a pale, almost translucent, white and absolutely needed to be painted. The white paint is sputtering Rustoleum Gloss White.

Totally Cool. Thanks, Gordy.

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NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

What most of us probably considered a cheap, mere "stocking-stuffer, kiddie rocket kit" thirty years ago has far more appeal and memorable character than most of today's "kids' first rocket kits" (or RTFs), as your reproduction "Centuri" Viking shows. I heartily agree with tbzep's comment about the aesthetics of today's model rocket decor schemes--they don't do much for me, because they are too "loud" (they have too many bright colors, and over-complex designs; the -current- Estes Viking decor scheme [see: https://www.google.com/images?hl=en...Aw&ved=0CCAQsAQ ] is a typical example of this). Also:

Estes' *original* Viking decor scheme (see: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...86/86est26.html ) was *too* minimalist (having no band or stripe), while your rocket's Centuri Viking decor scheme is just right. In addition, while I agree that the plain white nose cone needed the addition of color, it's easy to add a molded-in-red version of the Estes Viking's nose cone--the Estes Moon Mutt (see: https://www.google.com/images?hl=en...Bw&ved=0CEYQsAQ ) uses the red plastic BT-20 nose cone that the Estes Viking originally came with. They're available very inexpensively on eBay, plus you get a mini launch pad and a launch controller!

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

Nice looking build.
Hard to believe though that a thread on the Viking has this much interest.
Those things make an Astron Alpha seem interesting.

__________________
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, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

I wouldn't say that. The Viking is highly customizable in terms of the number (three, four, or five) of fins, and in how they can be glued on (four different ways, and even two-of-one-way, two-of-another), plus the rockets can be painted and/or "decaled" any way the builders prefer. They also teach the art and science of proper friction-fitting of motors. In addition, schools sometimes use them in drag comparison tests, in flight as well as in home-made wind tunnels, because the different numbers and configurations of fins change the rocket's drag and CG/CP relationship. (At least with heavier motors, the Estes Viking [but *not* the Centuri Viking/Akela-1, because it has a heavier nose cone] requires some nose ballast to fly stably if the fins are glued on "long edge-down.")

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR