Bar Fleet #124 - Solo

Source:  Estes Industries

Kit # EST7288

Type:  Glider Sport Model

 

Stages:  Single

Engine Type:  18mm

Recovery:  Parachute, Glider



Booster Length:  55.5cm
Diameter:  354m


Glider Length:  15cm

Glider Diameter:  83mm

Overall Length:  62cm

Weight Empty:  84.6g

Nose Cone:  Tangent Ogive

Fin Type:  Swept

Number of Fins: 4 plus Ring Glider



Color Scheme:  Dark Blue, Yellow

Green Trim



Date Completed:  26 November, 2019



A Unique Glider Model



Being a professed aficionado of any model that goes up under rocket power and glides back down, adding an Estes Solo kit to the fleet is a no-brainer. 



The Solo is one of the new kits that Estes markets exclusively through Hobby Lobby stores.  The model features a plastic fin and motor mount assembly, pre-finished body tube, and a very interesting plastic and card stock ring glider.



Touted as a beginner’s level build, the model goes together very quickly with the use of plastic model cement. 



The bird took only an hour on the workbench, including substituting the rubber shock cord with a fiber elastic version, and the application of some fleet number decals.

A new Solo kit - fresh from Hobby Lobby

The Solo should be and interesting model to take to the launch field at the next flying opportunity.

Da parts.....

And the glider.   

A Nifty Technique For Precision Marking

Since I am now seriously back in the swing of working on the Steampunk Protostar build, I noted that, while marking out new riveted panels, I was utilizing a technique that I would like to share with you blog readers.

Anyone who is familiar with old-school, hand mechanical drafting would probably know this one.  In this day and age, however, with all the available forms of CAD software, this technique has gone the way of the rotary dial telephone.

The idea is simple: maintaining a very sharp tip on your marking pencil.
By keeping a sheet of fine grit sandpaper on the workbench, one can stop frequently during marking operations to sand a sharp chisel tip into the pencil lead.

This has two benefits:
First, the sharpened tip can produce an extremely thin, precise mark or line.  This is highly useful to those who build scale models, where utmost precision is required.

Second, the chisel tip can be butted up extremely tight into the right angle formed by the part surface and straight-edge. No pencil-lead width errors are introduced that might throw off a precision measured line.

This technique can be used with normal mechanical pencils using #2 lead.  They just have to be sharpened more often.
Harder leads such as number 4 or 5 are better, as they will hold a sharp edge longer, though producing a lighter line.

Steampunk Protostar, Part 32 - "A Little More Air, Please!"

The backyard deck build is finally finished!
Phew, what a ride....
Attention can now turn back to model rocketry, the long running Protostar build in particular.
This weekend saw the completion of an external air scoop for this "Ship of Fancy"
The build was very simple, with the scoop parts being cut from 1/16 balsa.

 Another curved balsa mounting plate similar to the one used on the launch lugs and smoke vent assemblies.

An application of glue dot rivets...

And a couple coats of  flat aluminum paint.

Done!

Stay tuned for yet more 'riveting' action!