I have some build experience I have built several rc scale ships. But I would like to build a plane from a kit.I want to eventually build the Balsa USA Fokker D7 but would like to start with something a bit simpler first. I am looking at the sig hog bipe kit. do you guys have any suggestions? I already have a trainer I am using.

Sig fourstar,easy build,great flier.jeffo

I suggest that you build something with construction similar to the BUSA DVII. A Sig 1/4 Cub, or their 1/4 Spacewalker come to mind.


I would have suggested the Sig Kadet Senior, but many consider it to be a trainer.

I like Cubs that might be a possibility. I am liking what I read on the 4 star 60 as well though, maybe do that first then do the cub. I am in no big hurry I would like to finish the Plane for Dawn patrol next October if possible.

The 4 Star is a great choice. It does not share the construction methods of the DVII, though. The DVII will require soldering skills, too, which you could practice on the Cub.

How about a 4 Star with twin floats? The struts between the floats and fuse would give some semblance of what would be required with the DVII

Sig fourstar is all you need

For what it's worth, you don't need to choose a kit based on the skills you need for the next kit. If you need to learn to solder cabanes and gears, buy some wire and have at it. Work on your soldering skills until you can make strong joints that hold up to lots of flexing and also look good. Then you'll be ready for the real thing. I find that there is no real prepping to build or repair any particular plane. Every single one has some specialized skill that I have to learn and then never use again.

I can solder already there's lots of structural soldering with rc ships and I have done several of those. I have been looking at the sig kavalier as well, I already have a sig somethin xtra arf in the box waiting for my skills to improve a bit.

Well the 4 star is a great plane to have regardless. It's forgiving, can go from mild to wild with just a throws and CG change, has enough wing to carry floats, and it's durable and simple. I'd say all the same things about the ugly stick as well.

I'm curious. With a ship, where did you do structural soldering? The only places I can see soldering would be things like masts, ladders and other detail type stuff. Structural, to me anyway, would be areas that carry a load like superstructure main assemblies, decks and the hull itself. Not being argumentative here, just asking for clarification. This is why I suggested adding floats and the associated strut assembly to a Four Star. It has to be able to handle the stress of supporting the plane as well as the shock involved with taxiing, take off and landing. If you can make this assembly and it holds up, you would have nothing to worry about in building the metal structures needed in the DVII

You mention having a Sig Somethin' Extra arf. An arf offers very little in building skills. The same model in a full kit version does offer quite a bit in learning building skills and is a very good flier.

Hazegry1,
I'm going to second, third, fourth or wherever we are at the Sig Four Star. Any one will do, do the .40 if you like that size, the .60 is a really nice size, the 1.20 if you want something big! They are easy and fun to build, they can be decked out as far as you wanna take them, and most importantly they fly AWESOME.

Hydro I have done lots of props halts for the go fast stuff that under load and spent quite a bit of time doing repair work in the metal shop in h.s.

Lots of votes for the 4 star so I will be going with the 60. I would like to incorporate the 4 star 64s canopy and cowl( I think it looks nicer)

Not a problem then. Most people can't even tin a wire, let alone solder two pieces of metal together which, in a nutshell, was why I asked

All good Hydro, I have figured out the 4-star 64's bits are a dirct fit so I wont have to modify anything thank god. I am going to use the wheel pants from the arf too if I decide to not do retracts, I fly off a grass field so i may want to keep the gear a bit farther forward than the wing.

I decided not to do the retracts and keep the stock gear. I plan to start the build in Sept when I get back to port.

Get back to port? What are you on and no, I don't need a name or hull number since ship movement is supposed to be kept "hush hush", so I learned back in the 80s during my two WestPacs on the Kitty Hawk

It seems to me you only need to build a smaller version of the 7 from either a kit or plans then go for the sig kit, the only major difference is size.

No one but you can say what you need. so just do it!

hydro I am on a CVN

Nice, that means you get it built and you have a place to fly it while underway, as long as you keep it flying over 15 knots