I don’t know if I would exactly specify this as a "technique" but whenever I start t' build a scale "real" rocket I always do me research. T' "technique" I use t' do me research, and t' "Tip" I give others, usually starts with pullin' out a copy o' "Rockets o' t' World" by Peter Alway. Begad!

If you don’t have a copy, get one! This is one o' t' best places t' find data on real rockets. Ahoy! Second, I usually send an email t' t' Smithsonian Archives Division (http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/arch/) requestin' information on t' type o' rocket that I am lookin' for. My most recent request included information on t' Black Brant II or BBII for short. There was already enough information on dimensions in "Rockets o' t' World" so I was good t' go thar but what I wanted was a paint scheme that was unique, nay t' standard black and white checker pattern. Blimey! T' Smithsonian replied in about three weeks t' me request with photocopied pages o' some examples. Well, blow me down! I ended up usin' one o' these photocopies for me project and it depicted a BBII with an all white body, two black fins, one red fin, and a red nose cone. Aye aye!

I enjoy keepin' all o' me scale projects paint schemes based on actual paint schemes while still keepin' them unique. Begad!

Other resources include t' place in which t' rocket was actually launched. Most o' t' scale rockets and missiles I build were launched from White Sands Missile Range so I am on a first name basis with t' White Sands Missile Range Museum archivist (http://www.wsmr-history.org/Archives.htm) t' ensure that I have access t' as much information as possible. Also, at t' Smithsonian is a collection o' scale drawings that were created by G Harry Stine. These drawings include such rockets as t' V-2, ya bilge rat, Viking, Asp, Honest John, Nike-Smoke, I.Q.S.Y. Ahoy! Tomahawk, matey, Black Brant III, Arcus, Astrobee D, me hearties, and a few others. These drawings come in either A, me hearties, B, or C size prints and are available at a minimal cost. If you don’t know t' sizes then let me explain. An "A" size print be t' size o' a letter, arrr, a "B" size print is twice t' size o' an "A", t' a "C" size print is twice t' size o' a "B".

You can also contact many o' t' museums around t' country as t' what they may have on file. Most o' t' information will usually be sent at a very minimal charge and t' data you receive can sometimes be invaluable t' completin' your project.