Sig Kougar Build
08-08-2007, 12:55 AM
#126
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
The fun begins...
I've never been very good at covering but I'm trying to get better. It takes time - something I never seem to have and something I'm rarely willing to spend. Still, I'm trying to enjoy it more - I think if you slow down and don't rush you do just that - enjoy it more. I went a little speedy tonight and I think I'm going to stop that because I can see the results of my speediness and they aren't as good as I'd hoped. My covering tools are not the greatest - for the next model I shall have to invest in a nicer iron and a trim iron. Right now I'm not terribly worried about the finish - I'm shooting for better than passible and I think I'll get there. I had been shooting for a Sunday maiden but after working at it for a few hours tonight (dilligently) I think I'm going to retract that hope a bit. The following weekend is our Scale master competition which I hope to fly my Corsair in (sport scale) but maybe prior to the event I can pull off the maiden. We'll see - failing all of that I will plan on the weekend following that event (3 weekends from now). I hate putting it off but if I do I think the finished product will be that much better. Besides...I'm still waiting on my replacement canopy. I've never screwed up so many things on one build before....
Anyway - here are tonight's pictures. I'm kind of going for the F-86 Skyblazers look - not exactly like it (I'm not that good) just kind of like it.
I've never been very good at covering but I'm trying to get better. It takes time - something I never seem to have and something I'm rarely willing to spend. Still, I'm trying to enjoy it more - I think if you slow down and don't rush you do just that - enjoy it more. I went a little speedy tonight and I think I'm going to stop that because I can see the results of my speediness and they aren't as good as I'd hoped. My covering tools are not the greatest - for the next model I shall have to invest in a nicer iron and a trim iron. Right now I'm not terribly worried about the finish - I'm shooting for better than passible and I think I'll get there. I had been shooting for a Sunday maiden but after working at it for a few hours tonight (dilligently) I think I'm going to retract that hope a bit. The following weekend is our Scale master competition which I hope to fly my Corsair in (sport scale) but maybe prior to the event I can pull off the maiden. We'll see - failing all of that I will plan on the weekend following that event (3 weekends from now). I hate putting it off but if I do I think the finished product will be that much better. Besides...I'm still waiting on my replacement canopy. I've never screwed up so many things on one build before....
Anyway - here are tonight's pictures. I'm kind of going for the F-86 Skyblazers look - not exactly like it (I'm not that good) just kind of like it.
08-08-2007, 06:19 AM
#127
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
When covering I find a heat gun the most useful tool. After tacking it down around the edges you can stretch the covering tight without accidently tacking it down in strange places.
08-09-2007, 01:01 AM
#128
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
I have found that the heat gun is a very helpful tool. I'm using Sig Aerocote for the silver and Monocote for the Blue and Red.
The Aerocote appears to have much more shrink ability than the monocote does. It's a much heavier film as well - they both seem to have their own positive and negative traits though so I won't say one is better than the other. I have been using Monocote for more than 20 years though and figured it was time to try something new. I like the Aerocote and I think I will try it again on the next model. I just find with Monocote I don't have the shrinkability that I need.
Aerocote is much harder on an xacto blade though - I'll have to change the more frequently.
The wing is done except for the ailerons.
The Aerocote appears to have much more shrink ability than the monocote does. It's a much heavier film as well - they both seem to have their own positive and negative traits though so I won't say one is better than the other. I have been using Monocote for more than 20 years though and figured it was time to try something new. I like the Aerocote and I think I will try it again on the next model. I just find with Monocote I don't have the shrinkability that I need.
Aerocote is much harder on an xacto blade though - I'll have to change the more frequently.
The wing is done except for the ailerons.
08-10-2007, 11:23 PM
#130
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Well I said I would try to get the sig ad from the august of 1982 R/C Modeller magazine scanned in last weekend and I finally got that done tonight. Here it is: The Twin Kobra ad was part of the Sig ad in the August of 84 issue of R/C Modeller.
08-11-2007, 12:01 AM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
I also came across some pics of my old Kougar. These had to be taken around 1985 or so. The Kougar was the 3rd kit
I ever built. The chrome monokote was a challenge to work with but for the most part it looked pretty decent by the time I finished. As I remember it was hard to see on a cloudy day and on a bright sunny day when the airplane was at just the right atttitude the sun's reflection was almost blinding. Sometimes you could roll it as you were flying accross the field and it was almost like camera flashbulbs going off. It was a great flying airplane!
I ever built. The chrome monokote was a challenge to work with but for the most part it looked pretty decent by the time I finished. As I remember it was hard to see on a cloudy day and on a bright sunny day when the airplane was at just the right atttitude the sun's reflection was almost blinding. Sometimes you could roll it as you were flying accross the field and it was almost like camera flashbulbs going off. It was a great flying airplane!
08-11-2007, 02:34 AM
#132
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Almost done....just have to finish the aileron linkage, secure the rx/batt, finish painting the turtle deck and a little trim, glue on the canopy and deck and then balance. The engine is new so I will try to run it tomorrow prior to Sunday morning. I'm a little disappointed in one of my ailerons but I get the recommended throws out of it. I just can't get any more than that. I may have to redo the ailerons - not a big deal really just means I need to order more aluminum aerokote as I pretty much used the whole roll. Pictures tomorrow!
08-11-2007, 08:41 AM
#133
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
I'm a little disappointed in one of my ailerons but I get the recommended throws out of it. I just can't get any more than that. I may have to redo the ailerons -
I find it to be a good idea to reflex the ailerons for the initial test flights as per the instructions. Also 1/4" forward CG will tame the airplane down considerably. As you move the CG to the correct location the roll rate goes up about 20%.
Bill
08-11-2007, 06:08 PM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
I've got the glue on the canopy drying now so hopefully nothing goes screwy there...
Otherwise - she's ready for tomorrow morning bright and early.
Ran the engine for a few minutes but I didn't totally tune it. Just wanted to make sure all was well and it seems to be - it's a brand new (purchased 2 years ago) magnum 46 xls. I'll start it with a 10x6 prop to break it in and try a few others if things go well tomorrow.
More pictures then!
Otherwise - she's ready for tomorrow morning bright and early.
Ran the engine for a few minutes but I didn't totally tune it. Just wanted to make sure all was well and it seems to be - it's a brand new (purchased 2 years ago) magnum 46 xls. I'll start it with a 10x6 prop to break it in and try a few others if things go well tomorrow.
More pictures then!
08-12-2007, 02:38 PM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Woooohoooo! That was fun - 3 very good flights.
I spent about 10 minutes tuning up the engine and then we headed out. Took a little aileron and a bit of elevator to trim her out but once trim she was quite nice to fly. Fast too - faster than I expected and that was just on a 10x6 prop. I'll get a 10x7 or 8 on there and I think she'll really move. I'm very pleased - it flew even better than I remembered and by the second flight I was doing slow rolls down the length of the runway.
Very nice - pictures I took prior to flight will be posted later today...
I spent about 10 minutes tuning up the engine and then we headed out. Took a little aileron and a bit of elevator to trim her out but once trim she was quite nice to fly. Fast too - faster than I expected and that was just on a 10x6 prop. I'll get a 10x7 or 8 on there and I think she'll really move. I'm very pleased - it flew even better than I remembered and by the second flight I was doing slow rolls down the length of the runway.
Very nice - pictures I took prior to flight will be posted later today...
08-12-2007, 03:24 PM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
It was very good - the last flight I was out there by myself pretty much and I just started shooting touch and goes wishing for a slight headwind to help me slow down just a bit more...
09-20-2007, 08:46 AM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Help! Pages 17-20 of my Kougar manual are missing ! Could somebody be kind enough to contact me about making a copy of those pages? I'll pay for any costs involved.
There are no cut/trim lines on the canopy, so do I keep trimming until it matches the turtle deck?
Thanks jollyroger
There are no cut/trim lines on the canopy, so do I keep trimming until it matches the turtle deck?
Thanks jollyroger
09-20-2007, 10:27 AM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
JR,
I took mine out to make a PDF for you and it doesnt have it either. After lookin g around at it, 17-20 are a "remove this sheet from booklet". page. I was going to explain it.. but it looks like this.. you may have it in your plans..
Jeff
I took mine out to make a PDF for you and it doesnt have it either. After lookin g around at it, 17-20 are a "remove this sheet from booklet". page. I was going to explain it.. but it looks like this.. you may have it in your plans..
Jeff
09-30-2007, 07:11 PM
#145
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Hope the plans are helpful. I think the 1/4" dowels are stronger than the former. All my crashes (mishaps) have messed up the former. The former could be doubled with thin lite ply.
Bill
Bill
09-30-2007, 10:42 PM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Yeah, I don't see a lot of need to make them bigger. Plus by making them bigger the wing leading edge may actually become weaker because of the larger holes required to hold them.
10-01-2007, 11:48 AM
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
ORIGINAL: submikester
Yeah, I don't see a lot of need to make them bigger. Plus by making them bigger the wing leading edge may actually become weaker because of the larger holes required to hold them.
Yeah, I don't see a lot of need to make them bigger. Plus by making them bigger the wing leading edge may actually become weaker because of the larger holes required to hold them.
All the servos have been installed and work as they should after I had to relocate the Elev and rudder servos to provide clearance for the aileron torque rods.
The wing so far weighs 26 oz. without the tips shaped( going to do that today) that includes the HS-225BB servo. I installed an Axi 2826-10 using 2" of spacers to get the prop backing plate clear of the cowl.
Testing the Axi with a 5S 3700 25C Hyperion Lipo, CC Phoenix 60 and 11X5.5 prop yields 45A and 760 watts. Should be enough, but I am worried about prop clearance so I may have to get a 10X7 3 blade in either a Graupner or APCE. Though I will try a MAster Airscrew E Prop.
Power looks good though and I now need to make a battery tray and hatch.
I have to bend the nose gear to get it to fit the Robart strut cover. I have the covers already installed on the mains and they look great.
Now it's bits and pieces to get it together. I'm on lay off for a while so I should be able to get it done if I don't get jaded with it.
cheers and thanks for the responses. jollyroger
10-02-2007, 08:19 AM
#150
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RE: Sig Kougar Build
Ground clearance is tight but I have occasionally used 11" props.
Wing blocks will often break away from the fuselage rather than shearing the nylon bolts on a very bad landing. Formers will often break away from the fuselage especially if you used CA. There is probably not enough former/fuselage glue area. Triangle and square stock was difficult to clamp during repairs.
Bill
Wing blocks will often break away from the fuselage rather than shearing the nylon bolts on a very bad landing. Formers will often break away from the fuselage especially if you used CA. There is probably not enough former/fuselage glue area. Triangle and square stock was difficult to clamp during repairs.
Bill