Hydro Junkie

I just look at the cost of a kit and how much it costs to modify it into what you want as compared to what it would cost to build what you want to begin with. I'm also looking at the weight you can save by "stick building" the tail feathers against what it weighs to use solid slab parts. If I built a vertical stab out of 3/16 stick frames with 1/32 ply over the top, I figure I can save almost half the weight. That means I don't have to cram everything up against the firewall and/or add dead weight in the nose to get the plane to balance

skylark-flier

Absolutely, I see your point. I'm thinking of your probable weight saving in building a Mk-II stick-style vs slab AND what a Kadet Senior built as a slab-style might weigh. The weight savings HAS to be considerable - probably to the point that the same .45 that powers my Mk-II now would probably allow something approaching 3D capability if it were stick. VERY interesting proposition.

Hydro Junkie

Been doing a bit more thinking and figure I might be better served if I build the fuse with 1/8" lite ply sides with lightening holes aft of the wing rather than the solid sheet balsa. A benefit of doing so would be not having to splice the last few inches of side to the rest of the structure, a minor weakness in the MKII design, especially if built as a tail dragger. The second benefit would be less tail weight, just like stick building the tail feathers. I'm thinking that, if I build it lite enough, I could get away with using an OS .35AX rather than the bigger .46AX that most would turn to. Only problem I see in using the smaller engine is it's $20 higher in price. Another possible solution to the engine would be using a Rimfire .32 Brushless. It's supposed to handle a 6lb plane and a stock built MKII supposedly weighs in at 5lbs. Just a matter now of getting the wife to sign off on this little project

skylark-flier

I don't know about everybody else but I build my planes to pretty much survive combat conditions - in other words, HEAVY!! Ex: my CG Sr Falcon was designed to come to 6.25 lbs - it was originally 7.25 and presently weighs 7.5 lbs. My Stratus was supposed to be 6.5-7.5 lbs, she's 8.5 lbs. All my planes are this way, except the Kadet Mk-II. She's supposed to be 5 lbs, mine came out at 4.875 lbs - - FIRST EVER PLANE TO BE LESS THAN DESIGNED, and I've been building since 1955. If I can make them this light, everybody else is probably making them at 4 lbs. You'll be fine.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Hey Hydro if you are going to entertain electric check one of these. You will get more bang for the buck and the company is real easy to work with. I haven't had any problems ith the motors or ESCs I have bought from them.

Leopard Power 3542/5T 1080KV Outrunner Brushless Motor
Leopard Power 4250/5.5T 800KV Outrunner Brushless Motor
Power Up 46 Sport 620kv 1000 Watt Brushless Outrunner
Power Up 32 Sport 800kv Outrunner Brushless Motor

Here are a few ESCs that would probably work too.
Sky Power 60A ESC with Switchmode BEC
Hifei 60A ESC with Switchmode BEC
Sky Power 80A ESC with Switchmode BEC

Hydro Junkie

I tend to build my "toys" as lite as I can. As I've told several in the boating world, "If you're going to build something, make it as lite as you can. It's a lot easier to add weight to a finished boat than it is to remove it". I tend to do that with my planes as well. If I can reduce the weight without compromising strength, why not do so? I've butted heads over it on more than one occasion as well, some would rather build a heavy boat so that it won't blow over rather than build a boat that will be competitive

acdii

A challenge then, build a Rascal 168 light!

Hydro Junkie

Not happening. That thing is just too expensive, for now anyway, and I don't have any way, other than putting it in my camp trailer, to get it to a flying field

Pork Chop

My Feedback: (5)

Where I like in Northern California we get the wind blowing straight up through the San Francisco bay like a wind tunnel which is why they built Travis AFB here. A little weight does survive combat conditions and is better in gusty conditions. Dave, you've been building since 1955? That means you're more.... experienced than me! Just kidding!

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Around here a 20 Mph wind is the norm so a little weight helps here too. I watched a friend once flying a little ARF Funtana into the wind and he wasn't making any forward movement! The plane was so light and the wind so strong it just hovered.

skylark-flier

Yup! First build was a Guillows DR-1, covered in tissue, painted with Aerogloss red (of course). Got it for Christmas 1954, had it in the air by May 1955. My father came up with the idea of reinforcing the landing gear with wire - ended up pretty strong, survived a fair number of FF flights/landings. Powered with a Cox .020

My first C/L plane was a Cox PT19, which still flies occasionally. Also a Christmas 1954 acquisition. First CL build was a L'il Satan, which lasted a couple years. THAT was a fun little airplane - taught me aerobatics rather well.

Oh, yeah - Christmas 1954, I was 6.

76htodchris

my first plane, circa 1979. flew it alot - let my friend fly it - real pilot in training, and got it in a spin - I took over, and almost saved it. wings flew off, and I ended up mating those wings with a goldberg falcon. called it a fa- ket. 3 channel, no ailerons. but, what a great way to learn to fly. taught me to build, cover, and work with weight. I even had foam wings - forget how I got those - I think they were optional through tower hobbies or something.

sig made/makes great stuff.

Pork Chop

My Feedback: (5)

My first build(s) were the rubber band models from Wonder World as a 6 year old (1973) and that same summer I bought a Cox PT-19 at a garage sale for a buck! My brothers friend started the engine for me and off she flew!

Big Stikflyer

My first build was a rubber band powered Comet kit, covered in tissue and painted with low cost spray can paint. My oldest sister boyfriend got it for me. Gary showed me how to put the covering on with a flour and water paste. I was in junior high school by then. I didn't get into RC until I went into the Navy and watched some guys fly their planes on base and I just knew I had to get one. My first RC was a Sig Klipper with a OS Max 15 and Monokote covering. That was in 1977 and I was just 20.

N1EDM

My Feedback: (2)

Big Stikflyer,

That base where you saw those RC Airplane fly... that wouldn't have been at NCTC Correy Field in Pensacola, FL would it???

Bob USNR Ret

Hydro Junkie

Back then, Corey Field was a "spook" training base(sorry, the courses were and probably still are classified and having a high clearance was required just to be in some of the buildings) so I doubt that was the one. In the area around Corey, there was NAS Pensacola(home of the Blue Angels), NTTC Meridian MS, NATTC Millington TN(now decommissioned) that all had runways. I know there was a guy that flew a scratch built FG ducted fan F-16 at Millington, watched him fly it on several occasions. Also watched it go nose first into a taxiway due to a radio failure(that's best guess as he had no control of the plane after he started a loop)

Big Stikflyer

Not NCTC Correy Field, I was at NAS Whiting Field, Milton Florida. We could only fly when the airfield was closed. When I transfered to NAS Lemoore, California we actually had a flying field right on base. That base was so big we could fly rc anytime we wanted.

skylark-flier

SIG has completely rebuilt their website - much modernized. Only drawback (so far) is that all the archived instruction manuals are gone. Also, right now nearly 2/3 of the links, as they show when you put your cursor over them, are incorrect. Clicking the links send them to the right place, they just don't indicate that they're GOING TO GO to the right place. Apparently, they're still building so it's likely to be corrected in the near future. Several planes are now missing, others have been re-instated. Sure made updating the website interesting today.

(cross-posted from SIG B'hood)

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Nice look too! Next they need to update their recommendations on some of there electrics to make them more newbie friendly.

funfly8

My Feedback: (20)

Gary, Can you add me to the list.
#1Kadet MK II built in '86 for my first one powered with an O.S. 40 FSR. First plane, long gone.
Currently:
#1 a Kadet Senior with Ailerons, flaps, 86" wing powered by a Saito 80, built around 2000(Time fly's when you are having fun). White with Pearl Blue wing and stab leading edge, rudder Florescent Pink with a strip of Blue & Pink down each side. Struts on the wing, removable tail. Due to be recovered and some minor repairs to the strut mount on the fuse.
#2 Kadet Senior given to me a few yeas ago. Just recovered it Cub Yellow With Transparent Blue on top of wing, Transparent Red on Bottom, Powered by a O.S. .46 FP with a Magnum cylinder and piston, 1 tank of fuel through it so far. Gear retracts into the fuse. Maiden soon.
#3 LT-40 still on the board, Wing and tail from a crashed plane. Stick built like a Senior. Will be electric powered
Future: Probably start soon, my Dream Senior
#4 To be a Senior, Low wing, twin, tail dragger, air retracts, powered by Saito 45's or 50's Plans built , will be cutting out ribs and other parts. Will expand the wing to 80". I will use other plans to get things right for the retracts. It will be called Dream Senior.
#5 Down the road. Perhaps a V-tail
Thanks, Steve

cmy6

My Feedback: (1)

neons

My Feedback: (1)

35 years old Monokote just crumbled. Had at least 25 patches in it




The black and windshield were left alone

Flew as good as it looked. And I flew just about all types of planes.


That Astro Hog is a real gem, I love it. Sadly in other news I lost my Sig Kadet Senior when the wing elastics popped in a loop. . My friend that passed 9 years ago had it. I just covered it all new last winter to exact specs he had it as the original Monokote just popped if you tapped it. Of course it went back a lot of years when it was built.. I am going to rebuild the fuselage all back again and continue to fly her. It has been a dream flier over the years. I just found some pictures of the fuselage plan and will start it in the fall as the weather cools down
It has been a great ride.
**Neons** Bob

skylark-flier

Ambitious!! Great planes and ideas though. Absolutely, y'er in Steve. Gotcha listed with #219. Welcome to the SIG Kadet Brotherhood!!

Been awhile. Here's the brotherhood, as I've got it today (3 columns):

skylark-flier

Bob & Jay - great pics guys. That pink really comes through Bob.

I think the Astrohog is a whole lot more popular than you give it credit for. In the SIG Brotherhood I've got 25 known Astrohog owners.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Hot Pink no that's an airplane you can see no matter what the sky is like that day!