skyraider71

I have a sugestion. Consider a tailwheel set up. The kit tailwheel system isn't
the best. My Somethin' Extra uses the same tailwheel mount methoed and I've
had some issues with it.

gstockton

hey i have a gs 40 in my 4 star it does very well i think for what you said you wanted to do it will be fine

doby45

I am putting a ST75 in my 4 Star 40.

Andrewmc

An after market tail wheel is a good idea as it takes the load off the rudder on landings. I initially used a du Bro 40 sized tail wheel on mine but have since replaced it with a world models tailwheel. I like the world models wheel much better, easier to install as well.

I have not tried the sullivan tail wheel but from the posts on RCU looks just as good.

beau0090_99

I also modded my 4* that I built over the winter. I put an Aviastar .53 in it. I did have a problem with the carb on it, but I sent it into Sig and they sent a new one back to me that works much better. There was a problem where the engine wasn't getting enough fuel to be able to hold a good idle and also top end. The new one works much better now that I have been able to spend a little time tuning it on the bench. I think it is a great value. As far as mods go: Sheeted leading edge, turtle deck, dual ailerons servos, rounded wing tips, extended rudder and elevator and rounded tips, capped elevator tips, balsa cowl and tilted engine, Sulivan style tail wheel, cut down canopy. I added Piglet to mate up with Andrew's 4* and his tigger. I absolutely love this plane. It flies where you want it and even with the added weight, it is still only 5.5 lbs and floats like a dream.
Curtis

mkharv3

All,

Thank You very much for the comments. I am going to go ahead and stick with the ST GS .40. I will also look into getting a new tail wheel setup because I love to do my touch and goes and would hate to wear out the rudder.

Well here are a couple pictures of what I was able to get done last night. Last night was really cool temp wise and allowed for a couple hours of work. Got to love this kit because everything is already pre cut and like a puzzle to put together. This is my second sig kit and I have really enjoyed both.

Anyways let me know what you think.

Mark

mkharv3

Hey,

I wanted to post a couple pictures of what is next for me. If you see on the photo the channel where the landing gear fit will obviously not really be sufficient for support in my eyes. So I plan on beefing it up a little with some angle stock and epoxy. Also I took a picture of where the wing mounts will be glued. I will again be beefing this area up also.

I know everyone says build to fly and not to crash but I always build for the occasional rough landing or hot dogging.

Hope you enjoy the photos. I will keep you posted.

Mark

Ms1095

If I could make a suggestion. Mount the wing before you glue the bottom front fuse ply piece into place. This way you can mark the wing for the dowel through the 1/4in. hole at F2. If you do it the way the instruction manual says it can be a pain to get the wing marked in the right spot for drilling.

doby45

I just did all this on mine. I will get some photos later on this evening. Since I am putting a servo out on each wing for the ailerons I decided that I would use a piece of 1/4" plywood for my wing mount block. I made that piece go from one side to the other and then epoxied in 1/2" balsa triangles to beef it up some more. I also decided from the get go not to use the supplied langing gear and I bought the DuBro composite gear. In order to "securely" attach the landging gear I decided to make the landing gear plywood mount larger. 3" X 3" and then added the 1/2" triangle stock to that also. Pictures will better explain it. I will take and post them tonight. I would also go ahead and sheet the turtle deck, took no time and looks sexy. :-)

Ms1095

Here is where I am on my build. Only mod I am making is a larger rudder in hopes that I can get a 4* to knife edge.

vmsguy

This is the next plane on my building board.. (Once I finish covering my telemaster)

I have question/thought.

I was thinking of sheeting the leading edge of the wing.

Is this a good/bad idea? How thick of sheeting would y'all recommend? I presume I'd have to cut down the ribs the appropriate thickness. Yes?

Oh!!! Another question...

If I were to sheet the leading edges, could I safely do away with the first spar? Maybe add shear webbing instead? I haven't even opened the box yet, so haven't dug into the details yet.


TIA

vmsguy

doby45

I have heard that sheeting the leading edge is one of the "good to do" mods on the 4 star. I did mine with 1/16 balsa and it came out great. I would not suggest removing the forward spar and shear webbing is already included in the build. Yes, you do need to sand the ribs down to fit the sheeting and is easy enough to do simply by stacking W1 ribs and W2 ribs alternately and then sanding the W2 ribs down to the profile of the W1 rib. Did that make sense? Oh, I gotta put up the pics I was talking about the other day. Back in a sec..

doby45

How it sits now on the "bench". You can also see my H9 PTS Mustang in the background. It just got retracts installed.



Another full on shot. The wheels on there right now are the 3" wheels off my PTS. I will be installing 2 3/4" lite diamond patterned wheels.



Turtledeck sheeted. Turned out great and was very easy. Notice the temporary string I put on where the stab/rudder support wire will go. I figure since I am putting a 75 in this bird and I enlarged the rear control surfaces I should atleast shore it up a bit. [>:]



Shot of the stab. I added the tabs on the end.. Same as on the rudder above.



Full rear shot, shows dual aileron servo mounts.



Undercarriage shot, I still need to glass the wing joint..



Fuel tank and fuel dot install.



Detail shot of the oversized landing gear support block. The normal LG block would be half of what the installed block is. The whole tank area still needs to be fuel proofed.

bayareajeff

Nice Job here on your plane! Keep up the great work. I have a MDS .40 in it and it hauls nicely.
Here is mine I completed a few years back

mkharv3

Hello All,
I have been M.I.A but I have in fact been building a little. Attached are a few pics of what I have been working on. First I got the tank compartment all fuel proofed and sealed up! I kind of wish I would have made a hatch for the tank but with the tank I got it will be really easy to remove if I need to. Next I got the wing hold downs mounted and add a littlle gusset behind the bulkhead because everyone said that this was a week area of the plane.

So Far so good! I purchased a Aviastar .46 engine from Sig yesterday!!! All reviews were pretty good all said that they have a lot of torque and power and not to mention it was only 49.00.

Anyways keep following I will continue to post pictures of my progress.

Thanks

Mark

mkharv3

Me Again,

Here are a few more pictures of things that I have done.

1) Landing Gear block was mounted and had gussets installed ti beef it up a little. Also I went ahead and kept the three blind nut idea but instead I found some nylon screws to use instead of the metal screws. If the landing gets that hard I rather rip the gear off than the gear block.

2) I added a 1/2 in area to the tail for additional throw. Do you think I should add counter balances too or not?

3) I got a new tail assembly and 1 in wheel and a new Hayes 8 oz tank. I like this tank because you dont have to bend vent tubes and it already has a third line installed for filling.

Hope you enjoy.

Oh one last thing. I have a roll of cream monokote left so I think I will use it with my 4*. But what other color should I use? I am torn between maroon red or forest green.

Suggestions?

Thanks Again

Mark

doby45

The counter balances are just a preference thing. I think they look cool, not really sure how much it will change the flight characteristics. One other thing I have found about using blind nuts and nylon bolts, is that sometimes they tend to get a good bite when you tighten them down but as the threads wear on the bolt they no longer tighten down that well. You can do a couple of things, replace the bolts or you can get some regular old metal nuts at Home Depot and epoxy them onto the blind nut so that it continues the threading and has better biting threads. I did this on my wing hold down blind nuts and the landing gear blind nuts.

mkharv3

I got my Aviastar .46 in the mail yesterday.... YIPPY. Out of the box I was very impressed. The only that I did not like is that it did not come with a muffler gasket and I had to make one. Yes I know I am being picking but hey.

Anyways I through an engine mount together least night and let the concrete harden over night. Today I installed the motor and tank.

I ran through the break in as the plan stated. I ran the motor very rich for five minutes and let it cool down for 10. I did this four times. I must mentioned that as sloppy and rick as the engine was running it never died.

I will give it the ultimate test tomorrow and start leaning it out a little.

So far I am very very very happy with my $49.99 .46 motor.

Mark

Alex7403

I like the bucket test stand.

spadeng

awesome test stand, and I cant believe how much that 4* looks like my somethin extra in the bones. have to keep us posted on how that engine does, check out youtube I did an engine change on that somethin extra and it flies really good. and did ya get any of my email

GaryHarris

Has anyone that yall know of build the 4* like a Stick? Flat-Top?

skyraider71

Cool thinking on the bucket test stand! I have that engine. I haven't flown it but I've gotten
excelent numbers on the test stand.

trpastor

Hey Guys

Couple questions for you all. I had built a 4 star modified, and then crashed it. I have a kit I picked up from a guy 50% done and I think I'm going to try to finish it up.

On the wings, they are already built, how hard would it be to cover the leading edge, so you don't see the ribs. I hated that on my last one? I'm not sure how you would "blend" it out, now that the wings are already built, so that it doesn't have a step down.

On the wings, I've heard a lot of people say to cut the wings down. Take out the last bay on each side. That would make mine about 54" wingspan. Is this correct? It was a little floaty for me out of the box.

Thanks!
Tim

vmsguy

OK...

Opened my 4*40 box this morning, and pulled out the instructions to start reading.

I'm 99% certain I will be sheeting the leading edges of the wings. Probably put rounded ends, ala Hog Bipe, on it too.. just for looks.

I am planning on retaining the stock wing length. This will be my first low-wing bird. So I want to move slowly.

But I'm toying with adding flaps. Two reasons. 1. To see if I can cancel out the "floaty-ness" of the bigger wing when landing. 2. Just 'cause, it'll look cool. (Hey, at least I admit it)

I haven't run across anyone mentioning flaps... Thoughts??

trpastor

I'm pretty sure you will just be adding floatiness with flaps. And if you go with the original wingspan you certainly should not need flaps/more float