JStarStar
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2009
- Messages
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Well, I grew up in the days of cut-your-own-balsa, and most of the rockets I built back then came out OK, but I have no terrific attachment to the romance of hacking out the fins myself (although I still do sometimes on scratch-builts and kits without LCB).
Plus the pre-cut fins are more uniform and save some time which is probably put to better use sanding and finishing.
It's not a deal-breaker to me either way.
The main difference is that back in my junior-high days 40 years ago, the X-Acto knife I usually used was a very thin-handled lightweight knife, which didn't really allow a firm hand to be used in cutting (the knife itself would flex). As a result I tended to use a very light touch which sometimes resulted in wiggly fin edges.
After my decades-or-more sabbatical from rocketry I learned to use heavier utility knives or thick-handled knives with a little more heft, which allows for medium-weight balsa to be cut more firmly and result in more consistent edges.
Either way works.
Plus the pre-cut fins are more uniform and save some time which is probably put to better use sanding and finishing.
It's not a deal-breaker to me either way.
The main difference is that back in my junior-high days 40 years ago, the X-Acto knife I usually used was a very thin-handled lightweight knife, which didn't really allow a firm hand to be used in cutting (the knife itself would flex). As a result I tended to use a very light touch which sometimes resulted in wiggly fin edges.
After my decades-or-more sabbatical from rocketry I learned to use heavier utility knives or thick-handled knives with a little more heft, which allows for medium-weight balsa to be cut more firmly and result in more consistent edges.
Either way works.