Sig Acro Star Biplane  
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Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/16/2002 12:41:57 PM   
zoomzoooie



Posts: 278
Joined: 12/16/2002
From: Osoyoos, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		I just got an old biplane that was put to gether with epoxy and had 4 layers of paint under taddered fabric covering. It looked REALLY BAD!. I finally got it all cleaned up and stripped down. I have a little bit of repair to do on it but it's starting to look good now! The only thing is I don't know what it is. It has a span of 51 1/2 " and is 47" long the way I have the engine set up. the top wing is straight with no dihedral and the bottom wing is straight with some dihedral. I found a pic on ebay of what it resembles and they are calling it a Sigtronics Astro or Acro Star biplane. If anyone has good pics of this plane I would like to see them. Sorry I can't post pics of mine. I have no camera. If the pic from ebay works on this site you can see what the Acro Star looks like.

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Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/16/2002 1:32:19 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		ZZ:

I had an AcroStar. An excellent kit, fantastic parts cutting with no laser burns. Sold it about a year ago, it was marketed by Airtronics. Yes, the radio company. Looked just like your picture.

Had to sell - without two engines, well...........

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 2

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/17/2002 12:37:47 AM   
zoomzoooie



Posts: 278
Joined: 12/16/2002
From: Osoyoos, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		WR

Would know the date that this kit was out?
Was it nice flying plane. Any bad characteristics?
Some helpful info to help ID the plane. >The fuselage sides are 1/8 ply and the rest is balsa sheet and block. The V stab is rounded and the H stab is more straight line and the elevator is rounded. Very reminiscent of Airtonics (Sigtronics).
The Airfoil is symmetrical.

It looks like it should be a very nice flier. I put an HB .61 in it.
I thought it might fly with a OS. 46 LA but might be under powered so going by the engine mount that was in it (which was a 60), I put my HB 61 in it. I'm looking at getting an OS .61 FX if I can't get the HB to be reliable. (You know, Perry carb with no security set on the needle valve).

ZZ

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 3

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/17/2002 1:28:40 AM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		ZZ:

It was late '70s or early '80s, I think. The airplane was a semi-scale model of Poberezny's EAA Bipe. Or the plan said it could be built as such.

The kit plan was reprint of one published in one of the magazines, and included a copy of the magazine article as its instructions. One of the odd things I remember was the article suggesting the use of coat hangers to make the struts.

Just went through my MAN plans catalog, didn't find it. Might have been from Flying Models.

It flew well with a K&B 61 engine, don't think you'd like it with a 40-46 engine.

I've never had a problem with the needle setting on a Perry carb, the HB 61 should be fine.

And it was (still is) a nice flyer, but a little on the heavy side.

Two wings or one, twin engines are fun.

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 4

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/17/2002 8:15:08 AM   
zoomzoooie



Posts: 278
Joined: 12/16/2002
From: Osoyoos, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		WR

Thanks for the added info. I think what I've got sounds like what you are describing. On mine the cabane struts where made of wire. I thought it might have been older though. I thought maybe late 60's early 70's. Should have it in the air in a few weeks or so. I'll let you know how it goes.

ZZ

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 5

Acrostar - 12/17/2002 5:24:35 PM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		Your airplane is either from the Airtronics kit or RCM plans which are still available. I flew one of these years ago with an OS .40 mounted. Performance was very nice and relaxed with that power. A friend in the club built one and installed an HB .61 which turned the airplane into a very hot performer. With either engine the airplane is very easy to fly.

Mike

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 6

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/17/2002 9:54:56 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		ZZ:

Mike is right, and you are too.

Went to the RCM web site, it's plan #525, publication date was 4-73. Sells for $16 including postage. Or $17 rolled in a tube, both including the magazine article.

But I was right too, I got it in the late '70s or early '80s.

You like 'em where the twins are the wings, I prefer the engines as the doubled things.

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 7

Acrostar - 12/18/2002 1:24:59 AM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		Here's an idea of performance compared to engine size:

.40..........Bang
.50..........Boom
.60..........Bomb
.70 and up.............. Oh the humanity!

Hey, if it ain't got two wings, it ain't $***!


Have a ball with it.

Mike

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 8

Re: Acrostar - 12/18/2002 4:35:00 AM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Mike:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike Denest
Here's an idea of performance compared to engine size:

.40..........Bang (1)
.50..........Boom (2)
.60..........Bomb (3)
.70 and up.............. Oh the humanity! (4)

[/QUOTE]

Please read the foot notes.

(1) Not enough power for flight, this is the noise it makes when it hits your parked car.

(2) It will just get off the ground. This is the slightly muffled noise it makes hitting the ground after a tip stall in the departure turn.

(3) Enough power to make you overconfident, then you lose it and do a vertical attack on the pit area.

(4) With this much power you are always slightly nervous flying. Even though you do every sort of aerobatics you can, the nervousness makes you careful. The airplane lasts for years and many enjoyable flights.

So you see, Mike, overpowered often isn't.

ANy number of engines is fine, until the plane takes that last verical line.

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 9

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/18/2002 7:09:11 AM   
zoomzoooie



Posts: 278
Joined: 12/16/2002
From: Osoyoos, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Thanks for all the info guys!

I can't wait wait to get this thing in the air.
Alas... I will be out of town after the holdidays for a while.

hmmm... I do have a Supertigre .75
mmmwwwwwhhhaaaahhaaaa!

Only joking!

Your right, 2 wings are better then one.
I never flew twin engine yet.

I do have a Pic-a-Pac DH Mosquito though, needs to be finished. It's a kit from England.

ZZ

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 10

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/18/2002 8:36:58 AM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		ZZ

You could bash the Acro-Star into a deHavilland Dragon for your first twin. Both taildragger bipes. But the Dragon makes the devil's grandmother look like a beauty.

Northeast Aerodynamics has a very nice easy building starter twin, the Twin-Air 45, $154.95 delivered to your door.

John (John Marien, owner of N-E Aero) is designing a .15 powered twin that would be a very inexpensive intro to twins.

Check them out:

[url]www.ne-aero.com[/url]

Nothing like it. You'll throw rocks at singles.

Speak true, I still fly singles as much as twins, but I don't admit it in mixed company. Haw!

Put a twin in your pocket, it's a thrill like a rocket.

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 11

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/27/2002 2:56:45 PM   
big max 1935


 

Posts: 1667
Joined: 11/22/2002
From: huron s.d.
Status: offline 		RCM used to have a conversion plan to make this a HAWKER FURY.Best watch that Bill ,he`ll put two engines on your field box!! HAHA big max 1935

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 12

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/27/2002 7:01:13 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		ZZ and Max:

Found it. RCM, June 1977. Page131. Top right corner.

Standard Hobby Supply ad, Airtronics Acro Star - $61.99.

Plus $2.80 postage and handling.

Sounds cheap, by current standards, but in the same ad a Bridi Super Kaos is $37.50, and for $61.50 you get an OS .60 FI r/c engine.

It would be very nice to have "Now" money and "Then" prices.

Buy it now or buy it then, the only choice is still a twin.

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 13

Sig Acro Star Biplane - 12/27/2002 8:30:44 PM   
big max 1935


 

Posts: 1667
Joined: 11/22/2002
From: huron s.d.
Status: offline 		Bill & ZZ: Plan#525,Acro Star,April,1973 & plan #569,Acro Fury,August,1974. Both are still listed in RCM plans catalog. May give you some ideas,ZZ. big max 1935 The best twin is two on each side,either women or engines!

(in reply to zoomzoooie)
       Post #: 14

More needed[?] Acro Star info - 12/31/2002 5:42:17 AM