RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

rica1,

I used a Supertigre G-51 for power and it seems more than enough. For the ailerons, I modified my SMP to include two mini servos - one in each wing half. Throws I believe I started as per the plan.

Page 23, post 560 should have a couple pictures of the set up during building. Site is very slow tonight for some reason....maybe just my ISP.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Marco,
Went to that post and something is wrong with the photos, they do not come up for some reason. Will try later. Good to know a .51 will work well. I was thinking of using a Magnum .61FS as I heard the plane comes out a little tail heavy? What servos, what torque for the ailerons? Hope to see your photos later.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

rica1,

Yes there is something wrong with the site as photos won't display. Tried last night to attach photos to my post and it kept failing as well. Hopefully RCU fixes the issue soon.

Mine balanced perfectly without having to add any weight. I hate adding weight and avoid doing so if possible. I try to arrange the electronics appropriately to compensate for the need to add ballast. You should be fine if you are putting a four stroke on the front end!

I used 2 x JR MC35 servos rated at about 35 oz/in in the wing. Would have preferred to use more powerful servos, with metal gears, but had these on hand so went with them. They seem to do the job. Many good choices these days for servos and configurations, so look around for something that fits the pocketbook as well as the purpose. Key is they need to be small to fit inside the ribs, or you can use the "wing" servos that are low profile.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Page 33, post 804 also shows some pictures of my servo setup. I used Ace mini servos that I've had lying around for years. I don't know the torque specs but my thinking is that if one standard servo @ 44oz of torque can operate both ailerons then the mini servos I have will more than likely be fine. I tested one of them with a 1" long servo horn tied to a 1lb block of lead and it worked fine on 4.8v.
But then if they fail in flight, well I love smell of balsa and epoxy in the morning.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Can anyone else load pictures from this thread? Seems like RCU has not resolved the issue yet. [:o]

Think I may have the right prop at last for my ST .51/SMP combo. Looks like an APC 12x5 is working out well as is the new perry carb. Did tach it, but can't remember the exact figures . 11,700 seems to ring in my head, but has been a few weeks since I did it. Hoping to toss it around on the weekend if the winds would ever die down!

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Nope, internal server error 500.

Tried to upload a picture of my practice plane, a GP Christen Eagle. I figured I would practice with an ARF before I flew my SMP, which is still waiting for me to do the covering. Guess I need to get started on it.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Looks like everything is back to working on the pictures.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Good to see your SMP again Rick! ;) If you scroll back a few pages, the images do not display.

Marko

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Update:

I have made all the changes to the engine thrust angles and now my Smith flies pretty good. It's still a little sensitive and it may need a little weight in the nose as it still needs a touch of down elevator, but I'm kinda liking it. Anyway, I flew it again today and had another engine out low and downwind. I wasn't able to get it back to the field landing area and it went down out-of-sight over a small hill. I thought I heard a good thud and knew it was damaged. When we found it it was sitting in tall grass undamaged! Now Ineed to re-route the fuel plumbing and see if it cures the engine problems.

Cheers

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Glad to see it made it back to base (grass and all) undamaged.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Thanks RC, it didn't even suffer a puncture wound anywhere. I'm nearing the covering of my Super Chipmunk build and will be happy to give the Smith a break.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

I finaly got back to the SMP today. I've never painted with auto paint before so this morning was a learning experience.Wheel pantscame out well but I'll need to do a little more work on the cowl.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

It seems that a "wet coat" is not dripping off but just before dripping off.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Getting closer to finishing the SMP. I've changed the design 3 times in the middle of covering it. This is what I've settled on.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hey KaP

You could call it a "SmithWalker" :D:D:D

Looking Good[8D]

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Waynek?Been a while.I've been electrifying ships from the sixties and seventies and was keenly interested what you put in the nose of your smith.I used a powerup32 with a 4s 5000 mah pack turning an 11/7 prop on my GeeBee Dreamer (5 1/2 lbs) and it goes like a pattern ship.Back in the eighties I had more fun with my OS 90 FS powered smith than any other bipe I flew. It had an oversized LG and 5" WWI wheels because of our rough field and at 8 lbs would climb vertical nearly oos then tumble and spin like a dremel bit.Hoping you'll come back to report.Nick

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Well I did get my insperation from Tom Crumps' Spacewalker but to call it a "Smithwalker" may get me arrested.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif

Getting closer to finished, I may have it ready for it's maiden by the weekend.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hello Taildragger and SMP fans,

Sorry, it has been a while, but I've been following this thread with interest. I am putting the finishing detailing touches on my little SMP almost as I type, and will provide a finished photo when done, hopefully this weekend.

No time for the maiden up to now, I've just finished electrifying a *cough - arf - cough* (GP Zlin Acrobat with an OS 50 electric and 6S power- very nice actually) so I've taken a little hiatus from this bird.

I'm really enjoying seeing the great work you guys are doing and once I maiden I will provide a flight report with the exact setup.

Wayne

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Woah, taildragger, I see your mini came in at 8 pounds, those 4 strokers and wheels really add a lot of weight, don't they. How did it land at that weight?

Here's a pic of my almost-final weigh-in, this includes everything except the final detailing (struts and decals) and the 5s battery pack.

I went with 2 wing-mounted servos just like Kap, except I used mini servos with metal gears.

I took no special weight precautions, it hasn't been necessary on any of the other Sig kits I've built.

- Wayne

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

BTW, lovely work KaP.

W

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

The fact that she's covered in coverite didn't help. The only covering that's heavier is asphalt.She landed quite nicely, no one had heard of 3d at the time but with a high idle, she would drag in at a 45 nose up and touch down tailwheel first every landing. In fact I thought it was easier to land than the light floaters that got knocked around by every little breeze. (justification for being too lazy to build light)The reason I've gone back to building electric bipes of the 70's is that the light ships of today don't satisfy my "big Iron" feel of the heavies (Eflite Stearman 15e not included)I'm going to admit, I'm an upload junkie, but thought you might get a kick out of someone that thinks a little differently than most and can prove it (sorry for the 8mm film caps, they were all we had back then)Pics 1,2 &3 are of my 48" aeromaster oth it's OS 120 FS and 16/6 prop, (9 1/2 lbs) carrying a strap on 6 lb bell & howell 8mm movie camera. and a frame capture of our red clay flield.Pictures 4 - 7 are from an airshow stunt that came around from a bet that I couldn't fly the Smith on the bottom wing only. Unfortunately I don't have a pic of it but it was a pretty hairy flight with a pretty firm landing. (won $20).The big bipe is a precedent Stampe SV4B of 82" span with the same engine that was on the aeromaster.The stunt had #1 son holding the top wing while I ran up the engine, then he yanked up and the ship took off and flew on the bottom wing. BTW the stampe weighted 14 lb at the time.Nick PS if you want to see the Dreamer go here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1865202

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

BTWHow the heck do you get the editor to recognize hitting enter to space sentences?

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

I found the vids for the 90 powered smith and the Stampe with one wing:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5zVOkH0JGo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUqLgHlfeJt8_b9JrCOljGMg[/youtube][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEjTZeWooGc&feature=c4-overview&list=UUqLgHlfeJt8_b9JrCOljGMg[/youtube]

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

My Smith is complete, except for a pilot, and ready for it's maiden flight. Finished dry weight came out at 5# 12oz. Saito .56 swinging an APC 11X7 prop. Finished in Coverite fabric with 3 coats of auto clear coat. The covering and clear coat added 9oz. The C/G came out at the balance point specified on the plans, (therear wing bolt on the topwing)with no added weight.

Waiting for clear weather in N GA for the maiden.

I'm looking for a pilot like the ones in the Stuka picture. They were sold by Hobby Lobby. If anyone has one in 1/5th scale they want to sell send me a PM.

RE: Sig Smith Miniplane build
 

Hahahahaha, that my friend is a very unique pilot in your Stuka ! In all my reading and watching of WW2 movies I don't recall hearing about her ! ;)