Ok folks. I need some help here from any of you familiar with the Super Cub. I've already gotten some advice elsewhere that says I should build my Cub w/ clipped wings because it will fly much better.

Question: did the Super Cub have a clipped-wing option?

I'm building a GP J-3 Cub that I'm converting to Super Cub, and I'm not going to be a stickler for precise scale, yet I want it to be somewhat realistic. If I do clip the wings, what happens to the ailerons - same size? Flaps? - there wouldn't be room for them w/ full-size ailerons. What about the wing spar mounting locations? The plan shows that the wing gets cut just inboard of the aileron and moved in 2-1/2 bays. That moves the spar mounts along with it.

Sorry for all of this, but I DO want a model that I can be happy with, that will fly decently, etc. What do you say?

Bob

I'd keep the wingspan aas it is. Flaps would be cool. Her's a pic of my Goldberg super Cub.

Tom,

Thanks for the advice. I was leaning towards the full-size wing, except for the input of others. Your Cub looks great! I guess I'll build long, and make sure I have drawings of all ribs so I can rebuild short some other time if I so choose.

Thanks again,

Bob

You could see if GP has a wing kit and build both.

I flew for the West Coast distributor for Piper for a few years and my favorite airplane was the PA18 Super Cub. It did not have a clipped wing option. Some one may have modified it somewhere but you couldn't get one from Piper. The full scale airplane would do just about anything you would want but it was still a utility category airplane (not approved for aerobatics) Considering what some duster pilots did with the "A" model I wonder what the restrictions meant. I've flown a bunch in the duster and it was a ball. If you're going to put a pilot in it please put him in the front seat. I've seen so many Cub model J3's with the pilot in the front and PA18's with the pilot in the rear seat. The PA11 was an upgraded J3 with 90hp and fuel in a wing tank. It was the first Cub with an engine enclosed in a cowl. It was also the first Cub to be flown solo from
the front seat. If you were solo in a J3 you flew in the back, in everything from the PA11 on you flew solo in the front seat. If you intend to install wing struts please don't forget the jury struts. The main strut attachment was the the same point as the front leg of the landing gear. The PA18 still had external shock cords for the gear and metal covers much the same as the J3. The later PA18's had a round paper carburetor air filter instead of the rectangular one.

P.S. don't forget the overhead window in the center section.

Ballgunner,

thanks for the info. Due to servos in the center of the wing for aierons/flaps, the window will need to be silver trim. I've been looking for pics of the top of the wing - where is/are the fuel cap(s) located/what do they look like? I'm planning on building with both seats occupied.

What about the tailfeathers? I've seen support wires in photos. Necessary for the model? How do you make them? I've also seen the outboard tips of the elevators extending to the leading edge, like the rudder does. Not on the plans - should I build it that way??

-Bob

RCbob. You've started me thinking about building a Super Cub. Never have so far. The fuel caps were about 2" across and were not recessed. They went on with a half twist. They were about 2' from the wing root atop a metal cover which was over the tanks, one on each wing.
The tail braces were a streamlined wire with flattened ends that were bolted to the spars of the tailfeathers. The elevator did go to the end of the horizontal. If you are into scale make them correctly. The fuel guages were a glass tube inside the cockpit on the exposed root rib.
By the way you don't have to make it yellow. Most Super Cubs were cream with a red stripe and flash on the vertical stabilizer.

Thanks for the info, Ballgunner.

Just want to get this straight - on the elevators: straight leading edge, or turn to meet stab leading edge? In other words, does it look like the fin/rudder on its side or does the elev leading edge go straight across? I've seen pics at supercub.org that look like the elev's and rudder are similarly constructed.

You know, I wasn't at all interested in the Cub at all, and then there it was flying around a nearby airport...that was it!

Re: scale:, I'm not into scale per se, but if it had wing tanks, I don't want to put a fuel cap in front of the windshield! Same goes with other features of the airplane. If Great Planes is going to leave something off of their plans, like the jury struts (thank you very much!) I'd like to know about it so I can decide whether it's worth the trouble to add.

-Bob

Ballgunner,

Check again... The J3 had an option for a wing fuel tank. I have flown one many times. It's placarded "Front Seat Solo".

As long as I worked for Piper I never heard of the J3 wing tank option. It may well have been ATC'd by and individual. I am sure it was never offered as an option by the company. By the way I did work in the parts department too so I was totally familiar with what Piper offered to the public.

To RCBob,
I'm building a Goldberg J3 modified into PA18. I took my camera to a local fly-in and got lots of good shots of areas on the Cub that interested me. You might try the same in your area. I also bought a book by Peter M. Bowers titled Piper Cubs.
ISBN 0-8306-2170-9 $17.95
It has lots of great info and pictures.
Phred

Phred,

The photo idea is great. I'll go hang around the local airport and see if there's a PA18 around w/ a willing owner.

Bob

"Most Super Cubs were cream with a red stripe and flash on the vertical stabilizer."

Most Super Cubs where white with a red accent, not cream with red. Do a search on the net and check it out.

Ken

Here's a shot of a white/red S-Cub, but I don't know if its the original style.