aerojacket
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2018
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 62
On the same trip where I spotted the Lunar scout, I also saw the Tazz and grabbed it since (a) it was marked down and (b) it is something different than 3FAANC.
Per the plans, the ailerons (for want of a better term) are attached to the fixed fins with stickers prior to painting. I figure that the stickers will adhere better to a painted surface, so I didn't exactly follow instructions. (In other words, not much has changed since 2nd grade). I went ahead and built the entire fin assemblies, which made it easy to get everything square. I have some pieces of square extrusion that were perfect for making sure the fins were at 90-degrees (see photos). After getting the smaller fins installed, it was time to glue the main fins to the fuselage. I again employed the square extrusions, putting glue on the fin roots and weights on the fins so that they were both parallel to the table. The fuselage was allowed to "float", with the result that the fins wound up lined up with each other. The launch lug was installed 90-degrees to the fins.
The small fins have interlocking tabs, with one going forward and the other aft. Otherwise, the fins (at this point) are identical. The instructions warn to make two identical fin assemblies, not mirrors of each other. Makes sense: if they mirrored each other, the fins would deflect as delta-wing flaperons instead of deflecting in opposite directions to induce spin. I figure that the stickers can be added after painting, taking care to make sure that the stickers are such that the ailerons go in opposite directions.
At the moment, it is in the "paint booth". More later.
More later.
Per the plans, the ailerons (for want of a better term) are attached to the fixed fins with stickers prior to painting. I figure that the stickers will adhere better to a painted surface, so I didn't exactly follow instructions. (In other words, not much has changed since 2nd grade). I went ahead and built the entire fin assemblies, which made it easy to get everything square. I have some pieces of square extrusion that were perfect for making sure the fins were at 90-degrees (see photos). After getting the smaller fins installed, it was time to glue the main fins to the fuselage. I again employed the square extrusions, putting glue on the fin roots and weights on the fins so that they were both parallel to the table. The fuselage was allowed to "float", with the result that the fins wound up lined up with each other. The launch lug was installed 90-degrees to the fins.
The small fins have interlocking tabs, with one going forward and the other aft. Otherwise, the fins (at this point) are identical. The instructions warn to make two identical fin assemblies, not mirrors of each other. Makes sense: if they mirrored each other, the fins would deflect as delta-wing flaperons instead of deflecting in opposite directions to induce spin. I figure that the stickers can be added after painting, taking care to make sure that the stickers are such that the ailerons go in opposite directions.
At the moment, it is in the "paint booth". More later.
More later.