After the untimely passing of my Tigger 2, I felt the need to have another Tiger in the hangar simply because it was such a great plane to fly. I had initially thought that the T2 was repairable, but the extent of the internal damage would have involved almost a complete rebuild. So I figured if I'm going to put that much effort into another one, it might as well be a bigger one. (That and a deal too good to pass up on a Saito .82) So I'm also going to share the construction progress as I make a few minor modifications along the way. My plans at this point (always subject to change) include larger control surfaces in the tail, pull-pull rudder, cowled side-mount engine, shorter wing with slightly less dihedral, and tail-dragger landing gear. Much of this is patterned after the modifications described in the Sept. 2006 Flying Models article by Alan Allman titled "Old Al's Tiger 60 Mods"
This will probably be a slow process as it tends to take me a while to find enough time to make substantial progress, but my goal is to have this done by spring.

Off we go...
I've barely started on the horizontal stab, but the first picture shows how the hinge stick is moved forward 1/2" to allow for larger elevator surfaces.

BTW - has anyone seen a Pitts muffler for the Saito .82?

The Tiger 60 is a great building model and will take you to a higher level , if that's what you want . I built one in 1995 and flew it to 1999-after an honest 700 plus flights, the 6/32 wing bolts loosened on my fourth flight of the day and the wing and fuse went their separate ways in mid-flight. I guess I was dumb not to check after the 3rd, but it felt like an old shoe and lulled me into thinking it would never die, anyway I kept the remains which are repairable. I currently fly the advanced AMA pattern with a Focus 2, next year a 2 Meter Brio.
MY Tiger started with a .60 2 stroke , ended with an OS 91 Pump which was perfect for extended vertical climbs, outside squares and the like. It wasn't capable of acceptable snaps , but did alot very well . I've flown the ARF- too heavy . Someday I'll rebuild my Tiger60 for relaxed flying.

Hey Krossk! I was wondering when you were coming back. Just signing up, like you build style.

Mods

Nice to see that the Tiger is still a popular plane! My Tiger Deluxe kit should be here tomorrow, so I'll definately be watching this thread for motivation/inspiration.

I'd like to side mount the engine as well, but since I'm building the retract version, I'm not yet sure if that's possible.

Glad to have your input as well. You've done more than your share of raising the build bar! (I'm still anxious to see how that SU-27 come out)

Well, I don't know if I'll venture into pattern competition, but I would certainly like to be capable of doing so if the competitive bug should ever bite. But I do know of many instances where good pattern flyers started with the Tiger and that it is a good plane to learn how to fly with precision. My T2 was very adequately powered with a TT.46 and I'm thinking that the Saito .82 should be well suited to the T60, although I've never heard of one being over-powered with a .91, so I hope the .82 works as well.

A little more progress on the stab last night. I got the perimiter frame glued up and started on the internal trussing. I had to trim the internal corner gusset from the end pieces to accomodate the relocated hinge stick. This also caused the internal bracing to not align itself exactly per the plans. I had been considering tapering the elevator halvs, and while digging through my balsa pile, I came across some aileron stock thta is almost the exact width needed for the elevators, so that task may have just been simplified significantly. More on that after the stab is completely framed...

I was able to finish up the H-stab this afternoon. I added the rest of the internal bracing, trimmed the tabs at the elevator edges since I'm going to use full width elevator halves, and rounded the edges. The elevator halves are going to be made from 3/8x2" trailing edge stock as it is just the right width and thickness and is already tapered. I'll finish up the elevators after I have the tail group framed and can dry-fit everything to the fuselage. I was also able to get the V-stab is also framed up and ready to start on the rudder. I'm going to extend the rudder by 1.5" on the top edge and 2.5" on the bottom edge in an attempt to achieve some more rudder authority. The last picture shows the rudder trailing edge close to the actual position.

Kross I am very excited to see this thread as I am starting my tiger .60 build soon after the holidays. I will be building it in stock form
It will be my third plane and my 2nd kit. not including a CG eaglet traner I built in the late 80's but never flew it. just wondering if the goldberg kits are still as easy and the instructions are still as good as that eaglet.

I am not expecting any difficulties with the T60 kit. The newer kit is laser cut and the wood looks good - only some minor warped ply in non-critical pieces. My first kit was a Tiger2 that I started about 10 years ago, put on hold for grad. school, marriage, family, interstate move, etc. and then finished about 3 years ago. I liked that plane so much that it demise is what lead me to this build. In between, I built a Sig Somethin' Extra, which was also a nice kit. I've also got a CG Sukhoi that was severely water-damaged in my move that I was starting on (re-cutting a new kit from newer version plans) but got put on hold for this build. Overall, if you can read and keep from gluing your fingers together, you should have no problem building the T60. My biggest concern was having a flat building surface - that and finding as much time as I'd like to work on it

Hi
I have also started building the Tiger 60 / retracts . It is my second build , my first was a LT-40 , that I ffinished in dope I flew it for the first time a month ago , and it went great . I have a Saito 56 in it , and with the dope I think it looks fantastic . I loved building it , and when it first flew , it needed very little trim , very stable plane . Very pleased with the build

My Tiger will have only one addition and that has flaps , thats only because I want to learn more about my radio a Futaba 9 CAP . I want to learn more about mixing . The Tiger will also have an oversized engine , an OS 91 Fx , If it ends up too powerful , I will just perchase an OS 60 for it The 60 and 90 are the same dimentions , it s the only reason that I m putting in an OS-91 . I ve already been told that it is overkill . It can always go into another project in the future .

My tail section is already built and I am well into the wing . I have run into some problems . the leading edge of the ailerons are not thick enough . Once you have added the trailing edge sheeting to the wings , the ailerions only measure a little under 1/2 inch , while the trailing edge of the wing is 9/16 . What I have done is added a ply of balsa cross wise to strenthen the aileron and to bring it up to the proper thickness This is were I am at the pressent moment


Michel ( Mike )[8D]

Gravety works Ive tested it

It's been a busy week with the holiday and all, so progeess has been a little slow here. But I got the rest of the tail feathers framed up this afternoon. I decided to deviate from my original plan on the rudder. Instead of adding on th the rear with additional framing, I decided to just add a section of the same 2" trailing edge stock that I'm using for the elevators. With a slight re-bevel of the leading edge to make the angle symmetrical, it adds a nice even 2" taper to the rear of the rudder. Some minor finish sanding should clean it up nicely.

Hi Krossk

Why would you add 2 inchs on the rudder , I know that it would be for more control for the tail surface . From hear-say and seeing it the the tiger is tail heavy , because it s fusaloge is long . A friend of mine built his and with regular tri-gear , sitting on the ground (not on the cg point ) , the plane was very light on the nose . I was just wondering why ?

Michel ( Mike )[8D]

While the Tiger series is typically very steady tracking and capable of precision aerobatics, they are also known for weak rudder authority and poor ability to sustain knife-edge flight. (My Tiger 2 exhibited these characteristics) My intent by adding rudder is to improve rudder control. My additions are still miniscule compared to what the modification article I referenced earlier recommended. I just didn't like the way that one looked, so I am still trying to preserve the original lines.

As far as balance goes, I intend to add a built-up cowl and aluminum spinner to the nose, which should adequately offset the minimal addition to the rudder. There's also plenty of room for a large battery under the fuel tank if necessary.

Hi

Makes sence to me , if you are a acrobatic flyer , you would most certainly know more , since you already have experience with it .Just wanted to know . Thanks

Have a nice day .

Michel ( Mike )[8D]

Well, I think I'm more of an *aspiring* aerobatic flyer. But I did get some valuable feedback from having my plane in the hands of a very capable pattern flyer. There is also a lot of concensus feedback from others in the archives here. I'd just rather have the control and not need it, than need it and wish I had it!

Feel free to post some pics of your build here. I've always been curious about the retracts in the Tiger - especially the nose wheel. How much weight does that add?

Hi krossk
Yes it is one of the best ways to get information , and youre right it is certainly better to have it than not have it .I will most certainly keep you onformed about the retracts , although I cann t take photos , my computer isn t strongh enogh . it s old although Misses Clause say s that if I m a good boy , I might get a new one for x-mass ( it s in the planning ) Well if I go by here say , I won t have to add any weight . It will be interesting won t it ?

Just got back from flying , what an absolutly beautiful day , got in 11 flights WoW for this time of year ,

Fantastic

Hope youre weather is just as good


Michel ( Mike )[8D]

Sorry for the dead air lately. It's been a busy week and we just got about 6" of that icky white stuff yesterday.

I've pretty much finished up the basic construction of the V-fin and rudder. I still need to bevel the hinge line and slit the hinges, but that will come closer to final assembly of the tail group. The next step is to modify the wing plans to shorten and strengthen the wing. I was able to obtain a second set of plans from a friend, which makes it nice to be able to mark up a set without altering my originals. As described in the article, I will be changing the rib spacing to 3" and adding 3 more ribs per side, while still shortening the length by one bay on each side. Hopefully I'll have some build time later this afternoon and can get some pics posted. Stay tuned...

Hi Krossk

That , white stuff , is what I need to work , we ve been waiting for it for a month , I work at a ski hill . glad to hear from you .
When I was building my wing , I found out that the trailing edge of the wing , and the leading edge of the ailiron are different thicknesses .
The trailing edge was 9/16 and the leading edge of the aileron was 1/2 inch . I would like to know if you got the same results when you get to that point of the wing .

The mod, s that you are makeing to the wing will make it pretty strong , and much more acrobatic , good mod . The only mod that I m makeing is to my wing is that I m putting in flap s . Other than that the wing went good in the building stage .

I was told buy a fellow club member that CGP has strange thicknesses of wood , for example . My sheeting was .070 thick , which you cann t buy . strange[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

Take care and be well

Michel ( Mike )[8D]

Well, no build time today - Christmas preparation and shopping instead[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]. Hopefully tomorrow
I wouldn't worry about the thickness differential on the ailerons. By the time you bevel the LE of the aileron for adequate deflection you won't even notice it.

Hi Krossk

What I was told my a few builders was that I must be aware of , flutter , as a mechanic it would be called a differetial in air flow going over the wing . It makes sence to me , so what I did was add 1/16 ply cross wise to the ailerons . It gave the ailerons strength and evened out the air flow over the wing . At least this is what I ve been showen . It will work out better when I sand down the wing .

Take care

Michel ( Mike )[8D]

Here's a couple pics that go along with post #18

Hi
I ve looked at youre plans and you really are shorting the wings , I imagine that the red lines are were the ribs go . Will you be useing the same contruction wing tips or will they be changed also ? I m at the point of adding my wing tips and installing the aileron extentions as well as the centre section . I almost have the idea to shorten the wings myself , it s not too late , although the extra ribs would not be added , it s too late for that . Youre rudder looks great , I m afraid that it would make my tail too heavy , so I will reframe from that idea

Happy Holidays


Michel ( Mike ) [8D]

Yes, the red lines are the rib locations. The advantage here is that the shear webs will now span from rib to rib. I'm not sure what I'm doing for wing tips yet. I did the tips of my T2 like a conventional, rounded wing tip, not realizing they were supposed to be beveled. So I may go that route on this one. Supposedly, that is less efficient, but it flew fine IMO. I guess I'l cross that bridge when I get there.

krossk, the rudder/vertical stab is a very weak point on the tiger 60.the vertical stab is so tall.if you add to the rudder i think i would beef up that area some maybe add some gussets or something.i have seen one other tiger 60 at my field snap the vertical stab due to stress and several others flex a lot at the vertical stabilizer.someone found and article to reinforce it by adding triangle stock between the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.that helped a lot with mine.