I mentioned in the other MAV build thread that I decided to do something a little different with mine. I neglected to take pictures during assembly. I basically ditched the launch guide since it appeared to be put on with something like hot glue. I used a heat gun to remove it, and substituted a thin standoff and conventional launch lug.

Next, I dug thru my box of styrene parts, and selected a few pieces to use. Some required heating to bend them to fit the curve of the body tube. I lightly sanded the paper wrap to degloss it, then primered the tube to provide a solid gray base, which helps me align add-on details. I used medium CA, applied by the drop, allowing it to spread and wick around the styrene parts. I normally use thin CA, and apply thru an accessory tip to flow very small amounts of CA around the parts. Since I had none on hand, I just used the medium, but applied very carefully.

After all the parts were applied, I lightly sanded the entire tube, and perimeters of all add-on styrene. A few parts got a bit of body putty to fill small voids. The next few days were spent sanding, applying primer, sanding, refilling voids with putty, sanding, re-primering, ... the process consumes more time waiting for everything to dry, than it does doing the actual work.

I initially thought I’d paint it white, with red legs, to resemble the Mars Lander. But that seemed like it would not be a huge departure from its standard look. First decision was to paint the legs yellow. (Note: these legs seem like the same kind of plastic as the old Mini Marz Lander. The first time I tried painting those legs on the Mini, it did not adhere very well. I found that steel wooling the plastic, followed by Tamiya Surface Primer, gave a good base for paint. I also used the surface primer on the plastic fin can, and the nose cone.
Next, I decided I would paint the body and nose a light gloss gray. I had an unused can of Valspar, but it refused to spray. I had no other gray paint, so I used Model Masters SAC Bomber Green. Its a lighter color than olive drab, and so I went with it. Its growing on me.

I have a lot of leftover decals that I can pick from, but decided to give the enamel paint a few days to cure. I’ll post final pictures in a few days.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp

Wow, Lee! That color combination is very sharp!


Joe

I like the overall gray color - not sure of the yellow fins. I think I would do them in a silver, gray or black.
Have you flown it yet?

Whoops, sorry forgot you still have to decal it..........

Thanks Joe. I’m pleased with it now, after a few days. I’ve had a vision of doing a Mars Lander in gray, with yellow legs. So I painted these legs yellow while I was still working on the body details. When my can of gray paint would not spray, I headed to my boxes of paints to find something else (not enough patience to wait and go get a new can of gray).

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp

That was my first reaction — not sure. If I had started with the body getting painted, I might have thought to go with a dull, or flat red, to give it a Russian look. I’m anxious to get a few decals on it.

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp

Very cool! Actual raised detail is always so much more stimulating than "drawn on the tube" detail!

Very very nice. I for one dig the yellow!

A dull red would look good too!

With paint sufficiently dry, I gave the MAV a coat of gloss clear, which I like to do prior to applying decals to anything that has a flat sheen. After 24 hours, I applied some decals. I will be gone a few days, so a coat of matte clear will have to wait until the weekend. I may dig a bit more to see if I have any other decals I might want to add. I’m also considering painting the thin “corrugated” band at base of nose cone.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp