Thought I would show off my new Airplane...

Four Star 60 as is so popular with most new pilots...

This is my second Airplane and first kit build. I decided to keep it simple with the covering, used red monokote on the top and Navy Blue Ultracoat (Oracover) on the bottom...

Cut the canopy down some what... I think the original lines of the canopy ruin the look of the Airplane but cutting it down makes it look much better...

I have used a SuperTigre G-90 turning a 14x6 Prop...

So far I am happy with the combination. The Airplane takes off strongly on about half throttle and flys around well with half throttle...

I have only had 5 flights consisting of circuits mixed up with a few loops... So I can't comment much in the Aerobatic performance of the Airplane but if flys true with only a little left trim.

I'm really glad that I have the 90 on the Airplane. I feel that once I get used to the bigger control surfaces (as compared with my trainer) I will need that power. A 60 would be too small in my opinion. Although this depends on how you fly; I tend to fly fast and agressive...

The Airplane sits really nice in the air and I like the way it flys.

I find the airplane better to land than my trainer. With the trainer you would think you where going to stall blip the engine and find yourself back up in the sky but the 4 Star can be brought in faster and so in my opinion is more true to what you would expect given a particular airspeed and height.

It is still a floater though... Just not as bad as the Trainer...

Some Pictures...

[8D]

Sukhoi_Madness,
Sometimes it's the simpilest things that are the most beautiful. Very nice looking plane. You should be very proud there.

Ken

Thanks Ken...

I am proud of it...

It is amazing what you learn from building one kit!!!

I can see why guys who have built 20 or 30 Airplanes know so much...

I have not put it through an Aerobatic routine yet but I will keep you guys posted...

Matt

Looks great, I'll post pics of mine once I get the film developed. I found the same things with mine when I first flew it, found it eaiser to land and handle in the air. I have an ASP 75 in mine.

Good job

Cheers
Vaughan

Very nice! Well done.She's beautiful.

Mark

beautiful plane. I kit built a Kadet Jr in the same colors and had to put white stripes chordwise on the bottom cause in the air the colors were hard to see. Again, great job on the plane. very nice

Very nice looking Plane, and you will always have the satisfaction of knowing that you built it yourself when people like me comment on how awesome a job it looks like you done! Great Job!

Hey RCKen! Shouldn't RCU give an "ATTABOY" as well for those who build, and successfully fly their first kit or scratch built RC Airplane? It is just as great a moment, and maybe more IMO as that first solo flight. I know that there are alot of things that could be acknowledged in this hobby, but "First Solo Flight", and "First Built RC Plane" stand out to me as being 2 very big moments, and it also tells that builder, that we as a spectatator of his or her work, really appreciate and admire the effort they put into there first self built RC Plane.[8D]

I don't know about your flying though. Very first post and you've got 2 nose-overs! Not too good. Gonna have to work on that. [sm=bananahead.gif]


j/k plane looks good

Thanks for all the positive comments guys!!!

Yeah, I'm leaning towards putting some white on the bottom too... Although I will hold off as long as I can.

There are some rough bits and mistakes in the kit but over all the experience has inspired me to build more... Even to the point where before I started this model I thought that a scratch build was something I could never do but now in a few kits time I will be confident to give it a go...

Sig deserve a medal for the presentation of their kit... Laser Cut parts make life sooooooo easy...

Thanks again.

Nice plane[sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif] and Congratulations!!! I almost bought the kit when I first started. Can't remember why I didn't. Looks like a nice plane and I heard fun to fly.

I've thought about this too, but I'm not sure what to do with it. I kind of figure that a "attaboy" should be personalized with the plane on it, and that could be a little difficult to do. I'll run this by Minnflyer, he's the RCU graphics guru (and chief high god-o-photoshop).

Ken

This has been mentioned before, First Maiden, First Kit, First whatever, and the answer has always been "No".

There are many "Firsts" in this sport that deserve a hearty congratulations, But the ATTABOY is for First Solos only.

The reason I came to this decision, is that a first Solo is the first really monumental achievement, that gives most people a real sense of euphoria, bordering on giddiness, and the ATTABOY is just a little memento of the occasion.

It sort of boils down to this: A solo flight makes you feel like a kid again, and the ATTABOY is given much the same as a kid is given a balloon after his first visit to the dentist. Now, should 40 year old get a balloon after getting his first crown, or root canal?

When given their ATTABOY, most people are really excited, some think it's cute, and a few others think it's dumb. I had even gotten to the point where I didn't hand one out unless specifically asked.

If we handed them out for each and every "First" several things would happen. First, the ATTABOY would lose some of it's charm, but more importantly, by the time people get established in the sport, a lot of the euphoria dissipates - Someone who's been flying for 10 years but just built their first kit may not want any fanfare.

On the other hand, I've never turned down someone's request for an ATTABOY for special occaisions. I've gotten PMs saying things like, "My son just did "so and so" and would LOVE one of those ATTABOYS. Could you... Etc"

No prob. I'd whip one up for him.

So the bottom line is, they can be handed out SPARINGLY for other achievements, but only if specifically requested by the achiever

Mike,
Thanks for the heads up!!!

Ken

I think you're correct...

Personally I'm not really interested in that type of thing... I put the Airplane up for everyone to see; as I love checking out everyone elses Airplanes...

The first time you solo it is pretty magic and certainly a new experiene...

But I have found flying my first build to be completly different... It is a total technical expereince...

First you concentrate on the Airplane being flight ready and once it is you concentrate on flying characteristics, trim, engine etc... I have found in the first few flights that there is not time for that majestic first solo type feeling...

I hope the weather is nice here on the weekend so I can put the 4 Star through it's paces...

Matt

Nice looking plane there...

I have one and fly the snot out of it. I'm well over 200 flights and I only got it in April this year. Lat year I had the 40 size 4* and did the same thing. The 60 pretty much lives in the back of my truck.

It's nicely aerobatic. Doesn't do anything really fast but it does it well. I've used mine to teach other pilots or Expert test and more advanced manuevers just short of 3D. I can hover mine but any amount of wind and there just isn't enough control surface on it to maintain the hover.

One of my favorite things to do with it is to grab a lawn chair and shoot touch and go's with it. With the stock tank and the OS91 Surpass, I can usually stay up 25 minutes doing this.

On landings, be a full elevator travel about 2 inches from touchdown and it'll just set right down as pretty as can be and stop in about 20 feet or less.

Take a look at this video. A 15yr old is flying it (it's mine) and pay particular attention to the landing. He does exactly what I suggested to you and you'll see just how well it sits down and the really short rollout as these things will bounce if you are to fast.

You'll hear at the end where I tell him to land and he's about 300 feet up at the time. He just cuts throttle and glides down. I've been higher at the approach end of the runway and cut throttle, sideslipped down and landed right at my feet.

http://www.hiddenhangarrc.com/video/...xpert_test.wmv

If you've seen it before, my apologies

I love flying this plane, while I have much more expensive and precise planes, this one allows me to go back to the basics and just relax. I absolutely do not want to crash it, but should it ever meet it's demise, I feel it owes me absolutely nothing as it's done everything I have ever asked of it within it's capabilities.

Can you tell I like mine