Consider this a teaser. (The sustainer is drying in different halves.)



I was hoping to fly this on Saturday, but the way it's raining at the moment, I'm thinking otherwise. I'm also almost done with the "restoration" of my Astron Avenger, which I was hoping to fly for the first time in about five years.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Does anyone have any experience with two piece fins like these? I was thinking about possibly trying the laminating trick with these.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

I laminate the joint -- after sanding -- with silkspan soaked with watered down yellow glue. Followed by a little more yellow glue when it's tacky. Sand when thoroughly dry.

The Barclone Tradewind, Kitfox, Stryker, and Andromeda prototypes all have multi-piece fins. The label sheet laminate worked well on all four. Stefan's silkspan method would probably work well, though you need to remember to do both sides at the same time to reduce warpage.

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635

I've never worked with Silkspan before. Would this be available at any hobby shop? Would tissue paper and model dope be a decent alternative? (Then I could paint the fins AND bulk them up at the same time. )

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Silkspan is tougher than tissue (by a long shot). It comes in various grades (weights/thicknesses/strengths), and is applied wet as opposed to tissue, which is applied dry and gets moistened after the dope dries.

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635

Okay, but where do I find it?

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Bill,

I don't worry about the balsa to balsa joints.

They are usually way stronger than the balsa to paper joint which attaches the fin.

Bill, depending on your LHS, it should be in the RC and CL airplane section, near the MonoKote (or the paint). But as finding good supplies of clear and color dope seem to be getting harder these days, finding silkspan may be just as hard. It's an older method of covering an airplane, still used by some, but not as much as it used to be. You may have to ask the owner if he even carries it. Don't be surprised if he doesn't...

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635

Well, since my "LHS" doubles as a toy store, I'll probably go with the label paper method.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2