My method is, after brushing off as much sawdust as possible with a soft paintbrush, apply a piece of blue tape to the entire fin surface and lift it off. This pulls an impressive amount of additional dust out. Sometimes I'll do it more than once.3) make sure you sand the fin surface then REALLY carefully clean and remove the balsa sawdust off the fin before using the label. I've found a little norwex microfobre cloth is PERFECT for this. Failing to do so means you lose much of the stickiness as it just sticks to the little fibres and can lift.
5) I've tried applying thin CA to the middle of the paper to overcome (4), but with the Avery labels I have, I've discovered the thin CA doesn't penetrate through the paper - there's something in the paper / adhesive layers that prevents it soaking through. It works at the edges, but not really well in the middle of the fin.
Note about using kevlar as shock cord anchor. Make sure it's long enough to reach above the wadding/dog barf, lest ye melt your elastic in the stuffer tube :-(
My method is, after brushing off as much sawdust as possible with a soft paintbrush, apply a piece of blue tape to the entire fin surface and lift it off. This pulls an impressive amount of additional dust out. Sometimes I'll do it more than once.
I was advised early on in my papering career that CA didn't work well with the label paper, and so I went right to using wood glue. After sanding the paper edges so the fibers are kind of blended into the wood, I apply a thin bead of wood glue along the paper edges, then sand smooth with 400 grit when dry.
I admit this seems inadequate compared to the CA soaking that others do, but (knock on wood) I haven't even had a hint of edge lifting on a single fin yet. That said, I cannot (yet) vouch for the long-term durability of this method. I'll be bummed if they start lifting some years down the road, but I'm prepared to take that risk. This might also be a different story for rockets that are gonna go closer to mach and be subject to more severe forces while flying.
Note about using kevlar as shock cord anchor. Make sure it's long enough to reach above the wadding/dog barf, lest ye melt your elastic in the stuffer tube :-(
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My first two rockets flew brilliantly this weekend, an Amazon and a Crossfire, and now I'm looking to challenge myself.
I've liked the look of a Cosmic Interceptor.
It was either that or a QCC explorer for my next kit, and this is the one my local vendor had at the field today! It can take 24mm D or E motors, with a stuffer ring for the shorter Ds, and I was recommended a pair of D12-3s for it. I'm told it can also fit Cesaroni Pro24s. So this is my next build.
Before I start, I have an option: it looks like a relatively easy mod to 29mm motors, with an adaptor back to 24mm. Trim the strakes, larger motor tube. The original 24mm motor tube can be fitted with some balsa strake extensions an extra motor clip, and retained by the original clip on the new 29mm tube. It should retain its lines at the rear quite nicely. Is this mad? I've got no way to check the stability with that extra mass moved backwards.
Does anyone know if there's an Open Rocket file of the Cosmic Interceptor somewhere?
Not been able to do much recently. I plastered the body tube excessively and sanding it off generated too much dust in my garage so I was waiting for a mini vacuum I ordered before continuing.
Right. That's all that sanded off. Next up is turning down the centring rings.
I'm thinking of getting a small altimeter. JL Altimeter Two is available locally, or I might be able to get an Altimeter Three by ordering from the states. I particularly like the Altimeter Three's smartphone connectivity. It also looks like it records the entire flight, unlike the Two. Worth the extra expense/hassle for the Three? What do you guys reckon?
Right. That's all that sanded off. Next up is turning down the centring rings.
I'm thinking of getting a small altimeter. JL Altimeter Two is available locally, or I might be able to get an Altimeter Three by ordering from the states. I particularly like the Altimeter Three's smartphone connectivity. It also looks like it records the entire flight, unlike the Two. Worth the extra expense/hassle for the Three? What do you guys reckon?
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