SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

What are the differences in the flight characteristics of these two planes? Which one do you like more?

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

The Hog Bipe is more aerobatic and the longer tail moment makes it a lot easier to get in the air. The Mini is a ground looping queen!

The looks of the Mini are better (At 44"wingspan, it is truly 1/4 scale). It flies like it thinks it is a 110" monster. Very stable in the air (Snap rolls are blindingly fast if set up right) and lands slower than a trainer. I haven't experienced any pitching problems with the Mini. You can build it heavy and it still floats forever!

The Hog Bipe is bigger. It has ailerons on both wings, Easy to get in the air, easy to land. Some people prefer to move the landing gear about 1/2" forward of its current location. I did not have a great deal of trouble with mine in the stock location. I simply used a little up through roll out without any problems with it wanting to pull up too early and stall out (I fly off grass).

My Hog Bipe (as well as my GP Skybolt) Has serious pitching issues however. There is dihedral in the lower wing. I built mine to plans and with a bit of rudder it will roll the bipe like I shoved full aileron into it! Stall turns were impossible. It will simply roll out of the manuver at the very top. This might be corrected by pulling the dihedral out of the wing. I haven't gotten that far yet.

You can modify the tail any way you wish if you don't like the looks of it. I'd keep it stock. No need for anything larger. Use a high torque servo on the rudder. It will hold the knife edge just fine (with correction with aileron).

I like the Hog Bipe because the construction is builder friendly. It goes together easy and you will learn a few GREAT building techniques. The Smith Miniplane is an experienced builders paradise. You build every square inch of that puppy. You have to engineer the incidence as instructed in the plans and manual. The Hog has most of that work done for you. The engine is easier to access being open on the Hog. I personally like this. I like it because it is not a scale bipe, and it has the old school looks with great modern performance. You can modify that easy enough if you wish as well. But I like it.

Both are greath. If this is your 1st bipe or bipe build, I'd STRONGLY recommend buying the Miniplane as your second, or better, your third bipe build.

The Hog Bipe is the best 1st bipe on the market. But then that is just my opinion, biased as it may be.

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

Great summary, thank you. I already have the Miniplane kit, and yes, this is my first bipe build. Looks like I need to get me a Hog bipe kit...

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

I built and flew the Miniplane before I'd had much experience with powered models. It was a very satisfying project, being challenging, but Sig's good materials and instructions helped the whole way. Mine was powered by a Magnum .53 2-stroke with stock muffler as per plans. (The .53 is a .40 size engine so it fit perfectly.) I'd recommend a .46 2-stroke, any 4-stroke would need the cowl cut out. I modified the wing to accept two aileron servos. The plane sure did handle and fly like a bigger, solid airplane. The first flight was a panic, it needed quite a bit of up trim and is quick and fast. Once I got used to it I loved flying it and did quite a few flights with snow skis. Eventually pilot carelessness did it in, I started thinking the pulling up into a tumble about 50 feet off the ground was great fun. Looking back, the Miniplane took me from novice to experienced and remains one of the models I'm proudest of.
I built two Hog-Bipes which both flew great from the first take-off. The kit goes together much quicker and more easily. The kit includes parts and instructions for dual aileron servos which I recommend. After modifying the first to take a round cowl I liked the stock open front end as well. After building the first one stock in every other respect, the second one had the bottom wing dihedral reduced by about half and the rudder and elevators widened and the vertical fin reshaped. I was very happy with the flight characteristics of the second. It would stall turn beautifully and do an inverted spin so nice. It also taught me to circle the field in knife-edge. Personally I think the airplane is designed for .91 4-strokes, I like the Thunder Tiger and O.S.
There's quite a few Hog-Bipes displayed at fuberhill.com with tips and modifications.
I'll agree with Ilikebipes, also like biplanes and think the Hog-bipe makes building and operating one about as easy as could be. If you take the time saved in building and put it to doing the sunburst color scheme with pinstriping it'll be the envy of your fellow modelers. Here's mine in green Ultracote with my Jungmeister. Best wishes with the Miniplane, and the Hog if you get one!
[IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/IMG_2039.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/IMG_2045.jpg[/IMG]

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

I had more fun with the Smith in the air but it really was a hand full on the ground. When Brian said it was a ground looping queen he was dead on!! After you get used to the way it handles on take off it's OK, landing wasn't too bad. I ended up having to install an OS 70FS in mine to get it to CG without so much lead in the nose but that could have been the way I had the gear set up. The Hog is a great all around plane and I had a gang of fun with it too.
Tough choice, I like them both but the Smith is a lot cooler looking??? Maybe??

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

debspersonaldogwalker-

I WANT YOUR JUNGMEISTER!

Brian

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

For what it's worth, here is a picture of both my Sig bipes.

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

I solved the Smith ground handling issues on takeoff very easily - by connecting a simple GWS rate gyro to the rudder channel.

It takes off with a long straight run as long as you like, like an arrow, very little input from the rudder required, and the gyro also guards against overcontrol.

Good for helis, so why not for use on fixed wing aircraft?

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

I don't remember the Smith being a problem on the ground, I do remember toeing in the wheels. Also, I use a spring between the rudder and tailwheel. I thought it would absorb shock from the tailwheel to the rudder, and also maybe soften the steering response a bit.

Ilikebipes, with those beauties in your fleet the Jungmeister would just sit in the hangar.:)

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

I think the Hog Bipe is a much easier build than the Smith. I also think the Hog is an easier to fly bipe. I much preferred flying the Smith. I used an OS 45 fsr and a S.T. S-45 in mine. I can't tell you exactly how many flights I had on the Smith, but it was over 600. What a great flying airplane! The only real short coming for the Smith is outside manuevers. Its a great platform to learn rudder. It does a beautiful slow roll, responding well to top rudder application. I loved to slip it in on landings. It was one of the best windy weather planes I ever had. I learned more from flying it than any other plane I have ever got to fly. It also fit in the car fully assembled. While in college, it went to the flying field several times a week and was my main plane for over two years. I flat wore the covering off ( micafilm) from so many flights. I finally retired her, and still have it in the attic from 26 years ago.

I havent built a Hog Bipe, but have flown several. They fly nice. I would say it is not as aerobatic. It does handle better on the ground. It does have coupling issue's. I think it would make a great first bipe.

Wanting more aerobatics, I went to Skybolts and Ultimates after the Smith. All of them are worth the build.

What a great looking Jungmeister. I need to get one of them going for myself.... I have always heard they fly so good.

turbo

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

Just wondering if you could share the gyro hook up you said you added to your Smith Miniplane. I always love to try new things.

I've just finished my mini but weather has me grounded for at least another two months. So, It still gives me time to play. I hope you will share.

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

I too have owned both the Mini and the Hog Bipe and all the above comments are spot on. For my aging eyesight I like the larger planes better now.

Brian

Don't want to hijack this thread but...go to www.texasrcplanes.com and look at the Buckers. I bought the electric 55" in yellow and it's really nice. A pretty good quality ARF if there is such a thing and at a great price. I did do some mods though but they would not be necessary with the nitro version. Because I overpowered it a little by some peoples standards my all up weight is just over 6 pounds with battery and it takes off and lands VERY gently. Much more relaxing than the Hog Bipe. I went with this ARF because I have a 1/4 scale Dave Platt Jungmeister I built in 1985 that is hanging up in need of recover, a Pica Jungmeister that has been in process for years, and I just wanted to get back to flying a Bucker. I think you'd like it.

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/gallery/ga...memid%3D518315<div>This is one of my planes. I can't id what this plane is exactly. Do any of you know?</div>

RE: SIG: Hog Bipe vs. Smith Miniplane
 

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