It's time to get serious about a third plane.

But which one?

I like the looks of the SIG 4-Star 40. But I'm reluctant to move away from Great Planes kits. I've had good success building the Great Planes PT40 MkII, and the Great Planes Easy Sport.

Any recommendations on a GP equivalent of the 4-Star?

My thinking is to transition from the PT40 into the Easy Sport while building the third plane. When the time comes, I'll move the rcvr and .40 size engine out of the PT40 and into the third plane. So I'm looking for something in a .40 low-wing sport.

All suggestions/comments are welcome,

Fever

Don't be afraid of the 4 star kit.....from what I understand it's as easy or easier than the GP kits......even though I had my good friend Doug build mine for me.....but that's only because I'm building impaired....

Mike

Consider a Carl Goldberg Super Chipmonk easy build an really nice Flying plane. Also a great way to try a model with flaps!!!

Building another right now... Guess why?

The 4* is a nice building kit, but I like GP kits better too. Once you're good with the Easy Sport, look into the Super Sportster. I'f you're really feeling like you know what you're doing, try the new Ultra Sport Plus.

although the chipmunk is a great flying plane (I have one and absolutly love it) it is a .60 size.
if you are really set against buying another engine/flight pack then this wont work.

I have heard good things about the 4* planes (they come in several diffrent sizes including 40) including it being easy to build and a great flying plane (have seen a few at our field)

if you want to stay with great planes you may want to consider something like the ultra sport plus (if you are thinking sport) ot the dazzler (if you want to move to fun fly) I have the dazzler (arf) and it is a good plane that after mastering your easy sport will be fun next step.

my suggestion, go with the super chipmunk. its a great looking plane, it handles well, is very forgiving, and will not disapoint you with its abilities. although it will cost more with the new engine I think you will find it is worth it.

I built the 4*60 and a friend build the Hog Bipe. The kit quality was excellent and was very easy to build. You can dry fit allot of the plane, e.g. dry fit each wing half before gluing it, adjust accordingly, then shoot it with some quick and medium CA. How easy is that?

If you have built any kit before you can build the 4*. I have a 4*40 and I am finishing up one for Glowplug as we speak, I just need to mount the canopy and it's done. They are a great flying little plane. Throw a TT Pro46 on the fron and you wont regret the decision.

I think I like the looks of the 4 Star a little better than the Super Chipmunk, and I do want to recycle my .40 engine to save a little green. So I guess the 4-Star 40 is the way to go.

Now, about the landing gear set-up. I see it is a tail dragger. That would be another first for me. As a third plane, should I go ahead and transition into the tail dragger, or modify the plane design for tryke gear? I read it takes some getting used to, taking off with a tail dragger....


Fever

Yeah, it takes time, like about 2 take-offs. You'll be used to it before you know it. Don't let that deter you from getting the plane you really want. Good luck!

Don't worry about it. I think one of the reasons why people have trouble with tail draggers at first is because they didn't learn to use the rudder all that well.

To take-offs with a taildragger are not that much more difficult then trikes. Just remember to apply power slowly and make small corrections with rudder get plenty of speed then genlty pull back. What I have seen blamed on alot of taildragger takeoff crashes is really only a stall usually caused by too little takeoff speed and or too steep a takeoff angle.

If you go to a local airport and watch small planes taking off none of even attempt the takeoff angles and climbout rates that most modelers use. (we can usually get away with this because of the power to weight ratios are models have) ..

don't yank it into the air and you'll have no trouble with a taildragger!!!

for a third plane and if you like GP then look at the Extra 300,in aerobatics it will out preform the 4*'s,also easy plane to fly if you don't get radical with the control throws.

At first it will seem a little different, but like previously stated, after 2-3 takeoffs, it'll be almost second nature. I had the 4*60 w/TT Pro 61 (sold), would line it up, 3-second throttle transition to full, tap rudder to correct, pull back and away she goes...

yep, I agree.....taildraggers get a bad rap for some reason. One thing that you might want to do is change the main landing gear, it has a tendency to bend...Dubro makes a fiberglass landing gear (.35-.50 size) that works perfect on this plane (tip courtesy of DSJBEAN)

Mike

Keep in mind I'm a beginner also. I built the Four Star 60 as my 2nd plane. It was also my first kit. Very easy to build. Would be VERY hard not to build correctly. Have not built a Great Planes kit so I cannot comment, but I love the Sig laser cutting.

I was also worried about having a tail dragger, but you will get use to it very quickly and looks much better IMHO. I did my first take off and landing with out any assistance.

I'm not sure that a four star will fly much different then your easy sport, having seen a few fly at the club here. You may want to move past that and get something a bit more aerobatic. The GP Sportster or Ultra-Sport would look look real tempting to me based on your requirements and experience.

BTW my 3rd plane is a CG Chipmunk, have not flown it yet so wish me luck.

I'm well into the building on the 4* now, and it is a much easier build than either the PT40 or the Easy Sport.

I'm going to look for that fiberglass landing gear as suggested by glowplug / dsjbean. I really dislike bent landing gear. I don't think I've really landed that hard, but my Easy Sport nose gear already has a decided crook to the rear.

Back to the 4*, I broke the piggy bank and bought a Saito .56 4-stroke to power it. This may be too much engine for the plane, but I can always use it in my next kit.....

can't seem to shake this,

Fever

After I posted I noticed the original date. I figured you had selected a plane already. I replaced the main gear and replaced tail-wheel with Sullivan setup, much nicer then stock. Saito 56 on this will be nicely over-powered. It will fly well on a ringed .40.

And a Saito 56 will definitely NOT overpower it.