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Apogee Aspire Rocket Assembly
1. Fine sand the balsa die-cut sheets before
removing the fins. Carefully remove all the
pieces from the balsa sheet by freeing the edges
with a sharp hobby knife.
2. Group the four fins together, and gently
sand the edges as shown in the illustration.
3. Test fit the red coupler in place into one
of the body tube sections (If you have trouble
inserting it, try sanding the coupler or peeling off
some of the red paper layer). Apply wood glue
around the perimeter to one end of the red tube
coupler. Quickly insert it 1/2 way into one end of
a 29mm diameter body tube. After the glue has
set, apply glue around the portion sticking out,
and insert into the other 29mm body tube.
Note:
If you plan on using longer 29mm rocket
motors than the 3.5” (8.9 cm) long Apogee F10
composite propellant motor, you may omit the
next step.
4. Carefully glue one of the CR24-29 center-
ing rings into one end of the body tube assembly
using wood glue. Recess it 3-1/8 inch (7.9 cm)
into the tube from the end. It is easiest to push it
into the tube using a 29mm diameter rocket mo-
tor. From now on, this end of the tube will be the
aft end of the tube.
5. Cut out the tube marking guide from the
pattern sheet. Wrap the guide around the aft end
of the body tube and tape the ends together.
Mark the body tube at each of the arrow points.
Remove the marking guide.
6. Using a door frame, draw a pencil line
down the outside of the body tube at each pencil
mark. Label the launch lug line so you don’t glue
a fin in the wrong position.
7. Apply glue to the root edge of one of
the fins. Allow the glue to dry slightly for a few
minutes, then attach it to one of the body tubes,
as shown in the illustration. Each fin is attached
.75” (19mm) from the end of the tube. Make sure
the fin is straight along the tube. Allow the fin to
dry before proceeding with the next fin. Repeat
this step three more times as you attach the
other two fins.
8. Apply a bead of wood glue to both sides of
each fin-body tube joint. Pull your finger along
the joint to smooth out and remove the excess
glue. Lay the tubes horizontally while the glue
dries. (Note: If you plan on flying with high thrust
rocket motors to achieve supersonic speeds, it
is recommended that you apply a fillet of FIXIT
®
Epoxy-clay
(www.ApogeeRockets.com/epoxy-clay.
asp)
to each of the fins to add extra strength.
.75” (19mm)
Mark Motor Casing
3-1/8” (7.9 cm)
