Estes Vesta Intruder #7312 Build, Part 3, Fin Prepping

The fins and fin side pieces have squared sides.

The picture on the left shows the wedge burn that will need to be squared up. This is very important on fin root edges so they will glue on straight.

On the right is one of the fin side pieces. These glue on the sides of three fins or every other of the six fins.

You can sand the sides using sandpaper wrapped around a used engine casing.

The picture might imply the edge is rounded, but it remains square. I was trying to show the sanding tool.

Here's all the balsa pieces to fill -

Twelve upper vanes,

six fins,

two launch lug standoffs, 

six fin side pieces.

(Sang: "And a rocket stuck in a pear tree.")

26 pieces in total!

The thick cardstock engine vane pieces can be cleaned up with a white eraser.

It's not necessary, but I like to clean them up.

The inset picture shows the "after".

Sometimes it's easier to judge the shape of a rounded leading edge by looking at the root edge.

This is a the before and after of one of the 12 upper vanes.