I am in the process of building Hangar 9's J-3 Piper Cub as my first scale aircraft. While it is an ARF, I did much research on each Cub ARF on the market to see which is closest to scale and decided on the Hangar 9 version. I was planning on putting a Saito FA-72 4-stroke in the plane, but ran into a small problem: lack of funds and interest in other areas of R/C aircraft. I am also looking to get into 3D flight. My uncle recently handed down to me his Dazzler 40 ARF with OS 46FX. Then I realized why he handed it down: the horizontal stab is nowhere near being parallel with the wing, a major construction flaw on his part. Anyway, I was going to gut the plane and use the 46FX for the basis of a 3D plane until I read that 4-strokes are truly the right choice for a 3D aircraft. While I really hoped to pair the Cub with the Saito given what I've read, I feel that the better overall choice is to put the Dazzler's 46FX in the Cub and save the Saito 72 for a 3D plane (I would love to save the Saito for the Cub and buy another Saito 72 for a 3D aircraft, but that is unforutunately out of the budget). What do you guys think I should do? How will the Cub fly with an OS 46 FX vs. a Saito FA-72? An interesting point to take note of is that in the Cub's assembly manual, Hangar 9 describes installation of a .46 2-stroke engine, only briefly mentioning that placement of a 4-stroke is possible, but only after modification of the throttle pushrod placement. Does this mean that most Cub's usually use 2-strokes? Let me know what you think. Thanks a lot!

Erik

Well, I'm a 4-stroke guy! Nothing sounds better than a 4-stroke. I have seen a lot of Cubs at the field and I don't think I've seen one with a 2-stroke. Most have been OS 70's and 1.20's (depending on the scale). I am building a GP J3 Cub and have mounted a OS 70 on it. True, even the GP instructions are "thin" when it comes to detailing the 4-stroke install. But then again, thats the whole art behind building. Filling in the gray areas!! I'm sure with help from the guys here you can do it and feel pretty proud when it flies. I vote for the 4-stroke.

I have a saito 56 on my big cub. I think it's a perfect match.

I have a .72 Saito on my H-9 Cub, and it just loafs. It easily turns a scale diameter prop, and sounds very cool just puttering by at 1/3 throttle. A .56 would fly it fine; but have you seen the new .62 Saito? The .65 is discontinued, and the .62 is a bored out .56. Same size as the .56, a couple grams heavier, but makes more peak power than the .65 did (1 hp vs .95 ) You could hide it completely in the cowl if inverted.

Erick, If I'm not mistaken, if you read the manual for the H-9 Cub, it was designed for the Evo.46 to stroke,(the recommended engine) side monuted so the exhaust exits at the bottom of the cowl. The plane will fly pretty good with a .46 FX and 11-6 or 12-5 prop. There are two in the club one with the .46 two stroke and one with an OS .70 four stroke. They both fly well but the FS sounds better.