Removing Aerotech Mirage fin

[mrtriton]

Hi all. Years ago I broke the tip off one of my Mirage fins. I ordered a replacement the other day. (Finally!) Before I try to remove the broken one, has anyone done this? I'd so any tips? Thanks for any feedback!!
Mark

 

[rcktnut]

Good luck with that. I did the same on my Mirage, cut the fin above the break and cut the other fins to match. I'll get a pic. of it tomorrow and post it. Don't have to worry about the tips breaking anymore.

 

[tomsteve]

i did what rcktnut did and same result- no more broken fins after about 50 flights.
getting a TTW fin out is a challenge. what type of adhesive/glue was used on install and where was it used?

 

[rcktnut]

Here's a pic. of my Mirage and G-Force (which is retired). Also broke a fin tip on my Astrobee D which I re-glued on and repainted. So far been lucky that the tip has not broken again. A bigger chute might help prevent tip breaks, regardless, a fin design made to break!! I would bet that attempting to replace the fin would ultimately result in replacing the rocket. I cut off more fin than needed on the Mirage because I liked the way it looked.

 

[mrtriton]

i did what rcktnut did and same result- no more broken fins after about 50 flights.
getting a TTW fin out is a challenge. what type of adhesive/glue was used on install and where was it used?

I used cyanoacrylate. On the tab and also the root. I built it probably 20 yrs ago or so. Am hoping the glue is brittle now. Hmmmmm.

 

[mrtriton]

Here's a pic. of my Mirage and G-Force (which is retired). Also broke a fin tip on my Astrobee D which I re-glued on and repainted. So far been lucky that the tip has not broken again. A bigger chute might help prevent tip breaks, regardless, a fin design made to break!! I would bet that attempting to replace the fin would ultimately result in replacing the rocket. I cut off more fin than needed on the Mirage because I liked the way it looked.


View attachment 390852

Thanks for the info. I just may do that. But the machinist/tool maker in me says "You can do this" !

 

[tomsteve]

I used cyanoacrylate. On the tab and also the root. I built it probably 20 yrs ago or so. Am hoping the glue is brittle now. Hmmmmm.

theres a debonder for CA glue. it might help ya.

 

[mrtriton]

theres a debonder for CA glue. it might help ya.

I'll try that!!

 

[jqavins]

CA is weak in sheer; you might try repeatedly banging on the leading and trailing edges, alternating. Only if you're officially not going to try to repair the fin, since this will do additional damage to it. If it starts to move after a few whacks then give it a tug outward. Repeat whack-whack-whack-whack-tug until either it comes out or it stops getting any looser. With epoxy or Tightbond I would have any hope for this method, but with CA it might work.

Of course, another option is to cut the break off straight, and do the same for the other fins so they match. Assuming you haven't lost too much fin that'd be fine; determining what's "too much" might not be trivial, but OR or RS should be able to tell you.