1/4 scale Piper PA-12 "Super Cruiser"

[firemanbill]

Well she's done. As many of you may have noticed I haven't been online a lot lately. SEFF brought me home to a lot of projects, primarily this one. I've really been working hard to get it done and today she is done!

My buddy Laine, lmopar69, picked it up at one of Hobby lobby's sidewalk sales before SEFF with me in mind, called me that night and we made the deal to transfer it to my possession at SEFF. We made the exchange and I brought her home and have been working on it pretty much ever since.

There was some minor damage that required attention, I guess that's why it was on clearance on the sidewalk sale. I got all that done with no problems and had it ready for the build.

I had a cox motor, the same as what is in my Waco, and it would be the perfect power source for this plane, getting it installed with the backwards type mount that Cox and Hacker use was a bit of a challenge but it went in and is perfect. Never thought I'd be using a hack saw and grinder on a model plane but I did on this one to cut down the mount and smooth the ends.

So I got her all done today and did some motor runs. No surprises as it's the same power setup as the Waco. 1600 watts at 55 amps with the Cox 5030/18t, Cox 90 amp Opto ESC, 5000mah 8s lipo (2x4s in series) APC 20x8e prop. It balanced perfect on the recommended cg on the first try, no weight had to be added anywhere.

Did some taxi test and she is sure smooth, was going to go the field but it started raining just as I finished doing some runs and now it's almost dark. Maybe tomorrow after church!

[road king 97]

She is a looker Bill ,i think she will fly as good as she looks too ! joe

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

Well she's done. As many of you may have noticed I haven't been online a lot lately. SEFF brought me home to a lot of projects, primarily this one. I've really been working hard to get it done and today she is done!

That Cox motor looks like its well made.

Don't know if you've flown a Piper Cub style of model before, but if not, be aware you will have to use rudder along with ailerons to turn.

It will turn OK with ailerons only, but the model will look strange when you use ailerons to bank South, and the fuselage obviously heads slightly North!

[firemanbill]

Thank guys, Yeah Dennis I'm used to that, I have a .40 sized Hangar 9 J3 Cub

I already have my rudder mixed in with the ailerons!

[gramps2161]

Bill I did wonder what happened to you now I know. Darn good reason not to be hanging around on the site.
That is a good looking plane hope to read a great maiden flight report from you.

[firemanbill]

Thanks Bud, yeah I think it will be a great report.

This will be my first plane with a DSMX receiver in it. I bought the new AR 7010 for this one. I upgraded my 9303 at SEFF to DSMX so we'll see how the full effect is with the new Receiver.

And Dennis, yes those motors were built very well. Too bad they went out of business. I've had the motor in my Waco now since summer of 2007 and it runs as strong today as it did the day I put it in there. I picked this one up from one of the guys that worked for Cox after they went out of business, they had a few left over and I was fortunate to get this one.

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

Thank guys, Yeah Dennis I'm used to that, I have a .40 sized Hangar 9 J3 Cub

I already have my rudder mixed in with the ailerons!

Oh crap, that's what I get for not looking at who submitted the thread!

Sorry about that

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Oh crap, that's what I get for not looking at who submitted the thread!

Sorry about that

No problem Bud!

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Oh crap, that's what I get for not looking at who submitted the thread!

Sorry about that

Sorry Denny had to laugh...lol...you've been explaining everything rc/elec a lot to bunch of newbs four fold times over(including me!)

Bill, Just had to say that is an incredible looking a/c! Great colors also!

have a good one
cr

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Bill,

I found this inexpensive ($15) full body WWII 1/4 pilot fits pretty good. The May West & helmet both come off to make a civilian pilot.

http://www.espritmodel.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=6383

[firemanbill]

Nice! My Buddy has the same guy in his 1/4 scale J3. That figure looks just like a guy in our club too!

He got his given to him and neither one of us knew where it came from. I may have to order me one of them. Thanks for the link.

[firemanbill]

Got to maiden her today!

1/4 scale Piper PA-12 Maiden flight

[K CLOSE]

Oh that is a nice one Bill. Jeesh, how many big birds do you have nowadays?

[stevecooper]

saw it on facebook,,WOWSER!,, bubsteve

[gramps2161]

Excellent Bill looks like a nice flying plane. Your laugh at the end of the video tells it all.
Your real happy with this one!
The person doing the video did a great job of catching the plane in flight.

I watched a 1/4 scale JR Cub go in today almost lost my plane as I was watching his land then the wind caught it lifted the left wing and up and over it went went nose first total loss. He gave it full throttle hoping to abort the landing but by the time the motor revved up it was to late.

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by K CLOSE

Oh that is a nice one Bill. Jeesh, how many big birds do you have nowadays?

Thanks and ummm.... a bunch!

Let's see
1/5th Waco
1/4 Shoestring
1/4 Cosmic wind Minnow
1/4 Piper PA-12
27% Pitts
88" Sundowner
6ft Telemaster

Originally Posted by gramps2161

Excellent Bill looks like a nice flying plane. Your laugh at the end of the video tells it all.
Your real happy with this one!
The person doing the video did a great job of catching the plane in flight.

I watched a 1/4 scale JR Cub go in today almost lost my plane as I was watching his land then the wind caught it lifted the left wing and up and over it went went nose first total loss. He gave it full throttle hoping to abort the landing but by the time the motor revved up it was to late.

Yeah it kind said it all huh! I didn't even realize I had done it til I watched the vid! lol

The cameraman was my Son Mason. He does a pretty good job. He was using a Sony Handycam HDR-UX20. Nice little camera.

Sucks about the other Cub. A buddy of mine has the 1/4 scale Hangar 9 cub. His has a 26cc gas on it. Nice bird too.

[CrimzonRider]

Great laugh at the end does tell it all. Kinda had me scared on first attempt landing. Great vid

have a good one
cr

[firemanbill]

yeah kind of missed my approach there, I was going to land on the runway but I was out over the far side. We have some nasty ruts and bumps on the far side so instead of setting her down over there I just powered up went around landed in the grass on the near side like I usually do.

Thanks

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by firemanbill

Got to maiden her today!

1/4 scale Piper PA-12 Maiden flight

Very Nice take off
Very Nice Flight
Very Nice touch and go's
Very Nice landing

Just Nice!

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Very Nice take off
Very Nice Flight
Very Nice touch and go's
Very Nice landing

Just Nice!

Thanks!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Nice flight & filming, plane looks like a great flyer . How much throttle were you using & any chance of seeing it at FFT in the fall?

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Nice flight & filming, plane looks like a great flyer . How much throttle were you using & any chance of seeing it at FFT in the fall?

1/2 or less most of the time. takeoff was at just over half. those fast circles were at about 3/4 throttle.

I'm not sure if I'll get back to FFT this fall. My fall fly in is the week after that as it was last year and I was about wore out after the two back to back. I may still try though. It's a great event for sure.

[stuart]

she's a beauty bill,and the videos are also good....wish i had a good camara setup or person to take vids.