Hey everybody,

Some of you may have read my other post where I intro myself and talk about getting into the world of RC flying. I'm currently building a Kadet Senior and plan on learning to fly by late spring/early summer.

Looking ahead, I really want to build and fly a scale Piper Super Cub kit in the next year while my Dad is still alive as he's restored and owned a few of the actual planes and I know he'd enjoy seeing me do this.

So what companies/kits can y'all recommend for somebody that will still be a beginner RC pilot? I have good model building skills. Looking for something in the 48"-72" wing span.

Thanks!

Great Planes and Sig both have a .40 size Cub kit, which is right where you are looking to be. I have a Hangar 9 Cub ARF that I fabric covered and added ailerons to. It flies great with a Saito .72. Depending on how scale you want to go, you may be able to get a Super Cub cowl from Fiberglass Specialties if you don't want to have the older J3 cowling on it. I didn't worry about it, as the backstory for my plane is that it was cobbled together for bush pilot work.

The Sig kit is a good one and builds up nicely. Welcome to the hobby and nice to see someone building. Always good to be planning in advance!

There are no Super Cub kits in the size you want, so converting a J-3 kit would be your only possibility. The Sig 1/6 scale kit is said to be a very difficult build, and some people (including experienced kit builders) have complained about the instructions. You can probably find some online builds, though. The Goldberg kit was a pretty easy build, but it is a long, long way from having scale looks. Sig also makes a 1/5 scale Cub, but it's bigger than what you're looking for.

Cubs are not very easy to fly. Going from a Kadet Senior, which may be the easiest-to-fly RC model ever, to a Cub is a huge jump. (The Goldberg cub is a possible exception, but then it really isn't a cub).

I'm not trying to discourage you, but these are things you should know.

I agree, an intermediate plane between those would be a good idea. The venerable old Ugly Stick can't be beaten for a second airplane. Build it as a taildragger so you'll learn how to handle one with a plane that's more forgiving than a Cub. Later, the Stick will serve you well as your bore holes in the sky without thinking about it too much plane. Or you can put floats on it.

I have flown Cubs, and also owned a .40 sized Lanier Citabria. The only problem with the Citabria was that the Pitts style muffler had a bad habit of detaching its self. I would use some rudder on takeoff, a bit more than I would with the Great Planes Rapture I once built and flew numerous times. I don't think I ever flew anything that would land like the Citabria. Every one of them was greased. The glide ratio was also outstanding. I never got the opportunity to build and fly the Great Planes Extra 300SP, but my thinking is that a Cub would be more forgiving. I could be wrong, though. Still, I think a Cub would be very easy to transition to from a Stick.

OK, so I am a little curious. How would an Extra 300 compare to a Cub in handling? If I go back into the hobby, should I just build that Extra 300SP and forego getting a Stick or Hangar 9 Twist?

Thank you all for the great responses! I'm glad I joined this forum. Y'all have given me a lot to think about and I appreciate all of the feedback.

I have a Fly Zone Select Scale Super Cub...It is a RTF...has every thing needed...Makes a good learning plane and for tail drager learning...$175 + Shipping..Listed on RCU
Best you do some flying on simulator and have a Instructor pilot help you for as many flight as needed and make sure model is set up properly.....Jim

I have to say, that as much as I'm not into ARF's or RTF's, I can certainly see their merits while learning to fly. I'm putting so much work and my heart & soul into this kit that I would probably be pretty discouraged if I went out and destroyed it on my first outing. I appreciate your feedback and you have given me something to think about.

Yes! Get some practice on a simulator.