Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hey everybody...
I am a 17 year old first time builder... I have been flying for about 2 years now and have a pretty big hangar! for SOME REASON I have never built a kit before... (I'm sure it was just from the excitement of flying these planes I never wanted to stop and build! but I've been following some builds and see how addicting it can be just READING the build threads, and I have been SOOO excited about starting my 4 Star 40 build!

Well here it goes!!!!

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hmmm, I missed it ? lol! . J.K. Lock-n-load dude, lets see what ya got. Pics are good, but they are the hardest for me to remember .[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

I'll tag along for the ride. Looking forward to seeing it all come together. There's something about eventually flying something that started as a box of sticks. The feeling of accomplishment the I get is comparable to that first Solo flight we all had. Its cool. [8D]

-MA

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hey guy. You picked the right plane kit to start with. It was my first, & it was great,--challenging, but easy to do. If you get stuck on something just sit back, read the instructions a couple of times & the problem will go away. If it's something serious, you've always got help a mouse click away!! Remember the 2 MOST important things to do on a kit build ---- read the instructions! & read them again !! You can have a lot of fun with your build, just DON'T get in a hurry !! Good luck guy

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hey thanks for all the replies in just a few minutes!
I have the wing spars and ribs tacked down.. haven't glued yet im making sure it looks alright with all of yall first! I hoe Im doing all this right, i took some close ups to see if yall can tell me if it looks right.. THANKS

Also do yall think that wood glue will work for the assembly on this? or should I use the thin CA on the wing ribs like it says in the instructions? thanks again everyone

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

may i say it looks good so far BUT i would use thin CA for the wing construction and also to save your planes cover them with wax paper and build over them. And your on your way with a good strong build . keep the pic coming allways willing to help good work looking good

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Thanks flyingdj... I already put the ribs onto the leading edge sheeting w/ the wood glue.. but I used thin CA to attatch the ribs to the Spars... this this'll be alright??

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Looking really good . Thin CA is good for installing hinges and tight fitting parts. Try CA+ or use . the wood glue . Make sure you use a small square to make sure the ribs a straight up and down.

The best advise I can give you , is to enjoy your build , it will take some time ! If you find yourself rushing to get it done , it will show up in the way it looks and how it flys.

Follow the instructoins ! Wheres the tail feathers ? lol ! Just pulling your chain.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Are you using any wax paper or anything over the planes? (plan protector)
Just wondering?

oops I see flyingdj got back to you first..

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Ooops , missed the wax paper thing , x- nay the tape ay.

Set up a building surface you can , at least pin stuff to.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Looks like you have a piece of sheeting that you have your ribs sitting on. It looks like that is not letting the ribs sit flat on the plan. Notice the gap where the spars should seat in the ribs. I believe the say to put a spacer under the first three ribs. Might want to look at that before gluing ant further.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hey thanks yall.. OHH I thought you were supposed to put the sheeting spacer under all the ribs.. no big deal as I haven't glued down all the spart yet! good thing YOU caught that before I did start gluing it all! I was wondering how it made any sense to put a spacer under ALL the ribs?

And I dont know what I could use to be able to pin stuff down... any suggestions on stuff around the house? All I had right now is the tape, Its holding things down now but not flush to my worktable!

thanks yall :) First time builder mistakes!

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

If your desk top is flat ? { check it with a straight edge } Get a piece of 1/2 inch sheet rock , cut to the same size and use that for bulding on.


Hang out with this crazy bunch and we wll shoot you straight.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Alrgiht thanks! im gonna go get some tomorrow morning! Im taking a break to watch this hilarious american idol show! Im gonna be back building at 10 oclock eastern time though! and I will honestly probably be up building till around 3 oclock in the morning.. I can't get enough of it! im already enjoying this SOOOOO much! :)

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

The sheeting under the center is definitely a problem. Only the one at the trailing edge should be there.

I personally prefer to use CA except on joints that need sanding but I think wood glue may actually be best for a first build since it will give you more opportunity to reposition a part if you need to.

As for a building surface, I'm currently using ceiling tile. The local Home Depot sells them individually. You could also take them from the ceiling at school or work, just don't get caught. (I'm kidding). Drywall also works well. My first building surface was a wide laminated pine board, kind of like a butcher block. It was hard getting pins into it but it did work for a few builds. Other options include cork or foam insulation sheets. Great Planes sells building boards that are pretty nice too. I have one but it is to short and to narrow for larger stuff. I prefer to cover my entire table with the ceiling tiles.

The other thing to remember is to measure twice... make that 4 times, and cut once. On my first build or two I made mis-cuts, glued stuff incorrectly and various other mistakes. Take your time and be absolutely sure before you apply any sort of blade or glue. Also, the straighter you make things now, the better the plane will fly later.

Have fun, you picked a good plane.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

another option for protecting the plans is clear plastic sheeting from the hardware store. it is definitely more expensive than wax paper but it works very well.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hey ChuckW
Thank you for all the help on the building board.. I think im probably going to go with the ceiling tiles! that sounds like it would work great.. and the other balsa sheet was for the spacer for when the outside sheeting goes on.. the plans said to put it just under the first 3 ribs and not the whole wing.... I thought you were supposed to put it under the whole wing. haha first timer mistake :eek:

I Like how its going so far though.. everything looks real neat to me and so far everythings going really smooth... about to start building again in about 5 minutes after this hilarious shows over!
THANKS keep this going guys :) its helping me out a lot especially when I start my buildling again! there will be A LOT of pictures.. everything I do will be photographed

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

~~~flush~~~

Well, I hope not everything you do will be photographed!

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Sig makes good kits..

As far as glue is concerned.. It's probably the most fanatically debated arguement in these forums. CA allows for a faster build. But it has fumes, and is expensive, and is hard to sand. Wood glue, like Elmers, or Tightbond, are less expensive, but take longer to dry, and is easier to sand. CA, you must have your pieces prepositioned before applying. Wood glue you have a little time fuss with positioning after you glue. When joining wood. CLAMPS!!!!!! the better connection between wood-to-wood, the stronger the joint. So get your clamps ready.

Personally, I use wood glue everywhere except: 1. CA hinges. 2. Epoxied joints like the firewall and wing joint. But then again, I enjoy the building process, and now that there's snow on the ground I can take my time.

Otherwise... keep up the good work, you'll learn a lot.. I know I did....

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

hahaha Saramos not EVERYTHING

heres some updates... got all the braces glued in and even... think its going pretty good!?
Im about to go ahead and go to the next step and put the top sheeting on the trailing edge..
then the spars on the top... Ill get some more pictures up after that is done.

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

I recently built the kit for my second plane... i'll watch for any questions you may have.. it's a fantastic flyer after flying trainer type aircraft... she goes where you point it with rolls and inverted flight straight and true. Really the only suggestion I have is on building the fuse. Make a hatch over the rather than a permanent one as the plan suggests. That's just my preference but it's much easier access to that area through an opening in the top than through a tight hole in the bulkhead in the fuselage.
Mike

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Thanks mike! letting the glue dry on the top main spar right now...
then im gonna put the top trailing edge sheeting on...

Im really just relaxing and taking my time building this... I'm really really enjoying doing this
anymore tips are well appreciated, more pictures soon!

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Hey kid! :)

You are doing far better than I did when I got back to building and did my 4*! Only 4 hours and you have the wing done and even stopped to watch a TV show, hah! It's looking good to me, but pay attention to what these experienced builders tell ya. Only thing I can advise from my experience building mine, is try to 'dry fit' everything, before you commit glue to it. Oh, and "Measure Twice, Cut Once" keep repeating that to yourself. I did, but I didn't hear myself, lol...

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Thanks a lot Kmot! I actually read through your great build of the *60 and YOUR THREAD alone made me start my build and start with the 4*40..... yours was the first I ever actually read all the way through and followed!

well heres the right wing panel ready for some sheeting!

RE: Sig 4*40 First time builder... BUILD THREAD!
 

Alright yall..
Got the top sheeting on the wing completed!
Looking good to me! :) what do yall think