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Post by pacubflyer103 on Sept 6, 2011 18:00:08 GMT 1
I've really enjoyed this forum since I bought my used cub on ebay last spring. I spent many evenings updating my cub with the battery box mod and wing saddle mods, a new brushless ESC, and AR500 receiver. I've had my share of crashes and many 5 min epoxy repairs but the cub just kept coming back, Since the first weekend of August I've been flying my cub as much as I can. Usually early mornings before work and late in the day when winds are light and the fields are empty. I searched for larger and larger fields to use and I looked forward to many flights over the Labor Day weekend. Unfortunately, fate struck last Saturday and my cub is now 40 feet up in a tree. The home/tree owner was away for the weekend - I had to tresspass on their property to locate the plane. If the motor wasn't still responding to the Tx, I doubt I would have been able to locate the cub. As you can see in the attached pic the cub is still in one piece but is hanging by the tail. Last night the owner came home. Lucky for me, they plan to have all of their trees cut back so they will ask the tree surgeon to retrieve the cub but it may be a few weeks before that happens. May be the wind will blow it down before then. So I guess my real reson for this post - other than to share this story - is to ask if you think any of the electronic parts in the cub and the foam wing and fuselage will still be usuable after a month in the weather. The wing is still on but I'm sure rainwater will find it's way into the battery compartment. My cub has a stock motor, a zippy LiPo, a brushless ESC, and a AR500 receiver. Do you think any of these will survive? Thanks for listening. Attachments:
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Post by pacubflyer103 on Sept 6, 2011 18:04:02 GMT 1
The Cub has a brushed ESC. I'm hoping to update it to a brushless setup if I ever get it back.
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Post by flydiver on Sept 6, 2011 19:25:52 GMT 1
Foam should 'weather' OK. Impact damage-have to evaluate that on a crash by crash basis.
Lipo will be dead....dead...dead. In fact, it's dead already. That's a good thing for the rest of the electronics, especially when it gets rained on.
ESC may be OK. That depends on if you had the presence of mind to throttle off on impact. If you didn't or tried to throttle it out of the tree with the prop stuck that can easily burn out an ESC.
RX should be OK.
Motor may be OK-rust is an issue there.
Servos should be OK.
All of those will depend a lot on rain and weather exposure.
You'll just have to check each part for function.
You can't mix brushless > brushed. If you change ESC to brushless you need to change the motor.
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Post by pacubflyer103 on Sept 6, 2011 19:45:55 GMT 1
Thanks Flydiver.
It is relly frustrating being able to see your airplane but not being able to reach it.
I have an extra brushed motor and gearbox if I need a replacement.
I really liked that Zippy LiPo. I guess I will have to find a new one.
I understand what you mean about brushless vs brushed. I already have my eye on a Park 480 Brushless motor and an e-flite 30 amp brushless ESC.
I appreciate the advice. I'll keep you posted if/when I get posession of the cub again.
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Post by flydiver on Sept 6, 2011 20:12:46 GMT 1
Go in to RCGroups.com and search on [plane in tree] and [retrieving plane in tree] and the like.
You are merely one of thousands that have wrestled with this dilemma. I have myself, but luckily my age and the plane were low enough (barely-whew!) to climb up and get it.
One of our group worked for a cable company. He put his WAY up in a skinny tree. He called his buddies and they plucked it out with a cherry picker.
Another time my buddy treed his plane a guy just happened to come by with a HUGE forklift. He was kind enough to hoist me up and just pick it out. He refused at first thinking if someone saw him he'd get in trouble. It wasn't so high but was one of those trees with big grabby spikes making it hard to bash out without a lot of damage. Sure glad he changed his mind.
Another flying buddy would pay kids $5 to climb up and get it. These were not huge trees, just more than he was willing to deal with. A happy kid told his Mom. Mom came down and reamed him a new one. I tell you, kids can hardly do anything clean and fun anymore.
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Post by renard80 on Sept 6, 2011 23:47:09 GMT 1
Another flying buddy would pay kids $5 to climb up and get it. I remember once landing my SC high on the roof of our community hall. A couple of kids said, "Would you like us to get it for you, mister?" In seconds, they had shinned up a drainpipe, ran across the roof and completed the rescue. I was delighted and rewarded them with a few pounds. My wife was scathing when I told her. "Aren't you the one who is forever complaining about kids running around on that roof and damaging community property?" Women! They just don't understand. (My sympathies to you, pacubflyer. It must be galling to see it perched up there, so near yet so far away.) |
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Post by paul45120 on Sept 7, 2011 1:32:20 GMT 1
Do you have a fishing pole? I use a surf rod with 50# line. Quite often I might add. I made a big (5oz) weight for it. I can then atatch a heavier line once the wieght comes down if need be.
Gone so far as to use 5/8" rope this way. Tied it to my truck to shake a very tall and fat branch. Plane came down and broke the wing. A little glue and it was flying again. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by john66 on Sept 7, 2011 13:56:37 GMT 1
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Post by pacubflyer103 on Sept 7, 2011 19:03:12 GMT 1
Thanks for all of the suggestions.
I'm going back to the tree today armed with all of your suugestions - from a 25 foot extension ladder and 30 feet of PVC conduit, a milk jug with string and various sizes of rope, to a softball in a sock tied to more rope. Hopefully one of them will be able to reach it. I'll keep you all posted.
Ron
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Post by pauliepilot on Sept 7, 2011 19:14:16 GMT 1
My cub was stuck in a tree for a month..i went bk to see if it was still there n it had gone!!
It had only droped into the 6ft bush under the big tree....whoooo n its still flying to this day a year later lol
Good luck cub fishing in the tree ;-)
You never no u may catch a cub
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Post by renard80 on Sept 7, 2011 23:29:05 GMT 1
I know I keep saying this, everyone, but you may have cause to thank me for it one day.  Sticky labels with your phone number(s) on your fuselage and wing will increase your chances of being reunited with your lost baby. |
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Post by john66 on Sept 8, 2011 0:02:35 GMT 1
I know I keep saying this, everyone, but you may have cause to thank me for it one day. Sticky labels with your phone number(s) on your fuselage and wing will increase your chances of being reunited with your lost baby. Until it flys out of range through the local nutters front window!   ;D John |
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Post by pauliepilot on Sept 8, 2011 9:47:53 GMT 1
Lol :-) no thats not my plane nore my name or my phone no...
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Post by renard80 on Sept 9, 2011 0:11:41 GMT 1
I know I keep saying this, everyone, but you may have cause to thank me for it one day. Sticky labels with your phone number(s) on your fuselage and wing will increase your chances of being reunited with your lost baby. Until it flys out of range through the local nutters front window! ;D John I just said you could be reunited with your plane, John - I didn't say HOW you would be reunited . . . ;D |
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Post by john66 on Sept 9, 2011 7:19:41 GMT 1
Until it flys out of range through the local nutters front window! ;D John I just said you could be reunited with your plane, John - I didn't say HOW you would be reunited . . . ;D Trip down A&E, yes nurse that is a model plane hanging out my ar$e! ;D John |
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;D