"Cub Yellow"

[airjoey]

OK, I've fiberglassed my SC.

Now, I'd like to paint. I don't have to worry about using foam safe paint, so that's not an issue.

Who has "Cub Yellow" paint, preferably in a can?

Also, where can I get the Cub logo?

Thanks!
Joe

[jt01]

Just curious but how did you fiberglass your cub and how much does it weigh now? Got any pics? It must be real strong.

Jim

[airjoey]

I used some fairly heavy fiberglass cloth to reinforce the battery box opening and the leading edges. The rest is covered in 3/4 oz cloth. I used a water-based epoxy, MinWax Polyacrylic. It's a floor finish. I have not weighed the cub yet, but I bet it hits 30 oz.

I'm not done, but will put the details and picts out there in a week or two.

Cheers,
Joe

[jt01]

Do you have a bl motor on it?

[airjoey]

No, I have a 480 in it. I'm guessing it will fly, but really sluggish. If it turns out to be too much, I'll go brushless, probably with one of the combos from Heads Up RC. I took the stock electronics out and am using a GWS 15 amp brushed controller with the 480. That worked great, but I may have to go BL whether I like it or not.

If I do, I want to still use the NiMH batteries. I'm not comfortable with Lipos as they currently stand. But, maybe I'm not adding as much weight as I think I am. The epoxy is VERY thin. Not like normal finish epoxy at all.

I used to fly high power rockets and used 20 minute finish epoxy with 2-3 oz (I think - heavy stuff) to build nose cones and the materials I'm using on the cub are much. much lighter.

[theriaa]

I covered my wing in packaging tape, and it wouldn't even get off the ground, it screams on lipos though. you shouldn't be afraid of lipos, they only catch on fire when charged or discharged incorrectly incorrectly, which is impossible with my setup (dedicated charges)

see my post here for my setup:
supercubclub.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=sccgeneral&action=display&thread=1201131948&page=1#1201148542

[hack73]

aokjoey said:

OK, I've fiberglassed my SC.

Thanks!
Joe

Where did you get the 3/4 oz cloth?

[theriaa]

post a picture!

[airjoey]

Promise I will post some pictures of the build (well, I gotta take some first) tonight.
I got the 3/4 cloth from my LHS. It was a SIG-brand package. 1 sq yd for $4-5. I think Tower Hobbies carries it as well.

[hack73]

Thanks. You are torturing us by not having any pictures up yet...hahaha. Can't wait to see them. What grit sand paper did you use to sand it before painting?

[airjoey]

Ha! Sorry, got stuck with work. I'll try to get them up this weekend.

I honestly don't remember the grits. I did not try to get a perfectly smooth finish, just enough to look good in flight. Other than added strength, the main reason is that I wanted the paint to look as good as possible. Still, I'm pretty happy with it so far.

:-) as a tease, I also modified the rudder to have the entire top section turn; split about 1/3 the way up.

[airjoey]

jt01 said:

... and how much does it weigh now....

Just an update. AUW is 28.5 oz with standard battery and motor, new electronics, fiberglassed but not painted.

It was windy, but I did a couple of take off runs to make sure the motor can still take off. I only tried a 11x7 prop, but power isn't an issue yet. Too windy to really evaluate balance. The COG is still in the ball park though.

My guess is that some of the extra weight is due to the new electronics: 2 boxes instead of 1, in addition to the glass and epoxy.

I'll try to get some pictures. No, really...
Joe

[airjoey]

First, I've flown the cub with all the fiberglassing in calm air and it's just a bit tail heavy, so that will have to be adjusted.

Pictures!!
Here are my new electronics: a Hitec HFS-04MG receiver, a GWS ICS480, and 2 JR SM-22 sub micro servos. The servos are mounted on cardboard and taped with packing tape. I'm going to add a layer of fiberglass to the cardboard to stiffen and protect.


While the entire plane was covered in 3/4 oz fiberglass, I have used 2 oz fiberglass on the leading edge of the wing and at all stress points. Here you can see the thicker fiberglass on the wing edge.


I will be replacing the standard gear, so this will change, but you can see the added reinforcement on the battery plate. This has been very strong and has stood up fine for several hard landings and many landing gear removals and installations. Solid.


Here we see the cowling, which is glassed with 2 oz cloth, with the recommended plastic screening installed. It has proven to be sturdy and the screening works well in mud and snow. (Managed to test both in 1 day)


This picture is not as clear, but I cut out the foam that was mutilated by all the wing pushing against the edge, added some a clean section of foam and reinforced the entire section with two layers of 2 oz cloth.


Finally, while there wasn't much I could do about the elevators, I made rudder more scale-like by cutting into the top of the fixed front half. I filled in the upper hinge area and glassed both sides with 2 oz cloth and then a final layer of 3/4 oz. I really like the way this came out. It appears as if the upper hinge is still visible, but once it's painted that will go away. The color of the filler is different the base foam color.



I'm in the process of applying sanding filler now and will be picking up two cans of "School Bus" yellow (which is very close to the "cub" yellow) tomorrow.

Cheers,
Joe

[garvey76]

Does cutting in to the tail like youve done improve the cub
ive never seen anything like that. you must get a video of it in flight. nice work.

[airjoey]

garvey76 said:

Does cutting in to the tail like youve done improve the cub
ive never seen anything like that.

All Cubs (super or J-3) have this type of rudder. WHY, I do no know. A lot of flight characteristics changed in this mod, mostly to weight gain and shift. I didn't really notice anything different in when turning. It was strictly for looks.

I should also note that the elevators are opposite of the way the real cub's are: the outer ends should move as well. That would have required more surgery than I wanted to perform. This is sport scale, after all. ;D

you must get a video of it in flight. nice work.

Thanks! Once it's painted and the decals are on (doing new ones), I'll drag the wife to the field and do just that.

Cheers,
Joe