RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
Considering that I thought the plane had impacted straight into the ground, I'm pretty pleased that the damage wasn't worse. The missing ribs were pretty much all crushed up, but I think I can trace some existing ribs ok. Any tips for joining the leading and trailing edges? What kind of joint should I do...halving joint or a splice? Epoxy or CA? I don't fancy trying to remove the vertical stab to fix the horizontal one...its epoxied in place!
Posted on: 7/21/2009 5:11 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8952615

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
Well, here are some photos of the damage.
Posted on: 7/21/2009 3:56 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8952438

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
Thanks for your encouragement everyone. The shipping is over $50 so the wing kit plus plans would cost about $100 total. I think I will be repairing the wing. Its probably not as bad as it looks. I'll try to get some photos later.
Posted on: 7/21/2009 1:11 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8951984

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
$36.99 for a wing kit and $10.99 for the plans from Sig. Plus shipping from USA to Ireland. My original plans are long gone.
Posted on: 7/21/2009 10:51 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8951618

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
I got up at 6 this morning and went to retrieve the plane in torrential rain! I have one of those marquee tents that has a tubular steel pole framework that slots together. I slotted together about 7 or 8 of the poles and poked the plane from different angle until it was dislodged from the tree. I was able to catch it when it fell! The damage is not quite as bad as I had imagined. The wing took the brunt of the impact. It was sheered off on the right side, about a foot in from the wing tip. The rubber bands holding the wing on didn't move much! The fuselage is intact, except for a hole through the front windshield and the flimsy bottom bit of balsa under the engine and between the balsa cowlings. The tail feathers are intact, except for the horizontal stab on one side that is snapped off. The engine and propellor are fine. The battery and servo had remained in place, velcroed securely in their foam cradles. So...where do we go from here? If I can get a wing kit from sig, I will build another wing. It may be possible to repair the old one, but I'm not sure if it would be easier to make a new one.
Posted on: 7/21/2009 3:41 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8951084

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
Well, its back to square one. Tonight the plane is resting in the top of a tall pine tree. It went in at almost full throttle. The cause of the crash was me! I flew too far away, lost orientation in the poor evening light. When I tried a left turn, I was so small that I couldn't see what was happening. I think I didn't realise how far the plane had travelled because it was flying with a tailwind. Eventually she lost height and went down behind some trees. I heard a loud crash, I was sure she had hit solid ground at full throttle. It took about an hour to find it, high up in a tree beside the overgrown ruins of an old farmhouse. From what I could see from the ground, the wing is in several pieces, but the fuselage looks to be largely in one piece. The vertical stab is still connected, but the horizontal stab might be sheared off. I have no idea how to get it down from there. Its at least 30 feet off the ground.
Posted on: 7/20/2009 6:30 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8949844

RE: Battery too small for Kadet Senior
I have one of those voltwatch things, but never installed it. I didn't fancy cutting a hole in the side of the plane to put it....Looked like it would be a nightmare to clean glowfuel and castor out of those leds.
Posted on: 7/20/2009 9:46 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8948403

RE: Sig Giant Kadet Senior ARF
Well, my kit-built senior with the one piece glassed wing is a big pain to transport. I have an estate car (stationwagon) and it just wedges in the back with the rear seats down. And even then, one end rests on top of the front passenger seat.
Posted on: 7/20/2009 9:44 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8948394

RE: Battery too small for Kadet Senior
I have always used 6 volt packs in mine. It gives the servos a good bit more power.
Posted on: 7/20/2009 6:12 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8948080

RE: Sig Giant Kadet Senior ARF
I built my Kadet Senior from a kit and if I remember correctly, it came with a piece of glass cloth that you had to epoxy along the wing joint with some warm epoxy so it flowed nicely into the balsa and the cloth. Maybe they left it out of the ARF version? I built mine as a taildragger as well. I made up some piano (music) wire main gear, mounted with wood screws and two metal brackets to a plywood reinforcement in the fuselage. I painted the piano wire with cold galvanising paint and then a glowfuel-proof clear lacquer. The tailwheel is a plastic klett one, also bolted to a plywood reinforcement in the rear of the tail. I left it to freely swivel or castor. Ground handling is not great on my bumpy grass strip. She turns left just fine, but right turns sometimes just don't work at taxi-ing speeds. The wire landing gear took a LOT of work to make. I had to heat the wire to soften it at the corners, then bend to shape, then re-temper the wire. A bought fibreglass or aluminium main gear would probably have been easier! I have an OS .46 FX on mine with a 12.25x 3.75 prop and it has plenty of power. I can do loops and rolls and she can fly inverted. Not bad for a 3 channel!
Posted on: 7/19/2009 2:35 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8946346

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
Just thought I would post a video of the plane flying after the repairs..... http://www.youtube.com/speedboatbuilder#play/uploads/3/MH7Kw87aFMc
Posted on: 7/17/2009 4:41 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8941815

RE: Spinner Nut question
Thanks, I'll just use the nut on its own. I don't use an electric starter so thats not an issue for me. I just flick the prop with a chicken stick.
Posted on: 7/16/2009 4:50 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8938996

Spinner Nut question
Hi, This may seem like a silly question, but I have a OS .46 FX and I bought the OS spinner nut for it. My question is: Do you take off the old nut and washer and just use the spinner nut on its own to hold the prop on? Or do you leave the old nut and washer on and put the spinner nut on the end? [image]http://www.prop-shop.com/g/o/osmp23024009.jpg[/image]
Posted on: 7/16/2009 2:50 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8938676

RE: OS .46 fx prop options
I set the top end as lean as possible, so that it doesn't sag when I hold the nose in the air for 20 seconds at full throttle. Probably four or five clicks rich from the peak rpm setting. The reason I was having a problem with landing in the video was because there was a slight wind blowing and the idle rpm had somehow crept up since I adjusted it a couple of days ago. I was also landing downwind which really didn't help things. I'm happier with the engine performance now though. I just have to practice landing from the other direction. The hedge and the big tree are a bit scary though! I think the 12.25 x 3.75 is the best prop for this plane by the sounds of it. Anything with a higher pitch would make her too fast at idle I think. Especially with my short runway, I need to be able to do short landings.
Posted on: 7/16/2009 11:22 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8938169

RE: OS .46 fx prop options
Here are some youtube videos of my kit-built Kadet Senior from last night. Let me know how you think the engine sounds. Look at the aborted landing one and how the engine picks up just in the nick of time to avoid the hedge!![X(] [url]http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=speedboatbuilder&view=videos#play/uploads[/url]
Posted on: 7/16/2009 5:22 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8937600

RE: My kadet setup
Here are some youtube videos of my kit-built Kadet Senior from last night. It has an OS .46FX engine running a 12.25 x 3.75 prop. Hitec Laser 6 radio gear with a 6 volt receiver pack. The plane is a 3 channel...doesn't have or need ailerons because of the dihedral in the wing. I have 4 inch dubro big wheels due to the bumpy landing strip! [url]http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=speedboatbuilder&view=videos#play/uploads[/url]
Posted on: 7/16/2009 5:14 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Aerial Photography and Video"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8937591

RE: Have you ever...?
Nope. Ever have your wife accidentally poke a hole in your plane's covering because she"didn't realise" it was so fragile?
Posted on: 7/14/2009 7:18 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Off Topic Forum - Cars, Trucks, Buggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8931733

RE: Sig Kadet Senior Weight
My kit-built senior with OS46 FX needed only 8 oz of lead push up under the fuel tank.
Posted on: 7/13/2009 7:16 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8930248

RE: OS .46 fx prop options
I have an aftermarket "quiet" muffler fitted. Its basically the same as the stock one, except it has a slightly bigger chamber and two baffles instead of one inside. I've read somewhere that this could cause the adjustments to be more sensitive.
Posted on: 7/13/2009 6:38 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8930141

RE: OS .46 fx prop options
OK thanks, I spent another couple of hours fine adjusting it tonight. I went back and forth about 1 turn, trying to figure out what is going on. I used two tanks of fuel! Here is how she is reacting at the moment> She will idle for as long as I want...I left it for about 5 minutes and she was still humming away, the revs didn't change much. After 5 minutes if I give her sudden full throttle, she will splutter a little bit but then get to full revs ok. This leads me to believe the low speed setting is slightly rich, which is where its supposed to be? If I loosen the low speed needle any more, there is hesitation from idle to full speed. If I tighten the low speed needle much further, like less than a quarter of a turn, I notice this happening...... (I was trying to simulate an aborted landing)... When the engine is idling for about 20 or 30 seconds with the nose slightly up, as if coming in to land, and then you suddenly punch full throttle, the engine will struggle to gain revs at all and will then fade to stop. Would this mean that the setting is too lean? With the nose up, the mixture tends to get leaner, is that correct? What I seem to have reached is the conclusion that there is no "100% perfect" setting. At my current setting, if I pinch the fuel line, the revs rise very slightly before lowering. Let me know what you think.
Posted on: 7/13/2009 5:32 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8929917

RE: OS .46 fx prop options
Does anyone have any tips on adjusting the low speed needle on a .46 fx? Can't seem to get it to transition properly without stumbling. Its a real pain of a job because I have to stop and start the engine every time to adjust the screw right behind the prop. When doing the "pinch test" at idle, what should I be aiming for?
Posted on: 7/13/2009 1:48 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8929288

RE: OS .46 fx prop options
Just a little feedback....I tried the 12.25 x 3.75 and wow, the plane is so much nicer to fly and land now. It slows the plane down just about perfectly for an almost vertical landing! It pulls really well for taking off from a bumpy grass strip too.
Posted on: 7/13/2009 10:49 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8928797

RE: Beginner??? Probably!
Yes, good tip. Go up an inch in diameter and down an inch in pitch. I have a 12.25 x 3.75 on my os .46fx and I can slow the plane down nicely for landing.
Posted on: 7/13/2009 5:26 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8928399

RE: do any online stores have cheap shipping for small items?
Five dollars isn't bad! I think its unreasonable to begrudge them a measly 5 dollars.
Posted on: 7/11/2009 6:40 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8924772

RE: My kadet setup
I had my first flight today on the kadet and she flies a LOT better without the camera pod. With a 12.25 x 3.75 prop, she slows down nicely for landing. THe piano wire landing gear has bent slightly again in the same place as before, so I'm not sure what to do about that!.
Posted on: 7/11/2009 5:44 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Aerial Photography and Video"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8923579

RE: My kadet setup
Hi, its me, kadetbuilder, just changed my user name. Hard to believe its been six years since the original post!!!!!!! Camera technology has moved on a LOT since then. My kadet has been in storage for most of the past six years. Unfortunately she got a bit damaged and I'm doing some repairs to her at the moment. I have removed the camera pod, so she looks like a stock senior now. I also shortened and re-soldered the piano wire landing gear because I don't need the massive ground clearance without the camera pod. I beefed up the horizontal stabiliser as well, by adding balsa doublers on the leading and trailing edges. In its stock condition, the hor. stab is farily bendy. I've cleaned out and rebuilt my os46fx engine with new bearings because the old ones had rusted in storage. I'm looking forward to getting back flying again.
Posted on: 7/11/2009 5:42 AM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Aerial Photography and Video"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8886847

RE: Kadet Senior rebuild
Well, I made my first flight today since about five years ago! Thanks to FMS simulator, my reactions were ok and I took off and landed the plane nicely first time. The second landing was not so good...I undershot the runway slightly due to misjudging the wind and not applying enough throttle. It was flying so slow at the time that there was no damage done. The rest of my five or six takeoffs and landings were really enjoyable. It was the first time that I have consistently been able to do lots of landings where the plane kissed the ground at a shallow angle and rolled along nicely. She flies much better without the bulky camera pod. She can do loops and even rolls, despite only being 3 channel. I'm using an 12.25 X 3.75 prop and it really slows the plane down very nicely for landing. One problem I had was that the engine doesn't transition well enough from idle to full throttle. I spent hours adjusting the low speed needle, but I can't seem to get it to transition without a delay/spluttering. It was a bit scary a couple of times when I throttled up to abort a landing and the engine spluttered a bit. The other problem is that the piano wire landing gear bent back a bit. I didn't think any of my landings were particularly heavy. I can only put it down to the possibility that the wire already had a weakness in it due to being bent and rebent back into shape 5 years ago after a bad landing.
Posted on: 7/10/2009 6:56 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Crash & Rebuild"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8922574

RE: RCU Roll call time..Where are you from?
County Monaghan, Ireland Hard to find a flat piece of land big enough for a runway around here...seriously! http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=corvalley+ireland&sll=37.509726,-95.712891&sspn=30.931016,56.513672&ie=UTF8&ll=54.136696,-5.053711&spn=11.499804,28.256836&t=h&z=5
Posted on: 7/8/2009 7:55 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8917167

RE: Throttle Trim adjustment for idling
Thank you all for your replies. Its great to get advice from you. I think I have it sorted out now. Yes, I fiddled a good bit with my low speed needle. It took me all evening to get it done, but now it can idle for about 25 or 30 seconds without any noticeable change in rpm. When I leave it idling for about 15 seconds and then give her full throttle, it responds nicely. If I leave the engine for about 35 or more seconds and suddenly give her full throttle, she delays slightly about half way through the rpm range and then goes to full. The low speed needle is very sensitive though...is this normal? [u]I ended up setting it up like this:[/u] With stick down and trim fully up, engine is at idle speed (I can adjust the exact idle speed with the "end point adjustment" on the TX.) So this means that the only time I need to touch the trim lever is to kill the engine. If I left the trim lever in the middle while idling, I would be afraid that I could accidentally knock it out of place while flying. I think its safer (for a novice like myself) to have the trim lever resting against the "top stop" of the trim slot.
Posted on: 7/8/2009 7:39 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8917122

RE: Throttle Trim adjustment for idling
I have a Hitec Laser 6 channel radio. It only has end point adjustment on the throttle. I think I will set it up like you said....that with the trim lever up all the way, it idles. Thanks
Posted on: 7/8/2009 3:35 PM by Author "FlyingIreland" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8916597