Cherokee E build thread

Tonight I cut out the fins and glued them onto the booster.





Here the first fin has been glued down.





I found that using the fin placement guide helped a lot in making fillets.






The fillets actually look really nice so far! Tell me what you think of them.
This fin took two tries to glue in. For some reason, it didn't stick the first time so I had to take it off and clean everything up with a wet paper towel and then sand a little. I got it tacked on succesfully, and I think it will be pretty solid once it is filleted.

Looking good. Think you’ll have it ready for the launch in Hearne next weekend?

I'm trying! One more set of fillets, and I'll glue it together into one piece. I want to paint it blue and purple, which I don't have, but I think I can get it done.

Fins are on upside down or at least that's the way the pictures make it look.

rharshberger said:

Fins are on upside down or at least that's the way the pictures make it look.

Click to expand...

Grain direction would seem to confirm that.
No worries, whenever I reverse the orientation of a rocket's fins (yes, I've done it more than once) my official explanation is
" I liked the look of the reverse fins, so I built it that way on purpose"
That's my explanation and I'm sticking to it!

Fillets are alright. Try dipping your finger in water and making sure theres glue along the Whole root

kuririn said:

Grain direction would seem to confirm that.
No worries, whenever I reverse the orientation of a rocket's fins (yes, I've done it more than once) my official explanation is
" I liked the look of the reverse fins, so I built it that way on purpose"
That's my explanation and I'm sticking to it!

Click to expand...

Exactly my reasoning!

Lukun7 said:

Is it okay if I tack the fins with super glue and then do fillets to secure them?

Click to expand...

Is it ok? LOL I can't think of the last LPR/MPR I built where I didn't do this. So yeah, that's a great way to do it.

ha ha, yeah I built a Cherokee-E with the fins on backward also. The funny thing is I thought I checked several times to make sure I had them on the right way but...

To he honest I do like the look better!

Now, that doesn't explain an Alpha I built once with two of the three fins on correctly and one backward. That one I'll never live down

I have launched a rocket that had 3 fins, and then one fell off before launch. Lost the rocket.

I'm painting it now

And it is done. This is the Nova.

Thank you! My daughter Miah picked this one tonight for her first balsawood finned rocket. We should get started on it this weekend. Zola picked a crossfire isx for her first balsa wood rocket.
They have both built plastic finned rockets and they had successful launch and recovery, and passed inspection at the launch table. Miah lost one of two she built to the pond though. Fin can/engine mount, nose cone and parachute were saved and transfered to something else. Zola only built one.
I will show her your build to help her.
Thank you again!