Next step up?

Hello. I was trying to decide which airplane to build next. I have progressed to the point where my current airplane (Sig Banshee) is starting to fall apart from the abuse it has taken. I scrach build mostly but kits are fine. I have a great running .40 OS. I plan on competing in beginer stunt soon.

A Brodak profile Oriental works very well with an OS.40. I have one with over 500 flights on it. It will get you to Advanced.
Nils

Good question, and I have faith that the fine folks in this forum will respond in kind. Most of us assume there is some natural progression of complexity and capability that we should follow. That is the model (no pun intended) that I am following.

However, the thought did occur to me that maybe it is smarter to quit dipping your toe in the cold water, and dive in whole hog (that is called a triple mixed metaphor) with a dream ship that could win advanced anywhere. Personally, I am going one slow step at a time, just as you are.

Anxiously awaiting what the gang has to say.

I think one step at a time is an excellent idea. The Banshee taught me to fly and most of the stunts, but it seems to be holding me back more than helpeing me go forward. It is rather oil soaked and battered now. It probably weighs six ounces more now than when it was new. I may try the Oriental. I have only seen it in magazines. Not many c/l fliers here. Thanks guys.

The Bordak profile oriental IS a good choise BUT for half the price the sig twister is an GREAT flying and easy to build plane. You can build two for the price of ONE oriental. just keep it light. Scott Riese

Since we are talking Oriental's, why not try the full fuse version. Brodak's has the kit, or you can order the plans from Model Airplane News (they even have it on the net). The full fuse version is purported to be an easy builder.

I hsve flown a Sig Twister and it was good but not any better than the Sig Banshee. Anybody ever flown the Cardinal? And is it any better than the Twister?

>I hsve flown a Sig Twister and it was good but
>not any better than the Sig Banshee. Anybody
>ever flown the Cardinal? And is it any better
>than the Twister?

The Banshee and Twister are close to one another in wing size and airfoils. Both are straight-chord wings, as are the Oriental, as well as the Tanager. The latter two are larger, and potentially offer a lower wing loading, which improves stunting capability.

The Lagg-3 and the Cardinal offer tapered wings, with the Cardinal having the very thick airfoil developed in the northeast for a design called the Patternmaster. It may be more of a full- out competition wing than any named here.

Personally, I've flown Banshees, Orientals, Twisters, and a great many others, but never built or flew a Cardinal, sorry.

The best advice we ever heard from Steve Buso and Scott Smith was to move from profile ships to full fuselage. Better engine runs, better flying planes, actually as light as a profile. A full fuse really takes no longer to build, and can be done without expensive jigs. Use centerlines, and a motor crutch, as has been shown in "Stunt News".

I think that there is no direct answer to the question.... in the hands of a good flyer, almost anything flies well! (witness OTS!).

Key is to build straight and light, and to GET A GOOD MOTOR RUN! You'll never figure how well something flies if you are fooling with the powerplant forever! Buy, beg or invent a real stunt motor, put it into a light and straight package, and have fun!

See Ya

I'll second the idea that you should pick out a competent design. (the Brodak Cardinal or Profile Oriental are good choices) and make sure you understand your engine and can make it run consistently.

Just a thought. A conservative, built up design is a good choice too. If your not sure, try something like the Brodak Oriental (full fuse). Don McClave has been winning expert with this design up here (Northwest) for a long time.

Thanks for the ideas guys, I just finished my second Banshee modified with slightly longer wings. It came out lighter than the first one by two and a half ounces. It is considerably straighter than the first one and it flies great! I think the next one is going to be an Oriental if that box under the tree is what I think it is! Ole Santa did good. The original fox engine was transplanted to this one.