Stickbuilder

OOps sorry, You are talking about the Great Planes Skybolt. I wea referring to the Sig Super Skybolt... Sorry bout thet, Never mind.

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

All I know is that it's not even CLOSE to May31st and I WANT a SkyBolt!!

Jim

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

I had the original kit version. It was covered just like the box and I had used an OS 120 4 stroke on it. It flew quite well. I eventually traded it to a friend who just had toi have it. I think I got three planes for it. I think the 100 would be a good combo at the lighter weight. A 90 would have flow my heavier version.

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

Yes, I'm talking about the Great Planes Skybolt ARF Bipe... I have already placed my order with my hobby dealer but it's going to be a while. I think I'm going to use a Saito .91 in mine...I don't need it too overpowered, and I think that it should create a good balance of weight versus power. Whattayathink? And there's always the fact that I have the .91 Saito sitting there waiting and ready. That saves me a small bundle... and being a Scotsman, that's something after my own heart!

seanychen

My Feedback: (4)

Might want to make sure the plane will balance without having to add a pound of nose weight.

Stickbuilder

My old Sig Skybolts did very well on the OS 120 4 stroke. Is there that much difference between it and the GP version? Never have seen one of them.

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

seanychen , First thing first, since nobody has actually HAD one of the GP SkyBolt ARFs yet, I think it might be a little precipitous to start in on the gloom-and-doom and add-a-pound-of-lead-to-the-nose warnings, don't you? The model is advertised as a .60 to .90 size, so I have absolutely no reason to think that using a Saito .91 in the nose would be anything less than ample. A 4-stroke .91 is often heavier than a 2-stroke 60, so my plans should if anything take the nose to the heavier side.

balsabandit, I myself have never seen a Sig Skybolt, although I wanted to. Is it something that Sig still offers? If so, I can go and check out their website. Well, I'll give it a check anyway..

Jim

Stickbuilder

I don't know if they offer it or not. When Maxey and Hazel were running the joint, you could pretty well depend on them, but now...I just don't know.[&o]

Stickbuilder

On a brighter note, It looks as if I may be starting on a 1/5 scale Pica Waco YMF 3/5 really soon.[8D]

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

While most Sig Models are still offered, it would appear that one of the models that failed to make it through the period of attrition was the Sig Skybolt Bipe. I cannot find it anywhere on the website, not in B.I.Y., A.R.F., or any other part. Now, THAT is a shame! I guess the HogBipe and Sun Dancer Bipes have filled that slot in the Sig lineup. Both of which, incidentally, I have and really like. In fact, my next model purchase is to be the Sun Dancer 50 size ARF, so I can have a smaller version of the gasser. I actually bought a Saito .72 and plan to use it for Sun Dancer 50.
But I digress. Still, can there be any doubt that I love Bipes?

Jim

LSP972

My Feedback: (13)

Sig has no plans to ressurrect the Skybolt kit. I asked when I ordered an extra set of plans for mine. Its a complex model, with lots of oddball hardware.

The Sig is somewhat smaller than the GP; and I assume that this new GP ARF will be the same size as the kit was.

balsabandit, you put a 1.20 four-banger in the Sig? Jeez, it must have been a rocket. And there couldn't have been much cowl left over either.

If I build this one, I'll somehow do a Super SkyBolt cowl to help hide the 91 Surpass I plan to use. I'd rather sell the kit and move on, but I've offered it twice on The Marketplace; no serious bites.

mrbigg

My Feedback: (21)

I was just checking weights last night. My ST .61 with muffler is heavier than a Saito .90! Now if I only had a little extra coin to play with.

seanychen

My Feedback: (4)

I guess a little precaution and research never hurts. Since he has the motor already, I guess if the Saito 91 doesn't work, he can always get another one.

Pardon my premature off-the-wall comment.

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

Yeah, I can believe it. Supertigres tend to be pretty big, that's why I never messed with their 2500's or whatever sizes they are. I can believe that a .60 size would be heavier than a Saito. I know a few others that have some pretty heavy 60's, I think they're using the .90 bodies on them. Anyway, I know the Saito is pretty much apples to apples as far as power when compared to the OS .91, so the size isn't much different. And they recommend the OS .91 (their own brand, of course), so I should be in the right ballpark. Of course, I could always do what I did on my 1/4-scale Sig Spacewalker II and install a nice new Brison 2.4 to "improve" my vertical..... Think that would be enough power? And I thought I had problems getting it to settle in and land BEFORE! For two weeks before I fly it I let the grass grow to help slow it down.... nah, just kidding. I'm just saying that I cannot see putting something like a 1.20 in one of these Skybolts.
Let me compare to what I already know works awesome. The Bolt is 57", just 2 1/2 inches span MORE than my HogBipe, and They are both estimated to weigh in at roughly 8 pounds (I NEVER use the lower weight estimate!) and My HogBipe is just 8 pounds dry, within an ounce or so. My HogBipe uses a Saito .91 and simply tears up the sky and pulls straight through most maneuvers without dragging. Now, the Bolt has the same type of wing as my HogBipe but they say it has 40 fewer square inches, maybe a little thinner chord, but it should have nearly as much lift. It's a lot more aerodynamic than my HogBipe, so drag isn't added, if anything it's reduced. If there are some items here that I'm failing to factor in, please chime in, because on paper, at least to me, they don't seem to be very different at all. With the VERY obvious exception of my Spacewalker II, I've never subscribed to the overpowering of planes, but then I've never felt that a plane should be hovered, either. Oh, it can be done, but why not just go and buy a Heli if you want that? It's never appealed to me, but I'm saying that I can't see why planes should be as overpowered as we sometimes see them these days. It can really take the fun out of what would have been a sweet flyer otherwise.

What do you guys think the GP SkyBolt ARF Bipe should be powered with, according to what you see on its specs? Here, I'll place the link for you:

http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1242.html

I'll be watching!

P.S. I was kidding about letting the grass grow, but I really DO have a 2.4 Brison in my Sig Spacewalker II !!

Jim

flynpreacher

My Feedback: (2)

Already ordered mine, and it will have a YS 91 FZ on it. You can never have too much power! Thats what the throttle stick is for!!!

Kostas1

Ofcourse YS 91FZ discontinued and was replaced by the YS 110FZ.
So,i think you had it sitting arround right?
Also,
with this engine you are squeezing every gr of thrust out,and your plane with this YS will be a -R-O-C-K-E-T-!!
Enjoy.
Kostas

Stickbuilder

I suppose that it could have been a rocket, but that is what the left stick is for. No, not too much cowl left, but you would be surprised what you can do with some feberglass cloth and resin. For years, I have made blisters, extra scoops and assorted odd bulges from fiberglass, and glassed them to cutaway cowls. use Kitchen spoons and other odd stuff for the plug or buck. glass them right over the cut out. looks really well.

Does anyone make a copy of the Sig Liberty sport? Talk about a great Bipe. I 'm looking forward to doing the Waco that I bought on ebay last night. It'll be my third one, and this one won't be for sale. (well maybe)

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

I actually traded for a Sig Smith Miniplane last year. Very small, very cool Bipe, and the guy had a flair for design. I've yet to really go through it thoroughly and certify it for flying, especially the kind of flying I do. But overall it appears to be quite sound, and I'm looking forward to flying it. I've kept my eyes open for a Sig Liberty Sport, but so far haven't seen any on the occasions I've searched. I haven't actually seen one anywhere in about ten years now. There appear to be a few Sig Morrisey Bravos showing up in the ads these days, but I've sold all my giants and I'm not getting into anything that big again.
As far as too much power, I think in any recreational sport model plane you can easily have too much power if the engine pulls the model too fast and won't allow it to slow down so that it can touch down and roll out reasonably. But I'm still listening, folks, what do you think the GP Super SkyBolt should be powered with?

balsabandit, I'd like to see some photos of that Waco when you get a chance! Once you get it home, of course....

Jim

Stickbuilder

Jim, It will be in a big box... This is an original Pica 1/5 scale kit repeat kit. It has not been started and I had to pay an arm and 1 1/2 legs for it on ebay. I had made up my mind that I wanted this one, and someone else ran it up on me at the last minute. Thankfully I had my top bid high enough to cover it. Should be here this week, and I will inventory everything and get pics. I wonder if one of the commercial kit cutters would want to maybe cut some of these, since they are still so popular. Maybe I should contact some of them and kinda feel them out on this. I mean it is not unusual for one of these to bring close to 300 bucks on ebay. (I paid 282.07 plus shipping for mine) What do you think about trying to get some of these cut and make them available at a reasonable price? Pica is gone, and I don't think the copyright is still in effect. This model was kitted so long ago, that I think the copyright has run out. Maybe Chuck Gill's son would be interested. I could let him borrow this one until he has the templates cut and the plans and manual copied.

That would be interesting.
Bill

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

The most obvious question is; Had you previously contacted the kit-cutter companies? A lot of these guys keep templates and the amounts of everything on file when they cut out odd models in oneseys for people. This leaves them able to jump right in and get the next request done without too much fuss. I've talked to them before, and I've been amazed at what they had stored away. I had been giving some serious thought to building a B-25 bomber at the time, but shortly after had decided against it and made my move back down towards mostly smaller models. They could have cut me a real beauty Ziroli, not cheap, but the job they do is phenomenal. Anyway, just a thought. If you were a kit cutter, I think it would make sense to keep info like that filed away, like money in the bank.
I say, hey, if you can find one who hasn't got it, you might be able to work out something with him. I've done that with cowls before, I send them my original plasti-cowl, and they build it, make a mold, and send me a f-glass cowl back, all done and ready for primer and paint! And of course, highly unlikely as a crash by me would seem, they still stand ready to replace my cowl at a moment's notice! I'd think the cutters might at least want to borrow your complete plans so they can copy them. They could cut you wing kits or whole Wacos after that, whatever you need. By the way, I really like the 1/5-scale Waco, especially the Pica (does anybody else MAKE a 1/5th scale Waco Bipe?), and they are HARD to find these days. You don't see a lot of them at the fields, either. Pretty plane, got that Golden Age look....

Jim

jrf

My Feedback: (551)

[/quote]
That is a propeller issue, not an engine issue. A 4 pitch prop will go about half as fast as an 8 pitch on the same engine and airplane.

Jim

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

Here we go. Nope, that's impossible, it's NOT a prop issue. Prop issues are for fine-tuning and getting torque in aerobatic situations or slowing something down or speeding it up a bit, but you can't simply take a plane that previously had a 14-inch prop on it and install a gasser that takes a 22 X 10 and expect it to fit or fly right. First, the prop is too long and will likely hit. If you go to a 3-blade, something's gotta give there, and once you get something pitched up there that fits and works with the engine and doesn't over-rev the engine, you're going too fast at idle. Reduce the pitch and it will over-rev the engine. Throttle it down so it can't open up far enough to over-rev with the lesser pitch and you've completely undermined the reasons for placing a big engine on there in the first place! I've spent at least 20 of the past 27 years watching guys tell me that installing that big engine won't bother anything too much, and then watched them try to figure out....1 by 1.... everything I just listed above and a whole lot more besides, like how the heck to slow it down on a hot-top runway...... Like I keep saying, if model planes were really meant to hover they would have collectives in them like the helis do. See, THEN you'd have me...no arguing with the ability to kill all thrust or even reverse it! Auto-Free rotational landing brakes.......

Jim

jrf

My Feedback: (551)

No argument there! But I don't see anyone putting a 22x10 on a Great Planes Skybolt.

Jim

Stickbuilder

Nerevar

ahh ... Does that mean puttin' a DA 150 on it might be just a dab too much motor??