• (2) 1/4" Balsa (45mm x 130mm) Lower Fin Strut
• (2) 1/4" Balsa (sized to fin pattern)

See notes in Pic #9

Cut a centered slot in Tubes 1 and 8 on the underside 1/4" wide and 130mm long.

Sand the struts until the angle matches the desired angle (from pattern). Ensure the length of the two struts are the same AFTER the angles have been finished. Shape the top that will be glued into the 18mm tube

Attach the struts to the fins using a alignment piece of balsa to ensure angle is correct.

Glue finished lower wings into 18mm tubes.

Ensure the unit is properly supported and level. Measure from the table to the upper tube covering on both sides to make sure the whole base is level. Measure the tip of each fin to ensure they are being held at the same angle.

• (1) 1/8" Balsa (155-145mm x 152.4) Lower Tube Cover

The Lower Tube Cover, in my case was two pieces. This needs to fit properly in between the two Lower Fin Struts because it is a main support. Notice the grain. My first piece was cut to 145mm and the second was cut to 155mm and then notched to 145 were it slide in (Pic #9)

Just another picture showing the full cover in place.

Because I have some space, some notes:

NOTE 1: The grain on the Lower Fin Strut should be perpendicular to the mounting edge (width-wise not length-wise)

NOTE 2: The grain on the Lower Fins should be parallel with the leading edge (I needed to assemble the full wing from two pieces of 1/4" Balsa)

NOTE 3: After all this glue is dry, then make a nice fillet with 5 minute epoxy on this underside joint between the Lower Fin Struts and the Lower Tube Cover. Don't epoxy anywhere else, yet.

NOTE 4: I'm still switching between inches and millimeters depending on need, just indulge me please.

Upper Fin is NOT attached!

Doing this just keeps me motivated. I had to be careful and not do this with wet glue!

Some other thoughts. I scaled this version up from the drawing prints I have by 2.875 times. However, the model is actually a scaled down version by 56.5 times. Yes, that upper fin would have been over 50 feet tall!

• (2) 1/8" Balsa (cut to pattern) Upper Fin Supports
• (1) 13mm Tube cut in half (130mm)
• Opps

Upper Fin is NOT attached!

Make two fin supports from the pattern.

Attach the Intakes built earlier

Here's where I made a mistake. From the front/rear view under tube 1 and 8 looked like a 1/2 shell on each side of the Lower Fin Strut. I figured that was easy, cut a 10.5mm tube in half and glue it on both sides. I had completed that for the outsides and then realized from the side shot that those 1/2 shells did not extend all the way and were simply the Laser Cannon Ball on the front of the Strut.

This is Nick's enhancement, called the ????????

• (2) 18mm Couplers (Apogee) cut in half
• (8) 3/4" Wooden Buttons (Ben Franklin)
• (1) 1/16" Balsa (60mm x 100mm, trimmed to shape

Attached the 1/16" balsa cover to the rear of the canopy. I used an old 29mm tube to pre-cut that shape and a sanding block on the back of the canopy to ensure all the pieces were level. After the glue set I trimmed all the edges around the canopy.

Cut the two 18mm couplers in half. Glue a wooden button on each half's original (uncut) side. Be sure it is centered. (this uses 4 of the 8 buttons)

Glue the remaining 4 buttons onto tubes 1, 2, 7 and 8. You may have to trim out some of the Lower Fin Struct to make it fit in tubes 1 and 8.

The buttons may need to have their left and right side sanded a little flat to fit.

The covers for tubes 3, 4, 5 and 6 are meant to be removable.