Error in Estes Gryphon (7280) instructions?

[DrewW]

So after many recommendations on the Estes Gryphon, I opened up the kit today and in step one I found an error and am confused. The body hooks (green) match the balsa instructions at the top of the page (also green), but do not match the assembly instructions (red). Scratching my head...

...should I assemble as is? Should I alter the body hooks to make them match?

I checked @hcmbanjo 's build and his were symmetric. Estes doesn't have this set of instructions posted, nor does JimZ.

Date code on package is 04/23/19

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

Try asking Sandra at Estes customer service.

https://estesrockets.com/wp-content/uploads/Instructions/007280_GRYPHON.pdf

 

[kuririn]

I wouldn't get hung up over the two "D" pieces not being symmetrical.
The difference is a small triangle of wood.
Main thing is the fit of the hook.
I haven't finished building mine, but here it is so far.


What I'm trying to say is the difference between the two pieces of wood is minor and will not affect the assembly or performance of the glider.
Just make sure the fit of the hook is not too snug. Sand the sliding rib if necessary.
Have fun!

 

[hcmbanjo]

I checked @hcmbanjo 's build and his were symmetric. Estes doesn't have this set of instructions posted, nor does JimZ.
Date code on package is 04/23/19

My blog build may have been a pre-production kit. Slight things can change before the kit goes on sale.

 

[tab28682]

Mine were assymetric. I also ignored it. As stated above, zero effect on the functionality of the pod attachment.

 

[DrewW]

Mine were assymetric. I also ignored it. As stated above, zero effect on the functionality of the pod attachment.

Thanks, literally my first glider build and am very unsure of what matters, and what does not.

 

[Ez2cDave]

So after many recommendations on the Estes Gryphon, I opened up the kit today and in step one I found an error and am confused. The body hooks (green) match the balsa instructions at the top of the page (also green), but do not match the assembly instructions (red). Scratching my head...

I checked @hcmbanjo 's build and his were symmetric. Estes doesn't have this set of instructions posted, nor does JimZ.

Date code on package is 04/23/19

Here is the image from the instructions, straight on . . .

EDITED to show BOTH pieces in the same orientation ( 7-12-2021 ).

Dave F.

 

[DrewW]

Here is the image from the instructions, straight on . . .

Dave F.

View attachment 472460

Exactly Dave, that matches my balsa. The views of the assembly process do not match the view you provided or, consequently, the balsa in the kit. Note the two elements marked D are not the same. Yet the assembly instructions show them as matching.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

Drew's point is that the two D parts are different but there doesn't seem to be a reason for it. The general advice is...

 

[tab28682]

Here is the image from the instructions, straight on . . .

Dave F.

It was perfectly clear in the original post.......

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Would it make a difference on which side each one goes?
Since either one could be put on either side?
This would defiantly hang me up...I would probably cut a new piece to match the larger one and move forward.
Side Note:
The Ford Escorts were the worst to work on for me because they were A-symetrical.
While the later one's were actually good cars, and I owned one, to straighten one after an accident was a pain.
Anything uneven really bothers me...

 

[DrewW]

Estes got back to me after checking on it.

Parts are fine as is, no need to modify them. No assembly preference to the asymmetric parts. No impact to performance. They will be making an update to the instructions.

 

[Lord Rory Gin]

Estes got back to me after checking on it.

Parts are fine as is, no need to modify them. No assembly preference to the asymmetric parts. No impact to performance. They will be making an update to the instructions.

Good to know. I just opened my packaged and noticed the asymmetrical difference. I would like Estes to explain WHY the difference instead of just updating the instructions. Or is the difference just an accident in their tooling of the parts?

Edit: just a guess but I think the added balsa shape is to make it turn in a predictable direction as a glider. Plus it can offset the mass of the launch lug during launch. After all, it is designed to be a very light rocket glider.

 

[Aeronerd]

Glad I found this thread I just bought a estes gryphon. Now I know w hat to expect.

 

[cbwho]

I noticed an extra launch rod tube in the kit. I don't see where it goes. What am I missing?

 

[kuririn]

I noticed an extra launch rod tube in the kit. I don't see where it goes. What am I missing?

There are two launch lugs in the kit.
The shorter 1 1/4" lug (part O) is glued onto the balsa strip extending out on Part J after assembly.
The longer 2" lug is glued to the controller wire stand off (part U).
See the instructions for details.

 

[cbwho]

There are two launch lugs in the kit.
The shorter 1 1/4" lug (part O) is glued onto the balsa strip extending out on Part J after assembly.
The longer 2" lug is glued to the controller wire stand off (part U).
See the instructions for details.

Oh, I see it now. Since the wire stand off is part of Stage 0, that tube is superfluous since the balsa already has the rod holes.

 

[GlenP]

Edit- nevermind

 

[Joekeyo]

Thanks, literally my first glider build and am very unsure of what matters, and what does not.

Build it. Launch it. Mine flies great.

 

[Rktman]

I believe the asymmetry in the D piece is something that was intentionally added in later kits. Just getting around to building mine and I noticed that part of that asymmetry is probably to trim off a smidge of weight and/or possibly induce a turn in the direction of the beefier nosepiece. Small differences in a tiny, light glider like this can really affect its gliding behavior.

 

[Lord Rory Gin]

I believe the asymmetry in the D piece is something that was intentionally added in later kits. Just getting around to building mine and I noticed that part of that asymmetry is probably to trim off a smidge of weight and/or possibly induce a turn in the direction of the beefier nosepiece. Small differences in a tiny, light glider like this can really affect its gliding behavior.

Yeah, that was my interpretation as well. The asymmetry is intentional to force it into a spin, plus it offsets the drag of the launch lug. Estes could have explained that in the instructions properly.

 

[Rktman]

Yeah, that was my interpretation as well. The asymmetry is intentional to force it into a spin, plus it offsets the drag of the launch lug. Estes could have explained that in the instructions properly.

Economies of scale being what they are, I'm guessing Estes uses a printing press service to mass print thousands of instruction sheets for various models at one go. IMHO it'd make more sense to have a good quality in-house inkjet or toner printer to produce instructions in smaller runs as-needed, making changes an easy, fast, and virtually no-cost solution.

 

[kuririn]

Economies of scale being what they are, I'm guessing Estes uses a printing press service to mass print thousands of instruction sheets for various models at one go. IMHO it'd make more sense to have a good quality in-house inkjet or toner printer to produce instructions in smaller runs as-needed, making changes an easy, fast, and virtually no-cost solution.

Or stick in an addendum sheet.

 

[Bluegrass Rocket]

Estes instructions are printed in China, most likely in the quantity of the kit run, probably between 1000 and 5000. They get packaged and sent to the Estes warehouse until they sell out. Then if they reorder they can make changes. It’s not a quick process.

 

[Rktman]

Estes got back to me after checking on it.

Parts are fine as is, no need to modify them. No assembly preference to the asymmetric parts. No impact to performance. They will be making an update to the instructions.

Estes got back to me after checking on it.

Parts are fine as is, no need to modify them. No assembly preference to the asymmetric parts. No impact to performance. They will be making an update to the instructions.

Just curious whether you got to finish your Gryphon and fly it yet?

 

[Rktman]

Just got through with my build and was surprised at how small the glider is. It's only got a 6" wingspan.
The other surprise was how hefty its weight is (the parts appear to all be 3/32" hard balsa). That "over 45-second flights from 700 feet" displayed on the facecard seems a bit optimistic. I don't mind in the least though, all the flying locations within a reasonable drive for me are on the smallish side, so I'm glad to have a sport flyer that I'm not likely to lose.

The other thing I was wondering about was why the forward part of the glider is so heavily weighted with those thick fuselage doublers. There are simpler and smaller pylon coupling methods that are far lighter that they could've used, so I'm mystified why they chose to go the route they did. That hunk of clay at the rear is what it took to get it to balance at the indicated CG location.

Not to give the impression that I'm only critical of the Estes design. Quite the opposite. Although the Gryphon seems to have been inspired by Edmonds Aerospace's popular Deltie, I appreciate the thought that went into the Estes' version, especially the glider's robust construction, the slot in the fuselage for the canard wing so that the required negative angle is accurate and assured, how its launch CG falls at about the canard midpoint, and little details like the tiny hole at the glide CG point so that you can use a paper clip to initially balance it, and the ignition standoff that comes with the kit.

 

[DrewW]

Just curious whether you got to finish your Gryphon and fly it yet?

Built it and flew it many times in 2021. Kids got over excited during recovery and trampled it, only to glue the pieces back together and still glide moderately well.