dodgers72

My Feedback: (1)

Quikturn, how hard is to build the king kobra with retracts and would the Super Tigre 90 be to much for it?

Jerry Hicks

My Feedback: (26)

I have built from kits a Kadet Mk II, a Kommander (my all time favorite Sig airplane), a Kavalier (a close second to the Kommander), and a Kougar. The kits are definitely work, but you end up with a very beautiful airplane with lots of durability. I have a Sig Rascal 40 ARF with a Saito 56 that is THE BEST FLYING ARF I've ever had, and I have another identical to it "in reserve" fully assembled and ready to go and a new one NIB on the shelf in case I need it. I also have a Something Extra ARF and a Fourstar 120 ARF, both NIB, on the shelf as future projects. Lastly, I also have the larger Mayhem ARF (90 to 120 size) NIB that I'm going to have to sell this week (ARGH!!), as I have completely and totally run out of room....it's space on the shelf is being taken up by a brand new recently purchased (last 30 days no less) "new production" Kadet Senior ARF. Oh yeah, I have a brand new Rascal 110 assembled and on the shelf ready to go as well.

A note about the new Kadet Senior ARF....it has a "refreshed look" covering scheme compared to the earlier version, but appears in all respect to be virtually identical to initial offering. I took a good hard look at it, and on mine at least the quality was exceptional, and I believe every bit as good as the initial production of the Kadet Senior ARF (I owned one of those too, until cheap #64 rubber bands did me in as well). I always have a trainer on the trailer (I carry 4 to 5 airplanes when I go fly) and my highly modified Hangar 9 Alpha 60 is war weary and due for retirement after 300+ flights and countless landings. The Kadet Senior is also slated for a special role...it will be the airplane my 7 year old son learns to fly on.

I love to build, but....bills, work, 7 year old, wife, etc. prevent me from building more. I'm still trying to finish a Bruce Tharpe Flying King and Venture 60 that I've had under construction for over 5 years. So many airplanes, so little time...

lkruse

My Feedback: (42)

Note that Sig has again begun advertising their newly labeled Rascal 72 ARF and the Kadet Senior ARF, among others, in several of the national print magazines. Hopefully that's an indication that they have returned to the ARF arena. Their web site has the new pricing. Kit availability is good and their service is top-notch. If you are looking to make in-roads into the hobby by doing more than flying ARFs, Sig's kits are the place to start. Attached are a couple of shots of two of my Sig projects: one a HogBipe and the other a Mid-Star. Like all Sig kits, they are both excellent flyers.

Sessholvlaru

How about an Astro Hog ARF?

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

I am flying a 4 Star 40 with an OS 40 FP on it and a 4 Star 60 with a Saito 80 4 cycle on it. They both fly great and are fun to fly. Good Luck, Dave

cordell staker

I love Sig. First plane I ever landed over 100 times was a Kavalier. Since then sevveral Somethin' extra kits, Still have one, Hog Bipe, Hog, 3 Four Stars. AND I still have a Sundancer 50cc in a box. The only sig I have crashed was a Hog. Since then I build 'em, enjoy 'em fly 'em overpowered, and then I sell 'em. I am going to try to attach some pictures of my best Sunday flier...a Sig 1.20 arf, Saito 1.80, wings clipped 1 bay. Graphics Help by Eric at B & E.[img][/img][img][/img]

dodgers72

My Feedback: (1)

There seems to be a lot of talk about the kavalier. I'm kinda leaning towards it, especially since I was born and raised in Virginia. A good UVA cavalier scheme would be a perfect!!

fourstar40

My Feedback: (27)

My Kavalier is one of my favorites. I love the vintage looks and it flies fantastic. I built mine last winter and flew it for the first time this spring. I wish I had built one a long time ago. You will love it Mr. Dogers.

gliderpros

I love my kavalier also.Built this one as 1200 watt electric. You can't get this kind of a sense of accomplishment from an arf, yes it takes longer and takes practice but we end up with a one of a kind special airplane.

wb5ziy

Had the pleasure to attend the Sig event in Montezuma IA last month, what a great event. Got to meet and talk to one of the new owners, Andrea Martin, who is the daughter of Mr. Kavan. I think that Sig is in good hands, we just need to support them. Also got to meet Hazel Sig, quite a lady!!! The flying was great, the food excellent. If you ever get a chance to attend be sure to do it. The flying site was the Sig airport and it is great, the runway is better than most fairways, smooth and flat.

Jack

kcweuste

I have a Something Extra, a Astro Hog, and two 4* 60s, one of which I have turned into a twin engine, and it flies great too!

paul246

My Feedback: (9)

I have a great deal of respect for the Sig company, their devotion to providing quality kits with excellent instructions is unmatched IMO.
I prefer to order directly through Sig, too. Long live Sig, one of the last true hobbyist companies left!

I have, or have built,

Scamp
Supersport
Colt
LT-40
Kougar
Astro Hog
1/3 Scale Spacewalker

Jeff Foley

My Feedback: (45)

I can tell you an interesting story about the Kavalier....

I worked at Sig from 1976 to 1978 as a product engineer. Did a little of everything....dies, molds, plans, instruction books etc. When Claude McCullough (a real modeler's modeler) designed the Kavalier, he built a superb prototype with a nice paint job for photos and to get in some test flying. Claude and I were the only two at Sig who flew mode 2.....everyone else flew mode 1 because of the influence of reeds. Now...Claude could fly okay, but he wasn't always comfortable behind the sticks. Since I was young, stupid and fearless...he elected me to do his flying for him. We went out to Sig field on a bright sunny Iowa day with the big puffy clouds hanging around. This was Claudes favorite type of day to take photos. After what seemed like a long long period of Claude snapping away trying to get that perfect box top photo...we were ready to fly. I fueled it up, took off, and after about two clicks of right aileron trim and one of up elevator it was flying perfect. I tried a couple of rolls....perfect. Rolled inverted for a couple of laps....perfect. Ailerons and elevator felt balanced and even did a little slow flight with no problems. Then I tried a loop. It tracked well, wings perfectly level, up and over the top and down the backside....thats when it happened, a sudden pitch up that was very violent (and unexpected!) It only lasted a split second and then back to normal flight. I tried again...same result. At first I thought it was radio hit...but it did it twice more in the same spot. Puzzled...Claude said land it and we checked linkages, servo and every other thing we could think of...but all looked normal. After sitting there beside the model and studying it for a while...it dawned on me what was happening. When Claude was shooting pictures, he only put four #64 rubber bands on the wing because he thought they were ugly. And he didn't add any more! Every time I came down the backside of a loop, the front of the wing would raise up...stetching the rubber bands and then pop back down in place! After about eight more #64's were put on...all was normal.

Jeff Foley
Product Engineer
Sig Mfg. (1976-1978)

frets24

My Feedback: (15)

Built the Sig BlueHawk (Sig kit #101) 34" profile model of the Ultimate Bipe. Absolutely luv it!!

Have destroyed three, which is a feat in and of itself, as these built light and strong as Ft Knox! Number four has withstood everything that I've thrown at it so far and remains my #1 go to plane if I just want to throw something in the air for a quickie.

Fast build, inexpensive kit..goes from kittycat to wildcat as fast as you want to be crazy or calm. Never have to worry about smacking it in so I can be as ridiculous as saftey allows and really stretch the envelope.

If I didn't already have the next boxed kit in reserve and felt Sig might need some help I wouldn't hesitate to get another...you know...for the next time my judgement exceeds my skill level/reaction time

Ron Stahl

My Feedback: (12)

Built many Sig planes in my time and have several kits in the basement rafters right now for when I retire and have more time to build. The list I have built include:
Supersport
Komet
Smith Miniplane
Kiwi ( liked it over the Bridi Kaos everyone else was flying then)
Kadet MKII
Space walker 1/3
Kadet SR.
Kadet Seniorita ( my first electric conversion back in 95)
Uncle Sam (my first rubber powered plane)
Flip
I have a Colt, and Kiwi kit stored for the future retirement days

opol

My Feedback: (1)

sig is great. 1/4 cub, turned out beautiful. the hog, taught me a few thing about flying. a couple of trike trainers,i wore them out. best of all the morrisey bravo. long live sig.

Gypsy56

Dodgers72,
You could'nt be happier with the way the Kavalier flies, but understand that it is an old school "craftmans" kit.
Lots of building and carving involved. Still not a hard kit to build, just a little more time than the later Sig laser cut kits.

Ed

M_Callahan

I learned to build and fly on a Kadet MkII. The second was a Kavalier, the third a Kougar. Over the last 25 years I have built

1 Kadet MkII, 2 Kavaliers, 3 Kougars 2 1/4 scale cubs and a 1/5 scale cub. Still have a flyable Kavalier and a Kougar in the
box waiting for its turn on the bench.

I've been thinking very hard about another 1/4 scale cub.

Mike

dodgers72

My Feedback: (1)

Mr. Foley thanks for sharing your story with us. It really just makes me want the Kavalier that much more. I can't wait to get it started! There is great history that still seems to be closely attached to the present day Sig we still purchase from today. I really hope that never changes and after seeing all the posts today it seems like things are solid. Sometimes things slip through fingers ( lanier, carl goldberg ) and all that is left are pieces. It would be a real shame if that ever happened to a GREAT company Sig.

Thanks to everyone who has read and posted in this thread lets keep it going I'm sure we've inspired some people today and I would have to say that one of them is me!

blw

My Feedback: (3)

The Kavalier was the first kit I built. Put about 200 flights on it. Got another one NIB.

dodgers72

My Feedback: (1)

Ed thanks for the heads up on the Kavalier build. After looking at the instructions on Sigs web site I don't think it'll be a problem. Also I'm a finish carpenter by trade so working with wood is like second nature.

PropsnWings

My Feedback: (9)

I was there when they demo'd the Sundancer...... I sure wish they still sold that one. Seems it went off the market almost as fast as it went on. When they domo'd it, it was known as Harolds Monster Bipe.

I too have been a long time customer of SIG, and still am to this day. I have the 1/4 spacewalker with saito 1.50, covered in coverite and dope. a 4 star 60 with magnum 91fs... a recently rekitted Extra 300xs, Wonder (was an award at one of their fly-ins several years ago)

recent purchase was the SIG Mini-boss as I had the Boss, and liked the field boxes durability and useability.

PropsnWings

My Feedback: (9)

Does Hazel not still live there? That was her airstrip, or at least as I thought, maybe she sold it off during one of the change of hands with SIG.

It still amazes me SIG started out as a basement hobby cutting kits, soon to be an overwhelming task as popularity swept in.

I am glad to see SIG coming back, and hope they are serious about wanting to stay.

eddieC

My Feedback: (2)

Quite the alarmist thread title, all in CAPS as if the sky were falling. What brought that on ?? 

I've built and enjoyed many kits, Sig's included, but don't see what the OP's issue is. No need to shout plz, get enough of that from Fox.

rgburrill

Let's face this - ARFs must be built. And some kits just don't lend themselves to quick builds. ARFs also need cheap labor to build them and that usually means China - so you want the Sig designs to wind up in China?

Sig usually means low cost kits. There are so many ARFs out there let them stay low cost kits. As for the 4-Star just buy a Goldberg Tiger II or 60 ARF.