my cub wont take off

[thenameisdame]

ok so you suggest, getting a better battery and a more appropriate prop and you think that will get it into the air and flying?

i only payed 40 for it..

also i went out and bought a new prop myself before all this, how do i know the measurements of it?

[flydiver]

Ah, another problem.....props.
Electric motors have a pretty narrow range of operation at a given voltage.
Too small > poor power.
Too big > burn up your ESC and/or motor.

MOST props have the size written (stamped) right on them. Two measurements: length x pitch.
Length you can measure with a ruler. Longer=more thrust and amp draw.
Pitch is the 'twist' and measurement of the speed potential. Small #=low speed, high number=higher speed. But, this is ONLY potential as there is varying amounts of drag depending on the plane type. The Cub has a lot of drag.

The lettering must face the direction of travel. Put it on backwards and lose half (or so) of your thrust.

The stock HZ black slow fly prop does not have lettering on it if I recall (it's been years). Thanks Horizon for the help. It's also ridiculously expensive for what you get.

So, along with the rest of your issues, if you have the wrong prop, prop on backwards, ancient battery, and at this point who knows what other things, you have a number of problems. Any one of them alone would potentially create a power problem.

BTW, only the new stock Horizon 9x6 will simply 'bolt on'. All the other props will need some work to attach. Props are a pain.

Important principal - you prop for the MOTOR, not the plane. You choose the motor to suit the plane. Just because you have a Cub you should not necessarily choose the Cub stock prop if you change motors.

[toff]

Find a much larger place to fly - now! " I can probably fly in these confines" Hmm, yep, and your prop can slice someone's face coming out of their home, whilst your uncontrolled plane veers in front of their house. How can you think you can fly in such a tight space when I ( who does have many more flying years than you ( As does flydiver!), couldn't fly my micro SU26XP in that space!
It's tail heavy! Put some weight on the nose and it will fly properly, NIMH or lipo, proper CG always wins.
And when you ask an expert ( Fritz AKA flydiver), and he tells you not to fly in an area, listen.
If you fail to heed his advice, you're an idiot.
I am truly fed up with pushing the same safety information again and again, so to make things plain.... Run your motor to full throttle then stick your finger into it.
Bet you won't!
If you won't, why should someone have your plane in their face, just because your a silly person (POS) who wont listen to reason?
Do you have any insurance? Are you a member of the AMA (or BMFA if in the Uk?)
I apologise in advance if everything that has been suggested, has been taken on board and acted upon.
If not, I can see the headlines where you hurt someone, and RC plane flying takes the hit.

[iandhunt]

Unfortunatley toff it usually takes an "incident" to initiate some form of action. It took my cub sitting in a tree for 2 months to teach me to find a more suitable location. I also don't think it was ever a bone to pick as thenameisdame suggested. Flydiver's comment was a HOLY CRAP, DON'T FLY THERE FOR SAFETY AND INSURANCE SAKE...it is always hard to express emotions and tone through text, even with these handy dandy emoticons.
I ignored flydivers's advice about getting a new ESC and Rx until it failed at the worst possible time....(don't they always?). I would hate to have someone get hurt like you mentioned toff and give the impression that RC flyers are irresponsible at best and just plane uncaring about other peoples safety and property at worst.
I have had my little tirades on here from time to time, but now feel wiser after taking a bite of humble pie....as bitter as it was!

[toff]

Iandhunt, thank you.
I only rant on about it due to personal experience. Thankfully, I only hurt myself and no one else. RC models are dangerous. MODELS, not TOYS. A toy is something to play with, a model is a recreation in minature of a full size working thing.
If it was a 1/4 scale tank, is it a toy or a model? If it ran over your feet, it's a very heavy MODEL.
If a 1/10th scale plane hits you with it's prop, it's a MODEL, not a toy!
If you get run over with a tank, it's not news.
If you get hit by a plane, it IS news, and it affects us all!
I personally hate health and safety, but RC planes can be so random in losing signal, loss of control and general badassedness, that I feel safety is paramount.

[thenameisdame]

thanks toff your hardcore man..

[thenameisdame]

and the prop is 9x6 i just checked, also the 9x6 writing is faceing away from the plane..

[thenameisdame]

so basicly if i buy a stronger battery will it fit and clip in into the stock plug thing? and will the even work or should i just sell it for 60 bucks and put that money towards somthing else new?

[flydiver]

Motor + Prop + battery is all a balanced package.
The 9x6 is for the lipo powered plane, which packs a lot more power.
The 10x8 is for the NiMh, which is a LOT LESS powered. You needed THAT prop.

I know, it doesn't make sense but for MORE voltage you need LESS prop.
For LESS voltage you need MORE prop.
Too long to explain, just accept it for now.

Batteries need connectors. The old Cub had a Tamiya connector. They aren't very good and no lipo uses them. There is NO standard for connectors. You choose one, learn to solder, and put your own on.

You know, you have so many basic questions you should just start over. ALL of your questions have been asked in these threads dozens and dozens of times. I suggest you start reading. Go back a couple years because that's how far behind you are.

[hounddog]

Cub LP (blue decals instead of red) lipo battery has a blue EC3 connector so you could try sourcing one of those batteries with this connector if yours is a lipo.

I use Turnigy lipos that come with the yellow XT60 connectors, so the first thing I do with a new plane is cut off the old ESC connector and solder on a new XT60.
Also cut off the original Cub battery EC3 and soldered on a female XT60 in its place. This gives more versatility and you can alter the Cub's flight characteristics by simply swapping the battery over between the 1300 and a 2200.

Flydiver or one of the others can correct me if I'm wrong but I heard that fitting a lipo instead of the NIMH battery pack is simply a matter of swapping the connectors and buying a lipo charger and is a very worthwhile mod.

[flydiver]

Gave specific instructions a few posts back on doing exactly that. This guy needs a flying plane, and a proper place to fly it at this point. His questions just breed far more questions. All this could have been sorted out by someone with a little experience in 5-10 minutes in person.

Get a new plane or get some personal help from someone with experience. Find a field where flying goes on and you'll get both. .

should i just sell it for 60 bucks and put that money towards something else new?

My opinion? Neither. You bought it for $40. That's about all it's worth. You are just passing on your problems. It's your conscience so up to you.

Or keep it for the foam blank with the intent of doing the 'whole Monty' mod on it once you gain some experience. It's very common, there's a lot of info in the threads, and it's a worthwhile step. You;ll learn a lot and not have a whole lot of investment risk.

[spindeepster]

Here's the best solution.

secure.hobbyzone.com/catalog/HZ/index/index_park_flyers_rtf/HBZ7400.html

[Crazy Horse]

Good Morning, thenameisdame. Welcome to an amazing hobby and to a great forum.
As a real newbie myself, I urge you to take note of all the advice that has been given to you. Read, read and read again all the threads that are pertinent to your questions. I have been reading this forum for weeks an I still learn something new each time.
I am in the process of doing the basic mods before flying, strengthening areas and painting bits and bobs. It is all part of the whole hobby. I am gradually replacing the old connectors with Deans, repairing wings and fuselages, all second hand stuff and checking that it functions correctly.
As for where you attempted to fly, you must be very optimistic or just plain crazy, no offence intended, but I think it may be the latter. I have been looking for suitable sites near to where I live to use when the weather finally gets better. The areas I look at are miles bigger than where you were. My criteria are no cars or main roads nearby. Few people around, if at all. Above all, lots and lots of space and as few trees as possible. There is a really large park near my house which should fit the bill, it has an area probably the size of eight football pitches (English football that is) and I think I will be able to learn there.
Please heed these chaps advice, they have a wealth of experience that they are kind enough to share so freely.
Remember, read, read and read again and happy flying.

[ginginho]

Just to add to the above about your location, you are either very rich and can afford a law suit as and when you hit someone, a car or a house, or very, very stupid.

The flying characteristic in the video are exactly how the original (NiMh, RED) SC flys. I know I had one several years ago (see my forum join date). As Fly mentioned in the one of the first replies, the SC will not go vertical unless it's been modded significantly to become overpowered, again I know, I did this to mine.
Remembering the days when there were a few of us flying RED SC's together, it used to take several large (two football pitches) and gentle inclined circuits to get them up to a height that allows for some experimentation with the controls. THIS IS HOW THE RED CUB FLIES.

It amazes me that there are still people who join this forum, ignore what they are advised and then whine that they didn't get the answer they want.
Hey, I tell you what..Why not do what some kid did a few years ago and start dropping cherry bombs and the like from your cub like he did. Strangely he no longer frequents this forum. I suspect his parents stopped him flying after he was found to be liable for burning down the local school that he flew over performing his antics and they picked up the cost to ensure his liberty.

[flydiver]

Hey, if you are still reading, don't give up now. You just about have enough info to make a decision and go forward. As you gather your choices are rather divergent.

1. Stick ENTIRELY with what you have, get the proper 10x8 prop, and maybe a new battery. These will drop right in. www.batteryspace.com/nimhbatterypacktwo84v1600mahminifemaletamiyaplugforfirebirdrcplane.aspx

2. Keep the prop, get a lipo and charger. More expensive, more power, more homework to do.

3. Keep the foam and replace EVERYTHING. Most expensive, most homework, best long range option.

4. Sell it and start again. No major thinking. Once you are all done you are almost back at #1 but you have got some flying in.