Model Rocket Building Blog
MPC Martian Patrol Pre-Build BackgroundThe MPC Martian Patrol was part of the 1970 MPC kit lineup. Retail price was $3.00. The MPC kits came boxed and shrink wrapped. This was the strangest of eight rocket kits in the Astro Line Series. The Astro Line kits had no balsa parts and advertised easy assembly, true flight performance and ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 1Here's all the parts laid out. I couldn't quite figure out the color picks on the plastic parts. Green fin parts, gray adapter and a yellow nose cone. If the model were left unpainted, it would be one ugly rocket! There was some interesting parts included in the MPC kits. Included was enough ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 2 Fin CanThe engine mount was first up. The instructions showed a molded notch in the lower ring to allow movement of the engine hook. There wasn't a notch in the ring. I cut in a notch using one of my square diamond needle files. Here's the notch, cut and ready for assembly. To assure good adhesion, I had ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 3 Fin CanI decided to assemble the fins and rings then spray it red as one unit. It'd be impossible to mask and paint it after it was glued to the body tube. Here the fin is slid into the lower plastic ring. You can't snap the fins into slots on the ring. There are ridges on the root edge of the fins that ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 4 Nose ConeThere were some posts today on TRF about the Martian Patrol nose cone. It is an old MPC design and was carried over to the early Quest kits, most notably on the Evader model. The long adapter isn't currently available but the small nose cone cap is, on the Quest ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 5 Engine MountThis build is a little out of order, I have to backtrack a bit. I like to prep the parts before building, that's why I took the time to notch the lower fin ring and glue up the fin can. The motor mount was the first thing assembled in the instructions. There is nothing out of the ordinary except ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Part 6 Paint PrepI started to prep the parts for their final color. Here's the body tubes after seam filling, gray primer and sanding. These reminded me of the old Competition Model Rockets (CMR) tubing. The CMR tubes seemed to have a wrinkled white outer layer. The larger tube had a much rougher surface. The ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Part 7 Paint PlanTake a look at the box cover art. I usually don't paint the model like the catalog pictures. But on some repros or clones I will, in tribute to the original. This art shows from the top down: The nose cone in silver, the upper body tube in red, lower body tube silver and the fin can red. I was not ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 8 ParachuteThe MPC parachutes were a bit different. Like most models back then, you were supplied with six shroud lines, all were tied to the screw eye. Take a look at the reinforcements, these were the first I remember seeing in this style. The printed plastic sheet has an oval printed in each corner. The ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 9 Shock Cord MountHere's another MPC feature, simple but effective. Maybe this was their version of Estes "tea bag" shock cord mount. It's nothing more than a piece of card stock around 7/8 " wide x 1 1/4" long . 3 holes were pre -punched and the round elastic shock cord is knotted and laced through it. If the cord ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 10 UFO SaucerHere's how one of the UFO saucers looked coming right out of the box. It looks to be the same type of Styrofoam used in the cheap foam drinking cups. The center indent is for the lead weight and plastic retention cap. The mold was clean except for the edges. All it took was a little trimming with ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 11 Saucer MountsThe saucer mounts are glued into four small holes on the back, flat side of the saucer. TIP: Never use Super Glue on Styrofoam. It will eat a hole in the foam. I decided to go with 15 minute Epoxy. A small amount was mixed up. I dipped a toothpick into the mix and stuck the tip into the mount ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 12 Odds and EndsThe center Trim Weights were set into a small pool of epoxy on the top side center indents. More epoxy was spread on the back of the saucer caps and post. The caps were pressed into the center of the weights and into the foam saucer. Excess epoxy was wiped off. Here's the shock cord mount glued ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Build Part 13 AssemblyWhenever possible, I won't glue parts together until after painting. It just saves time and gives cleaner color separations. Here I left off the (red) upper body tube and painted the nose cone and lower body tube as one unit. The shoulders of the adapter and nose cone were taped together and ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Part 14 DecalsHere's the assembled model just prior to the decals. About those decals - I didn't get the same ones illustrated on the box, not a big deal. MPC actually had a good idea back then. They supplied generic decals without any direction as to where they should be placed except for the box illustration. ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol Part 15 FINISHED!In keeping with the Martian theme, I left off any NASA or USA decals. The model had already been flown twice last Saturday at the NEFAR launch in Bunnell, FL. You can see the launch post HERE If you ever fly one of these, just keep telling yourself: "C6-3s, C6-3s, C6-3s!" Anyone else hungry for ...[Read More]
MPC Martian Patrol VideoJimmy Yawn got a great video of my MPC Martian Patrol launch at last Saturdays N.E.F.A.R. launch. http://nefar.net/gallery/2016-05/index.html Scroll down to "Mars Patrol" The engine was a C6-3 not a C6-5. One saucer hovers the other one flips. "The other Martian is really sick!" For those ...[Read More]
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