BuzzBomber

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I'm considering electrifying a .40 size sport plane for my next project, and the Four Star .40 is on my short list. I've been convinced of its virtues by the positive experiences of others, but frankly, I think the plane is a little *ahem* homely in appearance. However, I'm confident its looks can be improved due to its simplicity. I have a few ideas for aesthetic and performance upgrades like clipping the wings by a bay and adding rounded tips and modifying the shape and size of the empennage, as well as that horrid can-o-pee. So, give me some inspiration and show me how you modified yours!

rc_heli_flier

My Feedback: (12)

Hi Buzzbomber,
Here are two pictures of my Four Star .60 I just completed a month ago. The one picture shows it on it's first approach with the flaps down.
This is the list of things that are modified on it:

-clipped wing by one rib
-used Dubro landing gear
-made built up tail control surfaces instead of stock and increased rudder by about 20%
-sheeted the turtle deck with 1/64" ply
-added flaps
-used dual elevator servos and pull-pull rudder
-put triangle stock under horizontal stab for added strength
-added 2 degrees of right thrust to engine

We have flown the plane about 6 times so far and it flies superb and tracks very true, and does a very reasonable knife-edge. One expert in our club who has flown over 30 years say it's the best flying Four Star he has flown. Don't let anyone kid you about the flaps, I've seen what they can do and the effect they have on landing. Without them it's a floater, with them down or in a "crow" configuration with the ailerons the landings are much slower and shorter. All in all it's a great designed plane no matter what you do to it.
I have a O.S. 91 FS on mine and needed about 6 oz. of lead in the nose to balance it - it's somewhere between 8 to 8 1/2 lbs. dry, which is just a little over the recommended weight. I like the canopy, I think it give is that unique look that the Four Star has, although I did slide mine forward several inches from the position shown on the plans.

BuzzBomber

My Feedback: (4)

Very nice! That's the stock canopy? Boy, it looks different there.

rc_heli_flier

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Yes, that is the stock canopy, it's just slid to within about 5/8" of the front of the turtle deck. When you slide it forward like this it raises the bottom edge up some, so leave a little extra material at the bottom of the canopy on the sides when you cut it, or do as I did and use some scrap 1/8" sq. balsa scrap for rails for the sides to rest against (I think you can see that in the picture). I think with the canopy like this it gives the illusion that it a larger scale of a full size aerobatic plane as opposed to say cutting it way down and having it look like a smaller scale version (if you can see what I'm saying, as the pilot that would go in mine would be a much larger scale than what would say fit inside a vastly cut down version). This may be just my perception of this as I generally like the look of larger scale models.

GPutt33

My Feedback: (2)

Hey BuzzBomber - The Four Stars were meant to be bashed I think. My first kit was the 60, and for that reason I left the look pretty much alone. I did however sheet the turtle deck with lite ply, sheeted the wings back to the main spar, and added about an inch on all of the control surfaces. Flew great, but I did end up with a lot of weight in the nose to get the right CG. Built an upper fuel hatch in the fuselage. Saito 91.

This was my latest project. This started out as a 4*120. It is now I hope a semi-scale version of the AirTractor 802F Single Engine Air Tanker. About all that I left stock was the main fuselage and the wing itself (kind of, had to build a slurry compartment with what amounted to bomb bay doors) All of the control surfaces are stick built and covered with sheeting. Guess I kind of modified the canopy and put a cowl over the engine Saito 150 inverted with a 3 blade Graupner 15x8. Flys great !!

BuzzBomber

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Cool! If you're gonna build an Air Tractor, I can't think of a better starting point--the Four Star's halfway there already.

rc_heli_flier

My Feedback: (12)

Greg,
Great job bashing that 120, I love the way it looks. I think my project for this coming Winter will be to do something like that. For now, the 60 version is fantastic!

koden

Here's my 4*40. It's my first kit, but I thought I'd still have some fun with it.

I built a balsa cowl for it
sheeted the turtle deck
rounded the wingtips and shortened them 1 bay
lengthened the rudder 1"
Put wheelpants on it
Tinted, trimmed, and turned the canopy backwards
Sullivan tailwheel

I'm really happy with the way it looks and flies.

GPutt33

My Feedback: (2)

Koden - Nice Four Star, I always like the tinted canopies and engine cowls

Thanks for the compliments on mine to, I appreciate it!!

If anyone would be interested, I have building threads with pics of both the 60 build and the 120 build at [link=http://groups.msn.com/PuttsRCHomePage/]Putt's RC Home Page[/link] in the picture gallery. I couldn't agree more, the 4 Star is a perfect base to scratch build the AirTractor.

Let's see some more pics of those 4 Stars

Jigley3

Hi All
I can't show you a picture ....because....well anyway, I bashed a 4star into one of these with a good result. Unique and very easy bash. sults.

http://www.ultralightflyer.com/bobcat/ bert

jtsails

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Buzz,
Here's a pic of my Four Star 60 ARF.
I built a balsa cowl,
Sulivan Tail wheel
Triangle stock on top and bottom of stab
mounted engine horizontal with a pitts style muffler

BuzzBomber

My Feedback: (4)

More great Four Stars! koden, welcome to RCU. Was that really your first kit? Man, it's beautiful!

Connery

Here is my 4*40 that now rests in pieces.

I sheeted the turtledeck
enlarged the rudder and added a counterbalance
changed the tailwheel
shortened the wing
cut down the canopy and reversed it
mounted the engine sideways
built a balsa cowl

If I build another one, I will shorten the wing 2 bays instead of just one, and I will also sheet the leading edge of the wing.

Deadeye

Not really a 'kit bash', but how about a coroplast copy? I built this nearly two years ago, and it still flys great. 300+ flights on a Saito 100.

koden

Buzz,

Thanks for the welcome, and yes it was my first kit, second plane. I transplanted the engine from my Nexstar into it. Like you, I thought it was quite homely. But at the same time, it's so highly regarded by the people at RCU as a second plane that I bit the bullet. I tried to do what I could to freshen it up. Most of my ideas were taken from surfing through these forums.

I think the balsa cowl makes the most difference. I liked it so much I'm doing the same thing with my second kit, a Hog Bipe. I'm currently in the covering stages on that one.

Allen/NC

I think your plane looks great!! I was wondering where you found a cowl to fit the Air tractor??

Thanks,
Allen

Safebet

My Feedback: (12)

A friend took two 4*40's that had some rough treatment and put them together. He gave it to me to finish. The wing span will be 86" and will be powered by 2 - Evolution 46's. I have purchased special radial cowlings which will change the appearance considerably.

Looking forward to having complete in the next 45 days. Will post pictures when complete.

ChuckW

Here's mine. I clipped the wing and built it with a sheeted LE & cap strips (much stiffer), added rounded wing tips, used dual aileron servos, built the ailerons from stick, 1/4" wider than stock, built the tail surfaces from stick, larger than stock, modified the turtle deck angle and sheeted it, mounted the engine sideways and built a balsa cowl. It flys great, very stable, great roll rate and still floats in for landing.

bayareajeff

Just a little..

OT - Is any one elses squirley on take off?

ChuckW

If I get the least bit jerky with the rudder stick, it can be very squirley. If relax and give smooth gentle inputs, it does fine though.

bayareajeff

I hear you chuck.. I got my 4* to get used to a tail dragger. Im all over the place. And then I got my p-51 and it tracks straight as an arrow on take off. I just had to laugh about it.

Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

I sheeted the leading edge with ply, and the turtle deck also. Clipped the wing, Sullivan tail wheel, a little reinforcement under the fuel tank cover area, modified it to accept a 16 oz. Dubro tank and still be removable, enlarged the rudder and elevators. All I had to do was move the servos all the way forward and add a 1 oz. heavy hub.
Forgot;
Turned the canopy around and trimmed it way down triangle stock on top and bottom of the hor. stab, 1/4" nylon bolts (2) to retain the landing gear and a few more I probably forgot.

saramos

I'm currently working on my second 4 * 40 (first one was a victum of reversed ailerons after getting my radio back from repairs). I am fully sheeting the wings, adding retracts, redesigned the rudder after the one on the Venture. I'll be sheeting the fuselage with FliteSkin, adding nav lights, adding a cowl and will be going with a paint finish. Also clipped the wings one bay and added rounded wingtips.

Scott

outdoorhunting

Nice Air Tractor!!! That's my favorite!! The 4* & Super Sportster 60 are close to the same plane, I just happen to have a Super Sportster laying around. You have got me excited to try the same mods on it this winter. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work, do you? I'm still looking for a kit for the Air Tractor though.

GPutt33

My Feedback: (2)

outdoorhunting - glad you like the AirTractor. Maybe you've missed a thread we've had going in the Scale Forum called [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1639293/tm.htm]crop duster r/c [/link]. If you do a search on Duane you'll find info on several AirTractor kits his producing. Some pretty awesome birds, and now he has an AT802F, which is what mine is, a Slurry Bomber. The 4*'s I think are just made for a kit bash Good luck and if you decide to do the AirTractor be sure you come over the Crop Duster thread and post some pics, were always looking for new ones