Author: F. Reese
Edition: Model Aviation - 1981/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59
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Baby Cub

By Fred Reese

Not just a miniature of the full-sized Ehling-designed AMA Cub, but an easily built, high-performance rubber model. Complete the project on these two pages.

Materials / Parts

  • Waxed paper
  • Tissue paper
  • White glue
  • Razor blade or scissors
  • Matchbook (to prop wing while glue dries)
  • Straight pin (for rear rubber hook)
  • North Pacific "Skeeter" propeller assembly
  • 1/16" sq. balsa sticks
  • 1/8" x 1/4" balsa (motor stick)
  • 1/8" sq. balsa (1/2" block glued to front of motor stick)
  • 20" length of 1/16" contest rubber (or 3/32" for power loop)
  • Optional: rubber motor winder

Specifications / Notes

  • Power: 10–12" loop of 1/16" or 3/32" contest rubber.
  • Contest rubber source: Peck-Polymers, P.O. Box 2498, La Mesa, CA 92041.
  • Rubber motor winders (faster than hand-winding) available from Sterling Models or Gaylord Plastics, 1643 19th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 ($3.95).
  • Use cooking oil or Sig rubber lube on the rubber motor to extend life, allow more winds, and achieve longer flights.
  • Designed for Model Aviation by Fred Reese.

Construction Instructions

  1. Lay waxed paper over the plan. Lay tissue over the waxed paper and smooth the tissue with your hands. Tape down the corners of the tissue to hold it in place.
  2. Cut 1/16" square balsa sticks to length and glue them to the tissue with white glue. Allow to dry.
  3. Cut the motor stick from 1/8" x 1/4" balsa. Glue the motor stick to the rudder, attaching it only to the tissue under the rudder.
  4. Glue a 1/2" length of 1/8" square balsa to the front of the motor stick as shown on the plan (this forms the nose block).
  5. Lift the tissue from the plan and cut out the parts with a razor blade or scissors.
  6. Bend the rear rubber hook from a straight pin and fit it to the motor stick.
  7. Fit the North Pacific "Skeeter" propeller assembly to the motor stick.
  8. Glue the stabilizer to the motor stick (glue tissue side up to the bottom of the fuselage where indicated).
  9. Crack the center joint of the wing to set the dihedral. Glue the joint and prop up with a matchbook until dry.
  10. Tip up each wing, glue the 1/2" block (nose block) to the wing as required, then glue on the stabilizer and rudder assemblies.
  11. Stick the rear rubber hook through the motor stick; bend the point over on top, then apply a drop of glue over the joint to secure it.
  12. Glue the wing onto the top of the motor stick.
  13. Cut a 20" length of 1/16" contest rubber (from Peck-Polymers or similar). Wet the ends of the rubber, tie a knot, and pull tight to form the motor loop.
  14. Install the rubber motor loop and propeller assembly. Adjust and trim as needed for proper balance and flight.

Tips

  • Glue with the tissue side up where indicated on the plan.
  • Use a drop of glue on the bent pin hook where it passes through the motor stick for added security.
  • Lubricate the rubber motor with cooking oil or Sig rubber lube to improve longevity and performance.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.