snrkl
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2017
- Messages
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So I decided a week or so back that I would use a kit for my second build - figured it was a good way to refine construction techniques without having to actually construct all parts of the thing.
Chose the Big Bertha as it seems like it will be a good "show" rocket for playing field launches and perhaps taking to my kids' school eventually...
I am super keen to take my time with this one (all my kids now have rockets to fly, so there is no rush to get stuff finished now) and I am working on building good construction habits... I am writing up my builds to ensure that anyone with better methods might point me in a better direction.
On advice from the gents at my local hobby shop, I'm planning on using epoxy for fin attachment and motor tube construction. The 5min Epoxy I have used for previous rockets is a little too quick for me on this one, so I am planning on getting some 3hr epoxy just to give myself a little more working time.
I have also used medium CA to fill/strengthen the balsa fins.
With the fin filling, the first two rounds of using an ice cream stick to spread the CA left me with rather uneven coverage, I have reverted instead to using just a gloved finger to spread the CA, doing one side at a time (x4 fins) and leaving to dry then repeating on the other side. This seems to have given a MUCH better result.
So here I get to my first question: when working with balsa fins (3mm) do others usually shape the LE/TE then CA, or CA then shape? I figured that it was easier to take away then try to add more, so I wicked CA into the edges of the balsa before shaping. As it turns out, almost all of the CA ended up being sanded away. I am thinking that next time I will shape, then CA, then fine sand (600grit) before painting but just wanted to seek input...
Chose the Big Bertha as it seems like it will be a good "show" rocket for playing field launches and perhaps taking to my kids' school eventually...
I am super keen to take my time with this one (all my kids now have rockets to fly, so there is no rush to get stuff finished now) and I am working on building good construction habits... I am writing up my builds to ensure that anyone with better methods might point me in a better direction.
On advice from the gents at my local hobby shop, I'm planning on using epoxy for fin attachment and motor tube construction. The 5min Epoxy I have used for previous rockets is a little too quick for me on this one, so I am planning on getting some 3hr epoxy just to give myself a little more working time.
I have also used medium CA to fill/strengthen the balsa fins.
With the fin filling, the first two rounds of using an ice cream stick to spread the CA left me with rather uneven coverage, I have reverted instead to using just a gloved finger to spread the CA, doing one side at a time (x4 fins) and leaving to dry then repeating on the other side. This seems to have given a MUCH better result.
So here I get to my first question: when working with balsa fins (3mm) do others usually shape the LE/TE then CA, or CA then shape? I figured that it was easier to take away then try to add more, so I wicked CA into the edges of the balsa before shaping. As it turns out, almost all of the CA ended up being sanded away. I am thinking that next time I will shape, then CA, then fine sand (600grit) before painting but just wanted to seek input...