RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

Rudder looking good!
john

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

here is my elevator and extra wing bracing.....
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...Picture772.jpg
http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...Picture773.jpg

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

Hello all. I'm new to building kits. I've chosen the 4 star 120 as my first kit. I've put together a few ARF's, but never a kit. I will be using the 31CC ryobi like the person who started the thread. Any tips for a first timer?

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

Just follow the threads

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

i've read through the thread, and there are a lot of great ideas. Does this plane not have a wing tube?

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

No wing tube. It is a 1-piece wing. You could convert it to a 2-piece wing without much effort. Just a little ingenuity and some elbow grease. :D For your first kit build, I'd just build it per plans and use this thread as a guideline. The Ryobi is kinda heavy. I've decided that when I build a new 4*120 I'll be using a lighter engine. Hobby City sells a nice little 26cc engine with electronic ignition for about $150.

Good luck.

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

I am tight on the cash right now, and already have a new Ryobi. I'm putting the 11mm Walbro carb on it for a little extra power.

Friend of mine from my club has the Giant Super Sportster with a Ryobi in it, and loves it. I figured for my first kit, and my first gasser, It couldn't hurt. I could always throw a better engine in it down the road.

I noticed from reading some of your posts that you used a lot of covering. Was that because of a design you used, or just that it uses more than the manufacturer states (they claim 4 rolls)

Also, did you put 4" wheels on yours? I know that with the Ryobi i want to put a bigger prop on it to keep down on the RPM's, and that could cause ground clearance issues. 16x8?

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

what servo's would you guys recommend for this plane? I have all Futaba radio gear now, but am not opposed to using someone else's servos. I was eyeing the Futaba S3010, but it doesn't have metal gears. Do i want metal gears in this application?

Reading through, I noticed some of you added wood in the outer wings for extra support, as well as "tri-stock" behind the firewall. Did you get this from scraps that came with the plane, or did you buy wood separately?

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

I have used 3010’s several times. One of the problems with the 3010 is that they are not recommended for 6vt systems. Having said that I have used them on 6vt. I have burned a couple out to. I have not used any extra wood in My Four Star 120. This is the third Kit in the Four Star series that I have owned. Have not used any extra wood in any of them. The try stock behind the fire wall comes with the kit. These are very well designed kits. With YEARS of use. Then there is the Sig quality, nothing but great.
Build the kit by the book and You will have a great flying plane in no time. With the gas engine I am planning on using, I will use four to four and one half inch tires, I fly off ruff grass.

I believe the only ways to hurt the flying quality in this plane is tho build it to heavy or not straight.
john

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

I have ordered almost everything. I'm waiting on the servo's and any extensions until i get the book. I want to run a 4.8v battery for my receiver, so I don't think I'll burn the S3010's out.

What servo's do some of you guys that have your 4 star's flying use?

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

i'm not using the best servos so i'm going to go with a 6v battery to get the most out of them....havent tried it yet though

finally got the wings glued together:D

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

what servos are you using?

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

my flying friends and I used 6V this past summer. One had Futaba 3004's. The other friend had BB converted Futaba 148's. I had Hitec 225's

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

i'm using these..... http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&P=8&I=LXHHW0

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

Built mine 5 1/2 years ago per the plans. I did beef up the LG mounting area after ripping out the gear a couple of times from less than perfect landings. I'm using Futaba S3003 servos and have not had any fail. Like I said in an earlier post, over 200 flights and still flying GREAT!!!
Rcpilot, this pic is for you:)

[img][/img]

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

how did you beef up the landing gear area? forgive me if its stupid question, but i'm new at this.

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

I epoxy some basswood triangular stock down each side of the internal floor support

But the main thing I do is attach the gear with 1/4-20 nylon bolts with the threads tapped directly into the plywood

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

Just like w8ye described. A problem with nylon bolts is when they break, the LG will usually go through the wing (I found out the hard way, twice) I prefer steel screws on the gear. Once you can avoid the 4-Star bounce, it's not as critical.

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

I've been lucky about the gear going through the wing. Only the first time it happened to me and it tore metal screws and the whole bottom off the fuselage as well as going through top and bottom of both sides of the wing.

After I repaired that plane with new fuselage bottom and nylon screws, I sheared the gear off one more time. This time I was lucky and all it hurt were the nylon screws.

I had the bottom tear out of another plane with the metal screws and it didn't hurt the wing or tail. Just the whole bottom of the fuselage. It was repaired with nylon screws and nothing has ever happened since.

The nylon screws are sometimes hard to get out though

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

THERE IT IS!!! :)

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

Thought you would like it!!!

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

another radio question......
if i use this battery.... http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFD99&P=0 ...what would be a good charger?
also how long should it last on a charge??
thanks

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

I think you can get a 2000 mah Hydramax for that money from Tower?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXNHS4&P=ML

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXEYD4&P=ML

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

thanks.....might get that battery......
but is there a cheaper way to charge it??

RE: 4*120 Build Thread
 

The charger in the link handles all the types of batteries and only charges them until they are charged and then goes to trickle.

You can get a timed charger for a lot less

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL331&P=7