View Single Post
  #18  
Old 06-21-2011, 02:02 AM
blackshire's Avatar
blackshire blackshire is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 6,507
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl
What weird timing.....I had the instructions for this kit out last night mulling over whether to put this vintage kit into the build que and I had the same thought: not sure that kit would have been possible without fiber parts, at least on some of those fin/wing cuts.

I didn't dislike the fiber parts as a rule; in many cases they worked pretty well. The one attribute about them that I did not like was the different 'edge' left by the die cutting process. Actually, the die side of the cut was pretty clean with no crunching that could sometimes happen on balsa. BUT, the backside of the cut sheet sometimes had some pressure deformations (for lack of a better word) on the fiber board facing that would require some sanding and cleanup to look as smooth as the opposite side of the board.

That was not a universal issue but I did find it a bother at times (a vintage Excalibur build a few months ago diplayed this issue on the fiber fins). Otherwise, I overall did not mind the fiber stuff.

Earl
Semroc's beveridge board (the industry name for the fiber fin stock) appears to be free from the pressure deformations. Also, as long as it isn't used for fin shapes and sizes that are inappropriate for its strength and stiffness characteristics (fiber Alpha fins would be overly fragile, for example), the fiber fin material is satisfactory and even superior for many rocket fin applications. Particularly for futuristic or science fiction models with simulated square or rectangular cross-section ramjet or scramjet engines, I greatly prefer fiber parts over sheet balsa parts.
__________________
Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR
Reply With Quote