Author Topic: Sig Akro, uh, Agro-master? (Read 6333 times)

wwwarbird · « **on:** October 19, 2010, 10:54:51 PM »

Howdy folks!

This is, or was, a Sig Akromaster. (Sorry Mike G.) I think that over the years Sig's nifty little Akromaster has been built in many different variations. I had two stock ones way back when I was in Junior High, and I remember having a ton of fun with them.

I actually started this particular build at least five or six years ago, and for some reason I hung it on the wall and it's been there ever since. I think we all have one of those models.

Back then, I had this silly idea that I could "bash" the Akromaster into a Cessna Agwagon. Heck yeah, it would be super easy, just "fudge" the fuse and tail outlines a little bit and you'd have an Agwagon. Well, after "fudging" here and there, I've ended up with what you see here.

At this point the only "Sig" left in it is the ribs and the L/E and T/E stock pieces. All the rest ended up in the scrap pile. If you've ever built an Akromaster per the kit instructions you may remember that they have you cut the provided L/E and T/E pieces to length. I didn't do that. I actually lengthened them, and made some more ribs. Oh yeah, then I took them all down 1/16" around the perimiter so that I could add L/E sheeting and capstrips. I built the wing in halves and then added dihedral to the wing when the halves were joined for a more scale look. The real Agwagons have so much dihedral that a model of one just wouldn't look right without it. It actually worked out quite well because the leadouts are now very near the thrust line, maybe even right on it if I remember correctly. Then I carved out the funky-droopy-wingtip-thingies for some more scale detail. The fuse, all tail surfaces, larger area fixed flaps, longer motor mounts and nose tripler, spruce wing struts, are all new and designed from scratch. I whittled out the aluminum landing gear too.

Overall wingspan is now 41", stab/elevator span is 15", tail moment is 8-1/2" and nose moment is 4-3/4". Power will be a Fox .25. I think I might finally git'er down and finish it by this next spring, we'll see.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2010, 10:56:57 PM »

Some more pics...

Bill Heher · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2010, 11:38:22 PM »

Dang Wayne- you just keep striking a chord with me. I spent many a spring / early summer day delivering AG chems to aerial spray operations in NW Minn / East N.D. Some of the most crazy / skilled / ballsy filers around.

Free airshows as you drove the county roads to and from the AG strips. Bright yellow planes flying low and doing Wingovers and tight reversals at min altitude over fields of green. Planes silhouetted against the late evening sun setting in the west - awesome.

The Ag-Wagon is cool - kinda sporty and utilitarian, hauling the bug juice like a mail jeep bringing you the mail.
For a true spectacle the Grumman Ag-Cat looks and sounds and flies like nothing else. I can see you doing one of those and making us jealous.

There were still a few Stearman / Boeing bipes, but they were getting snapped up for restoration.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2010, 07:52:19 AM »

Looks Kewl Wayne!

Let us know how it flys!

Bill Gruby · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2010, 08:17:27 AM »

Wayne;

Does that imaginative mind of yours ever stop working?

You are one prolific builder. Another nice rendition.

"Billy G"

john e. holliday · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2010, 09:40:39 AM »

I like it. I also like the way you bash a kit. My daughters Akromaster is still hanging on the hook.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2010, 05:37:07 PM »

Quote from: Bill Gruby on October 20, 2010, 08:17:27 AM

Wayne;

Does that imaginative mind of yours ever stop working? You are one prolific builder. Another nice rendition.

"Billy G"

Look who's talking Mr. Mega Ringmaster!

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2010, 02:51:10 PM »

I like that one too !!!! Always have liked the AG-Masters. I'd like to see the finished painted model on this one.......

Dalton H.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2010, 11:18:54 PM »

Quote from: Dalton Hammett on October 21, 2010, 02:51:10 PM

I like that one too !!!! Always have liked the AG-Masters. I'd like to see the finished painted model on this one.......

Dalton H.

Stay tuned then Dalton, this is where you'll see it. Right now I'm thinking that when I get the Zero I'm currently working on ready for paint, I'll pull down the Agromaster and quick get it finished up and ready too. Then I'll shoot'em both at the same time. All I have to do on the Agromaster is silkspan the fuse and tail surfaces, do the fillets and some final sanding, and it's ready for paint. I've gotta finish the thing, it's been in the corner haunting me for way too long.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:53:18 PM »

Well, I got a bug a few nights ago and I broke down pulled the "Agromaster" off the wall, again. I'm going to try and get it all finished up for real this time. It's been hanging in the corner of my shop at this "ready to finish" stage forever it seems. I just haven't ever found myself motivated enough to finish it for some reason. Ever since I got it to this stage there has always been some other more desireable build that keeps jumping in front of it. I've built a bunch of planes since I started this goofy Agromaster thing. I'll see if I can stay interested long enough to finish it this time.

John Stiles · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2011, 06:00:07 AM »

That's a super nice lookin plane. I've thought about doing the same thing, only going towards the "Air Tractor". We have a airstrip about 100yds from my front door, where Air Tractors fly in and out almost continually, loading granulated fertilizer and spreading it in timber patches. These things are huge, and fly over my house almost treetop level. They use 4blade props, and they make a huge noise. Keep posting pics, as you progress.....what color are you gonna use?

louie klein · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2011, 06:09:37 AM »

The Agwagon is a neat plane and makes a great model. I like it!---LOUIE

john e. holliday · « **Reply #12 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:36:01 AM »

Here it is the 2nd of June, is it finished yet?

Take you time with it as I want to know if those tips will have any effect on flying. As I was rereading this thread it dawn on me. You should have sheeted and capped stripped the wing for a thicker airfoil. I have heard that Bob Gieske did the ink pen trace around the Nobler rib to make them slightly deeper. Anyway I hope it flies as well as it is looking.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #13 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:40:03 AM »

This thread made me look up the AgWagon semi-scale stunt model that is in the October '79 Flying Models. I have a K&B 40 that needs a home...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2011, 09:35:30 PM »

It's coming along nicely. I finished applying silkspan on everything last night. Just have to finish sanding and clear work with that and then do the fillets. Allowing time for the pesky day job, and hopefully some flying on Sunday, if I stay on it I should be spraying color by the middle of next week.

Air Ministry . · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2011, 05:19:23 AM »

French Chalk works good for simulated Top dressing .

wwwarbird · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2011, 06:58:54 PM »

Quote from: Matthew Spencer on June 04, 2011, 05:19:23 AM

French Chalk works good for simulated Top dressing .

Huh?

Air Ministry . · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2011, 07:58:19 PM »

Just kidding .

I like the plane

Years back had a F/F Tiger Moth , converted it to C/L , and fitted a hopper, Flour didnt work very well. The pit man looked a bit odd when he 'wore' the bag of flour tho .

Matt.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2011, 11:20:27 PM »

I see Matt, I had no idea what you were talking about there.

I've got a Brodak Tigercat on the build list that I keep thinking I might paint up like a fire bomber. If so, it would be fun to set it up to dump a load of some kind of bright red "slurry" powder. I don't know if I should be lighting any ground fires at our flying field though.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2011, 09:37:28 PM »

I've been debating it all along, but I finally decided that the original spruce wing strut assembly I had made just wasn't going to be durable enough to hold up for long.

Tonite I made up a new all aluminum one and JB welded it all together. The struts themselves are that nifty K&S airfoil tubing stuff. After it all sets up the joints can be sanded smooth and to a desired shape and it will be good to go.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #20 on:** June 09, 2011, 09:22:59 PM »

On the way back to Kansas from out west saw a plane low to the ground in the distance while driving. Did not see any spray coming from the plane and he seemed to be hopping from field to field. He had no set pattern and was all over the place. Then some time later seen a yellow ag plane in a steep bank landing at a little airport beside the highway. It looked like he just cleared the hangers with the wing tip. Got to him as he was turning around to taxi back. If I could get a three point landing every time like he did, I would be in seventh heaven. The pilot was sitting way up in the air on the plane. Hope your ag plane flies as well as you want.

Bill Little · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2011, 11:41:31 AM »

Very nice little "kit bashing" project, there Wayne!

Big Bear

wwwarbird · « **Reply #22 on:** June 12, 2011, 11:19:58 PM »

I finally got'er all ready for paint.

Planning to shoot the white base color Monday evening. I'm planning a factory Cessna-ish type scheme, white with red and black trim. It's hard to believe this little bugger is finally going to get done, it's been hanging around my shop forever it seems.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #23 on:** June 14, 2011, 09:55:09 PM »

I started spraying an initial white coat last night. I did some touch up spot filling and then finished the white basecoat tonight. It's not great but it looks good enough for this plane. (Why do I end up thinking that every time?)

If anyone is interested, I'll be updating the rest of the paint scheme as is develops in the Painting and Finishing section.