QUARK KIT     Here is the layout fresh from the bag.  Pretty straightforward.   I thought it was funny that the nose cone was longer than the body tube.  So I put them together to dry fit.
	INSTANT DAMAGE   Well, snugged in the nosecone and ***rip***.     Hmm.  Pretty lame.   I'm going to shoot a note off to Estes.  I've got a LOT of their kits, so these little quick ones should be up to snuff like the rest, eh?'   Now where's that 800, number.... ah, here it is  800-525-7561
	REPAIR ATTEMPT   I decided to try a repair to salvage this little baby while Estes is sending me a new kit (GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE THERE...)   Using CA glue, I couldn't get the nose cone in all the way, so I used an adhesive paper cover to firm up the torn BT. You can just barely see it in this picture. This Quark will be a tad taller than most.   The Fins were all squared up, no airfoil, and I round the outer edge into a mild arc just for interest.   The launch lug was shortened to fit inside the shoulder of one fin.   NOTE: I tried out my new THIN CA glue on this one and I glued 3 fingers together and to the fin!!  This stuff is like water.  Fortunately, the debonder I also bought freed me in no time, no damage.
	PRIMING   I used my new trusty "on the spit" technique to get a nice even prime.  Krylon H20 White primer.  2 coats, sanded down to nothing, then 1 more coat.   Only managed to break off one fin during sanding...ugh.
	PAINTING I don't have any light blue paint, so this is the first rocket I'm building that I'm straying from the "package" color scheme.  This purple is a little dark, but I like it. Notice the indentation where the nose cone didn't go all the way in, not to worry, I have an idea for that.
	FINAL DETAIL   Decals in place, added a glitter paper pinstrip in the nose cone gap, and then used a red paint pen to speckle red throughout the rocket.  Note the red tip and the red trim on the ends of the fins.
CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE	ALL DONE Added a couple of gloss coats and Quark1 is done.  I just got the replacement kit in the mail from Estes, so I'm starting to work on it's little brother. My wife says it looks like a Christmas ornament and wants me to put it on the tree this year.  "Can you make a few more like that?" SUUUURE!
	more to come...