Carbon Cub Project Update

[Wyandot Jim]

Hey Guys,
I thought it was about time to update the Cub project. Son, and Grandson have been spending quite a bit of time at our house working on the Cub with me.
Grandson graduated from Texas A&M on Dec 14 now he will have more time to help out. As some of you might know Son retired in July after 28 1/2 years in the Navy.
Anyway here are a few pictures of the Cub.
Take care,
Jim

The Fuselage will get two more strips on it. A blue and a red which are stick on ones from the factory.




Not a typical Cub Panel :D



Nothing smoked when the power was turned on.




We are about ready to put this on.


Painter hard at it :wink:

 

[Fox Mike]

Looking great. Love the glass panel.

 

[WendyZXZ]

That is coming along great!

 

[contender]

It's hard to believe your grandson has already graduated. Seems like just a short while ago,, he was entering college.
And this project,, it is coming along nicely!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

It's hard to believe your grandson has already graduated. Seems like just a short while ago,, he was entering college.
And this project,, it is coming along nicely!

You got that right. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were talking about Chad becoming an Eagle Scout. WHERE does the time go?????????
We are pretty proud of him being able to graduate in 3 1/2 years with a 3.8 GPA and Magna Cum Laude from Mays College of Business at Texas A&M

 

[bogus bill]

Jim, how many HP is that engine? Useful load?

 

[exavid]

WoW, that panel sure doesn't look like my old Super Cub. No gyro T&B or analog airspeed in case the electronics take a vacation? The toe brakes are an improvement over the old Piper heel brakes for sure. Nice looking, is that Polyfiber recover materials? Is he using sock or blanket method of covering? Wish I wasn't so damnable old, I'd like to do one more. I've recovered four aircraft over the years, Piper Pacer, Super Cub, Commonwealth Skyranger and an Avid Flyer I built. I must be old, I prefer wooden boats and fabric covered airplanes.
In other words I'm jealous!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

WoW, that panel sure doesn't look like my old Super Cub. No gyro T&B or analog airspeed in case the electronics take a vacation? The toe brakes are an improvement over the old Piper heel brakes for sure. Nice looking, is that Polyfiber recover materials? Is he using sock or blanket method of covering? Wish I wasn't so damnable old, I'd like to do one more. I've recovered four aircraft over the years, Piper Pacer, Super Cub, Commonwealth Skyranger and an Avid Flyer I built. I must be old, I prefer wooden boats and fabric covered airplanes.
In other words I'm jealous!

Paul,
Thank you so much.
If all that fancy electron stuff goes South just look out the windshield, after all it is still a Cub. :D :D :D I know you have flown some of the same OLD STUFF that I have. Yea my Champ didn't even have a T&B and sometimes the AS would quit working :wink: Hell I think I have flown all my planes and the AS go South.
I hear you on the toe brakes, but I learned in a Cub and bought a Champ when I had 10 hours. Our Champion 7GC has heel brakes. I have never had a problem with them. As I was told by my first crusty instructor. "Get off them damn brakes they are just for taxing." But the toe brakes in the Pacer makes life easier for sure.

The fabric is Polyfiber and Poly Tone which is about the same as Butyrate. I used the blanket method. The Fuselage does have a seam down the top stringer and the sides are attached at the bottom longerons and a belly piece attached to the same longerons. I really don't care for the seams when doing the sock method.
I covered my Champ. PA-12, Starduster twice, Pacer 7GC, and this one. Yea I'm like you I like the old ways.

Bill the Eng. is a stroked O-320 that makes 180 HP. The useful
load should be around 900+#

 

[bogus bill]

My GCBC Citabria had the O-320 150 horse. Years ago I also owned a 1956 metalised Tri-Pacer with the 0-320 too. Useful was about 550 on the gcbc but on the tri pacer about 950 lbs. I didn't realise what a good plane it was comparatively speaking until much later. I was even heavier than now and with a full tank couldn't technically haul anything but a kid in the gcbc. My wife is a big woman and never flew with me and didn't want to anyway so that was a big factor for selling it.
Had it long before we met. The BLM here had/has? a carbon cub to shoot coyotes. They also had a GCBC like mine but I only seen them fly the cub. What a job! I went to their hanger one day to check it out when I seen them land. I think they told me they had shot 8 coyotes! The shooter had a 12 gauge. I can see where it would be fun but I think I would feel somewhat bad doing it from several standpoints. I soloed in a 65 hp luscombe. Fortunately my instructor was half my size.

 

[WendyZXZ]

It's hard to believe your grandson has already graduated. Seems like just a short while ago,, he was entering college.
And this project,, it is coming along nicely!

It is definitely that passage of time thing. We are coming up to 2019. I always think, has it already been almost 10 years since I joined here? Because it does not feel like it has been that long ago. Ten years ago I was in my 30s, damn has so much time gone by because those past years have flown by, for myself and all the folks and things I have seen here in that time, and it has been a wonderful time!

 

[gramps]

Good Job WJ and gang! Man time does fly by, Trey has retired? Sheesh, he is just a kid himself? Jim, you are a good shepherd, and mentor. I have flown Champs, Cessna 120/140’s, 150’s, 172’s, 182 (Wren configuration), and 206. I have helped do 100 hr inspections, and helped in the rebuilding of a Cessna 150 Ranger. Good times! Thank you for sharing! It brings back our own memories.
gramps

 

[exavid]

C'mon Jim, we both know about the max loads in a Cub. I used to stack 22 5 gallon Blazo cans in the back of my 125 Cub. With me and my survival gear aboard that's over 900lbs with a 125 Lycoming. But then it was in the Arctic with a common winter density altitude of nearly -3000ft. We used to claim the "Alaskan useful load allowance of 20%". That worked okay as long as you didn't prang it and involve the FAA. Which was an extra risk for me since I worked for the FAA, but I wasn't in Flight Standards, I was a "good guy" in Airway Facilities.

Flying in the great white north in winter makes it real nice to have a T&B even if the venturi iced up now and then. Looking out the windshield in a white world doesn't always do the job.

BTW Heel brakes are a literal pain when you wear soft bottom tutuliks or mukluks.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Paul you are 100% correct. I didn't want to post the REAL useful load. :D :D With it being a Experimental Homebuilt I could set the load whatever I wanted to, but I will stick with the factory numbers :wink: :wink: :wink:

Paul what is all this ICE and white stuff that you speak of and funny sounding names for flip flops and Tenners :D

 

[ned]

Beautiful Cub coming together- not a thread hijack- just a few degrees off heading here....I am in the process of taking out all the steam gauges in a '76 Varga- I will spend the price of the airplane on the new gee whiz stuff but darn if it is not capable. I have an unreasonable love for the airplane, fly it 80-100 hours a year. This is like a bet that I will live the 5 more years to get my money's worth...or my widow will marry another pilot who likes Vargas

 

[Wyandot Jim]

ned,
No way can this be a "not a thread hijack" still talking about airplanes and everything.
Yes I remember you and your GREAT rare '76 Varga.
Call me old-fashioned OR just real old :wink: I still prefer the round gages. I hate the word "steam Gages" We fly planes we don't drive trains :D :D :D :D :D :D

Let the steam blow :wink:

 

[ned]

True and correct on all counts but....my transponder, Nav com and DG were all tango uniform. I could not be sure Garmin would long support the used 430W...and one thing led to another. The two G5 are sort of round but the GTN 650 will probably be an eye bump in an old Varga. I will fly it to Richmond some day so you can see end result

 

[bogus bill]

Wow! A Varga Kachina? I looked at those years ago. A dealer had them in Santa Paula california. Can a normal sized guy like myself at 260 pounds get in one? I seen they even built some tail draggers. Somewhere I read that on a Tri Pacer if you converted them to conventional gear you could get something like a extra 12 mph.
Keep us updated with pictures!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Bill,
That is about the funniest statement I have ever heard on this form. "Can a normal sized guy like myself at 260 pounds get in one?"
What the hell do you consider a BIG Guy???? :D :D :D
Airplanes were and still are built for 5'9" and 170#. That is NORMAL size. :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: Even the Military selects NORMAL size for the Fighters in most cases.

 

[ned]

Jim is right, they made them in the previous era when we were all much smaller--watch any TV show or movie made in the 50's. Max is 220 # front and 200# rear seat with no cargo....keep me dieting.

 

[bogus bill]

This is normal at its biggest.

 

[bogus bill]

When I was anemic and almost died.
https://i.postimg.cc/XvH8NgXX/4-3.jpg

 

[Jimbo357mag]

That sure is a beautiful Cub. If I might ask, what is the covering and paint? I know there are some new products on the market now.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

That sure is a beautiful Cub. If I might ask, what is the covering and paint? I know there are some new products on the market now.

Thanks Jimbo

Here are some details from post on page one

The fabric is Polyfiber and Poly Tone which is about the same as Butyrate. I used the blanket method. The Fuselage does have a seam down the top stringer and the sides are attached at the bottom longerons and a belly piece attached to the same longerons. I really don't care for the seams when doing the sock method.
I covered my Champ. PA-12, Starduster twice, Pacer 7GC, and this one. Yea I'm like you I like the old ways.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

When I was anemic and almost died.
https://i.postimg.cc/XvH8NgXX/4-3.jpg

Well Bill even when you were little you were size large :D :D

 

[exavid]

Wow! A Varga Kachina? I looked at those years ago. A dealer had them in Santa Paula california. Can a normal sized guy like myself at 260 pounds get in one? I seen they even built some tail draggers. Somewhere I read that on a Tri Pacer if you converted them to conventional gear you could get something like a extra 12 mph.
Keep us updated with pictures!

I learned to fly in a Piper Pacer PA20 which in my opinion was a cut above the 'flying milk stool'. No disrespect intended. Mainly nosewheel aircraft don't do well on skis which we used to spend about 6-7 months on. In fact I learned to fly on skis (Federals) and took my Private ride with them. Lots of interesting difference between skis and wheels. In some ways much easier than wheels and in some ways a lot worse. To make a U-turn on skis you gotta slide her around with a good blast of power. Steering is much less positive. Once you learn to fly in a short coupled tail dragger like a Pacer most everything else is a piece of cake. I had no problem flying a friend's Pitts S1. Though I think he was crazy to let to take it up and wring it out. What a blast! Fun in an airplane you can't hurt unless you hit the ground.

 

[exavid]

When I was anemic and almost died.
https://i.postimg.cc/XvH8NgXX/4-3.jpg

Nice looking pair of machines. We used to have Champ vs. Cub competitions once in a while. Cubs win in most categories though a Champ is a lot better for a cross country, marginally, but better. But a Cub still wins in short field catagories.

You guys ever see a video on the Valdez, AK STOL competition. Lots of fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvT5LMhvogw

 

[exavid]

Sorry to get off on an airplane diversion. Just brings back the old days to me. I'll try to avoid getting to sailboats because I know my 36' ketch might have interested Pamela, I know my 38' Kettenburg sloop would. So I won't. But here's a picture of a sister ship of mine. In fact it could be my old one as this one was also a '54. So here it is for Colonial Girl:https://www.popyachts.com/sloop-sailboats-for-sale/kettenburg-k38-in-vallejo-california-r1-42148

 

[kentdep]

That is really cool WJ! I bet that keeps you busy. What a rewarding project to do with the boys!

Jay

 

[Wyandot Jim]

That is really cool WJ! I bet that keeps you busy. What a rewarding project to do with the boys!

Hey Jay,
Thanks, glad to hear from you again. How have you been??

 

[contender]

I know this thread started with an update on your grandson & the project Jim,, but I have enjoyed it's drift.
While my fixed wing time is less than 200 hrs,, and my rotor wing time is almost 800 hours,, I know I'm just an old version of a rookie.
But,, I truly enjoy these posts. I've never had the pleasure of flying in any of the aircraft mentioned above,, but I'd JUMP at the chance.

Your grandson,, and yes,, I do recall discussing his Eagle,, and how it "just seems like a short while ago"!!! Yet as we all know,, time seems to speed up as we age,, and as a child it seems like a slow moving turtle. I know you are proud of him, and rightfully so. As you are of your kids & all as well. Rightfully so.
It makes me smile & know that while there is a lot of bad in this world,, there is also a whole lot of good too.

So, show the progress,,, discuss the old aircraft, and revel in the fact that many of us do appreciate ALL of it.

Oh,,, since your grandson has already achieved so much,, I guess the next thing is a good wife? :D :D ???