The client had the final call on the dimensions for the Solano, and after a few mock-ups, we had the final overall size and shape nailed down. The pen is nice and hefty, but I think the dimensions are perfect for a large pen because it looks unique but feels perfect. The shape has a nice feel in the hand and the pen is very comfortable to use. It has a capped length of about 6″ (152mm) and 5 1/4″ uncapped.

The maximum diameter is a bit unusual at about .67″ (17mm). at the joint, and tapers down to about .35″ (9mm) at each end. The key to the design is the shape. It looks simple enough, but was actually very hard to achieve the subtle tapers to get the shape just right. The pen uses a 1″ long straight section with just a slight taper back to front that makes it comfortable to use. The acrylic feature band is about .14″ (3.5mm) wide. You can position the band on the cap side or the barrel side of the joint. Or elect not to use a band at all.

Whenever I have a new project like this for a new style, I like to first work out the initial size and shape of the parts using a drafting program. Once I have the size and shape established, I’ll make a mock-up pen with black acrylic before committing to the final pen with more expensive materials. The mock-up pen allows me to work on the subtle shapes of the parts before committing to the client’s pen. The solid black allows me to see the contours of the shape without any interference from a colored pattern. It also allows for any final adjustments that might be necessary before committing to the client’s pen.

Accent color: This pen was getting a secondary accent color for the section and a narrow band at the base of the cap. So on my sample pen, I used the bright orange crush acrylic, so I had a high contrast color so I could easily judge the width of the band.

The client selected an acrylic color called London Fog. The gray acrylic is faintly transparent, which allows a slight glimpse of the blue acrylic section through the cap. In time, look for more colors to come, or choose your own custom colors.

I now offer a slightly smaller Midi version of the Solano that’s available as a fountain pen or a rollerball. The Midi is 6.0″ long with a maximum diameter (at the joint) of about .63″ (16 mm). See Solano options and upgrades below for information on rollerball pens.

I think the unique style of the Solano allows it to stand on it’s own, so I don’t think it needs additional embellishments. However, some additional options and upgrades are available. One upgrade the original client requested was an accent band behind the section.

Inking systems: This pen style uses a cartridge/converter (C/C) inking system with a #6 nib. Currently, steel nibs are available in polish steel (PS) and all-gold steel (AGS). But other finishes are available from time to time, so check in in case it has changed as you read this. Tip sizes usually available are: x-fine, fine, medium, broad, and 1.1 & 1.5 italics. 14 & 18K Gold nibs are also available as a special order.

Hooded nib: A unique upgrade you could add to your pen is a hooded nib. I have a fascination with nib hoods. And I was always curious about whether it was possible to make one. If you’re not familiar with them, it’s a plastic cover or shell that fits over the nib, allowing only the tip of the nib to show. Parker used them on their popular model 51 fountain pen. Eventually, I came up with a hood that fits over a #5 nib and is comfortable to use (the #6 nib is too wide). And I think it looks great on the Solano (see the Black & Orange Solano page).

Rollerball pens: The Solano is available as a rollerball. Their are different types of rollerball refills, and the Solano can use most refill types. However, a pen will only use a specific refill type. So if you wish to order a rollerball open and have a refill brand or type preference, please be sure to let me know. Their are also two sizes of nose cones for rollerball pens. One is a large, one-piece, full-length nose cone. The other is a two-piece acrylic and metal cone.