Estes Skytracer Clone #1361 Build, Part 6, Cutting Out The Fins

The fin patterns were traced onto the 3/32" thick balsa with pencil. Pay attention to the grain directions.

NEWBIES: Never trace fin outlines or draw fin lines on a body tube using ink! The ink can bleed through paint and will be seen on the finished model.

Pay close attention to the corners. In this picture, the knife is started before the corner and is being drawn away to the right. That small corner (nearest the 7 1/2" mark on the ruler) can easily break off down the grain lines. 

Note the saw blade is perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to the balsa sheet.

The second cut is also drawn away from the corner.

NEWBIES: Don't try to cut in a single pass. Lighten up the pressure and make a few passes with the blade. Relax, slow down!

Again, the cut is started outside of the corner to prevent the balsa tip from breaking off down the grain.

Square up the inside lines with a sanding block.

That 220 grit on my block is an older piece of sandpaper - still usable though!

Here's the two wings, stabilizer fin and the smaller standoffs.