22 years ago, when I was assembling my BAR fleet, the Custom Tristar was one of my early purchases. Got it built and painted white, but I never could find a paint that matched up with the decal well enough for me to actually consider finishing it. I eventually made it one of the first, if not THE first, snacks for the trees that circled B6-4 Field in those days. A couple of years ago I decided to replace the Tristar and try to use the decals that I still had in my files. Yesterday I had to run an errand for my wife; paver base, a whole car full. I was going to combine the Home Depot trip with a side trip to Hobby Lobby, but as I was leaving the particular HD that she sent me to, I noticed a place called Hobby Villa across the street, so I decided to check them out and see if they had anything different that might suit my needs. I had the decal with me, and I found a can of Tamiya Brilliant Blue that looks like a pretty dead-on match. I masked the nose cone and the end of the body tube and sprayed a quick coat of the Tamiya paint. It applied and covered nicely, so I set it aside and went upstairs to start dinner. 30 minutes later I passed through and checked on it and it was dry. Looked great, so I clear-coated the decal and I'm hoping to apply it tonight. The can of paint at this small brick and mortar store was a little over $7, which doesn't seem out of line with Hobby Lobby, especially if it performs like this. The rocketry section is limited to an end cap, but they've got a nice selection of Estes kits including the Antar and DBRM. They've also got a decent stock of the Mars Leapers, which I expect they'll have until history doubles back on us and those become "classics".

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

I built mine some 22 years ago and used Rustoleum Sail Blue #7224. I can not remember how well that blue matched the decal. According to my inventory list I still have that rocket somewhere so next time I am digging around I will have to take a look at it again.

We're probably barking at the clouds at this point. The Tristar is discontinued, and the replacements are all white with stickers.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Well, I did happen to scan the decal before I built the rocket......

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As did I. Good thing. Mine was BRITTLE!!!! I'm piecing it back together as we speak.

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Well, that's disappointing. Turns out the "current" iterations of the Tristar are quite a bit shorter than the original. I guess Custom figured they could bump up the profit margin by making the body tubes a little shorter. Back to the drawing board.......grumble

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

MAP SUCKS !!!
I hope it blows up in their face as well as Estes.
They deserve to get their butts dragged into court over ILLEGAL PRICE FIXING.

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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 !

I remember that Custom was originally pretty consistent from design to design with their 9" long BT-50 tubes and the one plastic nose cone shape.

I checked the Tristar instructions that I downloaded in 2020, and they list the part number as 50026 BT-509, which is, of course, 9" long.

That kitcard lists the Tristar's length as 12.75", but the kitcards for the (improved? ) Galaxy Rescue/Patrol/Taxi list their lengths as 9.63". (Spock eyebrow)

Yeah, I'm not entirely amused either, Bill.

Cheers,
.

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Attached Files

Custom Rockets Tristar C10027.pdf (299.9 KB, 5 views)

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Jay Goemmer
"Centuri Guy"/"Tau Zero"
YORF Member 28
Semroc SAM #0029
NAR 86131


"I think about organizing things all the time. Never seems to happen. I find something that piques my interest and I'm off on a quest. Or a Centuri. "

--Bill Eichelberger, 02/22/2022


“Centuri fret buzz in an updated form.”
Bill “Wallyum” Eichelberger re: Estes Flutter-By
03 Sept 2014

The last Custom kit I built was the Razor. Minimum diameter, and filled the nose with clay. Boy, did it scoot on a D12!

I wonder why they'd shorten those already small kits? The cost saved would be tiny!

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Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org