I have a couple of Alpha-III kits for use with student groups. They have the orange fin can, but these were apparently stored in such a way that the fins are significantly warped. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to 're-warp' these plastic cans back into place? Some temperature to store them at, then clamping or something similar?
David Erbas-White
I can't tell you how to straighten them, but I have seen them fly just fine with warped fins.
-Kevin
That's frustrating and all too common. I can't tell you how many times in the last 36 years that I've opened kits to find the main bt or other parts very oval, wavy or crimped. Ususally it was packed wrong at the factory, not from shipping or handling. I have a 2156 Saturn V kit I had to use for spare parts for the other 3 we regularly fly.
Anyway, the Alpha's fins are thin enough that you should be able to reshape them. I'd suggest warming them slowly with a blow dryer ( low heat ) and try to manually bend them back into shape.
Are they warped beginning from the bt, or in the middle of the fins? If the warp begins at the bt, it will be easier than if they're warped in the middle.
Randy
Extremely common. Heat fins (blow dryer or equivalent) and gently bend back to shape. Just like sheetmetal, there will be "springback", so go a bit beyond straight as you bend.
It's annoying when two fins are bent in such a way that they act like huge flaps and make the model go unstable. If all are bent in the same (cw/ccw) direction, you get spin and it's not so bad.
That's about what I was going to suggest. Sometimes these are soft enough that they can just be gently bent back by hand without any heat.
Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required