Any suggestion folks

[SoulD]

I am working with a younger teenager who is in the process of building an Aerotech Initiator rocket for a school project. He has done very well so far but we have run into a snag, and it's a BIG ONE!

Since I cannot see and only communicate via AOL Instant Messenger, it was something we could not avoid. He has assembled his motor mount and placed it inside the body tube.

He then messaged me asking if the fins were supposed to snap in or fit loose. I was a bit confused at first, then realized what happened.

He described the Fin-Loks he assembled for the kit and they are for a 4-fin model !!!!! I was wondering why he mentioned they didnt line up below the body tube slots.

He , I am sure, is quite distrought right now and I am looking for suggestions on what can be done to help him, as he may be on a time line here. It's a simple mistake in the parts shipping, but appears to be devistating to him. The assembly has already been epoxied together, so I am not sure what he can do.

Any suggestions???

and...am I correct in assuming there is a different Fin-Lok for a 3-fin Aerotech model?

Thanks in Advance,

 

[Scott_650]

Fin-lok motor mount kits and replacement body tubes are available from Aerotech - you have to do some searching to find parts (they STILL haven’t added the parts catalog feature back into the website since adding Quest stuff) but that could be a lower cost option than buying an entire new kit.
Or try reaching out to Aerotech directly and see if they’re willing to help.

 

[neil_w]

Fin-lok motor mount kits and replacement body tubes are available from Aerotech - you have to do some searching to find parts (they STILL haven’t added the parts catalog feature back into the website since adding Quest stuff) but that could be a lower cost option than buying an entire new kit.
Or try reaching out to Aerotech directly and see if they’re willing to help.

I would *definitely* start by talking to Aerotech. If the wrong parts were included in the kit they'll make it right.

 

[tsmith1315]

Or try reaching out to Aerotech directly and see if they’re willing to help.

This would be my 1st step, too.

Contact [email protected]

 

[wsume99]

Since I cannot see and only communicate via AOL Instant Messenger, it was something we could not avoid. He has assembled his motor mount and placed it inside the body tube.

Apologies for the complete tangent but AOL Instant Messenger is still around???? I thought I had been teleported back to 1996 for a minute.

 

[SoulD]

Than you all for the head ups.

 

[SoulD]

Thanks!

 

[fyrwrxz]

I love Initiators and have had 5 so far. Never had that problem. While a dry fit would have caught this, it is a factory problem. If they send you a new one, I'll buy the wreckage (or at least the fins) sight unseen. Seriously! I torture Bob (the designer) all the time with the liberties I take with them. When assembling the fin can, it helps to put a case or single use in the motor tube to help align the rings and keep from crushing the tube. I always "message" the fins a bit so they still snap in but don't require a bearing press to seat . Hope this works out for you guys. Btw- Bob is "Initiator 001" here. Who would have thought, eh?

 

[lr64]

Can you get the kid to take photos and send them to us? Or is the problem on his end?