Estes Condor #0807 Build, Part 3, Freeing The Balsa Pieces

These parts were not die-cut with a new blade. The cuts only made it about half way through the balsa.

To be sure I'll draw my knife through the shallow die-cut lines, I ran a sharp pencil over the cut lines.

Here's how the 3/16" thick sheet looked after tracing over the cuts with the pencil.

 

Save the extra balsa ends!

You never know if you might need them later on in the build.

Estes Condor #0807 Build, Part 2, Some Extra Parts

I don't know why - 

The build requires three short launch lugs. 

The kit included seven lugs.

You only need two centering rings, 

The kit included four in total.

It's interesting to look back on the older kits. In the ring at the upper left, the center circle isn't perfectly centered. 

The engine hook notch is a bit crooked.

The back side of the face card has a printed tri-fold mount. Another separate mount is included.

That small dowel is glued to the nose of the glider. It hooks over a lug on the booster during launch.

In older kits you can usually count on replacing the rubber shock cord and parachute tape disks.

The kit supplied shock cord was 18" long.

Estes Condor #0807 Build, Part 1, Parts

Here's the kit in the original bag.

The picture on the face card is dark. Estes might have bumped up the contrast. The model is painted white after all.

All the parts -

The body tube is very tight with almost no seam. Paramount made better tubes back then.

The die-cut balsa was pressed with older, dull blades. The pieces will have to be cut and separated by hand.

Estes Condor #0807 Build Background

 

The Estes Condor was introduced in the 1977 catalog.

I never noticed then, but in this catalog Mini Brutes were now renamed "SUPER" Mini Brutes.

This model was almost a smaller, less detailed Orbital Transport using 13mm mini motors. A parasite glider that detaches at ejection, glides down while the main body recovers under parachute.

This kit was available from 1977 through 1980. The build starts tomorrow . . .

New Estes Arcas Kit Fin Shaping?

On TRF, Solar Yellow posted something directed to me:

"I'm expecting a build. Likely with diamond-profiled fins because that is the cooler way to do it if you have the skillz."

My response:

I'll do a blog build if Estes sends me some kits.
If I'm working for a vendor, I build them as directed by the instructions.
In some extra blog build posts, I would cut out some additional fins and show how the diamond taper can be done.
That depends though - if the kit fins are only 1/16" thick, the diamond taper isn't practical.

Neil W added probably the best solution of all - 

"I was thinking that too."

"I think you could fool the casual observer by shading the bottom half of the fins slightly darker (could be accomplished with a very light grey transparent decal)."

Old Estes Parts, Part 2

Here's that same BT-30 (from a post a few day's back) with a nose cone a fin unit.

   

The plastic fin unit was re-purposed from those used in fireworks. 

The fit over the end of the BT-30 tube is very good.

The fin unit and nose cone are listed in the 1960 Estes catalog. The fins used in the Sky Bird and Dirty Bird designs.

An illustration for both parts is in the second 1961 catalog: CLICK HERE

The nose cone shoulder slips over the body tube edge. This is another fireworks piece.

These plastic parts were phased out as balsa equivalents replaced them. The manufacturer's probably didn't want to associate with any ties to fireworks.

Thanks again to Lonnie Buchanon for lending me these parts.

Estes ARCAS Now Available

The new Estes ARCAS kit is available!

BT-20 based, 14.5" tall with streamer recovery.

Mini engine powered, friction fit retention.

The model is small so the instructions suggest simply rounding the leading edge of the fins. A scale diamond taper is not shown.

The instructions include a mask pattern for the difficult red and white separations. 

The instructions have just been posted on the Estes website: CLICK HERE