As alot of you know already im starting an Estes upscale Ram Jet project. BIG thanks to DaveR for getting me starteds in the right direction. I do have a question though. I want to Fly this bird on D12-3 but I also want the option of flying her on a E15-4 from Aerotech. SO I began cutting the three outside fins with 1/8th Basswood. That way they will be sturdy. I also got an St-990 9" tube from semroc for a 24mm motor mount. Its a bit thicker so it can handle a composite motor. Im also going to add an ejection baffle...I think...The rest of the kit is made from BT tubes though, BT-55 inside and BT80) outside.
My question is, I made the outside fins sturdy, but would it be ok to make the 18 smaller inside Vanes out of 1/8th Balsa? Would this screw up the flight pattern? The inside fins are reinforced with the outer tube. look here if you dont know what the ram jet looks like http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/est1994.htm The Basswood is harder to cut and with the "fun" I had making the big fins, I honestly dont know if I can make the vanes out of Basswood accurate enough to be used.

lets just bump this back to the top here

Yes you'd probably be fine using balsa.

It shouldn't be a problem. Once they are glued in the right position, you might want to wick some CA into them to strengthen them.

Greg

Thanks man. I dont plan going over an Aerotech E if I even need one. The D12-3 might be plenty. I would think the inside fins being Balsa is ok If it were the other way around and basswood on the inside and balsa outside then it might have a problem.
It is much easier to do small fins in Balsa IMO

What do you mean? Sorry man im not familier with much terminology.

To "wick" a fluid is to let capillary action transfer the liquid from the applicator tip to the surface. Since balsa by its very nature is porous, the fluid (in this case CA, i.e., super glue) is pulled in the same way that a sponge absorbs water. Depending on the viscosity of the CA, it may need to be spread across the surface.

BTW, I routinely launch my Estes Canadian Arrow on an E motor, without any reinforcement on the balsa fins.

Greg

Ok thanks alot for the breakdown....I am going to use a 22" Nylon chute I have from an old Aerotech rocket that got destroyed in a move. SO I think the fins should be just fine.

I now have the Ram Jet decals finished.

I can scale them easy enough.

Just let me know the final outer tube size.

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