What types of Materials are required/highly recommended to build a plane. I want the SIG 4* 60 to be my second plane, and first kit, so I need to know what materials are needed. Not like covering yet, but like the many many glues and other stuff like that.

So, this is what i have on my wishlist. Please tell me what to add or remove. All i need is the stuff to build the frame of the plane. Not electronics, uncovered.

Tower Hobbies 6-Minute Epoxy 9 oz.
Tower Hobbies 30-Minute Epoxy 9 oz.
Tower Hobbies Build-It CA+ Medium Glue 2 oz.
Tower Hobbies Build-It CA Thin Glue 2 oz.
Tower Hobbies Build-It Activator 2 oz. w/Pump
Great Planes Easy-Touch Sandpaper Assortment 2.25x5.5"
X-Acto #1 Knife #11 Blade Dispenser

And obviously the kit. But what else is needed? And do I install the landing gear before I cover, or after?

IMO opinion, and I build a lot of planes, skip the 6 min epoxy and the CA's and accelerator. CA can be haarmful to your lungs and you may develop alergies to it.
I recommend a good wood glue like Tite Bond II. Takes a bit longer to set but also gives you more time to position parts. Also sands MUCH easier than CA.
Get yourself some T-pins and a cieling tile to build on. It's flat and easy to pin to. Some small clamps with light pressure come in real handy as well as a small building square.

Install the gear before you cover to get the fit right and then remove it and cover.

Thanks bruce. Few more questions-

1.) What size pins are recommended? I see 1", 1.25", and 1.5".
2.) What size 30-min epoxy, and wood glue are needed? I've never built a kit, so I want to have enough, but I dont want to waist money on a ridiculously large amount.
3.) Can you give me a link to some small clamps? I don't want to get to big or to small.
4.) What do you mean by small building square?
5.) Off topic- What is the Great Planes Bolt Set/Blind Nuts 4-40x1-1/4" (4) for? Its in the recommended section for the 4* 60 and the needed accessories. And in the Needed Accessories it also has Great Planes Bolt Set/Blind Nuts 4-40x1" (4) Do I need both sizes? This size isn't in the required section. Im just curious in case these are for mounting landing gear, which you said I should set up, so I would need these to do that.

Thanks

i would get the longer pins,
get plenty of glue it (lasts a while)
you need something to stick the t-pins into to hold it all together so some foam or a ceiling tile would be good

1.5" pins it is then.
As for glue, I will use Titebond Ultimate Wood Glue III 8 oz. and Tower Hobbies 30-Minute Epoxy 9 oz. Hopefully thats enough of each.
I guess Ill have to go break a ceiling tile in my basement accidentally, so I can use it. Just Kidding, but ill find something.

One more thing I thought of. Im going to have to install the tank too. What size foam rubber should I use. The 1/4" or 1/2". And while we are on foam topic, how about for the receiver and battery?

you would be surprised how usefull a dremmel tool is also check Lowes or HDepot for cheapest prices,also save a couple of bucks and get your glue there also.
I buy alot of my building materials at the hardware outlets its good to shop around for deals on the basics.
a good foam for tanks and batterys etc... you can get at art suply stores I am not sure what they call it but its for packing photo's ,you can tear it into any size you want but it also breaks into 1X1 inch squares and works really good for holding things in place and you can make diferent shapes.

I already have a dremmel, but ill check out my hardware stores to see if there is anything else i can use there.♦

- Good lighting.

- Digital camera so if you have any questions, you can snap a shot, post
it in your build thread. You are doing a build thread right?

- A good selection of rules, steel, plastic, ell squares.

- A good selection of clamps.

- Razor plane.

- A well stocked mini frig and a coffee maker.

- Cd/mp3 player.

Scott

Here's a link to a [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3886552/anchors_3886552/mpage_1/key_Four%252CStar/anchor/tm.htm#3886552]Fourstar 60 Build[/link] - a lot of good tips.

LOL, yea i always have some good music playing while i'm building, keeps me from getting bored

Get the Tite Bond II not the III. It's better for our applications.

Why is that, Bruce? Set up time? Handling? Just curious.

Dick.

If you have a Harbor Freight( store that has really cheap tools) near you they have the clamps that you need. You get like 22 for 5 bucks. You can also go to their web site http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=8826 this is the link to the clamps. hope this helps.

Chris

Set up time is nearly double.
Per their spec sheets
the II has a "Total assembly time" of 10-15 minutes and dries to a translucent yellow color while the III has a time of 20-25 minutes and dries to a light brown.

The color will be close to balsa in color so probably not a major factor.

Either will work, just my preference.

Ah.. Ok. Thanks.

I have some Gorilla glue at home, used it on a foamie one time.. terrible outcome so I didn't use it again for that. I suppose it would work on balsa, but it foams up pretty quickly and that means more cleanup, but has to be done before it cures. I use it now for non-aviation applications.

I use some Elmers alapathic (spell) for some applications, but epoxy for wing joints, tail feathers, and landing gear mounts.

Always good to know what else works and what else is being used out there. Always an application that needs something specific and that is good to know.

Ok..

Thanks.

Dick.

I also like shorter pins as they are also thinner and do not leave as big a hole. both sizes have they place.

Well, I was going to build the plane, but it looks like thats not going to happen any time soon. I just got my trainer, so I wanted to start looking for the building materials, then get the kit. By the time I would be finished I was hoping to be ready for it. And if I wasn't, then I would wait. However, my dad said no. So, basically he doesn't want my taking over his workbench for the whole time it would take me to build it, which my guess would be like a year. Even though I have my own workbench, I have a tendency to take over his too when i work on a big project. So thanks for the suggestions, but i don't think i will be using them, yet.

I have a large train table that never gets used. So I hope to clear that off, and then have a very large table to use. So maybe if my dad lets me clear that table, then I can start.

One more thing, how long did all of you use your trainer? My dad also wont let me build a new plane, because he thinks i wont be ready even after the long building process. I think, by the time im done I will be ready or at least close enough that I can wait till I am ready. SO how long did all you use your trainer before you moved up?

That's a very individual question. Some people (not many) can move up in weeks and others take years. Most fall somewhere in the middle obviously. there is no way we can tell your individual attitude and aptitude for this skill set. You might kill off a couple of trainers before you're ready for a 4* and maybe not. Many of us still have trainers in our hangars as fun to fly planes too. Nice, simple, easy (for us) to fly planes.

lets hope you don't take a year to build your 4*, its not that complicated of a build,couple of months a little more if you are a slow builder.
here's a suggestion for dad, have him help you build a really flat building surface,it doesn't need to be too big just enough for your plans to fit I use a reenforced piece of plywood with hinges screwed to the wall so when I am not working there it folds down out of the way.
with a shelf to put your finished parts out of the way on untill your ready for the final assembly.
of course, I am the dad, so the garage work area is mine LOL.
your dad has a good point focus on the trainer and show him your ready to build, no doubt you will have to do some repair on the trainer, and you will gain some building expierence along the way to your learning to fly.