Estes Mini Bertha Clone, #TK-3, Part 8, Prep For Paint

Here's an old school idea:

TIP: On a four fin model, look across the trailing edges to check the fin alignment. 

While they didn't wobble,

The trailing edge tips weren't perfectly flat. It took very little 400 grit sanding to square them up.

If I had sanded through into the raw balsa, sometimes you can rub some wood glue into the small trailing edge to reseal it. Keep the glue only on the trailing edge.

You can only use this glue seal on small areas like the tip of this fin. Follow with some light sanding.

 

The model is ready for white paint.

Look close to see the masking tape pieces out the back of the engine mount tube, sticky side out. This keeps the paint out. A dowel was slipped in for a painting wand.

To get full paint coverage, the nose cone is pulled out about 1/16". This puts paint over the shoulder lip so you won't see a white line if the nose cone isn't fully seated in the tube.