mkharv3

All,

I am starting yet another project plane. I have decided to build the classic Sig Four Star .40. I have an extra Super Tigre .40 motor in my shed almost brand new and beggin to fly. First I guess will that motor be enough to pull her around? Also please chime is whenever you want with suggestions and most importantly some pictures.

Thanks Mark

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

That would be a yes on all questions that you asked. Any tips that you might have are always greatly appriciated. Good Luck, Dave

KitBuilder

There are many many mods you can make on this plane that are found by searching however the two I have found to be most benefical are to use two nylon bolts to hold on the landing gear rather than the 3 steel provided in the kit as after awhile some rough landings will damage that piece of the fuse cracking it, etc.. Also, the rear wing part of the fuse cutout where the trailing edge of the wing sits is a weak point. A doubler on each side of the fuse running fore and aft of the trailing edge several inches on the insides of both fuse sides strengthens this area. Its a sweet flying plane and very responsive. Can be slowed way down for landing. I roiunded the wingtips on mine b/c I like that look. But she is no more due to pilot error!

trpastor

Hey Mark

I'm just finishing up mine. I did a cowl and enlarged the rudder. You can see my posts here

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_85...tm.htm#8614971

let me know if you have any questions. I may be able to help a little

mkharv3

Wow, nice looking planes I cannot wait to get mine in the Air. Here are a couple pics of what I was able to get done tonight. I too will be enlarging the rudder but what d you think about the elevator? Also I will use nylon bolts for the gear and I will beef that area up a little is my plan.

Thanks for your post's Keep em coming.

Mark

trpastor

Looks good! Making good progress. I doubt you will have to enlarge the elevator, but after having enlarged the rudder, the elevator looks a little small (if you look at the pics). I might have made it bigger just to match.

If I had one change to make in mine, I would do DUAL ailerson servos. Maybe mini's. It just doesn't seem like they are very free moving the way it's set up and probably just as much of a pain to do it the way the plans say, as it would be custom mod 2 servos (1 in each wing).

I sheeted the turtle deck and I think it makes it look much better. I would seriously consider sheeting at least the leading edges. the only problem is having it taper down to the ribs (the tough part, not sure how to do it), and the weight. Probably a copule ounces, so not too much consideration.

All this being said, the plane is supposed to fly great out of the box. You probably don't HAVE to change a thing, and it will be a very fun flying plane. BUt if you WANT to give it some personal touches, there's some ideas

mkharv3

I think you are right I may go ahead and add a little to the elevator too. I am also going to think about 2 servos in the wing. Thanks for the photos also have a great weekend stay with this thread for my dumb questions.

Mark

trpastor

Sure, thing, and feel free to pm me. I'm no expert but I have fresh experience on the four star. Look over the instruction for the aileron rods. You'll see how it's king of a lot of little steps. The servo's in the wing would be more straight forward. Also the rods are limited in their movement by the fuselage, so they have more up than down (better than vice versa - but it would be nice to have as much throw on either side if you ask me)

Andrewmc

I have sheeted the leading edge of my 4 star wings, but you have to plan to do it before building starts as you do need to sand down the wing ribs by the sheeting thickness, ut not to worry the stock wing is plenty strong enough.

I do not believe that the elevator needs to be enlarged, I have reduced the throw on mine slightly as it was ballooning on landing approach (very windy here), and added some expo. I have the standard setup on a dual rate not quite square corners but this is a sport plane and not meant for 3D. Add some additional surface to the rudder though, but watch out for the belly tuck on knife edge flight!!.

The main reason why I added dual ailerons to mine was to experiment with flaperons and spoilerons. I haven't tried them out yet but the 4* already floats on landing so I can not see any benefit for flaperons - maybe spoilerons though!.

Enjoy the build.

Andrew

HelloScott

I built a Four Star .40 about 15 years ago. It was the most "perfect" plane I'd ever built. I had a week's vacation that my wife didn't have, and I spent every day in my workshop eating peanuts, drinking an occasional brewski and building! Great vacation...really!

I flew it for over a year and then allowed someone to talk me into fast charging my RX battery to fly one cold November day. On the second flight, the battery quit and I took it into the ground full speed.

I really liked that plane! OS .48 Surpass for power.

HelloScott

The BEFORE... and the AFTER....

SAD!

sebo

I'm not worried about the plane. You can always build a new one.... The PILOT is my concern...WOW!!! Did she survive?
Where did you get her. Does your wife know about her???

The plane was pretty too. LOL

trpastor

That thing DID look perfect. Looked like the box model! Nice work

Love the pilot! Was she a naughty nurse doll or what?

HelloScott

Hobby Lobby used to sell them. I think they still do. 1/6th size and a 1/4 scale size too I believe. My wife just shruggs her shoulders on this kind of stuff. We've been married 25 years. She's given up on me! LOL.

By the way, yes, the pilot is from Cleavage, Ohio.

{:>)

vmsguy

This my next project.. Just got to finish a couple covering projects first.

I'm curious how they balance out...

Assuming a "spec" build, do they have a tendency to turn out nose heavy? Or tail heavy?

Just kind of curious.. So I can kinda build in some options.

mclina

I originally built mine pretty much stock, with a .46LA, and it took a couple of ounces on the firewall to balance. I rebuilt it over the winter with larger control surfaces, sheeted turtle deck, balsa wingtips, heavy duty landing gear, and a .55AX, and it balanced with no lead and the battery behind the servo tray.

I was really worried that I was ruining a perfectly good plane with the mods I was making. I probably added about a half pound of weight and about 50% more power to it. I am really happy with the way it now flies, though. It holds a knife edge great, and it has unlimited vertical, but still lands nice and slow.

I thought I loved it when I first built it, but now I REALLY love it. It is just a great model no matter how you build it.

BobbyGee

My Feedback: (3)

You can get her or one of her sisters here:

http://www.hppilots.com/main/page_pr..._pilots_2.html

I only know about this site because I was looking for a Cap'n Eddie a few weeks back ....

BobbyG

mkharv3

Hello All,


I have actually been working on my Four Star but I have been having a few cpu problems that seem to be fixed now. Anyways here is what I have gotten done the last couple weeks.

I was able to get the wing 100% minus covering. I decided not to go with the dual ailerons no reason just did not. Probably should have but I have no worries about the handling anways.

Anyways please stayed tuned for more progress.

Mark

mkharv3

Me again,

I also started on the fuselage. Let me say that this probably the easiest kit I have seen ever. All the parts are laser cut and fit just like a puzzle.

Anyways here are a couple pics of what I have gotten so far. Any suggestions of ideas would be great.

Also by the way I am going really cheap on this plane but would a Super Tigre GS-40 for 49.99 be enough power for this plane. I know it will pull it but will I be wishing for more. I am not looking for 3d just normal roll ands loop are fine. After all the take offs and landings are the fun part anyways right.

Let me know what you think.

Mark

foodstick

Its a great kit, and a sweet heart to kitbash !   you can change the looks a lot without it flying any differently.

Andrewmc

I don't think you will have any problems with your Super Tigre GS 40, bearing in mind this plane was designed for a 40 sized engine and todays tendancy to overpower airframes. - We have a guy at our club who has a 75 engine in a cub designed for 40Four stroke, he can take off in 4 ft and knife edge - in a CUB.

I have a Saito 56 (four stroke) in mine with an APC 12x6 prop, rarely need to use full throttle but I do anyway

Anyway with the open nose of the four star it would be really easy to swap out the engine for a 46 or 55AX when you aquire one - should you feel the need.

WMB

My Feedback: (1)

The ST40 will pull it just fine. My 4*40 has had numerous engines on it, all fun to fly.
Magnum 52 4 stroke
TT 46
ST 51
Saito 45
Saito 65- my favorite for this plane
Saito 82- a beast, way over the top!
OS 55ax on it currently with 12x5 APC, full throttle never needed, but there if you want it.

Thanks for the build thread!

mkharv3

Hey guys,

Thanks for the comments I think I will stick with the GS-40.  Again I am not looking to do anything crazy.  I will keep you guys posted on my progress.

Also one more question for you guys.

On the sig website they advertise a motor for the four star.  Has anyone had any experience with a Aviastar .46 or .53 two stroke?

Here are some links.

http://sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.ex...num_02AVI46_01

or

http://sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.ex...num_02AVI53_01

mkharv3

Hey all,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will putting this build on hold. The SAN ANTONIO heat is just killing us here. We are around 100-110 now and my workshop/shed is too damn hot!!!!

I am currently moving all my planes hanging up in there to the house because I am sure that the heat cannot be good for them. Pleas check back often if we get some rain and some cool weather come through here I will hit it.

Thanks for understanding.

Mark

Alex7403

the heat is not that bad for airplanes maybe except for the covering that becomes saggy and loose a bit fix it with a heat gun.
i keep forgetting one airplane in the car everytime so i have something to fly when i drive near by a field.

motor wise - i fly my 4*40 with OS 46 AX, its powerfull.
i dont know anything about Sig's Aviastar but they do look tempting in particular the 53.