Hello All,

I've come up with a simple method for improving the fins of the Quest Novia (see: http://www.questaerospace.com/mmQUE...006-500x500.jpg and www.questaerospace.com/instructions/1006.pdf ) so that they can be glued to the body tube in any orientation without losing strength due to the grain direction of the balsa wood fins, which I have described below. It's a fin-papering technique, but it's a different method than the ones that have been described in model rocketry books. It can also be used on other model rockets.

[First, for reference (to see how many different ways the Novia's fins can be configured), here are links to scans of the instructions of the old Centuri Akela-1 kit (small file, see: http://www.oldrocketplans.com/centu...654/cen1654.htm , and large file, see: http://www.oldrocketplans.com/centu...654/cen1654.pdf ), whose fiber fins were similar in planform shape to the Novia's and could be configured in many different ways because they had no balsa wood grain that could result in weak fin orientations.]

The Quest Novia model rocket has specially-shaped fins which are designed so that they can be glued to the rocket's body tube in several different configurations. In addition to the "Five Flavors of the Quest Novia" fin configurations (see: http://www.questaerospace.com/instr...ia-5flavors.pdf ), there are several other possible Novia fin configurations that can be employed if the rocket's fins are reinforced by means of a simple technique that is described below. Reinforcing the balsa fins prevents some fin configurations from being structurally weak due to the orientation of the balsa wood grain. This fin reinforcement technique can also be used to strengthen the balsa wood fins of any model rocket. The only additional material required is two sheets of computer printer paper, photocopier paper, or typing paper.

[STEP 1] Carefully remove the die-cut balsa fins from their balsa sheet, stack them together, and sand their edges as directed in the kit instructions.

[STEP 2] Lay the sheet of paper on a flat, hard surface such as a table or a counter top.

[STEP 3] Using either a fingertip or a straight-edged piece of "scrap" balsa left over from the die-cut balsa fin sheet, rub a very thin film of the same glue you're using to build the rocket (yellow aliphatic resin wood glue or white glue) onto one side of a fin. Very little glue is required to do this; use just enough glue to cover the balsa. (Too much glue will cause the paper reinforcing skin to wrinkle.) Repeat STEP 3 for one side of each of the other two fins.

[STEP 4] Press the glue-coated side of one fin down onto the sheet of paper; repeat this with the other two fins.

[STEP 5] Turn the sheet of paper over so that the balsa fins are on the underside, then lay it on your hard, flat work surface.

[STEP 6] Lay the second sheet of paper atop the first. (This will prevent dirt and skin oil from staining the paper reinforcing skins on the fins when you carry out the next step.)

[STEP 7] Using a fingertip, rub and press the paper where the fins are located underneath. Rub along the fin edges as well, to ensure that the first sheet of paper is bonded firmly to the edges of the fins. Carefully turn both sheets of paper over so that the fins are facing upward. If any glue has squeezed out along the edges of the fins, carefully scrape it away using a "scrap" piece of balsa from the die-cut balsa fin sheet. Leave the fins to dry.

[STEP 8] After the glue on the fins has dried, carefully cut the paper along the edges of the fins using a hobby knife or a small pair of scissors (fingernail scissors or the small scissors included in Swiss Army knives are ideal for this). When this is done, repeat STEP 1 through STEP 8 with the other side of each fin.

The Novia's fins can now be glued to the rocket's body tube using *any* fin edge as the root edge, and the fins will be strong enough in any orientation to withstand the inflight loads. Just make certain that all three fins are oriented the same way. As an added bonus, the paper reinforcing skins on the fins make it unnecessary to apply sanding sealer to the fins to give them smooth surfaces. When spray painting the completed rocket, make the first coat of paint very light and allow it to dry thoroughly before applying additional coats. This will prevent the paint from soaking through the paper reinforcing skins and possibly causing them to wrinkle.

I hope this information will be helpful.

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

I am putting together a Semroc sat 1B. Should I do this to the fins as well on this?

I'm not familiar with their kit; I don't know if its fins are built-up like those of the old Estes 1/70th scale Saturn IB (in which case the fins' cardstock might wrinkle from the moisture in the glue) or if its fins are solid balsa.

__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

They have both but I think I will go with the straight balsa.