Dynaflite 104" Super Cub

[megawatt]

I am going to test fly the Cub this week, and so thought I would post a few pics.(Just in case! :D )
I decided against a build log on this model, as it has been out of production for some time.It's too bad it was discontinued, it was a nice model to build.
While not horribly scale, with a few mods it is pretty convincing.
I sold the US engines 25cc gas engine originally purchased for the cub, in favor of a E-flite power 160 outrunner.Electron flow will be controlled by a Castle HV 85 esc.Fuel for now will be stored in 30 elite 3600 Nimh cells.With the 20X8 APC thin E prop my wattmeter reports around 2000watts.The model weighs 20 pounds all up,so should fly very scale like.Oh yeah, the pic's.

Jeff

In "the bones".

[megawatt]

A couple more constructiion pics.My little Hacker Cub for scale! (Rubber to R/C conversion,awesome indoor flier!)

[megawatt]

And all covered up.Used Solertex from Balsa USA.Goes on very nice.I concealed all servo's, as opposed to "surface mounting" on the wings and fuse.

[megawatt]

The nav light's use a mini-flash controller from DIYR/C.Fully programable via PC,this is the most versatile lighting controller I have ever used.Very reasonably priced as well.Mid wing landing light is an "easylight" from Dimension engineering.EXTREMELY bright!On/off controlled via TX.

[megawatt]

I am building seats for the cockpit, and will add control stick's, and other sundry details.I hinged the left side window, to allow access to the cockpit.Cockpit is free of all electronics, save the batteries which are concealed in the underdash area.

[megawatt]

I added the flap option, as it was easy to do, and adds needed realism.I may add screens to the cowl intakes.

[KOMET 44]

megawatt,Your cub looks nice.But that 20lbs is scary.Does that include the batterycells?.I'm just finishing up my A/P super cub.I going with all white too.Will trim in orange.Good luck with the test flights. ;)

KOMET44

[megawatt]

All the avionics(sans servo's) are housed in a compartment in the top of the wing.Makes field hookup easy.I am replacing the stock DX-7 switch assembly with a Maxx products heavy duty switch unit that adds redundancy, a charge jack, and built in voltage monitor.Flight pack will be Elite 2000mah NiMh's.(4 cell)

[megawatt]

30 3600 NiMh's weigh in at 5 pounds!I will be going to 10S 5000 Lipo's SOON!

[megawatt]

That's it for now.I have decided to test fly prior to the addition of any more detail work.(Except N numbers of course :rolleyes: ) I will have my Eagletree data logger, and all it's sensors recording during the test flight's.That way if something does go wrong, I might learn something from it! :( . I built this airplane specifically for the Cub Nuts event in Mollala, Oregon next month.Should be a good time.She's not a 5 gigawatt 3D ship, but I think she'll look good in the air!
I'll post a flight report, and some in-flight pic's if anyone is interested.

Jeff

[megawatt]

Thanks Komet.I have a buddy that flew this same bird at 22 pounds on the lethargic 25cc US engine.Flew great! LOTS of wing.I have a hard time holding her back when I throttle up!I thought about adding footpegs and riding it around the neighborhood. :D The 20 pounds is all up weight including the 5 plus pound of batteries.I will go to Lipo's soon, and should shed at least 3 pounds.
Jeff

[Tipover]

Wow! very impressive workmanship. I think your shop is a little to neat though ;) I've a Dynaflite SD all framed up with a Brison 2.4 on the nose. I also have been considering going electric, but I'd really like a smoke system on this one. I'd be interested in seeing a few close ups of how you mounted your front windshield. Looks like its screwed on, but not sure if you have a flange on the inside or just screwed to the sheeting. Your covering job looks just awsome.

Kevin

[gigawatt]

Hey Megawatt,

Congrats to the big Cub!
Finally found your way to a cool big plane...awesome.
BTW- flew my Accord 2200 at the field on Sunday!
I am using A123s.

Cheers,
Gigawatt:_)

[megawatt]

Wow! very impressive workmanship. I think your shop is a little to neat though ;) I've a Dynaflite SD all framed up with a Brison 2.4 on the nose. I also have been considering going electric, but I'd really like a smoke system on this one. I'd be interested in seeing a few close ups of how you mounted your front windshield. Looks like its screwed on, but not sure if you have a flange on the inside or just screwed to the sheeting. Your covering job looks just awsome.

Kevin

Thanks for the kind comments Kevin. The windshield is in fact screwed on.I set tiny dowel "hardpoints" in the sheeting at the screw points.Used 00 screws.I wish I could find some 00 sized flatheads!I'll get some close up's for ya tonite.
Jeff

[megawatt]

Hey Megawatt,

Congrats to the big Cub!
Finally found your way to a cool big plane...awesome.
BTW- flew my Accord 2200 at the field on Sunday!
I am using A123s.

Cheers,
Gigawatt:_)
Thanks bud.Long time no see!We need to get together, and FLY.I have yet to see the giant accord in the air. I'll give you a buzz.
Maybe I should consider A123's for this model,what is the largest capacity these cells are available in now?

Jeff

[megawatt]

I also have been considering going electric, but I'd really like a smoke system on this one.

Kevin
Big money to the person who actually develops an electric smoke generator.It needs to be done!Maybe it has? :eek:
Jeff

[bc_rcgroups]

Sure it has been done. The tough bit is to keep the flames under control....

BC

[wrenwright]

Big money to the person who actually develops an electric smoke generator.It needs to be done!Maybe it has? :eek:
Jeff

I thought that's what lipo's were for....

[flynz4me]

Ya'll should actually see this bird in person!!! Jeff is a meticulous builder and EVERYTHING is perfect on it, not sure how cause when I go over the shop with white gloves I pick up no balsa dust!!! Maybe he didn't build it... Maybe it was atomized here from a far off galaxy, then I remember how LONG it has taken to finish and all those nights "Hey Jeff, lets go fly!!" "I'm kinda workin' on the Super Cub tonight and havin' a glass of vino" "Alright, I'll be right over!!" :D

Great job Jeff!!! Sorry for the ramblings in your thread :P

Devin

[AmpAce]

Jeff, very nice Cub! If I may ask, where did you get the 'glass cowl? I may be looking for one to go on a future project I have in mind. That's a slick looking motor mount you have too.

Will be watching for a flight report, and of course pictures!

AmpAce

[megawatt]

Thanks guy's.Hey Dev, we'll pop the GOOD stuff once the test flights are over! ;)
Ampace, the cowl came from fiberglass specialties.You can order here:

http://fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com/cowlkit.htm#DYNAFLITE

Jeff

[Rudderman98]

Beautiful Jeff!

I had the same model about...oh 7 years ago before the advent of the larger outrunners and larger lipo's and decided to sell her off D'oh!

Best wishes on your maiden. ;)

Perry

[JustPlaneChris]

Maybe I should consider A123's for this model,what is the largest capacity these cells are available in now?

Jeff
Jeff, that is exactly what I was thinking as I read through your thread. (Beautiful workmanship!)

The A123 cells are 2300 mAH, and are slightly less voltage than lipo. Rule of thumb is a 10S A123 under load is about the same voltage as an 8S lipo under equivalent load.

For comparison purposes, my 10S1P A123 pack weighs 758g. You'd probably want to run 10S2P, but even so your weight would be about half your niMH pack. Oh, and the cost would be about $200, well under what a good 10S lipo would cost! :cool:

-Chris

[megawatt]

Beautiful Jeff!

I had the same model about...oh 7 years ago before the advent of the larger outrunners and larger lipo's and decided to sell her off D'oh!

Best wishes on your maiden. ;)

Perry
Hi Perry! Thanks. I too have sold models/kits in the past because I felt that they were poor candidates for conversion.Then along came the lipo and outrunner.Whodathunk? :D
You should come on down to Mollalla next month for "cub nuts" it's a hoot!
Jeff

[megawatt]

Jeff, that is exactly what I was thinking as I read through your thread. (Beautiful workmanship!)

The A123 cells are 2300 mAH, and are slightly less voltage than lipo. Rule of thumb is a 10S A123 under load is about the same voltage as an 8S lipo under equivalent load.

For comparison purposes, my 10S1P A123 pack weighs 758g. You'd probably want to run 10S2P, but even so your weight would be about half your niMH pack. Oh, and the cost would be about $200, well under what a good 10S lipo would cost! :cool:

-Chris
Thanks Chris. I am going to move forward with A123's.Where did you get your cells.The price you quoted is cheaper than I can find!
Jeff

[JustPlaneChris]

Thanks Chris. I am going to move forward with A123's.Where did you get your cells.The price you quoted is cheaper than I can find!
JeffJeff, I kept an eye on ebay and scored a factory refurbished Dewalt pack for $93 shipped to my door. More typical prices for new packs are around $110-$125 shipped. Still, this is not bad for 10 cells! You can see how my pack turned out after disassembly, power leads, and heat shrink in this post (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7899447&postcount=208), and I did the first hover of my Swift this evening (video in this post (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8029230&postcount=241)). Obviously the pack works. :D

-Chris

[Rudderman98]

Hi Perry!
You should come on down to Mollalla next month for "cub nuts" it's a hoot!
Jeff

Jeff......Cub Nuts? :D

Tell me more!

I do have the brand spanking new Hangar 9...uh hem.... Cub electric ARF. :o And she needs some hours.

Perry

[megawatt]

Jeff......Cub Nuts? :D

Tell me more!

I do have the brand spanking new Hangar 9...uh hem.... Cub electric ARF. :o And she needs some hours.

Perry
Perry, take a look here:
www.cubnuts.com
for the scoop! This is the second year for this event, and based on last years turnout, it is going to rock.We are going to aerotow on Friday,then Fun fly Saturday.LOTS of prizes! :eek: Bring the new H-9 Cub, they are BEAUTIFUL!Did you get the 1/4 scale version?
Jeff

[megawatt]

Jeff, I kept an eye on ebay and scored a factory refurbished Dewalt pack for $93 shipped to my door. More typical prices for new packs are around $110-$125 shipped. Still, this is not bad for 10 cells! You can see how my pack turned out after disassembly, power leads, and heat shrink in this post (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7899447&postcount=208), and I did the first hover of my Swift this evening (video in this post (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8029230&postcount=241)). Obviously the pack works. :D

-Chris
WOW, lookin good Chris!I'll say they work.I am going to start watching Ebay for a deal! :D
Jeff

[Rudderman98]

Did you get the 1/4 scale version?
Jeff

Jeff,
No. It's not the 1/4 scale version. I'd love to get that one too but of course there's this thing about not enough "space" to put these things.

I just might try and make it to "Cub Nuts". I'll let you know.

Thanks!
Perry

[megawatt]

Boy I hear ya on the storage issue Perry.I have no idea where I'm going to store the cub.It can't stay on the ol' building table forever.I need to make room for the 1/4 scale Piper Skycycle I am getting ready to start.Might have to hang her in the garage.
It would be great if you could make it down next month!Keep me posted.

Jeff

[megawatt]

Got the maiden flight out of the way this afternoon,and I could not be more pleased!The big Cub is an absolute pussycat.Very smooth and predictable all the way.Cruises nicely at 1/4 throttle.Took no more than half throttle to rotate and climb in a very scale-like manner.I will be adding a bit more elevator throw, but all other controls were spot on for authority.Flaps are VERY effective. :D Slow's her down sooo nice!NO hint of the nasty tip stall. Just drag the runway on final and wait for it.Pack was just warm, as was the motor upon landing.Kept the first flight short(5-6 mins) and did not hook up the data logger.That will happen next flight.Sorry the pic's are a little rough, I only had batteries for my cheapie. Thanks to Ron (flynfrog) for taking the pictures.I will use my new camera next flight,and should get better resolution and closeups.
Now on to the rest of the scale details.

Jeff

[Rudderman98]

Congrats Jeff!

She looks great!

Perry

[Mucksmear]

Real nice Jeff,

Your Cub's specs are almost the same as my Nosen Citabria's that I just maidened. Curious about your flight times. You mention 1/4 throttle is sufficient to cruise around (maintain altitude) - Do you know what your static (or in-flight) current draw is at 1/4 throttle? If you switch to A123 10s2p I'd be very interested to know how that works out.

I'm using 30 GP3300 cells and an APC 20x8. Today's test (2nd flight) showed I can cruise at 1/2.

cheers
-Elliot

[megawatt]

Thanks guy's!It always feels good when a project wraps up with a successful maiden.Especially when you have made some modifications ,and have converted power systems.Makes it somewhat "experimental". :eek:

Elliot, I am also using an 20x8 prop.(APC)I failed to get the data logger on-board for the maiden (left it home! :( ),so have no hard data yet as to in-flight currents and such.You can bet it's coming though,and will be posted here soon.Still waiting for a killer deal on A123 cells to materialize somewhere. The cub indeed flew very scale like and predictable at LESS than 1/2 throttle.In fact, it wasn't untill I dropped the flaps a bit that it slowed down to a real comfortable landing speed.What is the span, weight and wing area of your model?What motor did you use?Post some pic's please, I would love to see it! :D

Jeff

[airnudie]

Jeff, sweet bird. It even looks huge in the air. Get some vid next time she's up!!!

[megawatt]

Jeff, sweet bird. It even looks huge in the air. Get some vid next time she's up!!!

Thanks a-n! I'm still looking for a camera man. ;)

Jeff

[megawatt]

Flew the big Cub again today.I love this airplane!Just a big 'ol pussycat.Had the data logger on-board, but the data was somehow corrupted, and would not download.Unit is enroute to Eagletree systems for replacement.Will post in-flight info once I have it.

BTW Eagle tree systems customer service is AWESOME!These folks know how to treat customers. More to come.

jeff

[megawatt]

Finally added the bungie covers. :)