Estes Solo #7288 Build, Finished

Once in a while it's nice to assemble a model that doesn't require body tube and balsa filling.
I was very curious about this design as I always wanted to try the old Flying Stovepipe model.
The big surprise was how large this rocket is. I would have hoped to launch it with B6-2 engines, but a C6-3 is the only recommended engine. We'll see how well that ring glider performs!


TRIVIA: The two Solo "pin fins" reminded me of the old MPC Martian patrol fins. On the Martian Patrol, two Styrofoam saucers go for a ride and separate at ejection. The UFO's flip and "hover" to the ground, the rocket returns by parachute.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Part 6, Ends & Edges

Small pieces of Scotch tape are placed inside to hold the ring to the card stock tube.

The inset picture shows the completed "glider".

The SOLO name decal is a sticker on a clear background.
When set on the blue body tube it's a little washed out. It probably needed a white undercoat, but that's a moot point.

TIP: When placing a sticker, lift it with the end of your hobby knife and place it using the knife, not your fingers. Don't touch the underside or you'll see your fingerprints through the clear backing.

TIP: I've marked the shock cord at the 1 1/2" depth where the tri-fold mount should end up from the top of the tube.
Drop it in up to the pencil mark, then press the glued mount in place.
The nose cone fit was a bit loose and took a wrap of tape for a better fit.






I attached the parachute to a snap swivel. The snap swivel was tied to the shock cord about 6" away from the nose cone. This is to keep parachute line tangles to a minimum.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Part 5, Cutting & Forming The Glider

I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a large tube like in the Flying Stovepipe plans. The body of the glider is rolled card stock.
(Don't stare at the printed circles too long - you'll be hypnotized!)

There is a thin yellow line to cut on with scissors.

I shaped the ring glider as always by using a dowel.
Set the card stock in the heel of your left hand. Press and slide the (clean) dowel over the card stock for a smooth round shape.

Curve the "arms" at the top until they touch.








On the left side a piece of Scotch tape is pressed.
Center and join to the right side.

Apply tape to both sides









The round glider body is slid into a slot running around the connecting ring.
The joint on the card stock body lines up with a molded line between the two molded lugs.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Part 4, Gluing Things Up

TIP: I've brought this up before -
Beacon Fabri-Tac glue is great for some rocketry applications. Brush-on liquid plastic cement dries too quickly for some things. This Fabri-Tac glue gives you a little more working time. You can find the Fabri-Tac glue at fabric stores and Hobby Lobby.

Be ready - it can be messy. Just like the old plastic cement from a tube, you'll see strings of glue when you pull the tube away from the applied area. It is thick and can fill some gaps.

Here I used it to glue the shoulder cap onto the nose cone.


It's great for Kraft tube and plastic joints.

Gluing plastic adapters to body tubes, gluing plastic boat tails to body tubes and gluing fin cans like this into body tubes.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Part 3, Engine Mount & Fin Can

The fin can is interesting, there is no internal engine mount tubing. The top of the engine slips into a molded recessed ring at the top. A taller molded ring at the rear. The rear is threaded for the engine retaining ring.

The instructions show a tube of plastic cement used to glue the sides together. I held the sides together and brushed liquid cement on the inside joints.

I used Beacon Fabri-Tac glue on the root edge areas of the fins. Here I marked the root edge with a Sharpie to show where the glue was applied. The fins were slid into place.

More liquid cement was brushed onto the gap at the rear of the fin root edge. Let this glue dry before screwing on the engine retainer.





Here's the finished fin can. The fins with the glider attachment pins are on shown at the top.

As it is now, this fin can looks like the back end a sci-fi rocket.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Part 2, Launch Lug Positioning

A line is drawn up the body tube for the launch lug. The lug is pressed against the tube. Two posts on the back of the lug strip indent the body tube at two locations. Be sure the indent marks are in a straight line.

The instructions say to cut small "X"s in the body tube for the short positioning pins on the back of the launch lug strip. I wanted a more accurate hole. Punching X slits with an X-Acto knife can easily give you larger slits than you want.

After the tube was marked by pressing the lug strip in place - Check to be sure the line is still straight. You can see the depressions in the light reflection on the left.

TIP: I started the holes with a pin.
The pin hole was enlarged with a small rat tail diamond file.




Spin the file a few times, check the fit and repeat until you get a good friction fit.

TIP: Before using the clear retention tape over the lug, I taped the lug strip down to the body tube. This freed up my left hand to make the placement of the clear tape easier.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Part 1, Parts

Here's all the kit parts! Everything is pre-colored in yellow and blue.

Sub-assemblies are in their own parts bags.

That yellow nose cone is 6 5/8" long. The rocket with ring glider attached is 25.3" long, bigger than you would expect!

The Skill Level is "Beginner" but after forming the tube glider I'd rate it as "Intermediate".

Parts of interest, from the top going clockwise:
Printed card stock glider "tube"
Black launch lug strip
Four fins, two of each style
Plastic glider forward ring
Launch lug strip retainer tape
Name sticker

Upper left going clockwise:
Clear nose cone shoulder cap
One side of fin can
Screw on motor retainer ring
Other side of fin can






The 11" BT-55 body tube:
On some ARTF kits, the pre-colored 20 and 50 sized body tubes feel a bit thin. This tube is very robust.

Estes Solo #7288 Build, Background

When I first saw the new Estes Solo, I thought of the Flying Stovepipe. This design was by Larry Deran, Estes plan #56 going back to 1968.
To see the plan: CLICK HERE

The fins were airfoiled on one side to spin the rocket during boost and spin the ring glider at ejection.
The central booster was a lot like the old tumble recovery Astron Scout. I've never seen one of these launched.



I did a blog post about the Flying Stovepipe and the HurriK9 dog toy. The dog toy reminded me of the Stovepipe.





The Solo kit is a single ring glider version of the new Estes Double Ringer shown at the right. The Solo is a Hobby Lobby exclusive kit.

Here's the new packaging from the Hobby Lobby stores.

There were two Solo kits at my local HL store. Before heading to the cash registers -
TIP: Always check the body tubes to be sure they are round and not creased.
Look at the right side of the package - the ring glider card stock is turned up against the side of the package. In one kit the card stock was creased. I picked the kit that looked to have less damage (a slight bend) in the glider skin.