Building Estes Scissor Wing Transport

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Greg - 09 Dec 2008 05:39 GMT

Hi Folks,
Have a question about building the Estes Scissor Wing Transport. On
step 3-Attaching the Fins, I have the Pod Fin Braces glued onto the
fins with the fin tabs extending past the braces. When I line up the
fins onto the power pod, there is roughly a 1/4" gap between the green
centering ring and the bottom of the fin tab. If I slide the power
bod into the body tube most of the way, then test fit the fins onto
the power pod, there is still 1/8" gap between the bottom of the fin
and the body tube.

On the drawing shown in step 3, part c, it appears that the bottom of
the fin rests on top of the green centering ring. Mine does not. I
am inclined to sand the fin tab down enough so that the bottom of the
fin tab touches the green centering ring but I am not sure if that
will cause problems later on. Maybe the gap is supposed to be there.
Greg

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 09 Dec 2008 13:24 GMT

> Hi Folks,
> Have a question about building the Estes Scissor Wing Transport. On
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> will cause problems later on. Maybe the gap is supposed to be there.
> Greg

Don't sand the fins down. The body tube will go between the fins and
the green centering ring. There HAS to be a gap there. An eighth-
inch is about right. I built one about two months ago, but can't find
the tnstruction sheet. The only real problem I had is with the part
that has the dowel that goes through the base of the vertical fin and
also holds the stabilizer "flap" down for launch. The part that holds
the flap down isn't thick enough to hold the flap in line (flat) with
the stabilizer. I added some small scraps and sanded them into wedges
so the parts would be aligned yet come apart easily.

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Greg - 10 Dec 2008 03:12 GMT

>> Hi Folks,
>> Have a question about building the Estes Scissor Wing Transport. On
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>the stabilizer. I added some small scraps and sanded them into wedges
>so the parts would be aligned yet come apart easily.

Even though with the power pod inside the body tube far enough for
the centering rings to also be inside, there would STILL be a gap
between the bottom of the fins and the body tube? I'm just not
visualizing the purpose of the brace if it is not going to be against
the body tube. I am assuming that the fins stick out perpendicular to
the power pod. If I "lean the fins down" such that the brace is flush
with the body tube, then the angle between the fins is almost 180
degrees, It doesn't look like the rear view in the instructions.
Thanks for your reply! Greg

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 13 Dec 2008 00:16 GMT

> On Tue, 9 Dec 2008 05:24:50 -0800 (PST), "lektric....@gmail.com"

> Even though with the power pod inside the body tube far enough for
> the centering rings to also be inside, there would STILL be a gap
> between the bottom of the fins and the body tube?

Yes! Jumping inside the mind of the engineer, plus looking at my
completed model, the braces do two things; they provide for a place to
build up a really good glue fillet, but most importantly, they keep
the grain along the fin edge from splitting out.

> I'm just not
> visualizing the purpose of the brace if it is not going to be against
> the body tube. I am assuming that the fins stick out perpendicular to
> the power pod.

See above. This might not be right, but it kinda hit me in one of
those flash-revelations of inspirations so I think it's right. It
makes sense that without the braces or something, the grain on the fin
that sticks out over the body tube might split off (split down the
direction of the grain). The brace "keeps it all together".

> If I "lean the fins down" such that the brace is flush
> with the body tube, then the angle between the fins is almost 180
> degrees, It doesn't look like the rear view in the instructions.
> Thanks for your reply! Greg

I think the fins should be perpendicular to the body tube.

Let us all knoe how it flies! If the weather is good Sunday morning,
and if I'm brave, I may fly mine then.

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Greg - 24 Dec 2008 13:00 GMT

Dan, THANK YOU so much for your reply! It gives me confidence to now
finish the build. The braces do seem to make sense about preventing
splitting. Unfortunatly, I have not done any work on the model since
my post. I had originally wanted to have it completed in time for my
son's Cub Scout Rocket Derby a couple of weekends ago, but I've been
just so busy with the holidays, school activites, work, house projects
etc. As you can see it took me almost 2 weeks to reply to your
message! Hopefully I can complete it once Christmas is past. I was
able to complete a Bull Pup rocket that flew great! It was a windy day
when we flew so I only used b6-4's to keep the rocket in a retrievable
area!

The cub scouts all built Baby Bertha's and had a blast launching
them! A couple of local Boy Scout Troops assisted in running the
event. They set up 6 launch stations, set up a 100' diameter circle
with a flag in the middle. Trophies were awarded to the top 3 scouts
in each ranck who got closet to the flag . Of course, each scout got
a ribbon and certificate for a "style award". :Most Scout Like",
"Best Military Representation", "Most Number of Colors", "Most Boy
Built (they're ALL supposed to be built by the boys but of COURSE
parents end up helping to some degree more than others!)", "Most Glue
Used", etc! Siblings and parents were also invited to participate
with any rocket of their own choosing. There must have been close to
400 launches in a 3 hour span and we ALL had a blast!

I will let you know how the Scissors Wing Transport flies. Probably
in a few weeks though.
Greg

>> On Tue, 9 Dec 2008 05:24:50 -0800 (PST), "lektric....@gmail.com"
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>Let us all knoe how it flies! If the weather is good Sunday morning,
>and if I'm brave, I may fly mine then.

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Model Forum / General / Rockets / December 2008

Building Estes Scissor Wing Transport