Wing Struts

[lawndart63]

Okay so looking through the pictures I can see that most of us have replaced/modified our wing struts after they break off at the wing end.
I'm presently using .025 safety wire as a total replacement for the stock parts but it looks like hell. oldcaver's look like metal tubing?
(by the way your Uber Cub markings are great) and swampfox401's
look like wire with turnbuckles at the wing. hope i'm not too far off base but i'm just going by what i see in the pictures. How about a mod thread covering this?

[SCC]

Hi lawndart63
I think your thread here in Tips n Tricks is a good starting point. Lets hope the guys come here and explain what they did..

[swampfox201]

Here is what I did for wing struts. Pretty simple. I used fishing line and those quick connects that you use on the hook. I have around 10 flights with it like this and I haven't had any problems with it. I wanted something that wouldn't block the view of my camera and it's lighter than the stock setup.

[lawndart63]

Thanks Swampfox201. Clean, efficient, and inexpensive. You Da Man, Andy

[grimreaper]

swampfox201 said:

Here is what I did for wing struts. Pretty simple. I used fishing line and those quick connects that you use on the hook. I have around 10 flights with it like this and I haven't had any problems with it. I wanted something that wouldn't block the view of my camera and it's lighter than the stock setup.

This is really amazing, I'll definately have a look into this mod.
Do you have two lines running from the wing to the fuselage?

[swampfox201]

Hi grimreaper,

Do you have two lines running from the wing to the fuselage?

Each wing has the fishing line looped from the two connection points. I have the wing strut screws on the fuselage backed out 1 turn and I have the fishing line wrapped around the screws. I use to just loop it around the screws but sometimes it would pop off so now I wrap it clockwise one time when putting it on.

Todd

[duck9191]

i did the same thing swampfox, here are a few more pictures.







so far no problems, looks alot better then stock and works the same.

[trollsplitter]

I use fishing line as well. But if you go to do this replace your line now and again. After a few months of flying with the line I had One break in flight and very nearly had the whole main wing come off. Fishing lines much cheaper than plane parts, replace it often

[patmatgal]

Very useful information. I just bought a Super Cub at the hobby shop and of the four struts, 3 seem Ok but one looks stretched, really loose. Using fishing line looks likely in the near future
Thanks

[sackohammers]

Hehe, now this is bumpage of a seriously old thread.
If you guys want information on struts, go here:
supercubclub.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=ws

[mac]

1. "Berkley" "Big Game" 15 lb. test mono.
2. "SPRO" swivels, size 2 (I think).
3. Snap swivels, (unknown manufacture) cut to make a hook on the snap side. Heavy duty salt water snap swivels.

3 flights with no problems after fix.

[sackohammers]

Wait, wait guys. Don't put your excellent information here. Let this thread die.
Please look at my last post and put the information there. This thread was created before we had a whole section for struts. hehe

Also, mac, you might want to use less tension on your struts. They look nice and scale how you have them, taught, but functionally you might want more slack in them. Let your wing flex a little when flying. With your struts that tight, if you have a rough landing, you increase the change of breaking stuff.

You should see Kevin's video of flying without the struts and see how much wing flex you can get without the wings breaking. Really, the struts are only there to prevent your wing from collapsing in a harsh maneuvre.

[mac]

sackohammers said:

mac, you might want to use less tension on your struts. They look nice and scale how you have them, taught, but functionally you might want more slack in them. Let your wing flex a little when flying. With your struts that tight, if you have a rough landing, you increase the change of breaking stuff.

Ya, I thought about that and will be making them looser.

[tuscany]

If you wrap you wing in packing tape, you won't need struts.

I haven't had struts on my plane for a while, but might put them back on just for the scale look.

[pballentine]

I really like this idea, and it looks good. But, the fishing line provides no support to the wing the other way. (the wing bending down.) Should i not worry about this?
Thanks