I am considering building a Sig Kadet Senior this summer. My other option is a J-3 Cub. This will be my very first kit, thats why the Kadet is one of the options not because of training perposes. Is the Kadet or a Cub easier to build? I also noticed that the Kadet is a 3-Channel. Is there a way to modify it to have ailerons that is not to difficult, or is this option included in the plans? Any other easy suggested modifications whould also be helpfull. Thanks, Tpilot48

Either plane is a great choice, it really just depends on what kind of flying you want to do. The Cub will require more attention to flying than the Kadet will and the Cubs depending upon the kit you choose will be a more difficult build. I have been flying for over 40 years but I built a Kadet just for the sheer fun of the way it flys. The Kadet is easy to modify and just loves to fly no matter what you do to it. I added barn door ailerons with dual servos, tail wheel, bolt on wings, removed the windows, changed the nose and put on a Saito .82. That is one big wing so do not be shy about aileron size, you can always add expo if you use a computer radio (maybe I am spoiled)!

Here is a few pics. My plane was covered with whatever Monocoat I had left over from projects, which explains the different colors.

JEB

Ailerons are easy to add either as strip or barn door. I added barn door to one I bashed this winter. The only thing to keep in mind is add differntial aileron throw to get rid of the adverse yaw. The plane is stable as a rock in the air.

If you add ailerons be sure to reduce the dihedral by one-half the specified amount. There is nothing easy about the task you have in mind if you do have not kit-bashing experience and are not comfortable with re-engineering the wing. If you must have ailerons consider a kit that comes with them.

I agree with Dsegal, if adding ailerons take out at least half the dihedral ( I prefer none with ailerons added) or the ailerons will be very unresponsive. Even then, use lots of differental on the ailerons, much more "up" than "down" throw. You will find the Kadet to be much easier to fly than the cub, especially on takeoffs and landings.

Build the Kadet and leave it 3 channels. Not a better sport flyer or trainer anywhere that I know of. You can also build the Senorita, same plane in a smaller pkg.

The Kadet's a good plane, and it flies even better with ailerons. As people have noted, though, adding ailerons is a fairly big job if you're not experienced. I reduced the dihedral on mine to almost flat, but a guy in my club simply added dihedral to an already-built wing, and that worked fine. If you want a good kit that comes with ailerons, you wouldn't go wrong with the Sig Kadet LT-40. Easy to build, great instructions, and somewhat more aerobatic than the Kadet Senior.

If you have an opportunity, take a couple of pictures of a Kadet Senior ARF's aileron setup. I would draw up some basic aileron plans and tape them over your original plans. It will take a little time to make the mods, but this plane flies great with ailerons (and differential throw). I have several planes ranging from 1oz electrics to a 80" twin, but none of them are more fun to fly than my Kadet Seniorita! Note, I have flown a couple of Seniors as well and they are just as much fun as my Seniorita! Good Luck!
-Les-

I am building the Kadet Sr. as my first kit. My plan is to build two wings. One with out ailerons as I have never flown a 3 channel plane. I plan on acquiring a wing kit and bashing barn-door ailerons and maybe flaps.

Dos any one have drawings for a bash like this?

No drawings, but you don't really need them. Cut new dihedral braces to reduce the dihedral by quite a bit. I made my ailerons about 16" X 5 1/2" each and glued a balsa stick (maybe 3/8" square?) behind the outer portion of each upper rear spar to make something to hinge them to (at the top of the ailerons). That puts the trailing edge of the upper spar maybe 3/8 or 1/2" (I forget which) aft of the TE of the bottom spar, which creates room for the ailerons to drop. I used the back part of the outer 5 or 6 ribs as aileron ribs (and had to cut a couple extra for the end pieces). Just make a 1/8" sheet balsa bottom and front panel for each aileron, then cut off 1/8" from each rib and glue them in place on the bottom panel. I mounted a servo in each wing, which is a lot easier than bellcranks and the like. I also sheeted the bottom center section so I could put glass tape all the way around the wing; perhaps not really necessary. I didn't add flaps, but now I kind of wish I had. Not that a plane this slow needs them. (I also made it a bolt-on wing, but that's just mehate those greasy rubber bands.)

You'll need a lot of throw, and a lot of differential probably wouldn't hurt either. Good luck with the project. I'd bet that once you've tried both wings you'll stick with the one with the ailerons.

Thanks for all of the input that you guys built and I think I will build it exactly by the plans because it is my first kit.

You won't regret it. I love my Senior. You'll enjoy it whether it has ailerons or not. I planned to build another wing to add ailerons at a later point but have just moved on to other plane projects and never did it. Now that I've got a FlyCamOne, I'm flying it more often. It makes a great, stable, camera platform. Landings are a blast. I often fly the pattern using just enough power to takeoff and keep it airborne. Low and slow, nice and tight, sipping small amounts of fuel, while I sit in a lawn chair doing touch n goes.