I just got an LT-40 ARF in the mail. Picked it up from the Scratch and Dent at Tower for $100.

I haven't had an LT-40 in years. My first was a kit and my second was an ARF.

The kit I built years ago had plywood doublers, but the older ARF was all balsa. This new LT-40 that I got has the plywood doublers.

It also has a bolt-on wing. The tank floor is preinstalled and all the firewall blind nuts are preinstalled. Sig has added lite-ply braces in the tail to keep control rods from flexing. A nice touch, as I had to cut my older ARF open and butcher in the braces when it was new. The servo tray is preinstalled as well.

I'm impressed. This trusty old bird has taken on a new character with the added improvements.

I'm a seasoned flyer, and I'm making major modifications to this ARF. I'm using a TH .75 engine up front, so the blind nuts in the firewall had to be removed and replaced with bigger stuff. Also making it a taildragger with optional float mount. I've scratch built bigger ailerons for it, and also made flaps. I'll have a servo in each wing panel for my ailerons and the stock servo location will hold my flaps servo. Total of 3 servos in the wing. I mounted a servo in the tail to control my tailwheel with a short linkage. I like the dedicated tailwheel servo because it allows me to slave it into the rudder servo and adjust travel independantly of the rudder. It also allows for POSITVE control of the tailwheel-- as oppossed to springs hooked to the rudder.

For my purposes, the firewall and servo tray modifications that Sig made weren't necessary. But; for the new flyer, these mods have made the plane much easier to build. The braces, servo tray, firewall, and bolt-on wing really are nice improvements, and I commend Sig for engineering them into this "new generation" ARF.

I don't know how long these improvements have been in place. Could be years. I just haven't had one for about 3-4 years. It's a really nice plane- right outta the box.

Can't wait for the snow to start flying and the lakes to freeze.

Far too many advanced pilots pitch their trainers and miss out on some slam around fun or as you're doing, taildragger, skis or floats.

Since you're so anxious, keep that snow and ice crap on your side of the line. Saw that the Springs already had their first snow of the season.

I'll bet that was a nightmare-- those idiots can't drive any better than Denver idiots.

I'm up in the mountains now. It's already snowed 4 times. Less people up here and we all drive reasonabley well. Takes all the "white knuckle" out of the morning commute. I like it.

So far, I got the wings joined and my flaps and ailerons hinged. Not glued in yet, but holes drilled in TE of wing and LE of control surfaces. Got the tail group glued on. Rudder and elevators are hinged and glued in. Engine is mounted and tank installed. LG is installed. Tailwheel servo installed. Rudder and elevator pushrods installed. Throttle, elevator, and rudder servos installed-- not hooked up yet.

I gotta build linkages for my ailerons and flaps. Need to cover them as well. Waiting on the rest of my order from Tower. It should all be here this afternoon. I paid for Priority shipping- so it better be here today.[:@] Need to install control and servo horns.

I'll be flying this baby by Wednesday or Thursday.

That's good to hear. I got my first LT40 ARF during spring 2001. The wing was still held down with rubber bands. I had trouble with the control rods too - mine kept binding. But, I loved that plane, and wouldn't hesitate to get another.

I had a second LT40 I bought 2nd hand. It was covered with 21st Century fabric covering (cream), and was equipped with flaps and lights. I never used the lights or flaps though, and ended up removing them during a rebuild. The flaps were set up the same as yours. I wish I had tried them; but I only had that plane on a 4 channel radio that I had a buddy box for.

I like the servo for the tail wheel idea. I have to remember that for LT40 III. Good luck with yours.

Interested to hear how the flap/aileron mods work out. My dad has one of these and its a real floater. Powers it with an OS .40LA which seems plenty. We had to shim the rear of the wing with popsicle sticks to keep it from climbing at anything over 1/4 throttle. You are putting a .75 on yours? Geez. Would think that would tear it apart! [X(]

I'm flying at 10,200' above sea level--yup almost 2 miles high. Air is thin. REALLY thin. Engine performance suffers drastically. Thinner atmosphere means that less air can enter the engine because of the lower air pressure. Couple that with about 10% less oxygen-- and you got an engine that runs like a turtle on sleeping pills. The added engine displacement only serves to "compensate". I'll probably have about the same performance as an LT-40 at sea level with a .40 engine. I have flown here before with an LT-40. 1st time all I had was a TT Pro 46 and a 12 oz tank. I only filled the tank 1/2 way to lesson the load. I needed about 600' of runway to get airborn and anything under 3/4 throttle the plane was sinking. 2nd time was a bit better. I installed an OS 61FX and it flew a lot better. I was on floats, flying off the lake. Storm rolled in and my wings iced up on the leading edges. I had to land at 1/2 throttle because the plane weighed about 10 pounds with all the ice. It was so heavy that it was sinking fast and 1/2 throttle was needed for a decent approach. My eyes about popped out of my head when I saw all the ice on the wings.

I've added bamboo pins (kabob scewers) to the firewall and triangle stock to the outside of the firewall as well as inside, on the bottom.

I've actually seen guys fly the LT-40 with a 91 4-stroke. No problem.

Will post pics of the flaps when the plane is all finished.