Multiplex Solius

A.G. van Denderen wrote on 02/03/2017:

Strengths: Fly's as a dream , easy to assemble (RR) and excelent quality

Weaknesses: After time some scratches wil apear .

Overall: one of the best foam gliders on the market ( have also a Heron)

Bill_B wrote on 18/06/2014:

Strengths: Top quality foam mouldings, fit of parts is perfect, scale looks and excellent flight envelope.

Weaknesses: Unimaginative, bland decals. I manufactured my own scale-like markings.

Overall: Built and set up as per instructions guarantees a very satisfying assembly process and flight performance. It's relaxing to fly with no bad habits, but if needs be can be nicely aerobatic too. Elegant looks combined with excellent handling qualities make ownership of this glider a real pleasure.

Kevinlad wrote on 10/04/2014:

Strengths: Good flier, easy to control, nice looking

Weaknesses: Can be a fiddle to attach wings due to alignment of wing rods

Overall: Enjoyable to fly, wings knock off easily on rough landing, without damage. Will slope soar well on suitable hill site.

P,J Matthias wrote on 14/05/2013:

Capt Kremen wrote on 18/02/2013:

Strengths: Scale appearance in a sports model glider. Good flight performance. Well engineered to Multiplex (German) thoroughness and standards.

Weaknesses: The 'Solius' sees MPX employ some new assembly features. The spars are ready fitted, overlapping through the fuselage then secured with a central 'pin'. How durable and practical this will prove, time will tell. Also, (at the root), the aileron servo leads feature sockets to match the wing servo plugs. I still found extremely fiddly to assemble, doubly so on a cold flight test day! The canopy retention seems to this user to be the wrong way round i.e. the rear of the canopy hooks under the fuselage whilst the front relies on those MPX plastic clips (urgh!). In my other MPX models, I find these too easy to 'pop-off' under flight slipstream loads. If they'd planned it the other way round at least the canopy would be forced down and retained by airflow rather than caught and blown off! Assembly order - take great care and think (well) ahead. Carry out several dry runs. For example, fit the motor before assembling both fuselage halves together. The extension servo lead 'cutouts' in the foam probably only match one combination of servo plus extension lead. Aileron pushrods very short and too flexible to withstand 'blow-back' loads. My kit was missing its spinner but give MPX credit, they sent one within a week.

Overall: Despite my seemingly critical 'niggles', I do like my new 'Solius'. It seems to combine the qualities of scale glider appearance with best model glider flight performance i.e. no obvious tendancy to tip stall as many a graceful scale model glider can exhibit.