Estes Saturn V #1969 Build, Part 20, Fine Fitting the Fairings

With the fairing plastic being so thin, a good fit is needed for a gluing edge and overall strength of the joint.

I got a small flex crack at the thin corner on one fairing.
A piece of Scotch tape was pressed in. Liquid cement was then brushed over the crack. The tape was left in the corner.



There is still a turned back lip after the fairings were sanded. This should be trimmed back with a knife then sanded to a smooth arc.


Check the arc against the end of the body tube as you trim and sand. TIP: That piece of electrical tape was placed to stiffen up the thin plastic while sanding.

The fairing sides should have a close fit now.
Double check and adjust with sandpaper over a finger.

Notice in the top picture the slight gap in the middle. To lower and remove the gap, the rear of the fairing was sanded.

The lower picture shows a much better fit.
You are simply sanding the areas that are touching, lowering the gaps to make contact.

On a different fairing. look at the rear corner above my thumb. I've marked it with a pencil. That corner is a little rounded.


Here the rear has been sanded, squaring off that rounded back.
Sand a little and check the fit, repeat.




Assembly time so far:
11:10 minutes previous
  0:50 minutes this post, four fins final fitted
12:00 Total so far