Which of the many Cub ARFs out there is the best? I need one for a knock around. Needs to be minimum 80", and no clip wing, as I want to convert to a military scheme, such as an NE-1. Looking for the something that is realistic as well. I have a .52 4stroke, .91 4stroke, and some .40-.46 2strokes that I can use for power. I only have experience with older Hangar-9 version, and it seems like a good one.
Thanks

Of the ARF Cubs I have seen, the H-9 looks the best, in terms of covering quality and how well it is put together. I don't particularly like the wooden engine mount, but that can be changed. I have the 80" Ultra Cub, I think it is a discontinued model, not sure, but I bought it at a shop that was clearing out its ARF and engine inventory a while back. I'm about 1/2 through putting it together, going to put floats on it (Great Planes kit .40 size), going to power it with a .72 Saito. The instructions with this plane show a .50 Saito, and say it is a "perfect match"; Saito doesn't make the .50 any more, so I don't know how old this design is, but for an ARF is pretty nice. I imagine your .52 would fly it well, I just had the .72, and a little more ooomph off the water would be okay with me.

I also have a 1/5 Sig Cub built from a kit as an L-4 military version. The H-9 is only slightly smaller (Sig has a 84.5" wing), but the scale lines are almost identical. The instructions show the .50 mounted sideways, but I may mount my .72 inverted, due to the larger size and some engine mount considerations.

It's worth noting, the firewall and mount of the H-9 has no side or down thrust, but the horizontal stab has a notable positive incidence, where my Sig has downthrust in the firewall and a zero incidence H. stab.

The wing on the H-9 is supposed to build as a one-piece, with non-functional struts. I am looking at trying to build mine as a two piece wing, for convenience of transport. It has a big piece of spruce for a wing joiner, and it fits very snugly in both halves, so I may just glue it in one half, and keep the halves together with the wing bolts and locator pins in the forward part that fits to the front of the cabin.

Good luck on whatever you choose, hope this helps.

I don't have any Cub ARF, but have Great Planes Cub 40 balsa kit.
I finished it with Coverite 21 Century Fabric and it looks very well.
So if I crashed this one, I would get GP Cub 40 ARF fabric covered.
Coverite 21 Century Fabric is very strong and looks great for this
kind of airpalnes, though it seems a bit heavier than normal film.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

The Modeltech J-3 ARF is one of the best and it has excellent fittings and struts are pre- made, really nice. Another nice one is the one from
Great Planes that is fabric covered but these are not available for a few more months.

I have the TT Cub I think it looks great. I will be putting in a 90 twin in it.

Yes, 90 twin is better. I should have used 90 twin for float installation
in the future. 60 twin would be a bit underpower for float version.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

tsutomu mabuchi - unfortunately i have the old 90 saito that has the twin carbs on top of the engine... i'm really hoping that i will have enough clearance for the cowl to go on. the 60, though less power, fits better. the new single carb 90 is also good. we'll see!

How about mounting the engine on carb side down.
I remember twin carb type has not identical cylinders like single
carb type, it will not affect scale view.
Setting the neddle would be a mess though.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

tried that but the exhaust would come out of the top!!! i think that won't be good for running (hydrolock) i measured but it is very close.

by the way, nice cub. i love cubs... i'm building my second WM .26 size cub with a FS30. JUST enough power. wouldn't get off with floats as well. and on my list is my TT with Saito 90T. i'm still debating wether to get the robart scale gear... it's expensive but looks so much better!

Sorry, I forgot the exhaust pipe direction.
I ordered Robart 1/5 Cub strut. The stock piano wire strut bends at landing
and the wheels become toe-out. Robart looks robust and seems to absorb
landing impact.
And I also ordered glass cowl from fiberglass specialities since the ABS cowl
has some crack.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

i'm really curious as to how you will mount your cowl!!! i read in another cub post that you will cut it. please let me know what you do, i'm going to have to do the same thing. i think for the 60 you might be able to get away with just cutting it from the cylinder heads and back. i will definitely have to cut it from the spinner all the way back.

please post pictures, tsutomu!!!

No trick, very primitive way, please don't laugh.
I cut the both side of the cowl to bend upper portion
to get clearence to the cylinders when putting the
cowl on.
You can see how I do it.
I think I could not do the same way for a fiberglass
cowl since it is not soft like thin ABS stock cowling.
I would cut the glass one in half horizontally from
the thrust line like a real airplane's cowl and fasten
both upper and lower halves using some hinges and
fasteners.
It will be more practical for maintainance and better
for scale look.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

Instead of cutting the whole cowl in half, what
do you think of this?

Tsutomu Mabuchi

Fickeflyer,

I have looked at tons of Cub ARFs out there and this is what I find:

1. Hanger 9 Cub- Came out in mid 1990's that started the ARF craze. Ultracote covered but workmanship is poor (for the example I got) compared to today's standard. Strut assembly is weak and not well designed.
2. TT Cub- a very similiar design as H9. I believed it was a copy with minor addition. That is the stringer on the side. This really makes a difference in scale appearance.
3. Powerline Hobby Cub- Same size as above but less scale. The body is too fat. Good workmaship. I do not know about the type of covering though...
4. ModelTech- a extremely similiar to TT. I believe it may be the same plane.
5. H9 Super Cub- very nice model. I think it may be the best non-yellow Super Cub out there.
6. DP Super Cub- a very nice one but bigger and looks a little bit chubby.

I would choose the GP Cub because:
a. Excellent scale outline.
b. FABRIC covered ( the only one that has fabric).
c. Excellent scale shaped struts (only one that has them).
d. I always have liked GP planes (for the most part).

Dai Phan

that doesn't look bad at all! i'm hoping that mine will come out half that nice. the hinges would be good too but i'll have to see how much of the cowl i have to cut! if i have to cut too much, then even a hinge might not do. looks good, tsutomu!

Daiphan, the WM Cub's also have scale-like struts. even my rinky dinky 26 size has decent looking struts.

Yes, that is what I worry about, too.
However, the cowling will not have much stress during
flight, so I expect it is OK as long as it does not fall off.
60T has very little vibration during running.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

i hear the 90TA has a little more since it isn't a double throw crank. we'll see... i'm still building my second cub 26 (sold the first one, the one in the picture, when i moved). and i'm still contemplating buying the double throw 90 for the cub. i'm not sure when i'll get to this plane. i have too many projects!!! aaahhh...

Does anyone know of a Cub arf with an 80" or larger wing that is two piece, instead of being glued together as one piece?
Sam

Have a look at World Models. Their 80 in 1/5th scale has detachable wings.

www.theworldmodels.com

Looking at there Clipped wing for a Knock around Sunday Flyer.


Jim

I have been considering the WM version. Has anyone built one?

I know of two of the smaller ones in local clubs and they look good. A cub can not fly bad, no matter who it is made by.

Have the 40 size Ultimate and it flys great.

Looking for a 1/4 scale cub, ready to fly?

Here's one:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemID=114865