I'm glad you did it too! I really love these new plastic type fins. They are rock solid and I bet you can push this model with a I motor and those fins wouldn't break. My next scale model will use this type of fin as well.


John Boren

I needed to make some adjustments with 3 of my fins (I attribute this to builder error, I didn't make sure that the tabs mated properly). but yes even the one fin I got right was a triffle snug...Don't change it. snug I can fix if necessary, loose is more difficult . I too went with a small fillet...on the outside, likewise on the inside.
rex

I would say the most critical part of building the Nike Smoke is to make sure the plywood centering ring with the notches that accept the fins needs to be perfectly align with the slots in the tube. I made sure of this when building mine by temporarily placing a couple of fins into the slots to align everything. If your using epoxy for the motor mount and fins you can do all of it at the same time. I like using Titebond 3 for all my builds using paper and wood so this wasn't an option. I used Epoxy to secure the fins in place.


John Boren

My Nike is finished except for the clear coat. What would look more authentic: gloss or dull?

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4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

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NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

If you really feel the need for fillets, I'd do the fillets on the inside.

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"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

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The original Nike-Smoke was flat white and fluorescents were typically flat as well.

One can get gloss fluoresents now, but that was rare back then.

Don't forget the overspray on the UNITED STATES stencil.

Jerry

Now here's a great video of the Nike Smoke.

Notice, they weren't all white.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UwD...eature=youtu.be

And there were some Nike-Nike Smoke two stage.

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"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

http://sandmandecals.com/

So, by that Gordy-supplied video (thanks!), the NC is white, the BT section is Olive Drab or Black,
and the fin section is Copper.

I like that combo!
Neat video, too.

Allen

It looks like olive green when compared to the tree colors.

Going to paint mine in that combo.

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Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

And notice the black NC panels.

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Paul
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NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org