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Step 6Glue Fins and Straw to Rocket Tube
This step could be the hardest of all. You will need to glue the fins on to the rocket. Dividing the rocket into thirds is pretty tricky, and the fins must all be glued at the same height, so that the rocket will remain perpendicular to the ground. The fins must also be glued perpendicular to the rocket tube as well. This step is very difficult. You will want to mark out thirds on the tube (if you have a protractor, that would definitely help.) Then you will need to extend that mark up to 2 1/2 inches on the side of the rocket tube as to outline where you will glue the fins.
Use a hot glue gun for this as it works the best. First apply the glue on side A of the fin, then apply the glue along the mark on the rocket tube carefully. Carefully push the two together. Needles to say (but I will say it anyway) this is trickier than it sounds. If you need to make any adjustments, make them quickly. Hold it in position for about ten seconds. Now repeat this for the other two fins, but remember that the two other fins must be at thirds of each other, or 120 degrees. Do not worry if it is slightly off or crooked, but if it is noticeable or if you have high rocket standards, you can carefully break them off (if wood is strong enough-I do not know about balsa), and retry. When you are done, let glue dry with fins pointing upward (or rocket inverted). When this has dried, (I, not being an expert, wait no more than 30 minutes.), apply glue along both sides of each fin and let this dry with fins pointing down (or normal rocket position).
Now for something a little easier. Cut a drinking straw to 5 1/2", and glue it alongside the rocket to the rocket tube as parallel to the tube as possible. You could do this alongside a fin if you want, but I would not as I have found this to complicate re gluing the fin should it break off. This will guide the rocket in the first milliseconds of it's flight. This step will not help if you do not have a launcher with a guide rod.
Use a hot glue gun for this as it works the best. First apply the glue on side A of the fin, then apply the glue along the mark on the rocket tube carefully. Carefully push the two together. Needles to say (but I will say it anyway) this is trickier than it sounds. If you need to make any adjustments, make them quickly. Hold it in position for about ten seconds. Now repeat this for the other two fins, but remember that the two other fins must be at thirds of each other, or 120 degrees. Do not worry if it is slightly off or crooked, but if it is noticeable or if you have high rocket standards, you can carefully break them off (if wood is strong enough-I do not know about balsa), and retry. When you are done, let glue dry with fins pointing upward (or rocket inverted). When this has dried, (I, not being an expert, wait no more than 30 minutes.), apply glue along both sides of each fin and let this dry with fins pointing down (or normal rocket position).
Now for something a little easier. Cut a drinking straw to 5 1/2", and glue it alongside the rocket to the rocket tube as parallel to the tube as possible. You could do this alongside a fin if you want, but I would not as I have found this to complicate re gluing the fin should it break off. This will guide the rocket in the first milliseconds of it's flight. This step will not help if you do not have a launcher with a guide rod.
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