Having spent considerable time on the sticks with my Rapture 40 and Hangar-9 Tango, I am contemplating a bipe. Although this would be my first, it will be beyond my fourth plane. I feel that the beginner's forum would be the place to ask, since this would be something new to me. Having played with RealFlight, I have found the Ultimate to be the easiest for me to handle, very similar to my Tango except it would not roll with the rudder. Yet, I have seen recommendations for the Sig Hog Bipe, as well as the Smith Miniplane. In another old thread, I further recommendations for the Sig Sundancer.

The most likely bet for me, would be in building a kit so I can distribute the cost over a longer period. I would anticipate having this one ready some time next Summer, after I have spent some time with my Lanier Citabria (and no, I don't expect that one to be very easy). So there you have it, folks. What would be the best way to splurge some of my extra hard-earned cash?

NorfolkSouthern

If you are going to build from a kit the SIG Hog Bipe just can't be beat as a first bipe and a nice kit as well.

Thanks, Missileman. Now, what would you recommend if I should buy an ARF? As for the Hog: What are some of the things you like most about the kit?

NorfolkSouthern

It is easy to fly and, as with all SIG kits, a high qaulity kit with great instructions.
I didn't build one myself, my neighbor did, but it sure is a nice plane.
I can't comment alot on ARF Bipes, I own 2.
I can say the the Modeltech SE5 is a gentle flyer and quite alot of fun.
I also own a Great Planes Super Stearman with a Zenoah G26 engine but I wouldn't recommend it as a first bipe.

I've been labeled a biplane junkie for years now, the sig kits are all excellent, some are craftsman kits and some are lazer cut kits, difference is the craftsman kits require alot of cutting out parts on printed sheet or most of the hard stuff is die cut for you. The lazer cut kits literally fall together. I think you'd be better off with the hog bipe for a first bipe, easy to assemble, larger wing for more stability and in general, you can dress it up or leave it stock, four strokes fit in it perfectly without trying to incorperate a cowl. Sometimes biplanes get twitchy when you go small, got to be on the sticks all the time, larger ones tend to be better at adverse conditions of wind. Check out the other posts on building the hog bipe, it's actually really easy, just getting past the fact that 2 wings have to be built is tough, but it's worth it when you bolt them to the fuse and look at it.

I'll second the Hog Bipe. I've had 3 of them, and built the last 2 of them I had. It's a great kit to build as it's very well engineered and high quality. As for it's flying, it's very forgiving in the air. You'll do very well with this bipe as a first biplane.

Ken

Here http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_25..._1/key_/tm.htm is a great and extensive build thread on a Sig Hog Bipe for your enjoyment. You can better envision the experience this way I believe.

I recommend the Great Planes Super Skybolt. It was my first bipe and is easy to fly and land, yet can be extremely aerobatic as well. It is my absolute favorite plane to fly.

You will see me post about ugly airplanes and the Hog is on the top of my list, A friend should never let A friend fly an ugly plane!! However, the Hog is an easy plane to build and set up plus it is A nice one in the air too, no problems on the ground either like the Smith. It's just so Ugly!!! The Bolt is another good choice, very sharp looking plane too but just A bit harder kit to build then the Hog. The Ultimate is the best flying bipe mentioned though but all of them are pretty good choices. I would stay away from the Smith though but just because of the ground handling, once in the air it is OK. My first choice is always the Ultimate or the Bolt.

The Sig Hog Bipe is a great kit. It builds just as easy as their 4* and SSE only with an extra wing & assoaciated parts.

If you are looking at an ARF, the GP Super Skybolt is excellent.

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. It may not be the prettiest but I like it. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7824786 And they fly well too.

You are, of course, entitled to an opinion. We'll just disagree.

I am an old guy who only started in the hobby two years ago. The SIG Hog is my first (and thus far only) bipe. I fly it with a Super Tigre 60 that has plenty of power for my skills. The plane was a good project to build. I did not have previous kit experience in aircraft but have built model rr stuff for decades, which helped with minor parts of instructions that were not crystal clear to me. The plan views are excellent (some I have seen do not provide enough information or views). The plane is strong and stable, and is even fairly easy to control on the ground for a tail dragger. It's rudder is fairly sensitive and it wants to drop the nose on turns but has no really bad habits. It does want to land on a little power but at the same time it doesn't simply drop like a rock on idle. Tower claims you need stronger servos for some of the control surfaces, but I pretty much used standard ones except for a higher torque one on the ailerons (which, oddly enough, Tower does not specify). There is a single servo controlling all four of them and I thought that was a bit marginal with a low torque servo. Perhaps for that reason I find the plane more responsive than I anticipated (very pleasant though).

I've Have/had the following bipes:
CG Ultimate (2)
Ace 4-60
Andrews Aeromaster (3) real ones, not the Great Planes ones
Global Tekate
Cermark Pitts
Midwest Super Steerman
Kyosho Tiger Moth
GP Tiger Moth
Phaeton 90

Of these I think the ones I ENJOYED the most were the Aeromasters and the 4-60. Wonderfull planes. If the Hog bipes fly anything like the Astro Hog, buy it, build it, fly it! An Ultimate in a .60 size or larger is also a good choice.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!!
SIG Hog Bipe and Balsa USA Phaeton 90..... two of the best flying Bipes around. (in my eyes)

Cheers
Curt

Sourkraut: You always have a way of razzle-bedazzle with your color schemes, I swear. Here's one from the hog bipe thread in the builder's forum:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5988520

This guy built his model in a shop. Using a spray gun and booth, he applied a white base coat. Then, proceeded to mask off the areas that he wanted white, then applied the blue top coat before mounting the engine and other accessories. This is how it's done on full-scale aircraft, and I might add it looks better than anything I can put out, at least until I can win the lottery and build a real shop!

NorfolkSouthern

I've see uglier bipes than a hog, and the smith has excellent ground manors, I think that panding gear instals and set up are a major factor to poor ground handling, and if you over power any plane it will dart all over the runway no matter what you do. I plan on getting a hog bipe and finding a liberty sport kit if I can, I haven't tried a skybolt yet, but it sure does look sexy.

Been really happy with my Skybolt ARF. It's a very well behaved model.

Hey bdstr, what power did you use in that aeromaster? did you use single ailerons?. I have a old Andrews kit, that I got with some other stuff, including a Balsa USA EAA-Biplane, which is partially built. I plan to build those this winter. I am rather new to rc, 3 years now, but my dad is a old free flight, control line and lorenzo rc control guy, and after leaving the hobby in the 1950's he is back in his 80's doing it again. For me, my Lazy Ace 75" is a great flying plane. Very predictable and a stable platform, and is my was first bipe, and continues to be, until I learn what I need to know. I have brought it up to a safe altitiude, chopped the throttle and practiced dead stick tendencies, among other "get out of a jamb" situations, so I can land it to live again, not have build another one. MY phaeton 90 is also a very stable flyer. What do you all feel about the eaa-biplane. I have heard favoable comments.

I am thinking about getting a sig hog bipe as a 3rd or 4th plane, What would you recomend as an engine for it, I really want to be at or under $200 for the engine, a lot of people recomend a 4 stroke, I just have problems spending that much more money on an engine. Would I be happy wiht an os 70 ? or how are Saito engines? I have not had an 4 stroke yet, I a bit nervous about 4 strokes. Or should I jsut get an os 75 2 stroke and be done with it.

Thanks

Jon

Ultimate Bipe kit or ARF are the same great airplane

I think a 91 class four stroke is right for the Hog Bipe, some people report bringing the plane in at 7.5 lbs but mine came in at 9.5 lbs, so figure it will be somewhere between those two numbers depending on what you cover it with.
For me a 70 class four stroke would not be enough power even at 7.5 lbs.
At the low weight a 91 four stroke will give you unlimited vertical and at the high weight you will be able to fly through decent sized loops.
The Magnum 91 four stroke is a very nice engine that does not break the bank.
If you only operate the premium brand engines you can't match the performance of the 75AX with a four stroke without spending lots more money.

I second the Magnum .91, They are actually really nice 4 strokes at a reasonable price.

Thanks, I will look into the Magnum, I am still a little nervous about 4 strokes, but I guess I need to learn.

I have several OS and Magnum four strokes and they are very easy to operate.
You will need a tachometer to set the high speed needle, this is really not optional.
For my money a 14x6 prop is the right size for a 91 four stroke, I use Master Airscrew K- Series, Scimitar series, and APC ... they all work well, just pick the one that you think looks best on your plane and go with it.
Some people check the valve adjustment before they ever start the engine, I don't, I crank em up and if they work correctly I leave everything alone until there is a reason to check something, I have never even looked at the valves on most of my engines.
I did have to adjust the valves on one of the 91's and it was very easy to do it.
This is a just a FYI thing ... The OS valve adjust kit has the correct feelers but the wrench is not the right size for the nuts on the Magnum.

I agree that the Magnum 91 as a great choice for the Hog Bipe. I was in the same boat as you not wanting to spend a fortune for a 4 stroke, but the Magnum was affordable and is a great performer. I initially flew the Hog with a .75 2-stroke and it flew with authority. I decided to try out the 4-stroke after several recommendations and the 91 4-stroke/Hog Bipe combo is hard to beat. Best of luck with your build!