Sig Mid Star 40 again
11-19-2007, 06:44 PM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Bob, right you are about Tower. I recently purchased both a Mid-Star and a Kavalier kit directly from Sig.
http://www.sigmfg.com/
- Jan
http://www.sigmfg.com/
- Jan
11-19-2007, 08:14 PM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
N1EDM, the Midstar wing is fully symetrical. That's why I chose it over the 4 star, when trying to decide between the two. I honestly liked the looks of the 4 star better. But I figured that the Midstar might be a touch more fun to fly.
Sorry Alex, hope I'm not hijacking either. The Midstar gets me going. Can't wait to see how your's comes out.
Sorry Alex, hope I'm not hijacking either. The Midstar gets me going. Can't wait to see how your's comes out.
11-19-2007, 08:14 PM
#29
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Just glued the wing joint fiberglass strip, 2” fiberglass medium weave to the center and 1” fine weave for the outer boundary, this way when the wing will be sitting on the fuse there wont be any pressure points against the balsa.
Then run the heat gun on it to spread it evenly and to thin it.
11-19-2007, 09:56 PM
#30
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RE: Mid Star 40 again
Thanks, Alex. I just asked my LHS to order one up for me today. I hope some folks drop in on this thread and pass around some ideas.
Hmmm, my plane might just have an orange flavor to it. I found an old set of tail feathers from my Four-Star 40, painted orange. I might just use 'em for old times sake... if they're the same. :-)
Bob
Hmmm, my plane might just have an orange flavor to it. I found an old set of tail feathers from my Four-Star 40, painted orange. I might just use 'em for old times sake... if they're the same. :-)
Bob
11-19-2007, 10:05 PM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Alex7403, if you use the search function for "kavalier" you will find many hundreds of posts. Here is a 7 page build thread.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=2338990
I first encountered the Sig Kavalier over 30 years ago. I thought it was a great kit with a great wing. So when I decided to get back into the hobby I was at first disappointed that I could not find the kit listed by Tower, but delighted when I found it to be available directly from Sig. I have a kit now and will be building it this winter. Sig says,
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=2338990
I first encountered the Sig Kavalier over 30 years ago. I thought it was a great kit with a great wing. So when I decided to get back into the hobby I was at first disappointed that I could not find the kit listed by Tower, but delighted when I found it to be available directly from Sig. I have a kit now and will be building it this winter. Sig says,
An Intermediate Level R/C Sport Model
The heart of this beautiful airplane is it’s superior wing design! The light, strong, built-up balsa structure incorporates built-in wingtip washout for superior stability and control. Even expert pattern fliers are impressed with the KAVALIER’s smooth, responsive flying ability. Make perfectly coordinated, in-the-groove turns. Fly through any aerobatic maneuver with rock solid precision. Flare out for slow, main gear only landings with no tendency to stall or snap roll. Highly recommended as a student pilot’s second model!
The heart of this beautiful airplane is it’s superior wing design! The light, strong, built-up balsa structure incorporates built-in wingtip washout for superior stability and control. Even expert pattern fliers are impressed with the KAVALIER’s smooth, responsive flying ability. Make perfectly coordinated, in-the-groove turns. Fly through any aerobatic maneuver with rock solid precision. Flare out for slow, main gear only landings with no tendency to stall or snap roll. Highly recommended as a student pilot’s second model!
11-19-2007, 10:38 PM
#32
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RE: Mid Star 40 again
Hmmm, my plane might just have an orange flavor to it. I found an old set of tail feathers from my Four-Star 40, painted orange. I might just use 'em for old times sake... if they're the same. :-)
Bob
Bob
congrats for the new kit, i like it alot...
Orange is a great color, one of the colors im considering for covering is neon orange...
the only paint i have for landing gear is insignia blue, so it focus the whole plane into blue.
11-20-2007, 08:15 AM
#33
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Hi Alex,
Thanks for the clarification on that wing airfoil type. From your photos, the wing construction looks similar to the 4*40, so I was just curious...
I have those already-painted orange tail feathers, so I might go with orange on the fuse. On the wings, maybe a light blue or I might try your idea with a metallic color (even though it might scratch). I might just want to experiment.
Got to go Thanksgiving food shopping. I make the meal, and afterwards my wife and her sister clean up. Can't argue with that!!
Bob
Thanks for the clarification on that wing airfoil type. From your photos, the wing construction looks similar to the 4*40, so I was just curious...
I have those already-painted orange tail feathers, so I might go with orange on the fuse. On the wings, maybe a light blue or I might try your idea with a metallic color (even though it might scratch). I might just want to experiment.
Got to go Thanksgiving food shopping. I make the meal, and afterwards my wife and her sister clean up. Can't argue with that!!
Bob
11-20-2007, 10:48 AM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
ORIGINAL: alex7403
Bob you are very welcome, you are not hijacking the thread.
I was afraid that it doesn’t interest anybody and I’m writing it for myself only, so there was a delay.
Bob you are very welcome, you are not hijacking the thread.
I was afraid that it doesn’t interest anybody and I’m writing it for myself only, so there was a delay.
), I'll post a few pics if you want to see it.-MA
11-20-2007, 11:03 AM
#35
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
-MA,
how does the TT 46 pro pulls the mid star???
sure you can post some pics, just do it concentrated, not all the thread, so i would know which is which....
how does the TT 46 pro pulls the mid star???
sure you can post some pics, just do it concentrated, not all the thread, so i would know which is which....
11-20-2007, 10:05 PM
#38
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Bob,
I wouldn’t do it because the teal is not enough contrast with trees, and trees breaking my planes.
I was adjusting my wing to the fuse, apparently sanding the wing dwells to angle was not such a good idea, it was better to leave them straight and then sand them.
30 min of sanding epoxy and fiberglass to fit it.
I wouldn’t do it because the teal is not enough contrast with trees, and trees breaking my planes.
I was adjusting my wing to the fuse, apparently sanding the wing dwells to angle was not such a good idea, it was better to leave them straight and then sand them.
30 min of sanding epoxy and fiberglass to fit it.
11-21-2007, 01:44 AM
#39
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
I’m planning to use ¼-20 blind nuts to hold the wing to the fuse instead drilling and taping as suggested in the manual.
So I marked the holes for the screws with a thin drill bit thru the wing and dwells is sitting on.
So I marked the holes for the screws with a thin drill bit thru the wing and dwells is sitting on.
11-21-2007, 05:45 PM
#40
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Decided to make a modification to the manual, this time i'll bolt the wing screws into blind nuts and not into threaded wood as the manual suggested.
Thread in wood will disappear with use.
I also glued the dwells to the fuse using 30 min epoxy and not med CA as in instructions suggested.
11-21-2007, 08:44 PM
#41
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
The nuts sitting right and supporting the wing tightly and evenly 38“ to wing tips.
Held tight and accept the wing balanced.
Not much redoing here.
Held tight and accept the wing balanced.
Not much redoing here.
11-21-2007, 09:01 PM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Looks good the blind nuts are a lot better solution and will hold up better and be replaced if needed. Did you check out the square of the wing to the tail?
11-21-2007, 09:04 PM
#43
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Alex, thanks for the thought on not using the teal. Good idea.... hadn't thought of that.
Iron eagel, well, looks like I'm going to have to make an airplane that actually looks nice. Won't THAT be a surprise at the Field? OK, I need a new color scheme... what rhymes with Orange????
Alex, another thought. First, I agree with using Tee nuts for the wing. I'd do the same as a matter of course. But, I remember on my Four Star, they only gave some balsa triangle stock to reinforce the wing hold-down plate. The plane flew well, but on one of my less spectacular landings (Iron Eagel can vouch for my landing expertise, or lack thereof) this pulled out. The triangle stock broke. The repair was easy, but I replaced the balsa triangle stock with some pine. It was only two 1" pieces, so weight wasn't a factor in the real world, and it never broke after that...
I was wondering what they might give on this plane? The wing location is different but I wonder if the reinforcement issue might be similar to what I experienced in the Four-Star??
Oh yeah, been meaning to ask any of the contributors or lurkers here... my old Four-Star had a kind of whistle to it when I made a low pass. Kinda neat. I had tape in the aileron gap to seal it, so it wasn't that. I wonder if the Mid-Star has that same distinctive sound?
Bob
Iron eagel, well, looks like I'm going to have to make an airplane that actually looks nice. Won't THAT be a surprise at the Field? OK, I need a new color scheme... what rhymes with Orange????
Alex, another thought. First, I agree with using Tee nuts for the wing. I'd do the same as a matter of course. But, I remember on my Four Star, they only gave some balsa triangle stock to reinforce the wing hold-down plate. The plane flew well, but on one of my less spectacular landings (Iron Eagel can vouch for my landing expertise, or lack thereof) this pulled out. The triangle stock broke. The repair was easy, but I replaced the balsa triangle stock with some pine. It was only two 1" pieces, so weight wasn't a factor in the real world, and it never broke after that...
I was wondering what they might give on this plane? The wing location is different but I wonder if the reinforcement issue might be similar to what I experienced in the Four-Star??
Oh yeah, been meaning to ask any of the contributors or lurkers here... my old Four-Star had a kind of whistle to it when I made a low pass. Kinda neat. I had tape in the aileron gap to seal it, so it wasn't that. I wonder if the Mid-Star has that same distinctive sound?
Bob
11-21-2007, 09:23 PM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Bob,
Lemon yellow?
Strawberry red?
And as far as landings there are still some pieces of my old TF Mustang in the hill at the end of the runway...
Not even the motor survived that one!
Lemon yellow?
Strawberry red?
And as far as landings there are still some pieces of my old TF Mustang in the hill at the end of the runway...
Not even the motor survived that one!
11-23-2007, 02:19 PM
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Hey Bob, I had a MidStar back in the early 90's and loved every minute of flying.
Basically built it stock, taildragger (reinforce the bottom of the rudder with lite doublers each side to
prevent the gear piano wire from damaging the balsa), I tapped the wing bolts in the wood part and
used CA to harden the threads and they never weared out. I'm posting a few pics (sorry for the bad
resolution they were scanned from old prints) too bad you can't see the checkerboard underside!
Have a ball with your midstar!
Full Rudder
----------------------
Any resemblance to the drawing is pure coincidence
Basically built it stock, taildragger (reinforce the bottom of the rudder with lite doublers each side to
prevent the gear piano wire from damaging the balsa), I tapped the wing bolts in the wood part and
used CA to harden the threads and they never weared out. I'm posting a few pics (sorry for the bad
resolution they were scanned from old prints) too bad you can't see the checkerboard underside!
Have a ball with your midstar!
Full Rudder
----------------------
Any resemblance to the drawing is pure coincidence
11-23-2007, 06:05 PM
#48
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Thanks, Full Rudder. My friend Mark had checks on the bottom of his plane so I have a rough idea what your plane's wing bottom was like. Thanks.
I'm planning a Saito 56 in the plane, so I could possibly put a Sullivan tailwheel unit on the fuse to balance it. Mark had the same Saitl 56 in his swinging a 12x6 MA prop and it flew fantastically. Now I'm trying to come up with an interesting color scheme. Putting the cart before the horse... the kit isn't even in yet. It should be into my LHS in about a week. Just trying to line everything up.
From what I gather, the construction seems quite similar to my old Four-Star 40 (loved that plane too). The only part of that plane that I didn't like building was the LE - I don't mind carving it to shape, just always worried that it'll be a consistent radius all the way across.
What size engine did you have in it? It looks like an OS, and if it was vintage 90's, that would make it a FS version. How close did I come to guessing it right??
Bob
I'm planning a Saito 56 in the plane, so I could possibly put a Sullivan tailwheel unit on the fuse to balance it. Mark had the same Saitl 56 in his swinging a 12x6 MA prop and it flew fantastically. Now I'm trying to come up with an interesting color scheme. Putting the cart before the horse... the kit isn't even in yet. It should be into my LHS in about a week. Just trying to line everything up.
From what I gather, the construction seems quite similar to my old Four-Star 40 (loved that plane too). The only part of that plane that I didn't like building was the LE - I don't mind carving it to shape, just always worried that it'll be a consistent radius all the way across.
What size engine did you have in it? It looks like an OS, and if it was vintage 90's, that would make it a FS version. How close did I come to guessing it right??
Bob
11-23-2007, 06:58 PM
#49
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
Hi Bob,
My previous mid star flew on OS 46 AX, and this gonna fly on it too.
It pulled very well.
For the LE I thought putting harder then balsa wood spur instead of the supplied one, I have sanded it too much on the previous midstar and filled it with wood filler on scrap balsa.
My previous mid star flew on OS 46 AX, and this gonna fly on it too.
It pulled very well.
For the LE I thought putting harder then balsa wood spur instead of the supplied one, I have sanded it too much on the previous midstar and filled it with wood filler on scrap balsa.
11-23-2007, 07:32 PM
#50
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RE: Another Mid Star 40
If I go with a .46, I'd be using a TT Pro. The 46AX is most likely a really nice engine, if my experience with a 55AX is any indication. I expect that with the 46AX in your MS40 it might fly like a hoot!
I would have popped for a 46 2S if I hadn't already seen this one fly with Mark's Saito 56. As mentioned before, I have a 56 that needs a home anyway.
I like your finish. The blue and yellow reminds me of my old Navy days with Blue & Gold. Was this inspired by the Blue Angels???? Nice finish on the plane.
I wonder if the canopy will take a tint, if I got some Rit dye? Had you heard anything about anyone tinting their canopies??
Bob
I would have popped for a 46 2S if I hadn't already seen this one fly with Mark's Saito 56. As mentioned before, I have a 56 that needs a home anyway.
I like your finish. The blue and yellow reminds me of my old Navy days with Blue & Gold. Was this inspired by the Blue Angels???? Nice finish on the plane.
I wonder if the canopy will take a tint, if I got some Rit dye? Had you heard anything about anyone tinting their canopies??
Bob