Sig 1/3 Scale Spacewalker Review
Instruction Manual
To sum it up in one word - SUPERB! From my previous experience with Sig kits I anticipated a high quality instruction manual. The Building and Flying Instructions manual that comes with the kit is 32 pages and is chocked full of all kinds of information, including the history of the Spacewalker. The instructions are very detailed and provide good step-by-step instructions. The manual also gives you instructions for various options, e.g., if you want to build a one-piece wing instead of the the three-piece. Several engine mounting options are also described in the instructions. An eight-page supplement is also provided which shows detailed pictures of different color schemes (in black and white), markings, cockpit options, etc. The tailwheel assembly that is included in the kit is different from the one shown in the instruction manual, so assembly details are provided in the supplement. Instructions on how to adapt a tru-turn spinner to a Zenoah G-38 are also provided. They even provide details (including dimensions) on how to build a cradle to hold the fuselage while the wings are being attached.
The quality of the pictures in the manual are outstanding. Very clear and show great detail. This is often an issue with many manuals - you can't really tell what they are trying to show in the picture. This is not the case with the Sig manual.
Overall - I would rate the quality of the manual as very good. As I go through the building process I will update this section if I find anything that changes my opinion.
3/6/2002 - Update: One thing that would help a lot would be the labeling of certain die-cut parts. The instructions call for certain parts by name (e.g., IW1, or IW2). These die-cut parts are not labeled. Thus you have to match the parts to the plans which can be a time consuming task. Some of the parts are on a large die-cut sheet, and you have to separate them first or measure them to match them to the plans. I would gladly pay an extra $10.00 for the kit to have this feature!
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