Sig Komander??
 

Hi All Can anyone tell me where I can read a review on ther Sig Komander. I know it's been discontinued..I have one on the way to me..Would like to read some about it.. If any one has built or flown this plane..Any tips or suggestions will be greatly appericted..

Thanks Dan

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Good luck finding a review. The kit has been discontinued for several years and was in production for many years before that. If I were to make a guess, I would say you would probably have to go back about 25 years to find a review of this kit.

There are two suggestions I can make on this kit. Install a couple of partial ribs in the wing to support the landing gear blocks. In stock form, the blocks are supported by the foam alone and will pull loose easily due to the long gear legs. The second suggestion is to replace the narrow wing joint tape with some fiberglass that's at least 4" wide.

I flew my Kommander with an OS .45 FSR and it was a wonderful flying model. It was my second plane and was a blast to fly around inverted for the entire tank.

John

RE: Sig Komander??
 

JWN,

Would that recommendation for wider wing tape apply to the Kougar as well? If so, why?

RE: Sig Komander??
 

I can't speak for the Kougar as I never built one. But, if it's built the same as the Kommander, foam wing, no dihedral brace and the supplied tape is only 1" wide, then yes, I would replace it with a wider strip of fiberglass.

Johnm

RE: Sig Komander??
 

You're right, its the same method. I have been rather uneasy about that ever since I did it (my first foam wing).

I've about got all the added work (LE & TE fairings, aileron hole, etc.) done prior to taping the center joint. Four inch tape sounds like cheap insurance to me...;)

RE: Sig Komander??
 

I've had a couple of Komander's and a Kougar. Each wing was sheeted and built exactly as per Sig's instructions, using their Korebond contact cement on two, and and Lepage's latex contact cement on the others. My Komanders were powered by engines ranging from a Webra 40 Blackhead to an OS Max 60H rear carb goldhead. The 60 powered Komander did have a upper spruce subspar imbedded in the wing as recommended in the instructions however I never did anything different regarding the landing gear blocks. I never had any problems whatsoever with wing damage due to bad landings unless you consider crashing into an oak tree a landing! :)

My Komanders can be seen at [link=http://home.merlin.mb.ca/~kmartel/projects.html#Kommander]this[/link] webpage. My Kougar can be seen [link=http://www.rcsites.net/sport_flyer/images/kougar.jpg]here[/link].

RE: Sig Komander??
 

The landing gear blocks in my Kommander were fine until I visited a new field that had a grass runway. After just a couple of flights off of grass, both blocks were loose. They may never come loose if you fly on pavement, but why chance it when you can spend just a couple extra minutes to make sure they never come loose?

John

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Mine never came loose in over a decade of regular use. The Komander was my favorite plane for quite a while. I flew it off pavement, grass and cow pasture. My first was built as my second plane, way back in 1986-87. The second was built in '88 and finally sold in '99. Even after hitting a deep gopher hole on landing they didn't come loose, but hey, maybe the airframe absorbed the shock in the resulting cartwheel! Suit yourself, but in my experience the modification is completely and totally unnecessary.

RE: Sig Komander??
 

I have to agree with Sport Flyer.

I've had several Kommanders over the years and all were for the
most part built to the plans. The only area that I beefed up was the
firewall because I planned to use a .60 size motor.

My planes flew off of all types of runways for many years with very
little trouble from the landing gear. Some of these planes were more than
10 years old when retired.

My first one was back in 1976 and that design has been one of my favorites ever since.

Too bad it isn't available in something around 90 to 100 inches.

Regards
Roby

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Okay, I'm missing something here. We jumped from using wider glass cloth on the wing center section reinforcement, to doing something with the landing gear blocks....[sm=confused.gif]

I did my blocks per instructions, and I agree; they aren't going anywhere, short of the entire wing panel being destroyed. So what modification to the gear blocks are you guys talking about???

RE: Sig Komander??
 

I suggested adding partial ribs to support the landing gear blocks in the wing as one of two modifications to the kit (post #2) because they came loose in the one I built. If you don't want to do it, fine, that's your choice, I only provided my opinion as asked.

John

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Hi,

Here is my personal review, The Sig Komander was the first RC kit I built about 25 years ago. I had no problems assembling the kit as a beginner. The instructions were very good. A local hobby shop owner taught me to fly with my Sig Komander. This airplane is very stable and easy to fly. The Komander is a great trainer and all around fun-fly airplane. Too bad Sig no longer sells the kit.

The newer Komander kits say Mark ll on the box. The early kits and Mark ll kits are almost exactly the same. I can't remember what they changed? I think they changed how the hatch was secured?

This is a picture from one of my old Sig catalogs.

Mike

RE: Sig Komander??
 

<<...post #2...>>

Sorry; been a long day...:eek:

RE: Sig Komander??
 

No worries, it's been a long week on this end already.

John

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Hi All Thanks for the replies.The komander arrived..The build is alot like the Kougar MKII that I built..I'm not crazy about the main gear coming from wing..Might put the main gear on the fuselage, and make "IT" a tail dragger..

Thanks again Dan

Here's a pic of the Kougar MKII

RE: Sig Komander??
 

If you really want a different looking Kommander, put retracts on it. Looks really good in the air. I built two about 20 years ago, one fixed gear, and the other with Rhom Air retracts. Sent a picture of it to SIG and they published the picture in one of their ads! Only place I saw it was in Model Aviation. Both of them were always flown off grass fields and never had a problem with either wings or gear. Flew both of mine with .60's. Great flying plane-but then, all Sig planes I ever built were nothing less than great flying.
Randy

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Hi Dan,

I think the gear mounted on the wings looks cool! Also has great ground handling because the main wheels are very far apart.

Great idea using retracts on a Komander! I'd love to see a high speed pass with the gear up!

I flew my Komander with a K+B .40 with perry carburetor. Flew very good although with a .60 would be awesome!

Your Kougar looks great. What motor are you running?

Mike

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Hi All Mike the engine in the Kougar, is a GMS 47..Hey guys do you think the Komander can fly with an OS 40LA?? I had a great deal on the LA..I can maybe put the LA in my 4*40, and take that 46fx for the komander??

Thanks Dan

RE: Sig Komander??
 

The .40LA will fly it, but don't expect the performance to be that great. The Kommander is a large model, 62", for any .40 size engine. I flew mine with an OS .45 FSR and the combination was just about perfect for me at the time.

John

RE: Sig Komander??
 

I just logged in on this Labor Day (I'm off work) and was searching the post for the Kommander as I'm about to head out to the shop and start working on one!! I bought it about two years ago at a garage sale for ten dollars. I'll have the a review on this baby in about two weeks. I used to build this kit and the Four Star for the LHS. He paid me sixty dollars in store credit for each one I built. That supported my habit ;)

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Hi Jim,

Man, from all the stories I here, I need to start going to garage sales! A Sig Komander for $10.00 is fantastic!

I'm looking forward to seeing your review and if possible post a picture of your completed model. Construction pictures are cool too. What motor do you plan to run?

Hi Dan,

How is your Komander project coming along? Please give us an update.

Mike

RE: Sig Komander??
 

That $10.00 price just went up a little bit. Some of the sheeting for the wings is missing, other than that the plans are kinda stuck together. I had to order the manual from Sig and that also cost a whopping $3.75 :D
The worst part of construction if I remember correctly is the hatch (a lot of sanding), but hey that's why it is called BUILDING a kit.
I'll give some updates this week and don't mind taking pictures but my camera is a battery hog (have to go get some new ones).
Thanks for asking.
Jim

RE: Sig Komander??
 

Hi All The komander build is coming along fine..I had a small problem with the hatch..There were no measurments as to where to drill.. It took me twice but I got it..LOL JUst have to get the rudder push rod in, then it's on to closing up the botom of the fuselage.Then the covering begins..Haven't settle don a color scheme yet.. Think Im going with all Yellow with black n clear checks..
Will post some pics when I get around to taking them..I hope this planes flies good.It's not kinda of looking plane..LOL

Later Dan

RE: Sig Komander Pics
 

Hi All Here are some pics of the Komander..I hope it flies good..Would like to hear from those that have flown this plane..

RE: Sig Komander Pics
 

Hi Dan,

Looking good!!!

The Sig Komander is very stable and easy to fly airplane. I flew mine hundreds of times and was a very durable plane.

What did you decide on the landing gear? Are you mounting under the wing or on the fuselage?

Here is a very old picture of my Komander.

Mike