Estes Gryphon #7280 Build, Part 3, Engine Hook Prep & Fill

Here's the engine pod "hook" parts.

That long finger extension on one side of the hook is delicate and can easily break off.
Later in the build the launch lug is glued on the extension.





All three pieces were filled with CWF then sprayed with filler/primer. Normally you would simply glue them together and fill afterwards, but this is s how model. I had to have every inside edge filled and clean.

In the picture I'm filling the inside corners for a smoother look. I used a diamond file to get inside the corners.




I also hit the pieces with a shot of filler/primer before gluing them together.  I usually sand to surface leaving very little filler/primer. The two side pieces were only sprayed on the outside leaving bare balsa for a better glue bond.
Doing it this way also involved more filling later -

Snap Swivel Attachment

On YORF, David Stribling posted some scanned instructions for the TLP Hawk kit.
The Launch Pad instructions are clean and to the point -

TLP Hawk Instructions 1: CLICK HERE
TLP Hawk Instructions 2: CLICK HERE

Here's yet another way to attach a snap swivel to the parachute shroud lines:
It's more difficult to get the lines through the small end loop. This is the way Estes would have you attach the lines to a nose cone eyelet or screw eye, except at the snap swivel. It allows you to remove or change out the parachute if needed.

NOTE: The Launch Pad company (Kits and designs) are for sale!
Check out their large variety of missiles, over 50 kits! CLICK HERE

Estes Gryphon #7280 Build, Part 2, Cleaning Up The Laser Cut Balsa

I'll be building this model for Estes as a "show" model. You probably shouldn't fill and paint a glider, the extra weight cuts down the flight duration. This one will be filled and painted.

Looking close at the booster engine tube "hook", there is some laser cut wiggles. These should be cleaned up before assembly.

Look close at the lower right of the wing halves. There is a small curved corner. Be careful not to sand this off -





As with most laser cut parts, the cut is a "wedge", wider at the bottom of the flat balsa sheet.
Square these edges up with a sanding block being careful not to change the shape or make the pieces smaller.






The "H" piece is an Alignment Tool. It's handy to have in a kit like this, giving you perfect 90 degree alignment of the glider parts.

Great Fin Alignment Idea

On TRF, Gary Saito posted a few pictures of his New Way rockets Flat Boy build. At first glance this looks like a rocket sitting on a stand.

"Since I didn't have a fin jig for a square tube I used the legs of the display stand and line of sight to align the fins."

Viewed from the rear - 

"Here's a couple of pics showing visual alignment of fins using the legs of a display stand. For four fins I use Qualmann's, for three fins it's Estes. However the Qualmann stands are made of fiberboard, so the squareness may vary depending on how carefully it was put together." 

Gary Saito

Thanks Gary! I love this tip - Simple and Brilliant!

Estes Gryphon #7280 Build, Part 1, Parts

I want to call this one "Gry-fon" but it is pronounced "Griffin".
From Wikipedia: The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle's talons as its front feet."





Here's the kit parts in the bag -

Some have posted they see a resemblance to the OOP Edmonds Aerospace kits. The new Gryphon is a rear wing, canard design but that's where the similarities end.

Also included in the kit is the Launch Controller Wire Standoff. This standoff helps hold the controller wires and clips away from the lower wings of the glider. A smart addition.
On the right are the black and white decals.

Estes Sasha Build #7271, Finished

This is a BIG, impressive design!

I had to take it outside for the overall picture (above) but for some reason it photographed blue! I did my best to get the colors back. I didn't look at the picture until after the two Sasha builds were sent off to Estes.

I think this is going to be a big seller for Estes. The upper stage bears a resemblance to the ESAM-58 Hobby Lobby exclusive kit.






I hit the green main body and fins with a dull coat. The nose cone and nozzle were left gloss light gray.

Estes Sasha Build #7271, Part 14, Upper Stage Paint & Decals

TIP: To keep the decal placement consistent on all sides of the fins, make a tracing with a cutout for the star. I also drew a box for the fin flap decal.









The fin flap decal wraps underneath the low edge of the large fin.








I missed some paint on the body tube ends.
Some green was sprayed in a cup and the paint rolled on the edge with a Q-tip.






After all the decals, the green body was hit with an acrylic dull coat. The nose cone and tail cone will be left glossy.

TIP: Before spraying on the dull clear, a moist paper towel picked up all the water spots left after the decals.






The screw-on engine retainer ring was glued on using the Beacon Fabri-Tac glue.