Payloadbay.com Fin Guide Library.

K'Tesh: I just don't understand why you and other folks building lots of rockets don't skip the Paper, cardstock or whatever fin guides and build or Buy yourself a good fin attachment jig.
I haven't use one of those inaccurate printed fin guides or wrap patterns in 30 years. it is so much easier to use a fin jig to attach fins to any model TTW or Butt on makes no difference.

The fixtures I've been using handle any size body tube I wish to build on (T2-to BT-101) larger can be made but up-scaling the fin attachment fixture. When used with the proper fin thickness spacer the fins are aligned parallel with the body tube automatically. No fin tip cant unless you purposely do so. I've used these two jigs now with 3, 4, 6 and 8 fin rockets some with Strakes and aligned forward fins.
The beauty is once you take the time to build one, It will serve you for the rest of you model building life.

Price, for one reason. I can't afford something like one of the late Art Rose Fin Jigs.

Weight, for another. Lord Willing, I'll be moving to Asia soon, and I've got a lot of stuff as it is now.

Thanks for starting the thread. You don't need to worry about the tools going away. I've been running a web server and maintaining sites for many years and plan to be around to continue to do it for some time to come.

But, I don't mind you sharing the PDFs.

If anyone has any ideas for improvements to the current tools or ideas for new ones, please let me know. I'm working on an upgrade to the current tools and appreciate any feedback. You can email me directly at [email protected].

-- Roger

Was reminded of the Estes Tridents that I tried to make back in the 90's based on the one I bought built from my band teacher. I wish that I had a guide to help me make sure that the body tubes were aligned properly. So, just in case...

View attachment Trident Body Tube Alignment Guide.pdf

Where can I get free plans to build a fin alignment guide from?

Andrew

accooper said:

Where can I get free plans to build a fin alignment guide from?

Andrew

Click to expand...

Send me an e-mail I'll be happy to e-mail the plan which can be up-scaled to just about any size lumber your shop can handle

Here's a couple that I'm working on now...

BT-60 3fnc 3/32" (.0938 inch) thickness fin guide

BT-60 4fnc 3/32" (.0938 inch) thickness fin guide

View attachment BT60 3fnc .0938inch.pdf

View attachment BT60 4fnc .0938inch.pdf

Adding a couple of the Pro Series II guides today.

Estes Pro Series II 3" OD 4fnc 1/8" thickness fin guide (Leviathan)

Estes Pro Series II 2.5" OD 3fnc 1/8" thickness fin guide (Argent/Partizon)

View attachment Leviathan Fin Guide.pdf

View attachment Argent Fin Guide.pdf

K'Tesh are your PDF's the completed addition. I don't see the inch scale legend to verify the correct scale to verify size after printing. Am I missing something?

accooper said:

Where can I get free plans to build a fin alignment guide from?

Andrew

Click to expand...

Not free but close. $12 US via Paypal. PM me if you are interested.

accpool said:

K'Tesh are your PDF's the completed addition. I don't see the inch scale legend to verify the correct scale to verify size after printing. Am I missing something?

Click to expand...

I go to payloadbay. I go to the tools, then to the Fin Guide. I enter in the values, download the results, then (after renaming it), upload the results here. The .pdf files don't have a scale to measure by for this tool. All you should need to do is to print it (actual size) and glue the results to the foam board you'll use for your guide. Unfortunately, there's no way I've found where you can shift the printed area around (to get larger guides to fit on a page).

Seams to me that these places that is using cnc and laser cutting equipment could whip something pretty inexepesively similar to the carb board cut outs that would be far greater in accuracy. I know I built a fin jig couple years ago out of scrap wood from my wood shop. But without my machines now I could not do it.
And I would never pay any of the prices that any of the good jigs sell for. But I would pay for a thin plywood cutout either cnc or laser cut. They could be shipped in the USPS large card board envenlopes. Probably ship less than the normal fee if went by weight. Picked up daily by the postal worker and it's on it's way.
If the template for say the 3 fin, 1/8" BT-80 like the V2 from estes would sell for $5, ship for about $3. or 3 different templates for $5 shipping.
I probably wouldn't bother with anything less than a BT-50.

Adding the Scion's fin guide today... (print on 11x17 paper)

View attachment Finguide PSII 3inch 3FNC .125 in.pdf

K'Tesh said:

Adding a couple of the Pro Series II guides today.

Estes Pro Series II 3" OD 4fnc 1/8" thickness fin guide (Leviathan)

Estes Pro Series II 2.5" OD 3fnc 1/8" thickness fin guide (Argent/Partizon)

Click to expand...

Thank you kindly, you just saved me a barrel of time.
if time were measured in barrels. I don't think it is. But there'd be a lot in one.