Taylor Cub (oz8549)

About this Plan

Taylor Cub. Scale model for radio control.

Quote: "Schoolyard RC scale model of the famous 1935 Cub for 1/2A power and 2 or 3 channel mini systems. Its just the right size and speed for operation from small flying sites.

ANY LIST of all-time trend-setting aircraft would have to include the ubiquitous Cub. Mr Taylor's modest entry into the commercial sport airplane market on the eve of the great depression helped to shape the face of aviation in the US and throughout the world. This little two-place wonder made flying available to hundreds of budding aviators, and helped to revitalize the local airport businesses, which had all but withered away during the depths of the depression.

The Cub's low purchase price and low operating costs were targets for the rest of the market to shoot for. The Cub established the flat, opposed four-cylinder aircraft engine as the standard for efficiency, simplicity, reliability, and economy. Before long, 'Taylor Cub' meant small, light-plane, just as 'Coke' meant soft drink.

The Cub was actually three different designs. First came the Taylor Cub E-2, then the Piper Cub J-2, and finally the most numerous and well known Cub of them all, the Piper Cub J-3. Of these three basic designs, I personally have always perferred the more classic lines of the original E-2 as a modeling subject. Somehow, the straighter lines and the very basic shape of the old E-2 has an appeal that the later versions lost. In any event, the subject chosen for this Schoolyard Scale RC model is the original Cub - the Model E-2.

The prototype model was inspired by the old Megow giant rubber model. It was beefed up a little, and the scale outlines were improved somewhat, before adding the Cox .049 and the modern mini two-channel radio. It's true that anyone should expect a high-wing cabin model like the Cub to fly well, but the E-2 surpassed all reasonable expectations. It turned out to be one of those extraordinary and lucky combinations of size, weight, and looks that happen only rarely. The little ship is a remarkable performer - smooth, very realistic, and easy to fly. It has been my favorite sport RC model for the last couple of years.

The prototype model weighed 18 ounces, using a mini two-channel radio for elevator and rudder control. This model has also been flown on an Ace pulse-rudder system with very good results. Some of the newer throttled .049 to .06 engines may prove reliable enough to go to three channels. Whatever system you use, the Cub E-2 will be hard to beat for a simple, scale, just fun airplane.

The full-scale Cub: The Cub's family tree began with a neat little side-by-side, two-place parasol designed in 1928 by young C Gilbert Taylor of Rochester, NY. Mr Taylor called his Kinner-powered monoplane the Chummy (side-by-side seating, get it?). It was a fine airplane, but at a price of almost $4,000 the market just wasn't there, and less than 10 were built. Undaunted, Taylor got some financial backing for a new venture. One of the new stockholders was a businessman named William T Piper. Together, Taylor and Piper decided that their best future was in a very simple, very inexpensive airplane that the average guy could buy and fly.

In 1930, the first Cub appeared - and initially it was a complete fizzle. Test flights showed that the little monoplane could not get above six feet altitude on its pathetic little 20-hp two-cylinder Cleone engine. Next, a 40-hp nine-cylinder French Salmson engine was tried, and the performance improved dramatically. But the basic idea of the Cub was defeated with the Salmson: it cost too much, and with its nine miniature cylinders, it was almost as costly and complex to maintain as a P&W Wasp! Something critical was still missing - the correct engine to complete Mr Taylor's dream airplane..."

Taylor Cub, Model Aviation, February 1981.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 14/7/2024: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy, thanks to theshadow.

Supplementary file notes

Article.
Previous scan version.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction