It has been 30 years since I built my last plane from scratch, but I have decided to embark on building a Big Cub to be powered by a Hacker A-100.

Why?

I am fond of flying scale aircraft and I love flying my 25% RC Guys Decathlon. I have pondered something larger after first seeing video of the Hempel Cubs (http://www.billhempel.com/cub.html).

I would buy a Hempel Cub in a heartbeat but:

1) I do not own a 12 foot long trailer and I cannot see me getting that one by the wife. Also my garage is too short for a trailer. My workaround will be a two piece fuselage.

2) The Hempel Cub is designed to stand the rigors of a 150cc gas motor and is a little therefore a little bit heavier built than would be required for a 100cc equivalent electric motor.

3) I want the challenge of building most of the plane from scratch.


I have a good friend (a very good stick builder) who is going to work with me on the build. He has built several 25% and one 33% Balsa USA Cub. We have come up with a plan that incorporates the best features of both plans. I had a set of 25% plans blown up and printed at 200%

What

Here is my tentative plan:

50% scale clipped wing J3 Cub

- Wingspan: 180 inches (foam core wings)
- Wing chord: 32 inches
- Wing thickness: 3.75 inches
- Horizontal stabilizer span: 60 inches
- Fuselage length (2 piece): 134 inches (to front of cowl)
- Rudder height: 25 inches
- Total height: 42 inches (on 8.5 inch wheels)

- Hacker A-100 motor (7500 watts)
- Target weight: 50 pounds

Although this color scheme has been done my many others, I have always been fond of the Hazel Sig blue and white scheme. This was a true clipped wing J3 so this will be scale.

Have a read here (http://www.avweb.com/news/profiles/182140-1.html) to learn more about Hazel Sig.

Earlier I stated that my garage was too short for a full size cargo trailer. What I meant was that the door opening is only 7 feet high. Changing this involves spending a whole lot of money.

I current have a trailer box (8 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft high) that fits on a folding utility trailer. my plan is for that the two piece fuselage with removable horizontal stabilizers and folding landing gear should fit in this box.

sounds good! subscribed

good luck with your project!

http://www.iflytailies.com/

Subscribed! I am working on my second 1/3 scale e-Cub (Hacker A60) and keep looking at the Hemple 50% Cubs - thinking that would be a great idea. I have a friend with a 50% plane, and it is big to transport and assemble - takes extra help and a trailer. The 1/3 Cub (144" span) will just fit in my mini van. You might look at the 12' Telemaster, which has the two piece fuse, to see how they do it.

Originally Posted by Louierc

Subscribed! I am working on my second 1/3 scale e-Cub (Hacker A60) and keep looking at the Hemple 50% Cubs - thinking that would be a great idea. I have a friend with a 50% plane, and it is big to transport and assemble - takes extra help and a trailer. The 1/3 Cub (144" span) will just fit in my mini van. You might look at the 12' Telemaster, which has the two piece fuse, to see how they do it.

I looked at the Telemaster and couple of other projects that use a joined fuselage. There is also a short thread here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...ight=two+piece

I am planning on using plywood on each side and a short piece of carbon fiber tube with 4 bolts and blind nuts.

Geoff, I will be following along!! I have had a few thoughts myself of building a 40-50% supercub. I am finishing up on a 25% sc right now http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...+scale+top+cub and was thinking the other day how much fun it would be to build one like this in a larger scale. At any rate good luck I will be watching from here on out!!

Trey

Originally Posted by supercubman

Geoff, I will be following along!! I have had a few thoughts myself of building a 40-50% supercub. I am finishing up on a 25% sc right now http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...+scale+top+cub and was thinking the other day how much fun it would be to build one like this in a larger scale. At any rate good luck I will be watching from here on out!!

Trey

I had not seen your thread before. You skills show in the finished product!

I was interested in the CAD generated PA-18 instrument panel that you found. Can you point me to it?

Great project. Do a google for, wings and wheels 2009 Ali Machinchy half scale cub. I was there and the video does not do the flight justice. It is a Bill Hemple 50% c/w cub and uses a ZDZ 210cc engine and weighs 50lbs. It is obviously overpowered! At least you will not need to fit an onboard starter!
Good luck and every success with the project.
Chris.....UK

Originally Posted by noblapod

Great project. Do a google for, wings and wheels 2009 Ali Machinchy half scale cub. I was there and the video does not do the flight justice. It is a Bill Hemple 50% c/w cub and uses a ZDZ 210cc engine and weighs 50lbs. It is obviously overpowered! At least you will not need to fit an onboard starter!
Good luck and every success with the project.
Chris.....UK

I had actually seen that video before. OMG he really throws that Cub around. The announcer said that it was 70 lbs which sounds about right with a ZDZ 210.

Ali Machinchy - Half Scale Cub (7 min 47 sec)

Geoff, here it is...........

Trey


http://www.3pointaircraft.com/3point...ews/sc_pnl.gif

Originally Posted by supercubman

Geoff, here it is...........
Trey
http://www.3pointaircraft.com/3point...ews/sc_pnl.gif

Thanks

This was the dash from the Cub that I visited. It was a lot simpler. (More pictures later)

This sounds fun Geoff. What spec batteries etc?

Rog

Originally Posted by Sutton Bank

This sounds fun Geoff. What spec batteries etc?
Rog

Electronics

Hacker A100-10 motor (27x10 Xoar propeller)
Hacker Masterspin 170 speed controller
4 x 6S 5800 mAh Turnigy 30C batteries (12Sx2P)

Ailerons (2 per side) Hitec HS-7950TH (400 oz inch @ 6V)
Elevator (1 per half) Hitec HS-7950TH (400 oz inch @ 6V)
Rudder Hitec HS-7980TH (500 oz inch @ 6V)

2 x Duralite 2300 mAh A123 batteries
Smart-Fly EQ-10 power expander
Smart-Fly pin and flag failsafe switch
Hitec Optima 9 receiver

Thanks Geoff. What do you use to charge 4 x 6S LiPo's?

Rog