Sig Citabria Completed

Sig Citabria Completed
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Kit Building >> Sig Citabria Completed

Page: [1]

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Sig Citabria Completed - 5/12/2008 8:32:58 PM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

Finally finished the Sig Citabria. It's covered with Solartex and powered with a Magnum .52. Will maiden her later this spring.

DaveB

Post #: 1

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/12/2008 8:37:57 PM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

I've been unable to upload pics even though I get a message saying "upload successful". Can anyone shed a little light on my problem?

Thanks,

DaveB

(in reply to DaveB)

Post #: 2

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/13/2008 1:57:18 AM

Lightfoot

Posts: 3161
Status: offline

There have been some problems with image uploads the past couple of days. Please try again and if it still doesn't work, let me know.

_____________________________

Howard
RCUniverse Forum Manager

R/C Flight Unlimited - http://www.rcfu.com

(in reply to DaveB)

Post #: 3

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/13/2008 2:34:03 AM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

Still trying to upload pics. Here's hoping.

DaveB

Attachments

Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize
Click for fullsize

(in reply to Lightfoot)

Post #: 4

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/13/2008 4:09:45 PM

r2champion

Posts: 350
Joined: 9/5/2006
From: Mayking, KY, USA
Status: offline

Beautiful plane Dave, I hope to build one soon as well. Thanks for the inspiration!

_____________________________

My intials are "RC", I guess it was meant to be!

(in reply to DaveB)

Post #: 5

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/14/2008 6:28:37 AM

flyinsolo11

Posts: 638
Joined: 11/28/2007
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Status: offline

Gorgeous!

Can I ask what you covered the Cowl with?

Thanks!

_____________________________

Flying is the art of throwing yourself at the ground... and missing.

(in reply to r2champion)

Post #: 6

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/14/2008 11:56:56 AM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for the compliments.

The kit provided cowl consisted of 3 pieces of sturdy, thick plastic. It was glued with CA and the seams filled with Bondo. Then, painted with spray cans. The black striping was from an auto parts store.

DaveB

(in reply to flyinsolo11)

Post #: 7

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/14/2008 8:56:30 PM

NorfolkSouthern

Posts: 848
Joined: 7/17/2006
From: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Status: offline

I'm thinking about building one of these myself. Was it difficult?

NorfolkSouthern

(in reply to DaveB)

Post #: 8

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/14/2008 10:11:23 PM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

NorfolkSouthern,

I wouldn't say it was difficult, but it was time consuming. There is more building in the Citabria than most of today's kits. You have to be very careful especially building the fuselage to avoid building the "banana". But, if you take your time and build carefully, the result is worth the effort. I would estimate it took me about double the amount of time it takes to build a more modern laser cut kit.

Hope this helps. Go for it.

DaveB

(in reply to NorfolkSouthern)

Post #: 9

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/15/2008 4:43:38 PM

rcskeeter

Posts: 1
Joined: 9/25/2006
From: Davison, MI, USA
Status: offline

I have been building one of these kits on & off for the last two years. It was very nice to see this posting and the pics of your finished product!

This is my first kit plane other than tiny quick laser cut kits. I would recommend doing a kit like this only to those with a good amount of time and a massive amount of persistence.

Since this is my first kit I have re-done portions of the kit several times. This is because I was not happy with some of my results as a new builder. The I learn is by re-doing until I get the results I wanted. I have been covering with Sig coverall. I love this stuff. It is definetly not a quick deal but it looks so much nicer than shiney plastic wrap shrink film.

I do have a concern with the motor I have for the kit. I had an opportunity to buy a very good condition saito .70 from a doctor that flies RC. I am concerned that this might be a little too much motor for the airframe.

One more issue has come up. Several area flyers suggested that I dump the one wing mounted servo in favor of individual servos located at each aileron. I am not sure if it is worth the work to change it or not. Any thoughts?

Building this kit has been fun and it makes me want to build another one in the future. I want to put together a large Balsa USA WWI plane.

My wife does not like my buidling these kits though. But im not sure what she likes lately.

Sincerely RCSkeeter in Michigan

(in reply to DaveB)

Post #: 10

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/15/2008 7:25:11 PM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

I went for 2 servos. I don't think it's much more work if any, and IMO 2 servos are less likely to give you problems than a single servo using a bell crank and the associated hardware. I also used servo gromments where the optional jury struts are inserted into the wing. I think it will be less likely to puncture the covering with that arrangement and it's easy and looks good too.

DaveB

Attachments

Click to see fullsize image.

Click for fullsize

Click to see fullsize image.

Click for fullsize

(in reply to rcskeeter)

Post #: 11

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/16/2008 12:52:07 PM

Michaelj2k

Posts: 258
Joined: 9/15/2006
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcskeeter

I have been building one of these kits on & off for the last two years. It was very nice to see this posting and the pics of your finished product!

This is my first kit plane other than tiny quick laser cut kits. I would recommend doing a kit like this only to those with a good amount of time and a massive amount of persistence.

Since this is my first kit I have re-done portions of the kit several times. This is because I was not happy with some of my results as a new builder. The I learn is by re-doing until I get the results I wanted. I have been covering with Sig coverall. I love this stuff. It is definetly not a quick deal but it looks so much nicer than shiney plastic wrap shrink film.

I do have a concern with the motor I have for the kit. I had an opportunity to buy a very good condition saito .70 from a doctor that flies RC. I am concerned that this might be a little too much motor for the airframe.

One more issue has come up. Several area flyers suggested that I dump the one wing mounted servo in favor of individual servos located at each aileron. I am not sure if it is worth the work to change it or not. Any thoughts?

Building this kit has been fun and it makes me want to build another one in the future. I want to put together a large Balsa USA WWI plane.

My wife does not like my buidling these kits though. But im not sure what she likes lately.

Sincerely RCSkeeter in Michigan

Skeeter,
The airplane was designed for a .45 to .60 two stroke so the Saito should be right at home. You can always throttle back. Wing mounted servos will allow you to program differential aileron if you need it where a single servo will require that you mechanically add differential. Either way, it works.

_____________________________

He's crazy Lew, he,...he builds toy airplanes!
Waco Brotherhood #6

(in reply to rcskeeter)

Post #: 12

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/30/2008 2:53:17 AM

jollyroger

Posts: 261
Joined: 3/10/2002
From: central Lake, MI, USA
Status: offline

Very nice work Dave! I have also been in the process of building mine off and on for the past two years. I finall covered the tail surfaces and wing with Sig's Aerocote. Not bad stuff really, and it does mold itself around corners very well. A little heat sensitive as there is not too much play in the temp setting before shrinkage occurs.
The fuse is nearly finished with just a little sanding and a few pieces. Since this is going to be converted to electric, I will have to establish where the battery tray will be installed, including a hatch.
I also opted for dual aileron servos and plan to use a six channel Rxcr for differential control.
Specs: Hitec HS-81 / wing servos
HS-225BB / rudder and elevator
Berg 6/5 Rxcr
Hacker A50-12S outrunner
Castle Creations Phoenix 60 ESC
" " BEC
5S Lipo / Hyperion, Polyquest and Elite you take your pick. My first choice to use will be a new Elite 5S 4800 25C pack I just received from Cheap battery Packs. I do have the others as well and some new Apogee 3800 LiMn packs . Lotsa volts here stay back,!
Anyway I need to get this finished and in the air before a friend gets his Midwest Citabria up...Psst, it's been hanging in his basement for three years never flown yet.
The most problem I've had is getting the fuse sanded from the cockpit forward to the cowl and getting it to look just right. I'm not too good at this and have had to replace the excess lost balsa and start over again.
The Hacker outrunner is good to about 1200 watts so there should be no problem with power.hehehe.
Good luck on your maiden and keep the rest of us non finishers informed,LOL

(in reply to Michaelj2k)

Post #: 13

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/31/2008 2:55:03 AM

skyraider71

Posts: 187
Joined: 5/6/2008
From: mount washington, KY, USA
Status: offline

Nice plane dave! I like the cockpit detail! Thinking about building that one myself. Think an AX .46
would work?

_____________________________

Busting props, and shredding Mono-cote since 1999

(in reply to DaveB)

Post #: 14

RE: Sig Citabria Completed - 5/31/2008 1:00:35 PM

DaveB

Posts: 550
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Hillsborough, NJ, USA
Status: offline

I believe the .46 would be about right for scale like flying. Another post by "Minnang" regarding the Sig Citabria used the .46AX.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6767089/anchors_6767089/mpage_1/key_sig%252Ccitabria/anchor/tm.htm#6767089

Take a look at it.

DaveB

(in reply to skyraider71)

Post #: 15

Page: [1]