Update
 

I Called SIG on Wenesday. Talked to 'Scott'. Explained my situation. He said use K2R, and all will be well. He said fuel tanks leak all the time, and it isn't the end for a plane if it gets fuel soaked. While that may be true in his world, I don't believe tanks leak all the time. Maybe he should try a Sullivan tank. I've never had one of those leak.

I'm not very happy with the way I was 'blown off' by SIG. My once beautiful 4*, is an ugly mess in the front. Not to mention the fact that I'm afraid the whole works will fall apart in mid-flight, destroying the rest of the plane, radio and my lovely Saito 100. I can't enjoy flying a plane with a sphincter factor of 9.8. I think he should've sent me a fuse and tail. I was thinking my next plane would be a SIG something extra. Not anymore. I don't think I will EVER buy SIG again.

Oh yeah, he's sending me a new tank. Big whoop. I'm not going to use something I don't trust. I should've told him what to do with his tank, but I'm a nice guy. So I didn't.

One more thing I forgot to mention. According to 'Scott', wood doesn't lose it's ability to hold glue after being fuel soaked. Maybe SIG should teach their techs a few basics.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

DONT GET DISCOURAGED!!!! I loved my 4st 60 for 4 years. then crashed it into the side of a ditch. After 12 years, have learned that you may go many flights and years without a major hitch. but it eventually catches up to you. Keep trying and good luck...yes definitely contact Sig

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Bob Paris has it right in that you, almost always, should cut in a hatch. It makes your life so much easier. Do you recall what color that stopper was, the one that leaked?

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Black. And it's as hard as a rock.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Sounds as if a bad batch of stoppers got by quality control. A friend is going out tomorrow for his 4*60 arf maiden flight. I believe that I'll give him a call...

My fears were realized
 

After carefully drying and reglueing the plane, and having it checked by an experienced modeler, I took the 4* out yesterday. 5 Minutes into the first flight, the firewall seperated from the fuse, and she went into the ground from 200 feet up and about 80 MPH. Plane is totaled. Saito 100 is totaled. Radio is totaled.

Sig's leaky tank cost me about $550 yesterday. The tech's advice carried about as much weight as a ball of belly button lint. Thanks alot SIG! :mad:

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Wow, you have an amazeing tendancy for bad luck! I've crashed dozens of planes higher and faster, never Totaled an engine and radio (that means both are ruined beyond repair), any chance of a picture?

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

What are you getting at? Or are you trying to make light of my situation? 3 out of 5 servos are stripped. Reciever is busted. Battery pack was punctured. Switch was smashed. As far as the engine goes, the valve rods are bent back into the cylinder head, and the crankshaft is bent. I suppose I could buy pieces and repair everything, but it's damn near going to be like buying new again.

Perhaps you shouldn't jump to conclusions when you know nothing about the situation.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

The flyers' reading this thread only know what you tell us. I don't believe Gordo-plast was "getting at" anything other than wanting to see a pic of what must have been a very horrific crash. Personally, I once had a plane crushed by a truck and it did not cause as much damage as you describe. I would like to see a pic also and I am sure Sig will want one too.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

I hope you didn't destroy the new tank SIG provided you in the crash....

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Lets not over protect the manufacturer. A good fuel tank should not leak. Period. This is the quickest way to ruin a good airplane. Sure the compartment should be coated just in case, but it doesnt help much as fuel will soak through even small uncoated areas. I havent bought a SIG in a long time but from their remark it seems they should look into better quality tanks for their airplanes. There are good and bad Chinese fuel tanks available.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

I have seen excelent fuel tanks leaking when they are not properly assembled.
I am a old SIG customer, and I may tell you that the customer service has always been ABOVE average.

Send picture of your plane with a proove of purchase and explain your problem, be smart and I am sure they are going to replace your four star

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

I will also confirm the excellent customer service that Sig has. They have been in business a long time and have developed an outstanding reputation. Their ARF planes are some of the best in both quality and engineering. There are all kinds of problems that can develop however and some of them are almost unavoidable.

As others have suggested approach Sig in a positive way and I don't think you will be disappointed.

Paul Martin

fuel tank
 

Sorry to hear of your loss. I have been flying for 15 years and can tell you from experience, that in this hobby, you will lose a few planes. Some will be due to your fault, many due to mechanical or electronic failure. However, with that in mind, there are ways to reduce your chances of failure. I was not there in your situation and it hard to conclude IF there may have been another factor that may have added to the problem.
Based on the info you have provided so far, a one time soaking of fuel on the fuselage WILL NOT inherrently reduce the structural intergrity of the balsa provided that you did a thorough job of removing the fuel. Also, based on info you provided, I would also note that having a experienced pilot fly the plane after the repair woudl have been adviseable.
I also have the 4 star in ARF and Kit form and have had no problem with either. I would agree with fellow moderlers who have suggested to you that you send them a pic with testimony to SIG of your situation and see if they may replace your airplane. Depending on your demeanor in the approach, I think you will find a satisfied reply. I wish you the best of luck on this issue and hope that you do not give up on ARF's or flying.
Hang in there, and just be prepared to buy another plane, radio, and engine if need be. I've done it! it's part of the risk!

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Deadeye in your forst post ou said all of the glue let go in the nose, did you reglue the firewall before flying it? In this hobby you will find that s*$^ happens, you have to take it all in stride. Crashes happen, structural failure happens, radio failure happens and so on. The joys this hobby brings greatly outweigh the disappointments. Suck it up and jump right back in with both feet.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Deadeye, please read your private messages.

I hope you try it out.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

It would appear to be a bit late, but I just thought I'd point out that the red oracover is easy to find. While I don't know the specific color, it's also known as Ultracote. Oracover=Ultracote.

PS: I've never seen an ARF tank I'd install in a plane.

If it's any consolation, my first 4*60 built from kit went in inverted 15 feet after take-off because the idiot flying it (me) had the ailerons reversed. I'm now building a new fuse. Repairs didn't seem feasible. The rest of the plane was unscathed (lucky me) except for a very small ding on the wingtip. I will probably also build the wing from the new kit with one rib removed and less dihedral. Add some extra rudder and elevator? Maybe...

I didn't like the color scheme on the fuse anyway...

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Deadeye...take a look at my gallery, there is a F-20 that crashed at nearly 200 MPH into the ground, the engine was OK as well as all the radio equipment. Dont get upset at guys for asking for pictures, its just rare for all that stuff to be destroyedin a crash. I hope you can take this in stride and dont lose faith in Sig or the Hobby, I have 5 Sig aircraft...2 of them ARF's and they are great. Take care and I wish you better luck.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Every plane has an expiration date. It's just not stamped on the box!

PS. Silly me ... I've used tanks from the the 9 ARFs I've built and flown (and crashed, all due to "pilot error") none of which have leaked! May the gods continue to smile upon me ;o)

It Happens
 

Deadeye...my last real bad crash was with a World Models Midget Mustang. I went up and did a split-s and pulled back on the stick and nothing happened...it went into concrete at full speed with an O.S. 1.08 on it. The damage was the worst I have ever seen in 30 years of flying...I mean it broke everything...there was not 1 usable thing to take home with me...hell even the servos exploded. These were high dollar servos but something went wrong with the elevator servo and that was one of the shortest first flights I have ever had ...so I know what it means to loose everything...I mean I REALLY know because I also fly choppers and every crash is $200.00 so get back up on that hosre and ride...better days are ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

4*60 tank...

The tank supplied with the 4*60 arf, and a number of other planes, are stamped World Models. I've personally seen four of these leak around the stopper this Spring. Two of these were in my planes.
It's as if the stopper material shrinks over a fairly short period of time. I've never had these problems with a Dubro or Sullivan.

The trash pickup here was last Thursday. They hauled my world models tanks away for me.

Larry

UPDATE
 

I contacted SIG via phone, and talked to Scott again. He suggested I send the faulty stopper and an explanation of what happened in letter form, along with the reciept of purchase (copy). I did so promptly. I sent it Monday. I recieved an email from Scott today:


Dear Mr. Rossmiller,
We have today received your package containing a letter, your receipt, your photos and the fuel tank insert. I have already authorized your replacement and it should go out today via UPS.

We are certainly sorry that you experienced this problem with the Four Star 60 ARF. We have been using World Models tanks in almost all of our ARF kits with virtually no problems. I personally fly no less than 16 of our ARF models with these tanks in place and have not experienced any problems in at least four flying seasons. I am sure that World will be interested in this sample and, again, thank you for sending it to us.

This message would not be complete without reminding you that our absolute maximum recommended engine size for this model is a .90 (.91) 4-stroke. Using engines larger than this, such as your Saito 1.00 are not recommended.

I hope this resolution meets with your satisfaction.
Regards,
Scott Christensen
SIG Mfg. Co., Inc.


Wow. I must retract anything negative I said about SIG in previous posts, and I do so with the deepest regret. Scott really went out of his way to make this customer very happy. Thank you Scott. And Thank you SIG manufacturing! You have proven to this future returning customer that your service is exceptional.

I'll be sticking my trusty old TT 61 back in the new one, as soon as I get another flight pack. And I will ALWAYS remember to fuel proof the fuel compartment in any ARF I get.

I apologize to Scott and Sig Mfg for my previous bad mouthing. I also learned to keep my dang mouth shut until a problem is resolved to the end.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Keep flying. Don't be afraid to ask for help from a manufacturer or here on RCU. There are some smart-alec's out there but, the wealth of knowledge available is worth a fortune in airplanes. I typically throw out a couple of questions a week. Bravo RCU members! Bravo SIG! And bravo Deadeye!

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Just a note on Sig's customer service....back in the early '90's (don't remember which year), I bought a Sig Mid-Star 40 about 6 days before their fly-in. I built in 5 days, test flew it on Friday, and it flew beautifully. Saturday morning I was at Sig's field in IA, ready to go. My name was number 2 on the roster, so I got into a little hurry. On Saturday morning, the second plane in the air lasted less than 10 seconds. It's not Sig's fault, the stupid pilot (me) didn't plug in the aileron servo! All the participants get a complimentary tour of the factory, and the tour guide happened to be at the field when I plowed it in earlier that morning. On our way past the Mid-Star section, this guy started handing me stuff to fix my airplane. Balsa, decals, new ribs, etc. I never asked, or even mentioned it. Very nice guy, and I've been a Sig customer since. One thing that I would like to note, though, is the price of Sig's ARF's. If you compare, Sig is a little more proud of their ARF's than most companies like H9 or GP, and I'm not sure why that is....

Sig 4* Big PROBLEM!
 

Well, at the risk of starting something I'll regret, I'll say I think SIG's ARF are worth the extra $. Compared to GP, I find SIG better in every way, stronger, better hardware, and better covering. I still couldn't build a plane for what I pay for the ARFS and mine NEVER look that good. Just my opinion.