Spektrum Dx5E/Supercub upgrade - advice please

[retiredbri]

From my previous thread "Could this plane be a good move from the Cub?" I have taken the advice and want to move on using quality equipment and to do it in a number of stages.

I've been flying the HZ Supercub for some for 5 months (325 flights in 28.5Hrs) and am impressed with the ruggedness and stability. I can get it to loop and fly inverted and land it on rough fields.
In the future I want to move to the Parkzone F5U Corsair but want some experience with a proper Tx and ailerons before then. To do this, I quite like the idea of upgrading the Supercub.

Stage 1 would be with the Spektrum Dx5e Tx plus AR500 Rx plus 2 servos and a brushed ESC/BEC. This is so that I can stay with my NiMH batteries and 480 motor.
(I'm not looking for the ultimate "Supercub" – I hope to get this with the Corsair)
At the end of stage 1, I will have effectively rebuilt the Cub with better electrics and with a Mode 2 Tx. This will give me a useful transition to having the rudder on the left as well as getting the feel for a "proper Tx".

Stage 2 will be to convert the wing by adding ailerons and the 2 aileron servos and get used to the ailerons gently, knowing the Cub is so rugged. Again, the Mode 2 Tx with the ailerons on the right will be good practice before the Corsair.
It may not be the best plane but with my rough field location, I will still be able to get the Cub down without ruining it.

Stage 3 will be to buy the F5U Corsair PNP. I would get an extra the AR500 RX, a LiPo battery and charger. This will allow me to join a flying club about 10 miles away (the nearest) with a good grass landing area. The club rules (UK) do not allow 27MHz and by going to 2.4GHz, I will avoid the problems of 35MHz and crystals (35MHz & 2.4GHz are the allowed UK/Club frequencies).
Hopefully, at the club, I can get more experience with the Aileron version of the Cub and get the experts there to help me with the Corsair.

My budget is limited hence the staged approach (over about 6 months). I know the better way would be brushless/LiPo for the Cub and the Spektrum Dx6I (that would give me more features in the future) but by going the staged route I will have a bit of spare cash for extra LiPos and spares to repair the planes. Also, I will have good performance with the Corsair and keep my "Cub" as the rough and tumble, rough field plane.

Is this a reasonable route to go?

I do need some advice.
1 Which servo types do I need for the Elevator/Rudder?
2 Because I'm staying with the brushed motor, I think the ESC should be rated at 20 Amp and the BEC should give 5V at 1 amp. Is this about right?
3 What size are the ailerons please (length, width, up/down movement) and how far out from the fuse). What servo types are needed? I presume they located in pockets in the wing and operate small horns on the ailerons? Is the movement equal up/down or doesn't it matter?
4 I think the weight would not be altered too much and the CofG would stay the same if the Rudder/El servos can be mounted in the same position and the aileron servos are on the CofG line in the wing.

Regards
retiredbri

[akdude]

Wow, that sounds much like what have been thinking also, except much better detail and articulated better. I have not been able to fly the cub in a while due to family and work. I really want to get out and shoot some landings on skis. The Corsair looks like it would be a grand time, but I need to re-learn to fly with ailerons and proper controls.

[bulldog319]

I think I would try and spring for the 6i if your budget can handle it. If you ever want to try Heli's, 6 channels is a must, if not, the computer radio allows you to fly delta wings, V tails and have flaperons with minimum fuss.

If you think this addiction eases once you get the corsair I have some bad news for you.

I think any micro servo in the neighborhood of 15ozs/inch should do the trick,

I'm using the brushed motor with 3S Lipo's and using a 15A brushed control from wattage. The guy at the LHS said I'd fry the motor but so far so good at about 15 flights/ week and it has been in there for at least a month and a half. I Haven't been shy about getting into the throttle either.

My Ailerons are almost full length ( I left about 3 inches from the side of the fuselage uncut) and about an inch and a half in chord. If I do another wing I will make them full length and maybe even more chord. I haven't measured the throws but it is around 45 degrees in high rate, and I still want it to roll faster. I have a bit more movement up than down, have tried various setups with that and seem to get much better rolls if I have more up aileron.For horns I found some small ones that are similar to what is used on the tail ( a plug goes through with a bracket clipping it on the other side) and used foam safe CA to mount them on the ailerons. I used CA hinges and put the hinge point toward the upper part of the wing. this allowed me to preserve the looks of the wing when viewed from above and still have some fantastic throw. The servo mounting in the wing is just a microservo mounted on its side placed in a pocket I carved out with a hobby knife.I mounted them in with two sided servo tape inside and packing tape outside.

The COG did not really change, I have the speed control and reciever mounted at about the same distance from the nose as the receiver/ESC that I took out. the wing servos I just mounted in the thickest part of the wing.

[sayers]

Nov 10, 2008 23:14:46 GMT 1 retiredbri said:

From my previous thread "Could this plane be a good move from the Cub?" I have taken the advice and want to move on using quality equipment and to do it in a number of stages.

I've been flying the HZ Supercub for some for 5 months (325 flights in 28.5Hrs) and am impressed with the ruggedness and stability. I can get it to loop and fly inverted and land it on rough fields.
In the future I want to move to the Parkzone F5U Corsair but want some experience with a proper Tx and ailerons before then. To do this, I quite like the idea of upgrading the Supercub.

Stage 1 would be with the Spektrum Dx5e Tx plus AR500 Rx plus 2 servos and a brushed ESC/BEC. This is so that I can stay with my NiMH batteries and 480 motor.
(I'm not looking for the ultimate "Supercub" – I hope to get this with the Corsair)
At the end of stage 1, I will have effectively rebuilt the Cub with better electrics and with a Mode 2 Tx. This will give me a useful transition to having the rudder on the left as well as getting the feel for a "proper Tx".

Stage 2 will be to convert the wing by adding ailerons and the 2 aileron servos and get used to the ailerons gently, knowing the Cub is so rugged. Again, the Mode 2 Tx with the ailerons on the right will be good practice before the Corsair.
It may not be the best plane but with my rough field location, I will still be able to get the Cub down without ruining it.

Stage 3 will be to buy the F5U Corsair PNP. I would get an extra the AR500 RX, a LiPo battery and charger. This will allow me to join a flying club about 10 miles away (the nearest) with a good grass landing area. The club rules (UK) do not allow 27MHz and by going to 2.4GHz, I will avoid the problems of 35MHz and crystals (35MHz & 2.4GHz are the allowed UK/Club frequencies).
Hopefully, at the club, I can get more experience with the Aileron version of the Cub and get the experts there to help me with the Corsair.

My budget is limited hence the staged approach (over about 6 months). I know the better way would be brushless/LiPo for the Cub and the Spektrum Dx6I (that would give me more features in the future) but by going the staged route I will have a bit of spare cash for extra LiPos and spares to repair the planes. Also, I will have good performance with the Corsair and keep my "Cub" as the rough and tumble, rough field plane.

Is this a reasonable route to go?

I do need some advice.
1 Which servo types do I need for the Elevator/Rudder?
2 Because I'm staying with the brushed motor, I think the ESC should be rated at 20 Amp and the BEC should give 5V at 1 amp. Is this about right?
3 What size are the ailerons please (length, width, up/down movement) and how far out from the fuse). What servo types are needed? I presume they located in pockets in the wing and operate small horns on the ailerons? Is the movement equal up/down or doesn't it matter?
4 I think the weight would not be altered too much and the CofG would stay the same if the Rudder/El servos can be mounted in the same position and the aileron servos are on the CofG line in the wing.

Regards
retiredbri

Hi There
I use HS81 servos for elevator & rudder & HS55 for ailerons My ailerons are 1 1/2 X 12 , & I aggree with the other fella about the DX6i that is what I use & works great. The 20 amp ESC sounds about right .
Have a great day
Jerry

[alexinflight]

I use a Dx6i...works great!

[flydiver]

When you get to buying an ESC you might want to read this:
supercubclub.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=rg&action=display&thread=1858&page=1

[retiredbri]

Hi fellow flyers
I thought about the Dx6i and decided to go for it instead of the Dx5e.
I've done the first part of converting the Cub - Dx6i/Ar6200, two off HS55 servos for El/Rud plus Castle Creations Pixie 20 brushed ESC/BEC. I'm staying with 480 brushed motor and NiMH batteries till I've got a good number of hours in with the new Tx.

Here is a picture: The LEDs show both Receivers bound and the ESC armed.


I will make a start on the ailerons in the new year so for the moment, I'm just waiting for a good calm day to get her in the air again.
My one concern was with Mode 2 and having the rudder on the left. I know that in "panic" mode, I would revert to rudder on the right and with no ailerons, it would plough into the deck.
I have given myself a breather - mixed 100% Aileron control on the right with 100% rudder on the left. That way, whichever stick I move, it will turn.
Once I feel more comfortable, I'll reduce the right stick to 80% and then more till it has no control.

I'll look into the servo current and BEC/number of cells. I've got lots of 7 cell NiMH and the Castle Creations Pixie will handle 4 servos with 7 cells.

Regards
Retiredbri

[lakewash]

Here is my two cents worth. I have been flying the Supercub for a year now and have three, two on wheels and one on floats. I know my friends are planning an intervention.
I have also been flying the T-28 and the Corsair. I would highly recommend the T-28 to start with. The gear on the Corsair is a tad on the weak side and I think the T-28 actually flies better. If you had the Specktrum radio in the T-28 you would have the best of both.

For you float flyers a lipo is a necessity. I also put some VG's on just for fun and found it stalls a little slower and the tip stall is a little milder.

[jakestg]

Man I dont even know what all this Dxddxxd92d21231 stuff means ><