Fiberglass Fins For Sale

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Three fins from a Performance Rocketry Competitor 5 kit, fiberglass, 1/4″ thick, 18.5″ root edge, and if I could figure out how to insert a picture, I would. Otherwise, if anyone is interested, I can send a drawing via e-mail, or you can see them at the next launch. They’re great fins; I’m just re-designing and upgrading the kit for a future L3 certification and will need custom fins.

[denverdoc]

Bruce,

Not interested in the fins so much as curiosity as to how one upgrades from 1/2′ FG?
JS

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Ha! Need custom fins of a different style, from a double swept non-clipped delta 6″ from the root chord to a traditional delta 10″ from the chord. In other words, bigger. 😆 For what I want, they just don’t provide the stability I need. But they are top-of-the-line. If no one wants them, I’ll keep ’em and use ’em in time.

[denverdoc]

Bruce,
If this is a really high performance rocket which is what I suspect, I’d give some consideration to CF covered honeycomb. I have some samples of this material provided by the moderator of yahoo forum composite rocketry and all i can say is it amazing material. I have seen nothing, repeat nothing that even comes close in the strength/weight ratio.

I need 1/4 inch g10 from time to time–I’d never use it for fins–too heavy, but here and there it would be nice to cut a chunk w/o lamination. PM me as to details, use even “paint” for the planform.
JS

[Chris LaPanse]

I have to agree with john about the CF honeycomb. I have some 1/8″ thick, and it feels about as stiff as 1/8″ G10, but weighs less than 2oz/ft^2. Incredible stuff, and practically indestructible.

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

I’ve built 2 birds with the Giant Leap 1/8″ G10 honeycomb for fins and bulkhead material. I love the stuff. Expensive, but pretty easy to work and LIGHT!!!!. The biggest issue is edging it effectively.

Warren Musselman

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

This fully fiberglass rocket (Scalar II) is for my L3, within a year’s time. Next MHM? Drew it up in AutoCAD and SpaceCAD. Not in a hurry. I’m going to construct it slowly and carefully and have fun. 5″ diameter, 12′ length. I’ve always had this thing about ASP-type, delta fins. Really like ’em. Though my custom ones aren’t going to climb up the booster as far as true ASP fins, only 18.5″. If I were worried about weight, I WOULD use GLR’s honeycomb stock. It’s easy enough to cut the edge off a fiberglass fin and epoxy it to the G10 honeycomb stock. I think GLR sells fiberglass stock, too, for this purpose. It’s on their Web site. My only experience with it, to date, is using it–supplied with GLR kits–as a mounting plate for altimeters. Neat stuff.

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

I have to say, this Competitor 5 kit from Performance Rocketry that both of us bought is a great kit. I’m bashing the hell out of it, adding a tail cone, extending the motor mount to be large enough for the BIG Hypertek 98mm hybrid OR any of the AT or AMW 98mm cases and lengthening it a couple feet. If Curtis has a true conical nose for it, I’m going to replace the stock ogive nose with one.

Fin-wise, I’m just going to use the stock fins, laminate some carbon and kevlar on them and then a few layers of glass tip to tip and call it good. .125″ G10 is about as stiff as you could want for a fin core.

Warren Musselman

[Chris LaPanse]

Yeah – although it’s nowhere near as stiff as the carbon honeycomb 🙂

Either material is great for fins – I doubt I’ll use G10 ever again.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Agreed. What’s so cool about this is that we bought the same kit, but both are going to look really different. Inside and out. I’ve thought about making the booster longer for the full length 98mm casing, but I still don’t know. Another foot would do it. I could use the extra 36″ body tube to extend the booster. Cut a foot off, still leaving a two foot payload section. I’m a payload kinda guy. Telemetry transmitters really kept me in the hobby early on. That’s why I’m going to take my time and think about this. I’m committed to the fins since Wildman’s having them made for me. I like everything to be modular and convertible, so that I can adapt to different configurations. At this level of expense, I want this rocket to last and do as much as I can make it do. Adding some booster flexibility would be good. You’re right. I like hybrids for a lot of reasons (not to mention not needing a LEUP). Hmmm… maybe. The reason this one is called Scalar II is because the first L3 rocket I wanted to make was my design, all fiberglass, and would have cost me a grand in materials. When I saw you running out of Wildman’s with that big box, that was my chance to build that rocket only an inch less in diameter. I’ve been smiling ever since. 😆

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