Estes Black Brant XII Upgrade Fin Set
The Estes Black Brant XII is a fantastic scale model of an iconic sounding rocket but unfortunately the kit has one major drawback. The first and second stage fins in the kit are a nightmare for the average builder to construct due to the way they are assembled and finished. Each fin in the kit is first glued together out of 5 separate die cut balsa pieces then carefully held in place with weights to dry, without the parts shifting position and hopefully without warping. Finally, each fin has to be carefully hand sanded in four different planes to create the correct airfoil shape and then filled and sealed before painting. WOW, that's 40 parts to perfectly glue together without misalignment or warping and 32 airfoil planes on 8 separate fins to sand so that they all match each other!
Well, Boyce Aerospace Hobbies to the rescue! You asked for them and we delivered. Introducing our complete set of finished ABS fins to upgrade the standard balsa fins on your Black Brant XII. Here's what you get:
- Four 3D printed ABS first stage fins
- Four 3D printed ABS second stage fins
- All fins come pre-airfoiled with fin tabs
- All fins are printed at a resolution of 150 microns
- All fins are hollow and have symmetrical infill just like aircraft wing stringers
- Comes with an emery sanding board for final smoothing before paint
- Weights: Complete set-52 g, Second stage-20g, First stage-32g
- Use standard or plastics epoxy to install
United StatesGreat Results
Used these on my Black Brant XII kit. Definitely an improvement over the multi-part balsa fins that come with the kit. They require some prep work because they are printed but they were easy to use and really enhanced the kit.
United StatesBB XII fin review
The included sanding stick was too aggressive, so I substituted ones I regularly use for my scale models. Having previously obtained your models, I felt the fins were less refined than expected. Primer spray filler was used 3 times before imperfections were suitably removed.
United StatesBlack Brant XII Upgrade Review
Excellent product - nicely printed with a precise fit on the rocket
United StatesI asked Alex and he did these, fantastic.
I asked Alex about printing fins for this kit. I had the kit but was putting off building it because of the complicated fins and the sanding required. I also knew no matter how hard I tried the fins would only end up acceptable. He was busy but then a couple months later he notified me had designed and printed a set and was selling them. I picked up a set a couple weeks ago along with a couple of kits. These are going to be much better and loads easier to build this very cool kit.
United StatesGreat idea!!
Have not purchased yet... but will soon. Brilliant idea. I recently got back into model rocketry... like many boomers and said no more balsa!!
