Is Fish Paper back? Or did it even go away?
 

I was just looking at a Citation Patriot at HL today, and I noticed something I haven't really seen in an Estes kit in awhile, and that's a good ol' fish paper engine block. I know they had not completely gone away from fish paper tube couplers, though I know they tried.

Are they back? or is it just my imagination that they went away?

(for those who don't know what I'm talking about, Fish Paper is another name for Vulcanized Fiber, a material that's paper infused with rubber or plastic, calendared for extra strength and finish, and was originally used for electric insulation, and wrapping fish. Ranges in color from blue-green to dark grey. Back in the 60's & 70's Estes made all their engine blocks and tube couplers from it. In the Tunick era Estes replaced them where possible with regular kraft paper tubing that just wasn't a better solution.)

Why is it called fish paper?

It was originally made to wrap raw fish, of course, as it contained moisture and smell pretty well. Then someone noticed that it was a good electrical insulator. I think it was used to make large capacitors.

Thanks! I’ve learned something today—and it’s still early.

I keep fish paper on hand for when I need to cut replacement insulators for pinball and arcade games.

Since we’re talking insulators, insulator wax makes a nice car polish. I bet it would work well on some rocket finishes as well.... :rolleyes: