Rocket Color

[Deleted User]

I need to repaint the red on my fender and trunk rockets, should it be flat or glossy and whats a good red to use? Thanks for the help.

RL Chilton

otto54-

How are you going to paint them? I usually do it by hand with a detail brush. If this is your plan, go to your local hobby store and pick up some modeler's enamel. Any bright red will do. I've heard some people put some kind of clear over the red . . . I've even heard of some folks who used clear nail polish, but I don't think it's necessary. I did the emblems on my '52 8 years ago and they still look brand new. Cost is negligible and it makes a good week-end project.

Nevada Hudson

Just use any glossy red touch up paint. I usually miss getting the paint in the spaces with out overlap, so I let it dry for a day and rub out the mistakes with fine steel wool.

[Deleted User]

I mask off the complete emblem and then cut out the letters with a razor blade, then spray a bright red. Let dry overnight, peel off tape and job done. Walt.

onerare39

This works well too. Just mask as much of the rocket and the surrounding area that you can, you don't have to cut out every letter on the emblem. Use a good quality spary paint and give it a few coats. After the paint has dried use a soft rag that is slightly dampened (not wet) with laquer thinner and wipe off the excess red paint, then remove the tape. It worked well for me.

Hope this helps.

John Forkner

dougson

I thought these were supposed to be hornets not rockets, the flares at the rear being the folded wings )

RL Chilton

Dougson-

This is a subject I have debated for some time. Here is my official opinion on the matter:

I'll quote Richard Langworth's informative book, "Hudson, The Postwar Years": "A special Hornet emblem, resembling the insect not so much as a rocket ship, was mounted on the quarter panels and deck."

Take that as you will, there are numerous errors in his book, including the sentence above, which, in fact, the emblems are on the front fenders, not the "quarters".

Two other interesting observations are that one, the postwar years, and the early 50's specifically held a high fascination with rockets. Before the decade was out, there would be rockets fired into outer space. Jet propulsion in general and tied into aviation, was making it's mark about this time in automotive styling. Note the "aircraft"-styled hood emblem on the 1953 Hudsons. Two, I have read in the past (WTN, if I remember correctly) that the names "Wasp" and "Hornet" were derived from naval vessels, not the insects.

These three items have me convinced the emblems represent rockets, not flying bugs.

[Deleted User]

Makes sense to me.
The subject of "rocket" fascination, infatuation, used in American automobiles in this era has always intrigued me. The manufacturers of the day and particularly the aftermarket suppliers went nuts with this stuff. J. C. Whitney out of Chicago sold tons of rocket-shaped stuff from license plate holders, necking knobs to hood ornaments. As a young school boy who was taught to "duck and cover" at the instructed times, I was glueing this stuff on my bicycles and sleds before I was old enough to drive a car.

Unknown

Here's a pic of the AMC Hornet, early 1970's style, NOS in Red, White,and Blue!

dougson

Now those are clearly insects, not rockets, so one still wonders about the stepdown variety.

RL Chilton

"Now those are clearly insects, not rockets, so one still wonders about the stepdown variety. "

Not even remotely. We were talking of the origin, not what metamorphosed into by a later comglomeration. Last I checked, AMC and Chrysler were/is not Hudson.

bull_islander

I remember seeing a picture in one of the Hudson books (not sure if it was Langworth or Conde and I know I'll be looking for it later now) that was of a billboard outside the Hudson factory in the early 50s that stated "you're passing the Hudson Hornet's nest" or something very close to that with the graphics of a hornet (insect) and the nest.

Not that it has any meaning on the intentions of the 'rocket' as I have heard the term hornet rockets for at least 30 years.