Test005

Hi
I've just recived my SSE kit and thought to share a few pictures and comments as I go along.
This is my second kit after building the SIG 4*60 (Still unflown, guess I prefer building to flying)
Here's pic's of my 4*60


Well, here we go, Somethin' Extra....

Pic1: Few of my tools and building supplies. I prefer building with carpenters wood glue, but have a few CA's and Epoxy's for tricky spots.

Pi2: Not surprisingly this kit is top quality. Everything is neatly packaged.

Pic3: The Hobbico ruler is a lifesaver for us "metric" people. I ive in Finland/Scandinavia and have no comprehension what so ever of meassurments made with fraction of inches

Test005

Pic:1 I started off by preparing what was needed for the wings.
I pinned both plans to my work surface to build both the left and right wing at the same time.

Pic2: A few hours work and the wings are all framed up. Building with wood glue, things take some additional time, but I definately prefer it.
CA makes me feel bad, and I just hate the way it tend to stick to everything else than the joint I was trying to glue!
One thing so far that's better on the 4*60 is that the sheer webbing is pre-fabricated.
For the SSE you get a 10-pack of small balsa sheets that you have to shape yourself and fit between the top and bottom spar, it's hard to get it perfect.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

It's the same lack of comprehension here when building kits that use metric. I built one kit from CA Models in Argentina using metric and am building another now. I lived in Europe for some years and was around metric a lot, but standard measurements just make more sense to me somehow. I do like you show in the pic and mark my balsa before building. It goes fast after marking the pieces.

Are you building the plane stock or are you adding modifications to it?

Test005

In my opinion, big manufacturers like SIG, GP, TF etc... should add metric meassurments to the manual. Wouldn't be too big of a a hassle and it would be tremendously good for us Europeans that do build these kits aswell

I plan to build it semi-stock. Since this is just my second go at a kit I like to do it by the numbers so I don't mess it up.
Only mods considered thus far is:
-Higher landing gear, might use a 13" prop on a .70-fs and need the clearance
-Bigger rudder, I'm no 3D pilot by any means, but I've been STRONGLY recommended to do this, so I guess I'll just go ahead and add a few centimeters...sorry inches
-Steel spring to hold the wing panels together instead of rubber band for added security

OverTheEdge

My Feedback: (1)

Here's what I did to mine...

I cut approximately the top half of the tail fin off and fixed it to the front edge of the rudder for a counter balanced rudder similar to an Edge 540. Added pull pull cables for the rudder. Mounted the elevator servo under the horizontal stab on the left side. Sullivan tail wheel. Dubro fiber main gear (taller, stronger, 'bout the same weight and looks better). Power'd by an OS 50 SX.

My first SE was an ARF and I wasn't real happy with it. Built my second from a kit with these mods and it is easily one of my favorites.

OverTheEdge

My Feedback: (1)

Here's some pics...

inverted flyer

wish I'd done the rudder mod with the counter balance...it needs it. You could also put counter balances on the elevators... it'll mean that your servos have less work to do and you will have better spin characterisitcs


make sure when you are sheeting the wings and "locking" the shape into them that you dont build any wash-in into them. The instructions suggest propping up the wing hald with an inch high strip of balsa to sheet the second side. This strip will need to have a slight taper on it if you are to avoid wash-in ...just as the rib support tabs aren't of uniform height as you progress from root to tip. It is after all a symetrical wing so you want it to fly equally well upside down.
The instructions fail to mention this

I.F.

Test005

Thanks for the heads up,I'll keep it in mind.
I'm gonna sheet the wings tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it. Sheeting is difficult and I find it hard to keep a tight bond between the leading edge and the balsa sheeting as you bend the sheet backwards. Using woodglue does't make it easier... Any tips?

I wish I could build some tonight, but me and a friend are going to watch the latest StarWars movie (Revenge of the Sith) and have a cold one

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

The leading edge is A good place to use some of your CA, let it set up A few minutes then you can bend and clamp or pin down the rest of the sheeting and let it dry. If you use the orderless CA you won't get that burning sick feeling from it. Most of us have some sort of reaction from the stuff over time. When I build in the sumer and have my big shop windows open I have no problems but I have to watch it during the winter months.
Gene

tychoc

Test005,

When I built my SE, I did what Gray mentioned. Tacked down the leading edge with CA, and then used wood glue for the rest. Worked pretty good.

Good luck. More pictures please!

-tychoc

BTW - I was just in Helsinki last week for work.

Test005

OK, thanks guys, I used medium CA and tacked the sheeting to the leeding edge, after it dried I put some more CA from the inside to really make it stick. It's not super level everywhere, but I think it's good enough.
Tomorrow I will put woodglue on all the spars and bend back the sheeting, hopefully it wont break

Tychoc; You should let me know when you're in Finland next time, we should hook up foor a beer, you're Norwegian, right? (I'm Swedish, we share "almost" the same language)

blw

My Feedback: (3)

Test005,

You picked a good movie to see. Maybe it would better to watch it AND have a few cold ones.....

I inherited my SE from a friend who was tired of repairing it. I had to repair the wing and fuselage. It is very easy to cut down the tops of the first formers of the fuselage so that you have a removable hatch from the firewall to the turtledeck. I can open mine up and work on everything. Fuel tank problems are easy to fix. A few guys at the field have done this mod.

I am using an APC 12.25x3.75 prop and had to make for better ground clearance. I made a 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) tapered block to fit under the main gear. It works but I have to keep the nose up to still prevent prop strikes. I've flown it this way for a long time without any problems. You are really going to have to raise the gear a lot for a 13" prop!

Another mod that should be done is to use pine blocks and nylon bolts to secure the main gear.

tychoc

Test005: This round was crazy. I was in Helsinki on Monday and Tuesday then Stockholm on Wednesday and then Oslo on Thursday. Didn't leave much time for anything but work and then a taxi to the airport. Anyway, hopefully I will be able to stay longer next time and then maybe we could meet have a beer and swap flying stories.

mvh,

tychoc

Test005

Haven't had much time for building the last few days but tonight I did some sheeting.
Unfortunately I made a mistake and need to get more sheeting balsa

I misunderstood #11 which said, "repeat this step on all pieces of sheeting", well I did, and too late I realized that I also had prepared the 24" long bottom sheeting as a center sheeting piece. [:@]

Test005

Wing is almost sheeted and finished, couple of hours to glue on the end ribs and sand stuff.
I'm not 100% picky builder so sanding is usually a quick job

Some pictures on the sheeting and cap striping I did tonight. My girlfriend made me 12 sandbags from old T-shirts and without these I'd be in a world of trouble!

Test005

This kit is incredibly fast to build so far, have had other things to do lately, but this plane could probably be framed up in a weekend or two.
Here's a few pictures of the (slow) progress.
Wings + ailerons are finished, hinged and ready to cover, tail group is built but need sanding and a few final touches.

tychoc

Gotta love the SIG laser cut kits

Test005

Indeed Tychoc, I also have a GreatPlanes kit going and it's not nearly as pre-fabricated and nice as the SIG's I've been in contact with (Previously the 4*60 and now the SSE).
It's a joy to build these jig saw puzzles and I like the simplicity and the assembly (I know, I'm lazy )
Well, Next step will be the fuselage and then I'm ready to cover, that'll be fun... I plan a Yellow/White scheme.

glowhead

I flew my brother's. I had to have one. It will be finished be for spring!

Hoip

Test005

Glowhead; Nice scheme, I like the checkered pattern, makes it look fast


I'm leaning towards buying an OS.70fs for the SSE. At first, I figured a .52fs would be perfect for the Sunday flying I do (no need for 3D performance), but when I checked prices, the .70 is actually cheaper than the .52. (That's here in Europe, in US, the .70 is more expencive than the .52)
I've seen a SSE fly with a .70fs and it had very good performance, took off in a few feet and rocketed straight up , only 'problem' is that I need to modify the gear to get prop clearance.

Yesterday I finished the tailgroup, hinged it and epoxied in the elevator brace and the tailwheel wire.
Tail is ready to be covered so I'm off to the next step, the fuselage, it'll be fun!

Test005

Picture and status update:

Tail group finished

Test005

I didn't have a spare OS .70fs to test the engine mount on, so I checked the manual and it stated 42.6mm case width.
This required some routing to make the holes on the firewall wider and I pretty much nailed it at 43mm, hopefully it'll be a perfect fit for the engine. (I have a .70 but it's in another plane, didn't want to uninstall it)

Also I have converted all blind nuts into 4mm for the firewall and landing gear plate.
It's easier for me to get spare bolts etc.. if using metric hardware.

Test005

Servo tray is prepared. Fuselage sides and doublers glued together and firewall installed.
Not much stuff left in the box now
I know there's lots of tinkering and small tasks left, but this kit builds extremely fast.

Test005

While waiting for the fuse to dry I did some concept art (!) ...yeah right!.
Colours to be used are Bright yellow, white and Maron red Oracover.
Tried a few pieces and it came out allright I think... I can really feel it's been a while since I covered, but I like it, it's fun. (Credit to Minnflyer who got me started, thanks man, appreaciated)

Test005

Firewall reinforcement and testfit of the aluminium wing tube.