Last Twister Kit sold

[Paul Taylor]

I have a flying buddy that loves to build and bash Twisters.
He bought the last one off the Sig site.

A sad day. 

[Steve Helmick]

Maybe they'll update it and sell a kit version of the "Fancher-ized" Twister? One can always hope, anyway.  Steve

[Joe Just]

NEVER HAPPEN! Somebody else, maybe Bodak
Joe

[wwwarbird]

Maybe they'll update it and sell a kit version of the "Fancher-ized" Twister? One can always hope, anyway.   Steve

 I'm pretty sure that Sig is done with Control Line. The new ownership seems to be well on their way to turning a once great name into just another cookie cutter ARF distribution warehouse. Sad, very sad.

[Mike Griffin]

If you have a TWISTER kit, it can easily be duplicated and morphed into a Fancherized version.

Mike

[55chevr]

The first object of being in business, is staying in business.   They will go where the market takes them.  Right now that appears to be RC ARF-s.  

[James Mills]

The first object of being in business, is staying in business.   They will go where the market takes them.  Right now that appears to be RC ARF-s.  

Ditto, they have to go with what keeps the doors open.
James

[RC Storick]

Ditto, they have to go with what keeps the doors open.
James

That's all well and good as long as you don't forget who got kept the doors open at first.

[55chevr]

They are new owners and they are in business to make money.   I doubt that they have any interest in providing support for segments of modeling that aren't profitable.  If they did that they wouldn't be in business long.

[James_Mynes]

Ford still makes cars, but not Model-Ts. I'm sure there are a few people who would buy a Model-T for old time's sake, but not enough to make production of them profitable unless the price was increased beyond reason.

[peabody]

Sounds as if there is an opportunity here.....maybe Eric Rule or John Brodak will produce something so similar that some would say identical?

[dennis lipsett]

If you just have to have one I still have a kit that I'll never use.

Dennis

[john e. holliday]

Instead of a Twister, I would rather see a TAOSAWKI kit.

[Bob Reeves]

If you just have to have one I still have a kit that I'll never use.

Dennis

Me too, maybe if we hang on to them for a couple years we can sell them on eBay for big bucks 

[Steve Fitton]

I think a set of plans and a pile of contest wood from Tom Morris would yield a Twister far superior to one from the kit....

[dennis lipsett]

I think a set of plans and a pile of contest wood from Tom Morris would yield a Twister far superior to one from the kit....

Steve,

It's not the kit that counts. It's the box. After all that is what any collector really wants the kit is just ballast.

Dennis

[Randy Powell]

>>I doubt that they have any interest in providing support for segments of modeling that aren't profitable. <<

Or not as profitable. Sig would make money from control line. Just not the profit margin they make from selling ARFs constructed by minimum wage workers. Hey, that's the world today: make the maximum amount of money possible right now. Forget about everything else.

[MarcusCordeiro]

I think a set of plans and a pile of contest wood from Tom Morris would yield a Twister far superior to one from the kit....

I second that...

Marcus

[John Desrosiers]

I bought a skyray and a arkromaster back in early march.  Now I,m glad I did. still in the box

[55chevr]

Twister is a simple design.  There are a lot of similar planes that would be suitable replacement.  It wouldn't be terribly hard to scratch build one.

[YakNine]

 They are still showing the twister on the main part of the site but the Banshee & Chipmunk are gone:(

[builditright]

for those that don't know, I kit the Fancherized Twister
http://www.builtrightflyright.com/New_Web_Pgs/kits/FancherizedTwister/FTwister.htm

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Sig sells the kit plans - Twister is SIGKP022 and costs $5.75. Banshee is SIGKP011 and costs $5.75. Killer is Shipping & Handling, which is $9.95 minimum.

Sig also sells wing kits, which cuts down building time. Banshee wing kit is SIGRPBK011 at $23.49, for example.  Twister wing kit (SIGRPBK022) is available at $29.99.

The other parts aren't that difficult to cut.

Dennis

[dirty dan]

>>I doubt that they have any interest in providing support for segments of modeling that aren't profitable. <<

Or not as profitable. Sig would make money from control line. Just not the profit margin they make from selling ARFs constructed by minimum wage workers. Hey, that's the world today: make the maximum amount of money possible right now. Forget about everything else.

I do believe that is easily the silliest thing you have ever posted.

Dan

[Dave_Trible]

The Acromaster kits are also on clearance.  I just ordered four to have around for trainers. At 25.99 they are cheaper than 1/2As.  About 35 left.  Not sure you could even scratch build something similar for that.

Dave

[Brett Buck]

>>I doubt that they have any interest in providing support for segments of modeling that aren't profitable. <<

Or not as profitable. Sig would make money from control line. Just not the profit margin they make from selling ARFs constructed by minimum wage workers. Hey, that's the world today: make the maximum amount of money possible right now. Forget about everything else.

   That was the world yesterday, too.

  Brett

[Bob Reeves]

Sig sells the kit plans - Twister is SIGKP022 and costs $5.75. Banshee is SIGKP011 and costs $5.75. Killer is Shipping & Handling, which is $9.95 minimum.

Sig also sells wing kits, which cuts down building time. Banshee wing kit is SIGRPBK011 at $23.49, for example.  Twister wing kit (SIGRPBK022) is available at $29.99.

The other parts aren't that difficult to cut.

Dennis

You can also order the TwistMaster plans from PAMPA which is a Twister with mods.

[proparc]

While I am sorry to see a good control line kit go, now maybe someone will finally kit the Fancherized Twister which is what's really needed!

[Steve Helmick]

While I am sorry to see a good control line kit go, now maybe someone will finally kit the Fancherized Twister which is what's really needed!

BINGO!  Steve

[Dan McEntee]

While I am sorry to see a good control line kit go, now maybe someone will finally kit the Fancherized Twister which is what's really needed!

    Scroll up about six posts and read. I think the Twister is one of the best kits of all time. Good design, simple contsruction, reasonable price, good performance. I've related here several times about a local guy that took a single Twister from the beginner class all the way to Expert, and witnessed him whipping up on piped ships with it. And it was a  bone stock, kit built Twister with an FP-40 on it. It is a testiment to the design that so much has been done with it in the way of modifications and kit bashings. I have one that I made into a profile Shark that resembles my Shark.45. Twister mods, leading edge sheeting and cap strips, and other balsa added to obtain shapes and sizes,, but 100% of the kit was used. The ribs were hard enough I had to band saw them to cut them down to allow for the sheeting and cap strips. Model weighs in the upper 40 ounze range and has always flown great. That is because I started out with a great design in the first place.
     Here's to the Twister! The Ringmaster of our generation! And a million thanks to Mike Gretz for the great design!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dennis Leonhardi]

    Scroll up about six posts and read. I think the Twister is one of the best kits of all time. Good design, simple contsruction, reasonable price, good performance. I've related here several times about a local guy that took a single Twister from the beginner class all the way to Expert, and witnessed him whipping up on piped ships with it. And it was a  bone stock, kit built Twister with an FP-40 on it. It is a testiment to the design that so much has been done with it in the way of modifications and kit bashings. I have one that I made into a profile Shark that resembles my Shark.45. Twister mods, leading edge sheeting and cap strips, and other balsa added to obtain shapes and sizes,, but 100% of the kit was used. The ribs were hard enough I had to band saw them to cut them down to allow for the sheeting and cap strips. Model weighs in the upper 40 ounze range and has always flown great. That is because I started out with a great design in the first place.
     Here's to the Twister! The Ringmaster of our generation! And a million thanks to Mike Gretz for the great design!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

I'll second that, Dan.  I've never owned a Twister, but have seen several flyers put one through their paces seemingly better than they could fly anything else.  Gretz's design has stood the test of time and been a real boon to many, many flyers.

Mr. Gretz, you done good!

Dennis

[wwwarbird]

 I'd triple that too Dan, the Twister is a great design, an "All Timer" you could say.

 A box stock Twister built straight and light is an excellent flying model, very hard to beat.

[Dan McEntee]

  What I like about the Twister is that weight isn't real critical. It carries extra weight very well. Case in point is Jason Pearson's all pine Twister, made 100% out of pine, just to see what would happen! Weighs about 65 ounces if I remember well, and I think Jason placed in several Intermediate contests with it. I'm not saying that people should build them like tanks! But most people building them are at a point in their developement where the learning curve is still pretty steep, and having a model that performs well while not having to sweat over weight is a benefit to building confidense while on the trip up the ladder. get it built per plans and straight, then get the engine reliable, then go learn the pattern.
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Steve Hines]

I was told at Toledo that when the dies were done the kits were done until there were all redone as laser kits. We will see if it happens or not. They said they wanted to stay the biggest kit maker. I don't think there are now.

Steve

[Mike Keville]

R.I.P., Twister.  A great design, which we all hope someone else revives - soon!

[Brett Buck]

  What I like about the Twister is that weight isn't real critical. It carries extra weight very well. Case in point is Jason Pearson's all pine Twister, made 100% out of pine, just to see what would happen! Weighs about 65 ounces if I remember well, and I think Jason placed in several Intermediate contests with it. I'm not saying that people should build them like tanks! But most people building them are at a point in their developement where the learning curve is still pretty steep, and having a model that performs well while not having to sweat over weight is a benefit to building confidense while on the trip up the ladder.

   Jason, whose former abode I literally see from where I am sitting, has an extraordinary natural feel for proper shapes. I saw it under construction (by his Dad, who also built a 2x or 3x Banshee back in the 80s) and saw the first flights. I forget, but 65 ounces seems about right. It wasn't a super-great flier but it would get through all the stunts.

    The Twister is a decent airplane and it's a bit of a shame that the SIG kits are going away. But there are plenty of other sources for good stunt planes these day. It's probably easier to get stunt plane supplies now that at any time in my memory, and the quality is quite extraordinary. You just aren't going to get them from "major manufacturers". Kits of all types in all categories are on the decline, and I am surprised that the "major manufacturers" have held on as long as they have.

     Brett

[Dan McEntee]

   I agree Brett. There is often a lot of grief over things these days that most just don't realize how good they got it. Lots of engines and other power plants to choose from. Lazer cutting and instant glue. Carbon Fiber. Internet forums like this where you can get information that can shave years off a learning curve, that some of us had to learn through the school of hard knocks. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just a big fan of SIG and all the nice people I have met at their contests through the years. As a kid I used to lust for all the neat stuff in their adds. Meeting and getting to know Haxel, Maxey, Mike Gretz , Mike Pratt, the gals in the hobby shop trailer, the people at the factory, and seeing a lot of modeling history in person first hand has been a real highlight of my life. Wish I could have met Glen. I was super excited the year we were packing up to head home on Sunday, and heard some of the hanger doors open up. Maxey was rolling out the two-holer Space Walker, and Gretz was pushing out Hazel's Clipped Wing Cub. Needless to say that we didn't leave on time, and I got some great in flight shots of Hazel and Maxey flying in formation over SIG Field! I'll never forget that. My first "serious" stunter as I was getting into stunt in the beginner ranks was a Twister that I tired to make look like a Nobler sort of, with an Akromaster as a back up. Been a couple of Chipmunks in there also. Lots of their free flight stuff in my stash also.Just a great company that I hope is around forever!

   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[James C. Martin]

still have a twister in the box used to fly one all the time with a coffin back fox .40 ball bearing engine on it will keep the one in the box for a while also have a chipmonk  by sig in the box wonder if they too will no longer be produced ?

[Mike Griffin]

James I talked to SIG today and asked that very question, and they have sold out of the Chipmunk and will be discontinuing it.

Mike