SIG Skyray XL

[Dennis Leonhardi]

I've acquired a SIG Skyray XL kit.  Laser-cut, designed by Bob Nelson, 54" wingspan with 560 square inches of wing.  But I've never seen this kit advertised.

Does anyone here know the model's history?  TIA!

Dennis

[Dan McEntee]

  It was a design Bob was working on as SIG was getting near to closing. I flew his prototype at a fun fly in Montezuma a few years ago. He produced a few kits and I was able to buy one. The model I flew pretty well with a Norvel.40 in the nose I think. Definitely not a production item. Bob was the last of the modelers working for SIG at that time.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave_Trible]

I was given one to build and review.  Honestly it was so ugly I couldn't bring myself to build it...eventually I gave the kit it to someone...don't remember who now.  It might have flown well but my impulse would have been to shape it into something else.

Dave

[James Lee]

I flew the prototype with Dan at that Fun Fly.
It flew in a competent fashion for what it is, just not too exciting. 
And I agree with Dave, it is ....    Homely....
I also have the kit, trying to figure out how to make it look better!!
Jim

[Dennis Leonhardi]

So,ya'll are saying it is uglier than a Ringmaster???

I'll answer that, Ty - much uglier!  How dare you insult a 1952 Legend!?!  Anything almost as old as me has gotta be a beauty!

Dennis

[MikeyPratt]

Hi Guys
The Skyray XL that I designed was not that large at all, so it was a just a blown up of the Stock Skyray 35.  Like has been, suggested it was not a cool looking model (butt ugly). 

On the one I designed I added new rudder & fin, canopy, and fixed flaps to make it look more like a Primary Force and Force.  I built mine with landing gear coming out of the wings which looked much better.  It flew pretty good and was powered by a OS 40 FP which was about right with a 10” X 4 three blade. 

Honestly, I still think the Primary Force & Force were a better Flyers than the Skyray XL, so I did not continue with working on it, however, I may revisit that model with electric power just for fun.  If there was more interest in it I might draw up a set of plans and make a few more changes to it.

Later,
Mike Pratt

[wwwarbird]

So,ya'll are saying it is uglier than a Ringmaster???

 The Ringmaster is a proper looking C/L model, and possibly the most iconic of all.