Ranger Clone Build Part 15 Epoxy Fillets

1. Have everything ready before mixing up the epoxy.

From Crazy Jim Hendrickson:
"Yes, denatured alcohol. Not rubbing alcohol...it can contain up to 20% water."

Denatured Alcohol in a small cup, a clean 1/4" smoothing dowel, plastic gloves and plenty of paper towels.

2. On wax paper, squeeze out small equal amounts of Part A and Part B very close to each other.
Don't make up any more than you might need to fillet two adjacent root edges.
Only do two facing root edge fillets at one time.

3. Mix well both parts well with a small stick.

4. Some use a syringe to apply epoxy on larger models. On a model this size, I simply transfer the epoxy to the root edge joint with a toothpick.
A drop is placed and dragged down the root edge with the toothpick tip.

5. When epoxy has been applied all the way down the root edge, the smooth 1/4" dowel end is dipped in the alcohol. Shake off excess alcohol into a paper towel.

6. Run the dowel end down the epoxy. The excess epoxy will be pushed up and onto the masking tape.
You should have a rounded fillet left on the root edge joint.

7. Wait a few minutes and the epoxy should be starting to set up. I tend to use 15 minute epoxy.
The masking tape "dams" are pulled up, removing the excess epoxy.

8. Put on a disposable latex glove and pull it tight over your fillet finger.
Dip your finger in the alcohol cup, shake off the excess.

9. Run you finger down the fillet. This should remove any ridges of epoxy left from the tape dams.

10. Check the tip of the leading edge where it contacts the body tube.
Use another pass of alcohol to remove any stray lines of epoxy.

Here's the first two facing fillets after smoothing.
Let these two dry, mix more epoxy and repeat for the other fins and launch lug joints.

Be aware - epoxy gets everywhere! Keep an eye out for drops and strings of drying epoxy. Remove them now or sand, prime and fill them later.