Sig v. Brodak/Twister v. Oriental

Disclaimer: It's been a LONG time since I have built, so I'm a bit (a lot) clueless.

1) How would you compare Sig kits with Brodak kits in terms of wood, instructions, etc, etc.?

2) How would you compare the Twister with a built up Oriental in terms of build time/complexity and flying, etc, etc.?

My old Twister was a great plane, until I smashed it to tiny little bits. Even took out the motor Dang horizontal 8s!

>Disclaimer: It's been a LONG time since I have built, so
>I'm a bit (a lot) clueless.
>
>1) How would you compare Sig kits with Brodak kits in terms
>of wood, instructions, etc, etc.?
>
SIG and Brodak both produce and sell what I call mass-market kits. As such, one cannot expect all the wood to be equivalent to what you might hand-pick for each application. As to instructions, SIG kits are really quite good in this area, especially if Mikey had a hand in writing them. I have been told Brodak's instructions are quite complete.

If you want really top-notch wood in your next kit you will be looking to specialty suppliers.

>2) How would you compare the Twister with a built up
>Oriental in terms of build time/complexity and flying, etc,
>etc.?
>
Apples and oranges; there is no easy way to make a comparison. The Oriental with a built-up fuselage will require more effort in fabrication. On the other hand, it is not a complex design by any stretch. And there has never been a Twister, stock or modified, which flew better than an average Oriental.

>My old Twister was a great plane, until I smashed it to tiny
>little bits. Even took out the motor Dang horizontal
>8s!

Go for the Oriental. If you crash it, there will be even more pieces, plus most of them will be smaller.

Agree with Dan, if you do crash the Oriental you can save the wing and put it in something of your own creation..

The Twister kit is a fast build.... this one was built in a week and a half of evenings.

Built up planes have less vibration problems, but profiles can be made to run very well. The advantage of a profile is that motor, tank and controls are all easily accessible at the field for trimming purposes. I'm very happy with this plane.

My answer to your question would be to build both!

Tom, get the Oriental and come spend the weekend!
Bill <><

Are you thinking about Fathers day being so close? You could very easily complete the Twister and go fly at SIG the weekend after, I am contemplating that right now. Then again, I have a Buster wing ready for captstrips and wingtips in my garage for memorial day weekend. I'm hoping to cut out some Ringmaster parts for OTS, that's stretching it. I did get quite a bit done in 2 days before I got totally wiped after work. Weekends I turn into Mr. Taxi and this being Easter, well I hope to get some work done.

The Oriental should take a bit longer, mine has taken almost 2 years. It helps to get them out of the box! I got the Oriental for a xmas present 2 years ago and got laid off before I started it. If I can keep the airplane works going in the garage, I may get around to it soon.

In a hurry, build the Twister. Got a little extra time, do the Oriental. Whatever you decide, do something. Don't sit around and watch the tube like I have, your brains will rot just like mine.

I don't think the Oriental will take THAT much longer than the Twister. Nor have I ever seen a lousy flying Oriental. I say try out the Oriental. Besides, it introduces you to different building techniques and procedures. You may decide you prefer Brodak kits after doing the Oriental, or you may conclude you prefer Sig. Doesn't matter and you'll have learned a bunch along the way.

I think the Oriental will be it. There is an October contest, so I have loads of time. I have at least a fairly flyable/competitive ship for June. Assuming I don't destroy it before then

But be warned! The questions will come fast and furious as I dig in!

Bill, I sent you an email. Please send your number so we can hook up. Having a weekend of dedicated building with an "Old Advanced Flyer" will certainly speed things up and build my confidence!

If you're talking about the October contest in Charlotte there will be loads of people who can help you trim it out for heroic performance!

>If you're talking about the October contest in Charlotte
>there will be loads of people who can help you trim it out
>for heroic performance!

Good! I'll be needing the help. It's so difficult to get things tuned without knowledgeable eyes outside the circle.

BTW-I have a SilverFoxx .40 just waiting to sit in the nose Should be a good combo since I build in the "medium" weight range.

I just had to jump in here after seeing some of these responses. What kind of advice is this???
If you havent built in a long time and are still in the crashing stages you should NOT be building an Oriental. (I have built and flown both). The Oriental will cost you over twice what the Twister will, will be far more complex to build (from a relative standpoint) and will not neccesarily fly alot better at your skill level. A Twister will easily fly competition quality patterns, is simple to build and to trim. The controls are exposed for easy adjustments, and its easier to build a straight profile than a built up fuse. The engine and tank are far easier to access for adjustments. Get some practice and learn with the Twister before you move on to the Oriental.
Better yet, go with a Pathfinder, which flys better than an Oriental anyway.
At your level this is a "no brainer"! Whats with you guys?
Brian

I have crashed in my last two contests by being stupip. I knew I was WAY too low for the last outside in the 8s, but tried anyway. Bonehead that I am.

Also, since I already have the Oriental kit in hand and have two servicebale planes, I figure, why not?

Is it beyond my scope to fly it well? Absolutely But I can build it.

A good choice, Tom.

Thanks for the nice words on the Oriental, guys. Let me mention the often overlooked profile Oriental. I have seen it fly very well with everything from the LA .25 to a ST.46. It's a two for one ship too, since it is Classic Legal.

Dee

Dee is right about the Profile Oriental. 2 fer 1 ain't bad.

You have just gotta love a straight out of the box Twister!

TomK- Where do you live?

I'm in Durham/Chapel Hill.

Well you need to come down and fly with us at Huntersville sometime, we fly every weekend.

Just drop me an e-mail and we'll set it up! I'll be OH this weekend, but would love to hook up for some flying after that!

LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-04 AT 04:17 AM (CDT)
 
Didn't realize it came straight outta the box with plate gear

Whose gear is that by the way, I might maybe would like to get some.

Hey what do you know a nibble . I made the gear myself as well as a few other improvements. But the moments are unchanged. I Fancherized a twister and it flys pretty well but it took alot of messing around just to have it fly as well my first one did. It got heavy then it needed more engine etc. etc. But here is my out of the box stock except I had to alter that goofy rudder a touch.

TomK
I will send you an email so we can get you down to Huntersville to do some flying. We have alot of people that can help you with building and flying!

Looking forwarded to meeting you!