TakingFlight96

This past week my dad, my sister, and me went down to Ottumwa, IA to visit some relatives. Anyway, it turns out that 45 min. away in Montezuma, IA is were Sig manufactures their own kits, hardware, etc. So me and my dad went down their and took a tour of the place. Although, the machines were not up and running due to the holidays and everything but, it was still pretty awesome. They have aisles & aisles of servos, spinners, manuals, decal sheets, push rods, balsa, and anything else you could imagine. They make their own nylon hinges, canopies, laser cut kits, and tons of other things. Also while down their I got a Sig Blue Spinner to go on a plane I got for X-mas.

TF96

TakingFlight96

Some more pics ...

foodstick

It is a lot of fun to see the place. Been through on tours a couple times when it was up and running. My favorite area has always been the kit picking area, where all the boxs of stick were at. Although the building area is awesome also.

Ram Jet

Sig Manufacturing is one of the company's supporting our hobby that I have the utmost respect for. They ship their stuff yesterday, their wood is first class, they do not sell junk and have a nice selection of merchandise. The phone is answered by somebody that actually has their stuff together.

Bill

TakingFlight96

I second that Ram Jet, they may just be the best kit manufacturer out there today. I plan to build a kit somewhere in the future and I'm intending on getting a kit from them.


TF96

huck1199

I'll second that again. They know how to retain and get new customers. More US fims should learn the lessons. MECOA is another great US company with great service and product. They bend over backwards for even the smallest order (needle valve, etc.). I go out of my way to buy from these firms, often limiting my choice, just to support our workers.

rcdude7

My Feedback: (264)

My first plane was a sig kadet sr. I built the plane and then learned to fly it. I have built and flown many sig kits since then and have always thought their products are among the best in design and quality.

While most other mfgrs have gone towards ARF's, Sig is one of the very few that are still making great kits that were around long ago, they don't discontinue them after a year or so like GP does.

In fact, the sig laser cut kits go together almost as quick as many ARF's do.

I will be a sig customer till I can no longer fly.

jship

My Feedback: (4)

We are truly blessed to had a company like Sig in America. It may very well be the only old timer, that is making a real quality product left. I purchased a used Mayhem and was surprised at the quality that I found in this ARF (the little things that most ARF‘s don’t even think of). It was nothing like the other ARF’s that I have gotten from other companies.
I have built two Four Stars, One 60 and One 120 (finishing up right now) and a wonder and a Kadet Senior all kits from Sig.
I lost My Four Star 60 instructions, called Sig, four days later, they sent Me new instructions, no charge.
I bought a used Sig 1/5 Piper cub kit and loved it.
To Me they are like family!
One very satisfied Sig customer.

beau0090_99

Couldn't agree more. You know what's funny? I have never had to deal with their customer service dept. You know why? They have their stuff together. I built one kit and am in the middle of bashing a 4*40. Love them, if I am ever in Iowa, I hope to visit them.
Curtis

jship

My Feedback: (4)

I'm going to try and go to there annual fly in this Year.
john

TakingFlight96

Me and my dad actually drove back up into where they hold the fun fly. The property is very BIG and it almost seems as if you could land a small ultalight or a small full scale on the property. Hazel Sig and her husband used to fly full scale, but her husband passed away. He was flying a Pitts and he apparently crashed. Hazel is still alive today, although she is not flying anymore. Hazel and her husband (I can't remember his name) have recieved awards and there displayed inside of the factory.


TF96

airwin

I have pruchased some SIG kits too in the past and has been very delighted about the high quality of SIG kits. It´s good to know, that there is still a RC-kit manufacturing company in the western world. I peronaly don´t like the chinese ARFs... and love to build my planes myself.

airwin

Jim_Purcha

My Feedback: (8)

I believe his name was Glenn (mentioned in old ads).

ekir

My Feedback: (1)

I am 59 years old and started purchasing model supplies from Sig when I was in my teens. I never had a complaint with Sig Manufacturing.

I found this on Hazel Sig.
http://www.avweb.com/news/profiles/182140-1.html

clocknut

My Feedback: (6)

A friend of mine is a Sig dealler and called in a small order of balsa ,ca and some aero coat and other things last week and they told him on the phone that they could not send anything he ordered and he ask them what was going on but they had no answer for him???? just said they was out of stock, So I hope they are doing OK

ChopperMike

I'm well into the build of my Sig 1/3 scale Spacewalker. It is definitely a quality kit, as is my 1/5 scale Sig J-3 Cub that I'm finishing. And I too have toured Sig, back in 1993 when I was in Iowa for the Desmoines Aviation Expo. In fact, when I was at the Expo I almost bought a Sig 1/4 scale Spacewalker II.



Mike

CrateCruncher

My Feedback: (1)

I won an STA kit from the '70s in an on-line auction a while back and was impressed with how much literature, drawings, 3-views, scale photos and other documentation came with it. It even had a sheet with gauge faces and a miniature aerobatic routine that J. Gosney had in the cockpit when they photo'd the original plane!

While researching the kit online I also found out they once did all their printing for their kits on-site and that Glenn was once employed as a printer while selling mail-order balsa from his basement. ..and he liked Indian motorcycles!

ChopperMike

My Spacewalker kit has a wealth of scale info including color scheme and details of the aileron changes to the full size SW.


On my tour they showed me the printing press they used and said that they fired this thing up once a year and printed all the plans they'd need for the year since it took a week of setup and fiddling just to get it ready to print.




Mike

hooker53

My Feedback: (106)

Just about done with my 1/3 scale Spacewalker. As far as the cockpit goes. Still have a few more things to do in there.

ckelloggjr

Very nice! Where did you get your gages? Anything official about the layout of the gages? I am thinking of ordering the 1/3 scale decals from J'tec. Any thoughts? Yours look like they have some depth, etc... to them.

Thanks for sharing,

ckelloggjr

ckelloggjr

Can you post some photos of the paint scheme too?

nitrobomber

Sweet cockpit !

jollyroger

My Feedback: (6)

My first plane was an LT-40. In fact I built two of these. One was converted to electric. Also built: 4*60, Seniorita, Kougar, and Citabria. these three were converted to electric. I also have still in kit a 1/5 scale Cub and Dornier Do 217.
next kit to get is either 4*40 or Kadet Senior or a King Kobra or a Spacewalker or a Hog Bipe or a.........

jship

My Feedback: (4)

I believe the Sig fly-in is the week before fathers day this year.  We all need to get it on our calendars.
john   

hooker53

My Feedback: (106)

CK, thanks for the nice one. I made all of what you see. Printed off the faces and sealed over with clear plastic. The brass rings I turned on a lathe. Will do more pics when I get home back off the road. I also have a console I'm installing in front of the dash. I get just too involved with cockpits anymore!!! Ha.