RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Wow! And I thought mine was heavy.

This is great bipe, isn't it.

Thanks for your post chelmer!


Brian

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hi RAY, soon as i get pics organized i will post. regards GLEN [realy!] no relation.</p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, my plane ( post 370) weights in at 5 lbs and 3/4. Built per plan apart from a shock obsorber I added up to the gear.
Sig wing loading is 18.6 You are at 26.5 and I sit at 20.3
My pilot wants a visor to get in a bit a shade under the sun here., He sports a nice tan too.
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Must be the rain thats added the weight! Pilot has webbed hands and feet. although weight is dry, 11 oz slec square tank. I do admit to feeling sorry forhim at times. Anyone seen a miniplane with a periscope? would go down well in the UK. GLEN</p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen it is not my goal, but I could save a bit by switching my RX battery pack to smaller, cutting my muffler pipes flush with the bottom of cowling. Who know maybe I can get to 5 1/2 lbs. as it stand she is very lively. I put a low pitch prop on th4e nose to get very good vertical. She take off in 25', and has great rolls. I have plenty of power, most of the flying is at 1/2, power for vertical. I have never taken the wings off since she is built. She fits nicely in the trunk of my car.

Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Looks like horses for courses on weight. UKis now suffering extreme weather conditions long term. All my models have been 7 to 9 lb. I had a bossanova coming in at 6ib and after managing to land it the wind blew it down the runway.Always! So i will stay at 7.5 lb with miniplane. Correction to prop 13/7. 13/6 runs out of steam. 13/8 slows engine too much. pics coming soon.regards Glen</p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hi Ray

These are the pictures you requested.

Regards
Glen

(let me know if you got them as this is the first time i have uploaded any pictures)!!

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, seen the photo's now so no need to reply
Glen

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, Yep! we can see the pictures.

Nice looking bipe. Good looking color scheme !

Your extra weight is in your engine, mine is fully enclosed, my prop is 10x5 but I get 16K rpm

You say you have lasting bad weather - remember take off is optional landing is mandatory!

Last check your pilot for fever, he looks a little greenish.
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, What is the decibel reading .If we reached 16k we would booted out the club! more like 9k for us, hence 4 strokes. Just been told that spats are in stock so should look better. H ave lost two sets to the grass i think i will put the new spats on the wing tips! Glen</p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, My flying field is part of a County Park with many activities. Model Airport, Shooting range, camping, trail bike, fishing boating, canoes rental. It is a huge park, and the good thing it is city maintained. It is right on the edge of the city, leading to the everglades. Two main highways ( double carriage ways.) lead to it. It is 1.50 to get in in the week end, free week days. No membership, AMA proof only. Our runway is 600' X 50' It is not a bad place to fly , there is no onewith a decibel meter either. I am using a Pitt muffler which is better than the stock for noise. I dont think about that.
I may retarded, but I dont get your use of the worrd spat. Of the verb spit.
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

chelmer-

I agree with the engine weight assessment. Is your mini painted? That will do it too.

I bet it's a great flyer- even at 7.5lbs.

Brian

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hi Ray, It is me that is thick! You will know spats as wheel pants. Spats in UK is a covering for aircraft wheels and is also a dress cover for gentlemens shoes [to hide the socks!] sorry.You have a great place to fly, ours istypical of UK sites in that the runway [well cut] is part of a very large farm for agriculture. All quite pleasant and way in the countryside. Glen

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hello Brian, The miniplane is covered in profilm[ a tough plastic film ] you may know of it. Ican honestly say it is built as plan with correct number of standard servos with the exception of u/c which is light duraluminiam [but strong~ never bends] I did have the original wire undercarriage but got fed up with bending back after every landing! My model seems heavier than most but is very stable in flight. Low slow fly past at half throttle rock steady into a lovely high powered loop and roll off top without any fear that it will fall out the sky. The OSFsa 81 is final of several fourstrokes used over a period of 6 years and in my 66 years of flying~started at 14 years old~ the best. regards Glen.</p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, Now I got it. I dont wear these things to cover my socks. I only wear running shoes and shorts.
What my writing did not say is that first we are paved, then the field is flat. And the best thing is that we have an average of 340 days a year of sunshine. June is a rainy month. pretty calm wind in the summer and a little more wind in winter to test the vusitors with their crosswind landings !
In fact it is the difference between 18 North and 46 North.
I have visited your country by car, fairly easy being small by my standard. I enjoyed it. I have seen very interesting things and a lot a history. Now I understand better the meaning of a country mile. Of all your figures, Nelson is my Hero! Of course I was on board the Victory.
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, All sounds lovely. You will have travelled through my county of Hampshire to visit Victory, we are just 1 hour away also been on Victory and seen Mary Rose wreck. My wife and I have been to what we call The Golden Triangle ,California. Frisco,into Arizona ,Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, etc. back to Frisco. 2,500 miles ,never below 80 heaven! All by coach. Back to models. I started at 14 years and won the British Nationals glider championship with my own design 8 foot wingspan model in 1947 at the tender age of 18 .The prize was a Mills 1.3 diesel. I wish i still had it!. From there never looked back. We have strayed from Miniplanes but does it matter! glen

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, Found a few City parks on Google Earth, which one is the one you fly in? Glen</p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

A friend of mine started and I finished a beautiful Smith Mini Plane about 10 years ago. Ours was powered with a Saito .50 and flew soooooo sweet. We let another friend of ours fly it who was a great Heli Pilot and after looping and doing low altitude barrel rolls he was doing a low inverted pass and said "Airplanes aint *****" he then pulled up elevator and our beautiful SMP was instantly destroyed... it was sad really as it truly was a joy to fly. To this day I give my friend a hard time about the incident. this is a GREAT post with some really beautiful SMPs and great info as well. I am the high bidder at the moment on a SMP kit, wish me luck as it is real hard to get kits from SIG right now. I ordered an Astro Hog and they are out of stock on many airplanes I was told due to a Balsa problem.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, My flying park is called Markham Park. It is a county park. You will love the satellite view corner of Hwy I 595 and I 75. it is in the North West corner of these two important roads. You cant miss the runway.
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, what a flying site! I thought I spotted your smp. We only get a runway [hard] on disused airfields or permission to use airdromes. if you go to_ deangate inn hampshire england . coordinates 51* 14" 55. 62 N1* 13" 01. 74W for deangate then zoom in to 51* 15" 21.88 N 1* 13" 01. 55 W you will see our site. Only a green field with well laid runway. Typical of UK flying sites. Very pleasant on the odd hot? day. Membership 82 and we pay &pound;125 a year to fly 7 days a week alldaylight hours,including &pound;10,000,000 yes ten million pounds third party insurance with British Model Flying Association. its theBMFA who limit noise to 82 decibels.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, I have seen it very green. Here we fly 12 months a year. On the worst day of the year, we can still play golf. I must have driven like 6 - 7 miles from that location when I was there. Is that road a one lane and a little parking spot every 1/2 mile to let incoming traffic go by.
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

<span style="font-size: medium"><span style="font-size: smaller"><span style="font-size: small">Ray,Google is great, we are a pinhead on the planet! The main road is two lane to Deangate then as you say reduces to single track with passing place, we call them tractorlanes.I drive 8miles to site . I have always envied the american flying conditions ,but is not to be .In my teens I managed to get an Ohlsson 60 and aMcoy 60, theMcoy was used in control line forvery powerful stunts! Quite something for nottoo long after the war [ 2nd!].
I saidwe could fly all year, but only the young and bravedo that [I have hungup my flying boots til March!] Temprature nowO* to 5 c. Happy winter winter flying to you and Merry Xmas. HOHOHO! glen
</span></span></span></p>

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glen, I was smiling there a minute, I expected you to tell me you flew against the red Baron. I guess you missed that one too. Most of winter we have 27 28C.
Today per exception, we have a little drizzle. It can happen.
Have a good day
Ray

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, Sorry about the of text_ must have hit a duff key, hope you can scroll across, Blame it on the Xmas Scotch! Glen

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Ray, I built a Baron and a Sopwith Pup.Pup lasted 10 years the Baron about 2 years. Sounds about right to me! glen.</p>