Hi ClearedForTheApproach
I hope you have noticed that your post has drawn a lot of attention. This is probably because most people will crash on their maiden flight if they choose to do it without an instructor. You have also received a lot of advice from experienced R/C fliers, including myself. Here is some more advice. I have seen many J3Cub crashes. MANY. Eventually I got one, a Sig kit with a 71" wing span. An old timer in our club built it for me. I was already a very experienced R/C flier. After a few flights with the J3Cub, I too crashed it. It happened on landing. I then recalled that most of the many crashes I had seen with this very same kit, were during the landing. After I repaired it I took it up higher and simulated landing at a safe height. Well, the plane would snap roll during the simulated landing. I tried many things, but eventually I crashed it 2-3 more times and then scrapped it. I then decided to build the same kit, since I just loved that model. During the build process I noticed that the wing had no torsional strength in it. Anything and everything could twist the wing. (I am a retired Mechanical Engineer so problem solving is my bread and butter; I love a problem). In particular, the wing struts could easily put up-wash in the wing tips(more positive angle of attack at the wing tips). I knew then what was causing all of the crashes during the landing. The wing tips would stall with NO WARNING. I therefore adjusted the wing struts to always have some wash-in at the wing tips(some negative angle of attack). I NEVER had one snap roll stall during a landing with that plane. Eventually I totaled that J3Cub when the plastic clevis at the elevator broke. The clevis is the one that came with the kit. I now use only Sullivan steel clevises with a locking clip. Good luck with your maiden, and do write us a report. It can be done without an instructor, but I know I would never have done it myself. I had an instructor for about two lessons and then had to finish it on my own. I believe my trainer plane had close to 50 crashes when I stopped repairing it because it could no longer get off the ground. I hope you will also read my earlier post here.