Getting Our Fins On Straight

From Model Rocket Fin Guide

So here is the predicament: How do you let your 5 year old be involved in the construction of their own model rocket without having it turn out unflyable? Isaac and I have had a blast with model rockets, but I am adamant that he be involved in the construction. This sometimes leads to a trade-off between his involvement and the "fly-ability " of the rocket. It is one thing if the stickers don't go on straight but quite another if the fins don't!

This got me to thinking of how I can set him up to be able to do the fins himself but still have a chance at this rocket flying in a straight line. The answer was a home-made rocket fin alignment guide. I'm pretty proud of the idea. It is limited in that it doesn't deal with the angles or spacing of the fins, but it does provide a flat surface for the fins to lie on and slide up to the rocket body. This is something more within the ability of a 5 year to do successfully.

Here is the basic idea. I cut a 45° angle bevel down the side of 2 boards. When the boards are placed facing one another, they create a "channel" in which the body of the rock can lay. This necessarily lines up the two boards with the body tube. I cut one board 4" short of the other so that its inside face makes a flat area along the side of the rocket body. Lay the fin on this surface and it is necessarily in line with the body. All that is left is to put glue on the edge of the fin, lay it down and slide it up to the rocket. Isaac can be much more involved now - we both love that!

Download a 3D model of it from the 3D Warehouse for Google SketchUp.

Here are some pics...

Wish You Merry Christmas I Do

So what was the coolest gift you've gotten in a White Elephant Gift Exchange? Huh? Was it the pink sweat band, the cartoon character phone, the Gone with the Wind commemorative placemats? Maybe it was the pristine copy of Ice Pirates on DVD? Whatever it is for you, let me tell you - mine... the BOBBLE-HEAD YODA SANTA! Not only is it guaranteed to get a smile from any age-group when you flick an ear and set him a-bobbin', but also a sure fire in-road with those ultra-exclusive sci-fi types! That's right baby - no more driving by yourself to the Star Wars convention! Look out trekkies! You may think this is just an over-zealous attempt at profit by marketing guys that could've say no to any single suggestion, but No! This is your ticket to the stars! (...or at least a hi-5 in the tech shop at work!)