How to Sand a Wedge Airfoil into a Model Rocket Fin
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- www.apogeerock... - This video shows you the technique of sanding wedge shape airfoils into balsawood fins. This will be useful for you if making a scale rocket of the NASA sounding rocket called the Black Brant VC.
This skill is probably something we'd rate a "Level 4" technique, because it takes a steady hand while guiding the sanding tee, and a set of calibrated eyeballs to spot how much sanding is enough. But we'll also show you a dirty little trick to getting that sharp peak point on the fin that will stand out once you paint the fins.
Also apply pressure evenly when supporting the fin edge and go very slowly. Learned the hard way about 60 years ago that little finger don't support the edge evenly. Also white glue thinned with a drop or two of water makes a good sealer. Didn't have super glue back then.
Great tip! I like the way you used masking tape. I did my fins like that minus the tape. It would have been easier using tape. However, I used your planner to cut the original angle.
That's a great idea!
If you want to wedge it for proper scale detail, do so. A sharp wedge on the leading edge will cause the air to delaminate and flow off the fin, disrupting laminar flow, and cause a fair bit of eddy currents and aerodynamic drag. A smooth rounded, or tapered rounded (airfoiled) leading edge will allow laminar flow and the least drag. But we are flying for fun, so who cares! If you want that perfect scale detail, do it.
The wedge shaped airfoil is for supersonic rockets. You're right if your rocket is only flying at subsonic speeds.
Hello Mr. Tim M.,
Great video! I like the paper over the unsanded part and might borrow that idea for using carbon fiber instead; then, overlaying the leading edge and incorporating over that flat section.
For the younger, less experienced modellers (and for that matter, anyone), I'd add using some gloves as that super glue gets everywhere! 🙂.
Thank you, again, Mr. Tim M.
I use this same technique for carbon fiber too. Except I use epoxy instead of superglue. The superglue would kick off immediately if you used that on carbon fiber.
@@apogeerockets Good point! By the way, great save on the fin repair. Thank-you for the bonus tip.
Nice! By any chance, Do you know the markings for the Airfoil tick marks? Like Ex: (Fwd line) 1" off root edge top. 0.5" off tip edge. (Aft line) 0.5" off of root edge end. 0.25" off of tip edge end.
They are in the kit instructions. You can download them from our website. The link in the description will take you to the page.
3D printing is your friend
That certainly is an option. But for a builder, it may not give the same level of satisfaction. If all you want to do is fly, then that is the way to go.
I would like to Know, where i can get These Motors from because i can‘t find them
If you're inside the USA, you can find hundreds of different rocket motors on our website. If you're out of the USA, you'll have to try your favorite search engine.
rip rocket fin 😆
Tim did that on purpose so he could demonstrate how to fix it.
True 😅
@@flower-space If he crashes a Level-two into and according, and then proceeds to repair it on a video, then my theory is correct.