How to?

[rickshaw]

How does one make sure the fins on missiles are exactly at 90 degrees to the body of the missile?  I'm trying to build my own missiles and the fins aren't working.   I could build a jig but I'm worried about the glue getting on it and it becoming a permanent part of the missile itself!   

[kerick]

A jig is your best bet. Can you make the jig out of a plastic that resists the glue you are using? I believe poly propelene is not affected by styrene solvents but check on that first. Some plastics resist even CA.

[Captain Canada]

What are you using for glue ? The square bottles of Tamiya can be applied very thinly so it dries faster, holding the fin in place. You can also slightly angle the fin base, and  score the missile body in the same direction as the fin to help align/ hold it. You'd be surprised at how much a little helps alot ! Good luck...and what scale are you working in ?

[Hobbes]

I generally use a clothespin to hold the missile so it's horizontal and the fin can be placed vertically. Then I place the fin.
To make sure the fin stays upright I place an object on either side of the fin, and slowly move them closer until both objects touch the fin. I'll add a picture later, can't upload at the moment.
This means the fin isn't clamped down so it's easy to remove the missile from the jig. It also means glue isn't an issue because the jig doesn't touch the glue.

[Hobbes]

This is the jig I use.



The missile and fin are in the middle, the large flat objects are business cards on either side of the fin to hold the fin upright.

[PR19_Kit]

That's a darn good idea Harro, well thought out. 

It would be possible to do two, or even more, fins at a time using that method if they were in line with each other on the missile body. The Matra Magic comes to mind with its three sets of fins.