Coldfire Decals

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Coldfire's blue and white paint scheme is not really optimum for visually tracking it in the sky but it seemed like a natural choice to select a "cold" color scheme for a rocket named Coldfire.

In order to get the paint and decals to match it was best to select the decal colors first. It is far easier to match the color of the paint to the decals than the other way around.

Coldfire was painted with automotive paint at a local auto body shop.

The tail cone was already black anodized aluminum so there was no need to paint it.

The Coldfire decals were designed using the AutoSketch CAD program. As was everything else about Coldfire! The design files were then used by a local sign shop to cut the vinyl decals to shape.

There are two blue stripes for the booster, three white stripes for the body tube and all the lettering for the fins. They come on a white paper backing.

The drawings below show the decal design and placements.

Decal placement begins.

Masking tape was added to the fins and alignment marks were made on the tape. Alignment marks can also be made on the translucent paper covering the decals. Next the decal is lifted off, the white backing paper removed and then the decal is put back down being careful to align up the marks.

First set of fins completed.

A small decal was also added to the body tube to indicate the location of the center of pressure.

This is very handy for checking the CG to CP relationship prior to flight.

The three white stripes on the body tube could have been painted on. However, using decals is much easier and less costly overall.

All done!