Estes Saturn V Build Part 20 Fins

In a nutshell, here's how I glued the fin halves together:
After lining up the halves, tape the leading edge closed and use that as a "hinge".
The rear of the fin is opened and only the back edges are glued.
Take off the tape and open the front edges, the glued back is the new hinge.
Apply glue to the leading and outside edge flange and close the fin.

Now in more detail:
With the flash cut off of the root edge of the fin halves, it's easier to line up the fin sides.

The instructions basically show the fins being glued together using liquid plastic cement.

I wanted to be sure the thin plastic sides were accurately lined up. If they are glued and a little off, you would sand through the side walls when truing them up. I didn't want to glue down all four sides at once. As quick as the liquid plastic glue sets up, there would be no second chance.

Hold the sides together - no glue yet!
After visually lining up all sides tape over the top leading edge to make a "hinge". Right now the fin is open at the bottom.

Apply a thin coat liquid plastic glue to one side of the trailing edge flange. In the picture, this is the edge facing the right side.

Apply it to the bottom edge only, NOT PAST or onto the root and outside edges of the fin.

Close the fin using the tape side as a hinge. Press the glued trailing edge together until dry.



Take the tape hinge off the leading edge.
The glued trailing edge is now the hinge for gluing the leading and outside edges of the fin.
Open up the leading and outside edges of the fin.

In the picture at the right, you are looking down, inside the leading edge. the closed edge at the bottom is the glued trailing edge.

Apply glue to the inside leading and outside edges.
Close the front of the fin, checking your alignment before the glue sets up.

Time spent on build: 1:30 Gluing the Fins
Total time on build so far: 20:00