Build Thread: Estes Super Orbital Transport
 

Time to build the long-anticipated Estes #7314 Super OT!

Parts inventory matches the list on the instructions. Wow! (5) full-size sheets of 3/32" balsa. This kit has more wood than the H-4 Hercules! (yes, some of my comparisons are pretty dumb)

Anyway, the laser cuts of the balsa and the fiber are clean, the colors of the waterslide decals are rich, the tubes and cones are perfect, and this should be a ton of fun.

Hmm, the included engine mount parts are dedicated to "D" only.

TBC

OK, I went and did it anyway: I upsized the engine mount.

From my stock I cut a piece of BT50 1" longer than the provided engine tube. To justify this I thought to myself: "why, why, why, didn't I upsize the engine mount while I was assembling it?" The engine mount is assembled using epoxy and I also added a length of #400 braided Kevlar for a shock cord leader.

I've also joined the sections of the booster's and orbiter's wings on the flat Corian slab covered with waxed paper.

TBC

Continuing with the booster's wing.

I've built several OT's over the decades and so far this BY FAR the easiest one (so far.) Obviously it's because of the increased size and the uniformity of the parts.

TBC

Dang, Jeff. Why did you wait so long to do a build thread on the SOT? :D

I guess I'm just a lazy slacker. :rolleyes:

The nacelles are now "boxed" out and I've mounted the booster's wings onto the lower BT-55 using the supplied fiber jigs.

As with many of the other OT's I've built, I successfully screwed up by rounding the leading edges of the wings before attaching the forward wing extensions. :o No biggie, I'll correct it with filler after I actually attach the forward extensions.

TBC

Now for some technigue:

Since I successfully screwed up by prematurely rounding the leading edges of the wings, I've scraped a concave channel into the joining surface of the wing extensions. Is it REALLY necessary? Probably not--I just like overdoing sh**.

This has allowed me to pre-round the leading edges of the wing extensions before mounting them. Note the appearance of the Herculean thigh.

TBC

and..............Voila!

The correction is predominately successful. The joint between the booster's wings and wing extensions looks pretty tight.

Uh oh. "The Vixen" is pi$$ed about something. Probably involves moi. Gotta go!

TBC

After mounting the sub fins onto the lower BT-55 I decided it's time to get these wings filletted before I load them up any more.

I've now done just that with 30 minute epoxy.

TBC

I've now attached the booster's large and small fins, the orbiter's support fins, and the 3/16" launch lugs and the now the booster's lower tube is completely populated (I think.)

Fiberboard alignment jigs are included for all of these parts. It's almost cheating--but I'll live with the guilt. :rolleyes:

TBC

I've now epoxied the tube coupler into the top booster tube ONLY. I won't join the top and bottom booster tubes permanently until I'm ready to paint because it's much easier to handle and manipulate for sanding and sealing.

I've now attached the canards to the top booster tube and epoxied the engine mount into the bottom booster tube.

"The Vixen" has informed me that she has a Black and Tan and some blind robins ready for me! I'll have to banish the cats to the garage to eat the blind robins or they'll bug me to no end.

Good night.

TBC