Hey all, I'm getting ready for my first build of a 81" piper cub this coming week and was wondering if there were any last minute tips or tricks of building that some of you all could throw at me. Anything from material required to technique would be appreciated?

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Sheet the underside tips if you fly off hard surfaced runways. Makes covering repair easier if you drag a tip and cut through covering.

You are posting in an ARF forum. Are you l.ooking for kit building tips (if so, try the Kit Building forum) or are you looking for pointers for assembly of an ARF? What questions do you have that we can help with?

I'm building an ARF, I'm just looking for general tips and techniques as the title describes.

Hey 89. We have no idea if this is your first ARF assembly or not, but I will guess this is your first. The three most important things that come to mind are.

#1. Read the instruction manual. I try to go through it a few times.

#2. Inventory all of the parts.

#3. FOLLOW the instruction manual

PS. This will work for kits also.

Yes it is my first....I'm looking for advice just like that.

Glue all joints you can access. AFS are made very weak and lite. Also think about beefing up the firewall.

You didn't mention which ARF ( manufacturer ) you are building.

I recommend that you download the on-line manuals from Tower and Great Planes for somewhat ( but not identical ) planes.

Print them out.

The Tower/Great Planes manuals are particularly good because they are repleat with important "tips" about assembling an ARF.

Different tips are found in the various manuals.

Many of these pointers are applicable for many different ARFs.

Pay particular attention to cowling tips, gluing tips and alignment advice.

thanks all...how do i go about beefing up the firewall?

It's a GP Cub

Firewalls always need a second look and another coat of 30-minute epoxy wouldn't hurt.....one thing I would do before assembly is to cover your work surface with foam, towel, or bed spread to eliminate the bumps and bruses your work can inflict on the airframe.

I usually mount the engine near the end of the assembly but fit it and then remove it before I glue on the tailfeathers.

If this is the Fabric Covered GP Cub I will have a few Tips for you...You might want to look at Changing your struts..I had nothing but trouble with mine untill I made up a set out of stream line tubing...The GP ones are hinged with CA hinges and they do not stand up very well...You will get a few flights out of them but mine failed about 5or 6 flights in but that was on water....It is a wonderfull plane...I also eventuly put Robart landing gear on mine because I liked the plane so much...It is great improvment...Make sure you have sombody who is farmilliar with Cubs help you with take offs for the first little while..They can be a hand full untill you learn how Cubs are to take off...You need to learn how to use your rudder properly...One other thing my wing joiner did not fit very well and I ended up making another one..This was back a few years so maybe its better now...Spend the time on your wing joint getting it rite..It is a one piece wing and the joint needs to be strong...I broke one wing dumb thumbing mine...If I wrecked this plane I would replace it and I cant say that about most of my other planes....

Ummm, never mind, it ain't worth the hassle........

Bill, Waco Brother #1

Thanks for this tip biker, this is the fabric covered one.