Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 18, Cutting Out The Fin Fairings

The fin fairings are different than the tube wraps. The higher the vacu-form piece, the thinner the plastic sheet is stretched when molding. The high back arch and fin slots of the fairings are paper thin. They are easily cracked and creased.
TIP: This might sound silly - but practice cutting on some vacu-form pieces you might find in food packaging.

The instructions tell you to cut 1/16" around the raised border on the fin fairing sheet. These are not cut the same way as the wraps were.

Before cutting out the fins along the edges, I would recommend separating each fin from the sheet with scissors.

In the picture to the left, the upper inside pen line is drawn 1/16" from the edge of the actual fairing.
That's the line you'll want to cut on.




TIP: Don't cut out the fin slot indentation yet! You'll want to have the fairing as stiff as possible when sanding the bottom contour.







This back curve is very thin.
If you haven't yet, change out for a new sharp knife blade.
CAREFULLY cut the rear first, 1/16" away from the rear edge.


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