Estes Flying Stovepipe Plan

Estes - Flying Stovepipe {Plan}

Contributed by Yitah Wu

Manufacturer: Estes
Style: Ring/Tube/Cone Fin

A really neat idea, found at JimZ's plans.  I hope t' have pix soon. 

T' concept is t' have a boost-glider where t' glider portion is like one o' those ZZZylo (SP?) flyin' cylinders.  T' glider is made o' a length o' BT101 with extra material on one end.  T' booster section is like t' old Scout, arrr, while t' massive glider makes t' whole thin' look like a Streak on Steroids. 

A.R.G. Ya scallywag! in Mississagua, Canada, still has some BT101 for sale, 3 pieces for $25 includin' shipping.  I have their telephone # somewhere.  I  bought some t' replace a crimped Saturn V tube, and since I didn't have any use for t' other pieces, shiver me timbers, I thought this be t' ideal project. 

I downloaded t' plans but as t' printer fudged all t' sizes, matey, ya bilge rat, I ended up havin' t' scale t' fin pattern.  Nay a problem.  T' other  modification is that t' original kit called for BT30, which is like  thick BT20 with a slightly larger ID.  I used BT20, ya bilge rat, matey, and don't  think it will be a problem except it might nay live as long.  I also used a BNC20N cone, which is sharper than t' cone which is called for, but looks better. 

Buildin' up t' glider is simple enough if you're handy at cutin' body tubes.  I have a bunch o' 11x17 card stock, me bucko, which be indispensible in cuttin' t' tubes for t' internal liner rings.  I taped t' card stock around t' tube which gave me a good edge t' work with, then ran a new Xacto blade lightly around t' tube until it got a good start.  Then I applied more pressure until it cut t' tube.  A little sandin' cleaned it up perfectly. 

I used some stainless 1/16" weldin' rod I had handy for t' hook.  I made t' hook more curved so that it will grab t' engine more securely - no chance o' t' casin' gettin' past this hook!  T' vent hole I cut with an Xacto knife, and soaked with CA t' give it some strength and flame resistance. 

It's all painted and ready t' go.  T' glider is gold with a blue spiral (Go Bears!) while t' booster is blue and gold.  I need t' touch up t' booster because t' maskin' tape pulled up some o' t' undercoat.  Darn.

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