Looking for my next plane.

I have seen so many posts about the 4* being an excellent second plane and I really do like the Sig kits after having completed a Sealane this spring. My experience is in a small electric trainer (GP Tutor with a GWS power system), a Nexstar, and will be maidening my Sealane soon. I am looking for something to build this fall and winter and would like to know the main differences between the SE and the 4*. I am pretty conservative in my training and tend to always stay within my flight and knowledge envelope, but want something that will grow with me. I know that you can really make the 4* do some incredible moves, but would like some feedback on the haves and have nots of the two planes.

Thanks,
Curtis

I have built and flown the 4 Star.

I've also just completed a build of the SSE. Will try again next weekend to maiden that one.

SIG kits are the best I've built. Laser cut parts is just one reason why this is so.

I like the way my 4 Star flies. It is aerobatic enough, but the low wing, and slight dihedral in the wing do limit what I can do with it. It was my third build after the PT-40 and an Easy Sport. I chose the 4 Star mostly for its looks, and the fact that it was a low wing tail dragger design.

The Somethin Extra, with its mid-wing design is supposed to be much more aerobatic. No one at our club flies one, so until we get mine in the air I have no first hand knowlege of its capabilities. But I have read that it is as tame, or as wild as you like. I like the fact that it has individual servos for each aileron, (unlike the stock 4 Star). With a computer radio, you can play around with flaperons and such. I did read that the main gear have a tendency to break out on hard landings. Some reinforcement there might be a good idea.

I'll let you know more after we get the SSE in the air...

'Fever

beau0090_99,
Considering your evaluation of your own skills, and your past planes, I would go with the 4-star. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a Somethin Extra. They are fantastic planes, and I have had 3 of them. But they're more than likely not your next step. The Something Extra is a very aerobatic plane that will go where you point it, and if you're not ready it can get in trouble pretty quick. The 4-star is a bit more foregiving than the Somethin Extra and will probably more suit where you are now, and where you are going. But don't count it out as a good performing plane, because it suprises most people at what it can do. So it's really a plane that you can grow with. Save the Somethin Extra until you get a bit more experience, trust me in that it will be worth the wait.

Ken

The Mid-Star and the Kavalier kits would also be good choices.

The SE fsuealge is balsa and the 4* is lite ply. The building tech. is similar.
The Se wing is sheeted in front of the spar . The 4* is not. Sheeting a wing is not difficult.
A none sheeted wing is easier to repair of course.

The air foil for an SE is thicker than the 4*. The SE is design to be tossed around at a slower speed.
You can roll the SE to the moon. The control surfaces are bigger on the SE of course.

The tail movement of the SE is shorter than the 4* therefore making it more agile.

The SE dosn't have any deihedral. The 4 * has build in diehedral which some people choose to remove.

If you're moving from a trainer to a low wing and have a chioce or the SE did landed on your lap...get a 4*
It's easier to fly and repair.

Both model have landing gears break away problems, but it's an easy fix ...if you know what you're doing.

The same can be said about flying an SE...it's easy to fly and land an SE if you know what you're doing.lol

Maybe get both...I hardly buy one of anything in this hobbie to begin with anyways.

Fly your trainer as you build the 4*.
Then Fly the 4* as you build the SE.

Keep your trainer..just incase..this way you're always have to back up model to fly until your fleet gets bigger.
The 4 * is an all around great flier. You can make it do plenty manuvers...and hopfuully you don't crash it before
you can master a lot moves. Plus it's also a great sunday flier. You don't have to go insane all the time to enjoy a flight.
Trust me...you can do a torque roll on a trainer or a 4*

The SSE flies something like a Twist but on the gentler side and will land very slow on a dime.

Set the throws to no more than 1/2 inch on low and anyone with a little experience could fly it.

The SSE is a very nice kit to build.

Unfortunately, I lost mine in a mid-air collision as 2 other guys were flying the oval the Wrong Way!

SSE = TOF.....Tons Of Fun!