BEC,

Yeah, either way, I'd add label paper to strengthen the grain and/or cover the joint.

So one black fin and two blue fins? Nicely done!

I see what the roll pattern did to you there.


Cheers,

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Jay Goemmer
"Centuri Guy"/"Tau Zero"
YORF Member 28
Semroc SAM #0029
NAR 86131


"I think about organizing things all the time. Never seems to happen. I find something that piques my interest and I'm off on a quest. Or a Centuri. "

--Bill Eichelberger, 02/22/2022


“Centuri fret buzz in an updated form.”
Bill “Wallyum” Eichelberger re: Estes Flutter-By
03 Sept 2014

Yes, one black fin with black half-panels on either side, and two blue fins with no coloring below the roots. As can see, the joint pretty well disappears. It interlocks enough I've no worries about weakness. There is no filler on the wood but four (I think) coats of Brodak sanding sealer.


Yeah.....

It did fly today. We had Cub Scouts flying Alphas on A8-3s, and it was forecast to be a bit breezy, so I put an A8-3 in the Blue Sapphire. 140 feet. The claimed maximum altitude on a C6-7 of 1200 feet is laughable. A Q-Jet D16 might get it to 1200 feet. But that's for trying on a calm day or a much bigger field.

For comparison my much-flown Alpha built from a bulk kit about 10 years ago did just over 180 feet on another A8-3 of similar vintage today. Alphas built with the pre-giant-adapter-ring style motor mount, which are are about 15% lighter, perform better.

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Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE