I will be building a Carl Goldberg Tiger 2 kit - it's a long, cold winter in New England. I will be using an OS .46AX. I would appreciate any tips from previous builders of this kit. I'm looking for any areas that might need some "beefing up" such as land gear, and additional bracing or sheeting - stuff like that. Also, stock dihedral or other recommendations. Any suggestions are appreciated. If it's just a stock build that's fine too.

Build it just as the instructions say. You might need a little more beef on the main landing gears. I used some 1/4 inch triangle stock with epoxy to add some strenght to the gear blocks. Other than that, I made no changes to mine and it is one of the best flying planes out there. Good Luck, Dave

I built mine as stock, except I made it a tail dragger. After I lost her, I think to a Spektrum RX reset and/or loss of orientation, I moved up to the Tiger 60. That one, I chopped an inch out of the dihedral and doubled the size of the control surfaces. I overcorrected on maiden and crashed her. After I put her back together, I wound up snapping the tail off trying to pull out of a dive. I believe that was a weakness from the original crash and too much control surface. So, I built another T60. This time, I chopped the dihedral again, but left the control surfaces alone. Instead of removing the lightening holes on the back bottom of the fuse, I filled the gaps with glue and left it in place. I also custom built a cowl for her, and almost inverted engine. Works out so the exhaust comes out dead center bottom and pointing at the ground. Got about a dozen or so flights on her and she flies great!!

If I were to do another T II, I would cut down the dihedral, do a tail dragger, and a built up cowl. I'd also probably enlarge the rudder to help with knife edge. I'd consider enlarging the ailerons, but would leave the elevator alone. Don't know if I'd leave the bottom rear lightening hole filled, or empty.

If you do searches in this forum for Tiger there are a couple of build threads you should read. The T-II and T-60 kits are almost identical, except for the size. So, mods for one will probably scale pretty well to the other.

Whatever you do, best of luck!!


Tom

Thanks for the tips! I'm really looking forward to this. I did find the links to Tiger 60 build and it looks pretty straight forward. I really like the look of the built up cowl, but I think I'll skip it for now. This will be my second kit and although I think I can handle the cowl - I am more concerned about an inverted engine. I would like to have a reliable running engine and not have to bother with fueling issues, tuning, etc. My first kit was a Great Planes PT40 - a really nice flying trainer.

I don't believe you have to invert the engine to do the built up cowl. I just like to have my exhaust come out the bottom. I've got two planes running inverted engines now. The only real difference is I don't prime them, nor flip start. When it's time to start, I simply give a touch of throttle and then use an electric starter. Crank the engine a few turns and it will pull in the fuel and doesn't need to be primed. Oh, and when the Tiger is fueled and sitting at the ready while I fly something else, I pull the fuel line and plug it. Otherwise, it does tend to siphon gas.

The article is on RCM Magazine's web site at www.rcmmagazine.com. From there, go to "Requested Articles", then "FEATURES". You'll then get a log on prompt, but they provide the username and password right there. The article you're looking for is " A Nose Job For Your Tiger or Four-Star (HTML)". It shows a side mounted engine instead of a full invert. I compromised and did about 45 degrees short of full invert.

Even if you aren't doing a tail dragger now. I suggest you put the plywood reinforcement in the tail so that it's easy to convert down the line.

Regardless, good luck with the build and let us know how it comes out.


Tom

The 40 size Tiger 2 was my first build. Absolutely wonderful airplane. I built exactly per instructions. After lots and lots of flights I broke the vertical fin putting it in my truck. When I repaired the vertical stab I added 1" to the rudder for improved knife edge. Your 46AX should be perfect. I ran a Fox 45. Don't change much on this plane - it just doesn't need it. Good Luck.

I had one years ago, built per plans with no mods. Only think I wished for was more rudder surface for K.E.
Very easy flying plane.

Just build it the way it is. It is a big baby on landing, so I have no idea why you would need to beef up the gear. To be honest I did two things on mine. I ditched the single aileron servo and put one in each wing. Easy.
I also built mine as a tail dragger. Before you go thinking that I modified anything, I really didn't. I used the original main gear blocks with no modification and just bent up new gear wire. I added a tail wheel but still put in the nose gear block in case I changed my mind. I never did.
I flew the plane a few months on an OS .46SF and can say I loved every second. Sold it and have been kicking myself ever since. The following link is my write up:

http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1245/rcsport.htm

Nice job amunro. I like your mods and covering job also. Thanks for all the suggestions.
I'll be starting mine right after Christmas!