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Building Tips and technical articles. => ARF'S => Topic started by: Bob Furr on April 03, 2008, 02:48:46 PM
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Anyone else notice that Sig did an ARF of the skyray 35? I love the plane but am surprized they chose that instead of a full body stunt model.
Bob Furr
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No....where did you see it? (I'll take a peek at Sig's Site). I guess they will show it at Toledo. We have a few guys from Treetown going, so I expect to hear something at the next club meeting.
ok, I do see it on their site----a stealth campaign!
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It's on Sigs web site but at 129.99 I'll pass.
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At the local hobby shop they have a SIG ready to fly all electric Primary Forse. Much smaller than the control line version. But, why go with an ARF Skyray? DOC Holliday
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Maybe they thought the SkyRay looked a lot like the Top Flite Streak. Yes it seems a bit over priced but like all the other ARF's they too started out High and then dropped there prices. Flite Streaks are now around 50 bucks.
I would rather had seen them take the Twister and "Upsize it" like the Tutor 2. Maybe they would have something then.
Paul H^^
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I saw the prototype today at the Toledo show. It looks pretty good with the following changes from the kit: Built up leading edge, capstrips, full ribs (balsa?), thicker wing tips and adjustable lead outs (if I remember right). The center sheeting also has the nice curves near the leading and trailing edges to reduce stress concentrations. It was done up in the traditional Skyray 35 colors with a single wheel. The one at the show was fitted with an LA 25, tongue muffler and 4 oz Sullivan tank. Since it looked like it was bolted into a display fixture I did not pick it up for further evaluation. Mike Gretz said that this is still fairly new and production quantities have not arrived as of yet.
John
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I think replacing the solid 3/4" leading edge of the SkyRay is a good idea---it is really hard to get a non-warped/twisted piece of wood of that size. Always caused me issues trying to get a straight wing. Same is true with the Twister design.
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The Primary Force has its virtues. Flies quite well without flaps. Much more of a stunter than a Flite Streak. IMHO. There's a lot out there cheaper with the potential to fly better. But simplicity definitely has it's virtues. Hard to imagine an ARF quicker to throw together than a Flite Streak or a PF. As for the $129 Skyray (same price as the PF) got to be kidding. Besides half that buys a Flite Streak or a Super Clown. Spend a weekend or two fitting a Vector 40 together and you've got a serious plane for a similar outlay of cash. I've seen Skyray's do the pattern pretty well, skidding here and there in the corners while flapping their wings. Fun yes. A serious PAMPA plane? No. Expert fliers make Ringmasters look good. But when it comes down to serious competition they fly something else. The major problem with ARF Flite Streaks are their hollow fueses that eventually break off in the front. Well the front end of my PF ARF proved to be soft, setting up weird vibrations that took a season to solve. Actually the nose was so soft that cinching the bolts tight cause it to warp noticeably inward, requiring offset wedges to compensate. Probably my plane was not typical but makes the point. The Sig Chinese builders aren't much further along than their Brodak or Top Flight counterparts.
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With the Flite Streak ARF at $54 dollars, more with the saver codes I won't give the Skyray ARF a second look unless the price comes down below sixty bucks. Besides, in my opinion the Flite Streak is a better looking and flying model
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Nice to see another CL ARF hit the market since it's undoubtedly good for the hobby. For some reason, SIG continues to be terribly proud of their ARFs. Most of their R/C offerings are about double kit price. This thing is over 2 1/2 times kit--whew! Can't believe they're trying to sell it for more than the PF ARF--a much better design, IMO. If memory serves me well, the Skyray 35 can be built from the kit over a couple of weekends with an iron-on finish, including sheeted LE, cap stripped ribs, and adjustable leadouts and weight box. I suppose ya' could throw in beefier wingtips as well, if that mattered. The price needs to make it worth the hassle of redoing the flight controls without destroying the reason for buying an ARF in the first place.
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SIG knows that their dealers will sell it pretty cheap, and they don't want to compete with their dealers. I think it's their way to encourage you to order them from your LHS. I like the Skyray 35, but it needs to be lighter than the kit version. Basically, it needs a Flite Streak wing, and that's about all. D>K Steve
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Heh, heh, now guess why they called it the "twister". LL~ It sounded better than the "warper". D>K
Which makes me wonder about marketing--don't you think an ARF Twister would sell like gangbusters? In my opinion, better than the Skyray.
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I would have went for the Banshee. DOC Holliday
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I would have went for the Banshee. DOC Holliday
Me too, Doc.
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With the Flite Streak ARF at $54 dollars, more with the saver codes I won't give the Skyray ARF a second look unless the price comes down below sixty bucks. Besides, in my opinion the Flite Streak is a better looking and flying model
I;ll second that. H^^
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I would have went for the Banshee. DOC Holliday
Haven't flown a Banshee (yes in stock form it does look better!), but either one would be a great ARF IMHO! y1
How about the Chipmunk---now that would really be a winner. I have a kit that I plan to make one of these says once I figure out how to put on the stock color scheme.
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The Sig Chipmunk is a great flying airplane and would also make a great electric conversion. I had one in the early 90's that I flew with an OS 35S weighing 42 ounces. It flew fantastic. I did move the wing forward 1", moved the elevator hingeline back 1/2", and cut the flaps off 4" from the tip. I even used the heavy cowl and wheel pants and it turned out that light. It would be worth your while to build that one.
Archie Adamisin
Muncie, Indiana
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Last I heard from the folks at SIG is that they are having problems with the company that was scheduled to manufacture the ARF Skyray so it may not happen. Sorry to hear that as they would have done a better job of it than the Flite Streak (that said I picked up a couple of the Flite Streaks for $50 each and think I will be more than happy to live with their issues.
Bob