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First Kit build complete!

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Old 01-19-2009 | 12:37 PM
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Default First Kit build complete!

Well, I just finished building my first RC plane. All I have left to do is put some more red on the tail section. I scoured this website for 4 months and put in nearly every modification I could find. Whether she flies well is up in the air. I turn this baby over to a veteran flyer in the next couple of months to see how it does in the spring. After he maidens it I can name her. I hope it isn't "CRASH." Can you name the model of the plane with all the mods? Let me know what you think.
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Old 01-19-2009 | 12:40 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Great looking plane!!!!! Give yourself a pat on the back there!!

Make sure you keep us posted with a flight report.

Ken
Old 01-19-2009 | 12:42 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Great job. I bet it flies great.

Is it a Mid Star?
Old 01-19-2009 | 12:46 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Big Al,

Great looking plane you have there...[sm=thumbup.gif] Nice job on the build too.

The plane looks like a Mid Star to me too.
Old 01-19-2009 | 12:59 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Another vote for Midstar
Old 01-19-2009 | 01:12 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Is that an OS .46LA in the nose? I had one of them on my Four Star and was really happy with it. It wouldn't pull unlimited vertical, but it was plenty fast and was a lot of fun to fly.

Good luck
Old 01-19-2009 | 01:14 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Very Nice.. better looking than some ARF's

[sm=thumbs_up.gif]
Old 01-19-2009 | 01:19 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!




Nice job !

The canopy looks like GB Tiger?

Bob
Old 01-19-2009 | 02:26 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

very nice work! i bet those flaps will be alot of fun once u solo.
Old 01-19-2009 | 02:37 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Way to Go!!! The Sig Mid-Star was one of my best flying sport models ever. Just a lot of FUN. Hope you're as happy with yours as I was with mine.

Joe
Old 01-19-2009 | 07:36 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Great job!!!! If it flies half as good as it looks, you're gonna have a lot of fun with it!!
Old 01-19-2009 | 07:43 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

great job!!!!!
Old 01-19-2009 | 07:47 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

another vote for Midstar
Old 01-19-2009 | 08:43 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Definitely a Sig Mid-Star. Very nice job.
Mods:
1. vortex fences, wing tip plates, whatever you want to call em
2. added flaps
3. looks like aileron servos put in wing. thou with what looks to be no access panels?
4. rudder area increased
5. maybe the elevator area increased slightly - hard to tell for sure
6. looks like the front hatch might have been changed slightly

Cheers.
Old 01-19-2009 | 10:43 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

You are all very good. It's a midstar. I really enjoyed building it. I can't believe the amount of knowledge you can get from this forum. You guys really know you stuff.

gsoav8r,

Correct on all the mods. 2" ailerons / flaps. No servos in wing. I saw all the suggestions for that but I only had one servo and I was determined to make push rods with bellcranks work even though that's not the way to go these days. (They say my head is made of granite). They seem to work really well, but I don't have any experience to compare with.

46 la engine that I bought accidently. I was purchasing an engine for my control line plane, when I hit the wrong button (online order). I figured since I have an engine with a throttle, I may as well purchase an RC plane even though I have never flown one before. That's how I got started.

I'm all hooked up with an experienced flyer who can take it from here and maybe I'll try to fly it, maybe I won't. Don't care just hope it flies okay.

More pics
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Old 01-19-2009 | 11:12 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Hard to go wrong with Sig. Ive a good friend that has built two Sig Kits. A 4-star and a S.E.
Nothing like seeing something youve built fly.
Cant wait to have another RC addict added to the ranks this spring.

I guess since youve been flying CL for a while you know not to let anyone fly your RC plane without watching them fly their plane first, right?
Old 01-19-2009 | 11:15 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

I meant to ask also. Does the 46LA still have a plastic back plate?

Cheers,
James
Old 01-20-2009 | 06:16 AM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!


ORIGINAL: gsoav8r

I meant to ask also. Does the 46LA still have a plastic back plate?

Cheers,
James
Yes they do.
Old 01-20-2009 | 10:28 AM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Just something to consider. Years ago when I started seeing LA's show up at the field we ran into a few cases where the backplates would get loose and leak air. Basically the plastic would creep (relax) over time and the screws would loosen up and an air leak would develope making for an impossible to tune engine or they wouldnt run at all.
Once the problem was diagnosed the fix was to use some loc-tite on the screws to keep em tight. Minus that Ive never had issues with them.

Funny thing is I never kept loc-tite in my field box until then.

Cheers.
Old 01-20-2009 | 10:32 AM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Thanks for the heads up. I'll lock down the screws.
Old 01-20-2009 | 10:38 AM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Note: The wing's end plates were really my answer to cover up a horrible covering job. I have watched Minnflyers videos a dozen times. I think he uses trick photography. He makes it look so easy. My wing tips look like dodoo.

Old 01-20-2009 | 11:42 AM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

That's the best looking Mid-Star I've seen. I have one that has been in progress (progress being a very loose term...) for about 8 years now. Every six months or so, I get the notion to work on it again - - sometimes I actually do. At this point I think I have as much weight in dust as I have in balsa...

How did you go about setting up the bell-cranks? It looks like a really neat installation. Got any pictures of it?
Old 01-20-2009 | 12:01 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Thanks. Pics at home. I'll post later. Have to work. []
Old 01-20-2009 | 12:15 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!

Great job, looks outstanding. That's also the best bell crank system I have seen done on a plane in a long time. The minute you mentioned U-Control I knew where you were coming from, I have also used U-Control items for builds and it makes things a lot better. LA engines, I love them, great bang for your buck. After using a bunch of them over the years I just pull them out of the box and use a touch of locktite on all four head screws and a dab on the back plate screws. I have never had the back plate come loose on one but on almost every one of them {first three} I have had the head screws come loose on break in runs, the bit of locktite cured that little problem. Fine looking plane!!!!
Old 01-20-2009 | 12:30 PM
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Default RE: First Kit build complete!


ORIGINAL: bigal126

Note: The wing's end plates were really my answer to cover up a horrible covering job. I have watched Minnflyers videos a dozen times. I think he uses trick photography. He makes it look so easy. My wing tips look like dodoo.

Thats probably the nicest band-aid Ive ever seen.

But I suspect that the wing tip plates really arent band-aids . There really there to give the plane a more aggresive look and help with knife-edge flight.

Cheers.


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