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Sig Mid Star 40 again

Old 11-01-2007, 07:36 PM
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Alex7403
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Default Sig Mid Star 40 again

And decided to build another Mid Star 40, this plane flies so well and so easy I decided to have another one (the first was caught by a tree on slow approach for landing).

I didn’t like too much the titebond nozzle, came out too much so I went back to CA, I’ll try it again later, meanwhile I’m using mask and goggles and a tip on the CA bottle.
Don’t have irritation yet but it will come I’m sure.

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Old 11-02-2007, 08:04 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40


ORIGINAL: alex7403
I didn’t like too much the titebond nozzle, came out too much so I went back to CA, I’ll try it again later, meanwhile I’m using mask and goggles and a tip on the CA bottle.
Alex

I put Titebond into a smaller bottle with a better nozzle (you can get these at any craft store for less than $1). I can only imagine the mess the original Titebond bottle generates. If you really want to give Aliphatic Resin (Titebond) a try, I'd get a new bottle, transfer some into it and give it a whirl.

-MA
Old 11-02-2007, 08:47 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40


ORIGINAL: MasterAlex


ORIGINAL: alex7403
I didn’t like too much the titebond nozzle, came out too much so I went back to CA, I’ll try it again later, meanwhile I’m using mask and goggles and a tip on the CA bottle.
Alex

I put Titebond into a smaller bottle with a better nozzle (you can get these at any craft store for less than $1). I can only imagine the mess the original Titebond bottle generates. If you really want to give Aliphatic Resin (Titebond) a try, I'd get a new bottle, transfer some into it and give it a whirl.

-MA
I did something similar as well.. I first bought a small bottle of "Sig Bond" at the LHS. I wanted to try it, see how it worked. After that, I bought a big bottle of TightBond at Home Depot, and have been refilling the smaller bottle from it. On my latest build, I've been using q-tips to remove excess glue and/or to apply needed glue in tight corners where glue didn't get previously. One Q-tip lasts a long time.




Old 11-05-2007, 03:29 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

building the wing
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Old 11-07-2007, 10:49 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

I glued the fuselage today with medium CA and now I’m coughing my lungs out, I used the glue in an open space – roof with dust mask, not indoor and still terrible cough.

The wing I glued with TiteBond mostly.
Fuselage I believe has fewer pieces to spread stresses on so the stress on fuse parts should be bigger then the wing?

My question is whether Titebond III can glue and hold light ply wood?

Thanks
Alex
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Old 11-08-2007, 08:25 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

You never said whether you liked the Sig Bond or the Titebond from HomeDepot better.

Which do you like better?
Old 11-08-2007, 11:12 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

HeliTB

I didn’t try Sig bond, I like very much the TiteBond III, some say now that TiteBond II is more flexible, im gonna try that.

as i look at it right now, with titbond its getting built faster, i dont need time to recover from CA....

Alex
Old 11-08-2007, 04:08 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

The CA bothers you that much. After while the smell gets to me, but no coughing. Sorry about that. I'm using Sig Bond, but if Titebond is better maybe I should switch.
Old 11-09-2007, 10:55 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

ORIGINAL: alex7403

I glued the fuselage today with medium CA and now I’m coughing my lungs out, I used the glue in an open space – roof with dust mask, not indoor and still terrible cough.

The wing I glued with TiteBond mostly.
Fuselage I believe has fewer pieces to spread stresses on so the stress on fuse parts should be bigger then the wing?

My question is whether Titebond III can glue and hold light ply wood?

Thanks
Alex

I remember, years ago now, in my highschool wood shop class something my teacher passed on to me.

The single best thing you can do to ensure a good glue joint... Clamps.

Always, always, always clamp materials whenever you can. When gluing two surfaces, weighting them is good, but the surfaces can still "float". Clamping is always the prefered method.

I would be willing to bet you the price of a donut that you could use Titebond II, or Titebond III, or SigBond.. Any of them, and the wood around the joint will break before the joint does.

When gluing big surfaces, like fuse doublers, make sure to spread the glue over the entire surface being glued. You do "testfit" pieces first right? During the testfit, trace the doubler's edges onto the fuse. Then when applying glue you spread the glue to the lines you drew.

These simple techniques will ensure a joint so strong, and so long lasting... It'll last the lifetime of the plane. The joint will never fail. The wood around it will break first...

But to answer your question, the Titebond II or II should glue plywood. Like I said, just clamp when/where you can... I've used, not problems yet....




Old 11-10-2007, 11:13 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

now the behind the canopy bars are glued and the fuel tank cover.
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Old 11-11-2007, 09:51 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

soon i'll have to decide about covering, was thinking neon green or orange and metalic blue.

how metalic is is monokote metalic blue?

where do you get images of planes to to try different colors, i mean digital images?

thanks
Alex

oh the mid star is going great.
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Old 11-18-2007, 04:19 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

I was at the field today and a friend showed up with his new Mid-Star 4-, powered by a Saito .56 with a 12x6 prop. Landing Gear was in the trike configuration. Before he even made his maiden flight, I knew that I had to have one. After that first flight, I was considering ordering TWO!!!

I came home and immediately cancelled my order for my third H9 Twist 40 ARF (on backorder). I'm getting a H9 Spitfire for Christmas anyway - so HH won't lose out.

I have a Saito 56 myself, and I'm sure that I have a couple of 12x6 props hanging around. Keep this thread going. I need some ideas.

He mentioned that his only major change was to use the LG off a LT-25 because it was a little taller than the stock gear. I have something like that hanging around, I think. I'll also change out the nylon rods for some composites from Sullivan.

OK, if you were to design or outfit the airplane yourself, what would you do differently? Are there any weak areas I should look out for?
Old 11-18-2007, 06:57 PM
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Bruno Stachel
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Hi N1EDM,

The only weak spot I can recall with mine was the vertical stab. You'll want to secure it to the horizontal stab with some tri-stock.

If done correctly, the single aileron servo setup will work ok. But building some servo bays into the wings, and using dual aileron servos would be an improvement. Just my preference.

Otherwise the Midstar is fairly sturdy model.

Hope it helps.
Old 11-18-2007, 07:22 PM
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N1EDM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Thanks, Bruno...

I remember using tri-stock on the tail of my Four-Star 40, so nothing new there, I guess. And yeah, I will build two aileron servo pockets into the wing. I like the dual aileron setup possibilities.

I remember thinking that the aileron stock was pretty skimpy at about 1" wide, but found out that I was mistaken. My friend's Mid-Star rolled pretty well!

Bob
Old 11-18-2007, 10:07 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Bob,
So did you order the Mid Star yet?
I finally opened my something extra today when I got back from the field, after two attempts going to start to build it this week. Boy it got cold down there around 4 this afternoon, went home when my toes got numb.
Go with the composites, I do not like the nylon rods, far to mushy.
So who has the Mid Star?
Regards,
Paul

Old 11-18-2007, 10:21 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

You have to be careful with the metallic and pearl coverings, if you use to much heat or pressure, they tend to blush or change color. They do look sharp though...
As far as pictures are there 3 views on the back of the manual you could scan in?
Old 11-19-2007, 04:27 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Thanks guys,

Hello,

From the first Midstar I learned its flying much better as a tail dragger, the OS 46 is a heavy motor which leads to nose heavy and the front wheel just adding to this phenomena, even placing 1000 mAh heavy battery behind the servos was not enough to balance the plane, leading to add weight to the tail which avoided.

the mid star is much more fun as a tail dragger.

I just added wider fiberglass and epoxy to the wing joint.

As for weak points of the mid star:

1) the tray of the horizontal stabilizer is too narrow, I’ll add triangle support, prev mid star i broke the stab in flight and landed easy
2) added balsa to formers behind the canopy for easy covering, manual just mentioning it without a picture
3) made the fuel tank floor lower by ¼” so can accommodate bigger tank and to support the tank with balsa frame and not rubber foam, tough foam worked well.
its done when gluing the dubblers of the fuse


Alex
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Old 11-19-2007, 07:58 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Hi Paul,

Enjoy the Somethin' Extra. I've had two (crashed one, sold one) and have a 3rd kit that I might convert into electric. Watch the wing construction. If I remember correctly, you have to cut a tapered stick to put in some washout in the wing. But, mine went together pretty well. I really liked that bird.

Keep me in the loop with your SE. I seem to remember writing down some ideas that I had gleaned on line about different things to do on that kit build, if you are interested.

Mark Swanton was the one who had that Mid-Star. He had already had about 5-6 flights on it when you got there. He was burning fuel as fast as he could pump it in. At one point, I heard him comment that this was nis "...new Favorite Airplane".

I really liked the way that it flew. Yup, I immediately cancelled that 3rd H9 Twist.

I'll get the Mid-Star from our LHS, Hanson Hobby. My Saito 56 is well broken in and I've already checked, I have some 12x6 Scimitar props balanced and ready to go. And yes, I agree about the composite pushrods. I gave up on those nylon ones a long time ago. I already have a couple of ideas for finishes, but that's putting the cart before the horse. Thanks for the heads-up on those metallic finishes. I'm worried that they'll probably scratch when applied anyway.

Alex, did the LE come pre-shaped or do we have to carve that one (I'm always worried that I'll screw up the shape). As for the tail-dragger, the jury is still out but I'm leaning in that direction. It's just that I already have a lot of Tail Draggers and might just want something different. Still, it would save weight in the nose where I suspect that the Saito is heavier than the usual 40-sized engine.

I'm not being picky, but the LE in the photo (Post 4) looks a little 'sharp'. I'm saying that because I made my Four-Star 40 with the same sharp LE (got tired/scared of carving) and someone else made that comment at the field. They felt that it might make the airplane 'twitchy' in the pitch axis, which I have to agree with.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions so far....

Bob
Old 11-19-2007, 08:12 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

HI Alex,

I made the previous comments before I got to your post, so I answered your questions already.

I just weighed my Saito 56. It weighs in slightly over 16 oz while a 46 AX is listed as 17.2 oz, so that should help with the weight and balance issue.

Looks like it'll be a tail dragger after all.

Some of your comments sound like mods that I made to my old Four-Star 40, except for the fuel tank. Thanks for the reminders/tips. I think I'll keep the stock fuel tank, though. I usually get tired of flying before I run out of fuel with my .56 and an 8-oz tank.

I'm starting to collect photos for a finishing scheme... Do any of you other MS builders have photos of your planes???

Bob


Old 11-19-2007, 09:28 AM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Hi Alex7403,
Good point about the horizontal stab. I forgot to mention that I also added tri-stock to mine as well.
I built mine as a tail dragger for the same weight concerns. I think it looks better that way too.

N1EDM,
After flying mine for a couple of season, I experimented with cutting a bay from each wing and replacing the ailerons with larger ones. (I believe the originals were 1", and I went to 2".) It rolled better, and seemd to settle in for landings better. But I ended up selling my Midstar before I could really wring it out in it's new config.
Old 11-19-2007, 02:36 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

Hi N1EDM,

Hi Bruno, it also behaves better in the air as a tail dragger.

Alex, did the LE come pre-shaped or do we have to carve that one (I'm always worried that I'll screw up the shape).
The LE comes as a square and you need to sand it to shape, I choose to do it at the final sanding because the plane is getting beaten in the process of building, mean while I put some thin CA all over the Leading edge just to harden it so it will be harder to screw it up.

i sanded it to shape at the middle to fit the dwel in.

Now that im thinking about it, I might keep the 8 oz tank, just to have the option to change it into 10 oz.

Alex
Old 11-19-2007, 03:43 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

the manual say to hold the wing support dwells with med CA, i think 30 min epoxy will be better.
This time I added the wing support dwells after sanding them a little bit for match, covering them with masking tape to keep them clean of epoxy for gluing triangular support not like the manual say, other wise you have gaps that held by CA and you need to reinforce it.
I’ll also be using blind nuts to hold the wing and not taping into the wood for thread.

Alex
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Old 11-19-2007, 04:47 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

If you like the Mid-Star trike, check out the Kavalier.
Old 11-19-2007, 05:44 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

I think that the Mid-Star must share a lot of things with the Four-Star 40. I also notice that there are no more BIY kits on the SIG site... I was trying to find out if the wing was a symmetrical or a semi-symmetrical wing?

I tried clipping one bay on my Four Star 40 and really didn't like the performance that much. I also built another Four Star with larger ailerons and liked them. They were tapered from about 1-1/2" at the root to 3/4" or 1" at the tip, to control flutter but that didn't seem necessary in the end.

The construction photos here remind me of my Four-Star experience. If this is a semi-symmetrical wing, I might get another and experiment. My last Four-Star (I had three, lost the last one to a flame-out and dumb thumbs) which had a modified airfoil, made from a Selig 8036 airfoil with a sheeted LE. I think that performed a bit better than the stock wing. It was something that I did just for the helluvit. Glad that I did. I might get a second Mid-Star and do the same thing if I like the stock one.

Thanks for chiming in, Klaatu (I wonder who else might remember where that comes from??). I looked for a Kavalier on the Tower website but it didn't come up.

Any other good ideas out there??? I like what this thread is turning into... I hope that I'm not hijacking it... not my intention with all my questions...

Bob

Bob
Old 11-19-2007, 06:29 PM
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Default RE: Another Mid Star 40

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.

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