SIG Kadet LT-40 Build - My first proper build!

[Nu Me 1]

Those that may have read, or contributed, to my threads in the newbie and beginner sections will know that I am a novice in both kit building and have never flown a RC plane. This sets me up nicely for an open forum build!

Going off half cocked, as I often do, I picked the kit for a number of reasons, the main one's being that; included some additional hardware and; it is a trainer.

I am not sure where this thread is going to end up, part of me has a few pictures in a few months time (remember I can't fly yet either) taking it up on its maiden flight and the other part knows that Guy Fawkes night is only a few months away now.

The kit is due to arrive later today so more later.

Thanks for reading!

[DDH]

Nu Me 1 please be mindful that you will need a BMFA ‘A’ Certificate before you can fly your finished build on your own. If the CAA gets its way (rather, when it gets its way) it will (by all accounts) be law this October. Then, flying without the said certificate voids the BMFA insurance cover.

Hope you have a good flying club not too far away that you can join (ASAP!) and get properly trained (and certified). Clubs will (should) have their own trainer airplane (or two) and their own dual Tx’s (buddy system) that have been set up for the trainer(s) they use. So don’t expect to be able to use your own model for training. If you join a club, you can run the build and training in parallel and, if things go well, your model will be ready by the time you have your ‘A’ Certificate. Then, away you go…

Just a thought.

PS. I’ll look forward to you posting the build pics.

[Nu Me 1]

Hi David,

In the Beginners section I have detailed where I am with the non build stuff but thanks for the comment.

BMFA - joined.

Insurance Cert - got,

Flying club - joining, can't be done until the second Tuesday of a Month but they are expecting me.

Flying club - Had discussions with a future instructor including Buddy boxes etc.

Planes to use - the club has 3 trainers.

[Don Fry]

Nu Me, read the instructions, take your time. No build is perfect, but it's very frustrating to spend an hour correcting a moments inattention. Otherwise it's much like anything else, measure twice, cut once, check a fit is good before glue. And cyno glue is not your friend until you cease to make errors. Unforgiving stuff.

[Alan Gorham_]

Posted by DavidH on 19/07/2019 09:54:47:

Nu Me 1 please be mindful that you will need a BMFA ‘A’ Certificate before you can fly your finished build on your own. If the CAA gets its way (rather, when it gets its way) it will (by all accounts) be law this October. Then, flying without the said certificate voids the BMFA insurance cover.

Can you provide a source for this please? I fly in a BMFA affiliated club which does not require members to hold a BMFA A certificate to fly solo. I also fly from slope sites and have only ever been asked for proof of BMFA insurance.

I think you are conflating the incoming CAA registration and testing laws that will apply later this year with the BMFA achievement scheme which is not a mandatory test and has nothing to do with validity of insurance. In that case it's not great advice to be giving a newcomer to our hobby.

[jrman]

Well said Alan.

I don't think that anything in DavidH's post is correct!

[Peter Miller]

Posted by jrman on 19/07/2019 11:02:36:

Well said Alan.

I don't think that anything in DavidH's post is correct!

[Bob Cotsford]

Posted by DavidH on 19/07/2019 09:54:47:

Nu Me 1 please be mindful that you will need a BMFA ‘A’ Certificate before you can fly your finished build on your own. If the CAA gets its way (rather, when it gets its way) it will (by all accounts) be law this October. Then, flying without the said certificate voids the BMFA insurance cover.

Hope you have a good flying club not too far away that you can join (ASAP!) and get properly trained (and certified). Clubs will (should) have their own trainer airplane (or two) and their own dual Tx’s (buddy system) that have been set up for the trainer(s) they use. So don’t expect to be able to use your own model for training. If you join a club, you can run the build and training in parallel and, if things go well, your model will be ready by the time you have your ‘A’ Certificate. Then, away you go…

Just a thought.

PS. I’ll look forward to you posting the build pics.

David, it's not a legal requirement to have a BMFA or any other certificate to fly. It may be a club rule but it is by no means a UK statute. The BMFA are not at the moment a regulatory body, they recommend best practise and the acheivement is primarily for personal satisfaction although some clubs do use it as a measure of competency.

As for the test that may or may not be introduced in coming months, that will not be 'the CAA getting it's way' it will be something foisted on the CAA by the government and will not be a part of the BMFA acheivement scheme.

Let's not confuse newcomers with scare stories and hearsay!

[Nigel R]

"And cyno glue is not your friend until you cease to make errors"

cyano effectiveness, in order:

1) your fingers

2) the bottle

3) the workbench

4) the thing you've just picked up after putting the bottle down without realising you got it on your fingers

5) anything you are wearing

6) wood

extraordinary care must be taken to avoid #1 - #5 every time it is used on #6.

also, fumes are really, really bad for the lungs

alliphatic or pva are much more human friendly

[Nu Me 1]

Thanks for all of the replies.

Don - I have acetone handy but we all know that being stuff to something is going to happen anyway!

Nigel - I have cyano, aliphatic and PVA, so all set; well I will be if the kit had been delivered already. As per my reply to Don, I have the acetone handy........

Thanks all.

[ASH.]

 

Whenever I use cyno I keep Debonder handy., just in case! 🤓. I only use thin ca - for furry hinges

Also methylated spirit when working with epoxy

 

Edited By ASH. on 19/07/2019 13:47:33

[Nu Me 1]

Thanks Ash!

I guess I should start the thread........

This morning the cupboard was, almost, bare....

A while later the postman called and....

First negative point, I had ordered 2 sets of pins but only one was in the pack. I have emailed the company.

Like a naughty schoolboy with a mucky mag, I opened the main box....

Well, rub me down with BMFA News, it looks amazing!

Putting the hardware to one side, one of the reasons I chose this model is that a lot of hardware comes with it, I noticed the thickness of the landing gear. I had a quick squeeze of the tyres (as you do) and a look at the tank.

The servos were in the workshop already but it seemed a shame not to photograph them.

While I was at it I took a peek at the engine. What a beauty!

My initial reactions are that the kit is huge. I had held back from getting some cork or plasterboard because I wanted to see how large the plans were (approx 125 x 92 cm). This would then dictate whether it was built on the bench or on a separate table. I will have a look at the Instruction Book and decide.

At this point I decided that it was all too exciting for me so I picked up the Instruction Book and went into the house for a brew.

Next step - find a pencil to mark up the parts.

[Don Fry]

Nu Me, when you start out, you misglue things. After a time you do it rarely. Cured cyno joints, especially well fitted ones, do not come apart easily, if at all, with acetone. In my experience, hacking with knives, balsa saws, is the order of the day.

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Piers Bowlan]

A disgustingly clean and tidy workshop (envy!)

I usually get my plans copied so that I can refer to them if the model is pinned down on top of the plan. Also means I don't have to worry too much about destroying the original with spilt glue, knife cuts etc. I guess I am a pretty messy builder!

[ASH.]

Happy for you, congrats.. I know how exciting it is when you get a new model in a box. You can't wait to open it and see what goodies are inside.. It's like being a kid at Christmas!. I see you've got all quality gear there, it should build into a super model. Ditch the plastic spinner for an aluminium one.. I know I'm jumping the gun here but any thoughts on covering? I think transparent blue and white (Oracover) would look great like on the Sig Rascal. Don't use black on leading edge, not visible when landing.

Enjoy the build.

[Nu Me 1]

Thanks Gents.

Don - I haven't had glue training yet so everything is still in bags.

Percy - Thanks. I have a couple of levels and some very thin plastic dust sheeting to cover the plans.

Piers - Haha, do you honestly think it was that tidy on Monday! I did think about getting the plans copied. There is a local printer who can do it for me.

ASH - Ooooooh yesssss. I did think plastic spinners would be better for my fingers but I will look for ali ones at some point. As for colour, the pictures tend to show white, I was thinking yellow but after looking at some models at the flying club on Tuesday, I am now thinking a transparent yellow - like the old dope and tissue colour/effect. Not sure yet though.

Next issue is that I appear to have ordered a number 4 scalpel handle and number 10 blades. I thought I had ordered a number 3.Luckily I have something else that cuts while I order the right parts.

On a positive note, the missing model pins are being sent out to me.

[Don Fry]

18mm Stanley knives, with the snap off blades are good. A metal one, not the plastic variety, ideally.

Dark underside, bright topside, fluorescent leading edge to the wing. You will see if it's banked, it will silhouette if you look up to it, and when it comes towards you as a nose profile the wings get you home. Getting used to orientation of the plane is a basic and necessary skill. Leave well alone anything that reduces or comprises an easy spot.

Don't  mess about. It's a trainer. 

Edited By Don Fry on 19/07/2019 17:02:04

[ASH.]

Transparent Yellow would look gorgeous, with a hint of brown or green trim for the vintage look..

I prefer No11 blades.

[Nu Me 1]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Having spent last night reading the Instruction Book, and missing Midsomer Murders I spent some time marking up the ply parts and separating them from the waste. Ordered a number 3 scalpel handle.

Where to build occupied my mind last night too. Suggestions and comments in the thread at the foremost, I checked stock at Wickes.

This morning I popped to Wickes and brought a few bits. This should give me the opportunity to work on or off my workbench. Level in hand, and after a little packing, the table is level.

Tested for pin penetration too.

Missing a set of pins I contemplated starting the fuselage first rather than the wing - as suggested by the Instruction Book. I didn't need to worry as the missing pins were sent to me by the supplier and have arrived this morning. I have to say what an excellent service from SMC!

Taped the plan and covering to the bench and I am now ready to build.

Edited By Nu Me 1 on 20/07/2019 11:34:59

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[ASH.]

Door frames are the main culprits when it comes to hangar rash..

There's a certain way to carry fuselages indoors - tail first!

Edited By ASH. on 20/07/2019 13:45:58

[Nu Me 1]

Thanks for the comments guys. I am not worries about people offering critique, This is a warts and all thread that people may find informative and entertaining in the future.

Started the build and in the first 2 glues realised that one of them was wrong . Managed to separate them with the help of a sharp blade and no lasting damage done. The first few pieces go down.

I struggled to see how some pieces went together. There appeared to be gaps and the drawing showed what looked like strengthening blocks. Looking through the Instruction Book again, a few pages in I could see what was supposed to go where and why. The gaps were to fit the pieces to connect the wings together later in the build. Shown dry fitted in the picture.

Sorted the parts and started to fit the ribs. Then realised that I should be fitting the spars as I go. Fitted the spars.

There is a fair amount of trimming, sanding and cutting to get things as flush a possible. A couple of, almost sticky finger moments but now I think that things are as per the plan.

Although I have read through the Instruction Book, I would have done better reading half a dozen pages in more depth as well - so I would have got a better understanding of what was going to fit where, and why.

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Nu Me 1]

Thanks Percy

Well, with a little more glue, some reading and time the wing started to look complete.

Luckily, while I was in Wickes this morning I picked up a couple of clamps too.

Right wing is now assembled. The clamp is to weigh the wing down while the glue dries. I have gone around a lot of rib and spar joints with some Aliphatic resin..

The supplied dihedral jig to set rib one is not very precise. The angled side is more slope than flat - or at least it appears so. Time will tell if the angle I have set is correct.