Im gonna be purchasing a sig fourstar 40, but Im not quite sure if I should build the kit or buy it arf...I've never built a plane before. Is the fourstar a hard plane to build?.....

If the idea of building appeals to you, and you want a Plane that you can put your own stamp on, then I would say try the kit. You won't have much trouble, and if you hit a few snags along the way there are plenty of threads here on RCU regarding the 4 star. The final result will be a Plane that you can say you built yourself, and sure joy when you see your self built Plane take to the sky, and fly great!

If the idea of building does not sound like your cup of tea, or you have very limited free time, then Sig makes some very nice ARF's, and you will be happy with how nice of job Sig has done building a 4 star for you. Either way you go, I would say you are sure to enjoy!

4-Star is one of the absolute easiest planes to build...

However, if you can afford the extra dough for a bigger motor, go with the 4* 60...the extra size makes it an even easier build...makes it easier to fly, and is a perfect match for a good 4-stroke....

U cant go wrong....

Plus, if you're willing to go for the 60, consider the Venture 60, its basically the same siae (The creator designed the 4* while working for SIG) but is much better quality (which is saying alot, because sig is awesome quality), looks nicer stock, and flies better....

Your choice though...if you want to consider the Venture, with at [link=http://www.btemodels.com]www.btemodels.com[/link]

thanks alot for the advise!!! I think Im gonna build the kit.....wish me luck...

Nexstar22,
Have fun building your 4-star. Just remember that help is just a post away. Please feel free to ask any questions here on RCU and we'll do our level best to answer them.

Also, don't forget pictures. We want to see pictures!!!!!! well, when you're done at least!!

I must warn you now though, balsa dust is addictive!!!

Ken

thanks for all the support, you guys are great!!! I'll try to take as many pics as I can......thanks again for all your help!!!!!!

Here's a suggestion if you choose to build the kit. The plane has a fairly slow roll rate and really really really floats on the landings. A common mod on the 4 * is to remove one bay from each wingtip. I suggest that you build the wing full length, BUT when you are adding your ailerons, add an extra hinge one bay in from the tip. This way, if you choose to shorten the wings in the future, you will already have a hinge to support the new tip of the ailerons. I didn't do this when I built my 4 *. It wasn't too hard to make the mod afterwards, but adding the hinges during construction would have made it nearly a field mod!. Btw, I use an OS 50SX in mine, lots of fun!!

Scott

nexstar22
Since you are from the Northeast, and winters tend to be a little long up there anyway. You will be glad you chose the kit to help you get through the winter months, and to help fight off flying withdrawl. You will start to see alot of kit build threads popping up as winter draws near. So you shouldn't have any trouble finding people to share info with, since there will probally be plenty of 4 star builds about ready to take place.

If not in a rush to get it in the air, I say build the kit. I agree that the 60 size has many benefits including being setup for dual aileron servos.
I will also recommend that you use a good wood glue like Tite Bond II or Elmers instead of CA for most of the joints. It will be less hazardous to you and makes a better glue joint IMO. The only drawback is a slightly longer drying time. A small price to pay for your health. If you do use CA, keep a fan running to keep the fumes out of your lungs and eyes. Use epoxy only where needed.
You can take pride in assembling a kit and covering it the way YOU want it to look.

If you are going to build a 4*, do yourself a favor and spend some time reading [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3070885/tm.htm]this 4* build thread[/link] It's some of the best comprehensive build documentation around.

Good luck and have fun building, I think it's every bit as enjoyable as flying and the thrill of flying your own construction is the pinnacle of R/C modeling.

I will interject my opinion here, since I just recently finished a Four Star 60 ARF, and maidened it this past Saturday... If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with the kit version. The ARF (at least the one I got) was not up to the quality that I expected from Sig. I did quite a bit of reinforcing before assembly, but apparently I should have done more. My last flight on Saturday ended in a botched landing due to a strong wind gust. I was about 3 feet above the runway when the wind went crazy (thank you, Rita), and when I powered up to go around, my engine quit, and the plane stalled, dropping the right wing. It hit the ground nose low and on the right wingtip. When I got to the plane, I found that the firewall had completely torn out of the plane, the landing gear attachement point had torn out, and the right wingtip, about 1.5 inches inboard from the tip was damaged. Upon further inspection at home that evening, I also found that the fuselage former right in front of the wing had broken out and was missing, the former directly behind the wing was cracked, the plate that the fuel tank sits on had torn out and was broken almost in half. Folks, this was not THAT bad of a crash to have that much damage, in my opinion. Upon insection of the firewall, it appears to me that it was glued in with something resembling hot glue. It was soft enough that I could pretty much scrape it off with my fingers. I had epoxied the front of the firewall, and what I could reach of the rear, and also the area of the gear attachment that I could get to. I've almost finished the repairs, but I cant help thinking that this would not have happened if I had built the kit and made the proper reinforcements in key areas. Main point: if you buy the ARF, make darn sure you ckech EVERY glue joint you can get to, and then some.

A lot of the ARF's I've seen appear to use something that looks like hot glue. That is ONE of the reasons that I have only purchased one ARF in my life with no plans for another. [:@]

That's why I "re-construct" every ARF I get.... might actually be easier to build a kit.

Also not a fan of "ARF glue"... I wonder what that stuff really is anyway?

You don't want to know. [:@]