OK, the new kit arrives tommrow and have some questions about the various glues and such.
How much epoxy should i mix at a time of each thing.

Will regular paint brushes work for it for now?

Any tips would be nice too.

For those who dont know it is a Sig four star 40 kit

how much epoxy? depends on what you are gluing


brushes? I use soldering flux brushes...they are super cheap.. or just a scrap peice of music wire...


wait...read the directions....then move on....

Hit the nail on the head Exeter. Chad, the instructions are going to tell you all you need to know about glues and such. My advice would be to read the instructions at least twice before you start cutting any balsa at all. As for brushes, you can use any brushes you want to spread epoxy with. Just remember that they are going to be throw away brushes. That's why we use the solder flux brushes (or sometimes called epoxy brushes) because they are cheap and are use once and throw away.

oh ok
thanks ken, I will do that first thing tommrow when the plane comes in. I will also get those dimensions ASAP

Also....I am not familar with the 4 star kit, but having built an LT-40, there are some modifications that can probably be made to make it a better bird. During the build, do some research and you might find something cool that you'd like to implement.

For example, I put in dual aileron servos on my LT-40 and I LOVE it. Also, the directions call for joinging the wings with CA. I used 4" fiberglass tape with 45 min epoxy. MUCH STRONGER NOW!

Good luck.

bryris, I was thinking of dual aileron servos. does the intructions tell you how?

You will know when they get there. You may get a newer set of instructions than he got. Don't be so antsy, it'll be there soon. Sheeeesh!!!! Go study. [sm=bananahead.gif]

If the drawings don't show dual servos, then RCKEN or MinnFlyer can provide some easy instructions to follow, I am sure. It is an easy modification.

First, when you get the kit, open the box and lay the top of the box next to the bottom.

From now on, ANYTIME you remove something from the box bottom, put it in the box top (With the exception of the manual and the part you are using of course)

Parts can get lost VERY quickly, and this habbit will assure that any part you're looking for is in one of only two places.

Next, Remove the manual and close the box. Spend at least a few hours reading the manual all the way through - this may be tought to do if you only have one bathroom in the house

Once you have read it through, do another read-through with the box in front of you. Inspect the parts as you go to make sure that you UNDERSTAND each step.

And finally, I'd be happy to supply directions for adding dual aileron servos, but it's been a LONG time since I built a 4* so refresh my memory a bit here... Am I correct in remembering that the 4* does NOT use cap strips on the ribs?

PS scrap sticks work well for mixing and applying epoxy too

Chad,
Minn has it correct. Here are a couple of things I do that helps me. With the instructions and plans in front of you take the sheets with the parts on them (one at a time) and label every piece, write the part number directly on the piece. I then label all the flat and stick wood. Almost all kit instructions will have a list of all the sticks and flat pieces and their sizes. Use a ruler to identify each piece, right the size on the piece, and check it off in the instructions. This does 2 things, let's you inventory all of the wood to make sure the kit is complete (mistakes to occasionally happen) and it labels the pieces so you pick the correct piece while you are building. Pay particular attention to the stick lengths. It's common to have several different lengths of the same size stock (i.e. 1/8"x1/8"x24" and 1/8"x1/8"x36"). If you use the wrong piece in the wrong place you're going to have to make a trip to the LHS to complete replace the piece you used.

Hope this helps

What Ken says is very true - and not only sticks, but sheets too - Very often you will have several 3" x 3/32" x 36" sheets and a few 3" x 3/32" x 24"
The instructions may say something like:

"From a sheet of 3" x 3/32" x 24" balsa, cut 5 pieces 3 1/2" long each"

That will leave you with about a 5 1/2" piece of scrap

But if you accident;y cut it from a 36" sheet, you'll be left with a 17 1/2" piece

Now later, you'll need to cut a 34" piece from the 36" piece and you'll have a 24" piece and a 17 1/2" piece... Time to make a trip to the LHS!

And PS --- If you do it, don't feel bad. Even though I KNOW better, I still do it occaisionally

I also separate fuselage parts into one box and wing parts into another box. Anytime you buy an accessory (eng mount, tail wheel, prop, etc) throw it into the box so it won't get lost. Don't have stuff scattered everywhere. An old muffin pan can hold small hardware pieces(put it somewhere where it won't get knocked over). I label the wood with blue painters tape to avoid leaving marks on the wood that may show thru the covering.

Same here Minn, do it every once and a while. And as soon as you do it you start looking for the target on the wall. The target that says "bang head here" underneath it!!!!

I always blame it on the kit. They sent the wrong stuff. Then I remember that I inventoried the box and lose my excuse. Don't publicize the last part to wife/mother.

Bruce,
Large ziplock bags work great for seperating parts into. I have a couple of sets that I use on every plane. I have them labeled "Fuse parts", "Wing parts", "Tail parts", and "Misc parts". It's nice to have the ziplocks, especially when you accidently knock the box off of the bench!!!!

Here's mine, you're all welcome to print your own copy of it

Chad-

For mixing and spreading epoxy, I usually take the scrap pieces of lite-ply left after taking out parts and cut little paddles about the width of a popsicle stick. Or just eat some popsicles. I don't generally bother with brushes unless I'm covering a large area.

-Scott

Thanks for all the comments guys. It comes in today and school is going by SLOW!!!! I am just a bit hyper if ya can tell

Haven't found a zip-lock that a 36" stick will fit in yet.

Bought a bag of 100 popsicle sticks at Walmart the other day for $1.00.......

Couldn't pass that up when I saw it. Might go back for more.

Chad- How many times do we have to tell you to plan ahead? Today is the day to be sick!! Sheesh, Kids, gotta teach them everything.

when you separate the balsa stock make sure if there is any hard woods used for spars or main structures that you don't confuse them with the balsa. I have done it once with another airplane and I ended up having to buy another piece of hardwood for a spar because I cut into as balsa then wouldn't trust the weakness at the slight cut site.

So, I shouldnt biuld at all today? Maybe i will finish up the superstar rebiuld....

Since you need some more trainer time and have not even ordered the radio yet, I would go with the rebuild. Of course I realize you will have to spread out the 4* to dry after you get done drooling all over it but that won't take long.
Seriously, look over the instructions and see if it has dual wing servo instructions. If not, let MinnFlyer know if cap strips are used on the ribs so he can provide correct mod instructions for you. Keep the instructions and plans out, you can read and study them later tonight.
Then close it back up and finish your repair work on the trainer so you can fly next weekend. One project at a time until you get proficient at this. Assembling a kit takes space and time without the distractions of a repair in the middle

Well, on the repair, i have to run to the lhs anyways to get some balsa and such, so today would be a good day and probably won't work on that till friday, because we have the day off school then. I guess i will read the instructions and label everything and then go from there. If i have time, i will work on it a bit, if not i won't. I am home from school and the UPS man should be here ASAP

Here's another tip for keeping parts separated. Do you know anyone that works in an office????? My Wife brings home all those empty plastic containers that staples come in and they are great for keeping all the hardware in once you open those plastic bags and they snap shut so if you knock them off the table everything doesn't scatter all over the back 40 acres!!!!!![:@]

I have small cups i used for that. They have lids and such that don't come off... So it is nice... I am getting ancy now!!! Only a little bit and time is going sSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW