Estes Mercury Redstone #1921 Build, Part 2, Fins A

If you don't have one - get one! To shape fins a good sanding block is a necessity. This is the Great Planes Easy Touch sanding block.
For specs, CLICK HERE

I have the 5 1/2" long sander, plenty big enough for most rocketry projects.
I buy their 220 grit on the self adhesive rolls. It feels smoother than most 220 grits, cuts and shapes very well.
What makes this one work so well is the raised finger hold ridge on the back. It is easy to hold and the stick on sandpaper doesn't move.
Great Planes doesn't make self adhesive 400 grit. You can cut up regular 400 grit and give the back a shot of adhesive spray.

I get questions about how to sand tapered scale fins. The next four blog posts will concentrate on one way to shape them - straight, sharp and clean.

The balsa (or whatever wood this is) is very stiff.
Don't punch out the fins! You'll need to cut through the hold down tabs.

The rudder fin tip squares weren't the same size!
I don't know how this happens. When you are drawing up laser cut fins, you draw one, then copy and paste the same square.

On the left they are stacked. You can see the first and third are higher. When gang sanding it's really obvious.

Laser cutting gives you a wedge shaped cut. On the bottom of the sheet the cut line is wider, the top is thinner.

TIP: Before gluing together the main fin laminate, sand the root edges flat. It won't take much sanding, just knock down the high side so the root edge gluing surface is square and flat.