How to Upgrade Your FT Simple Cub

by FliteTest | June 30, 2017 | (14) Posted in How To

FTScratchBuild

 

Now that you built your 3-channel FT Simple Cub, we wanted to give you a few optional upgrades to make your flight experience even better!

 

4-Channel Upgrade

With this upgrade, you will have the ability to control everything, including the aileron, throttle and rudder. (As always, watch video for details.)



  • Make the ailerons.
  • Make bevel cut and hot glue to reinforce.
  • Assemble control horns.
  • Rewire wing with all channels.
  • Check all channels.

 

 

Faux Bomb Drop Upgrade

 

 

Release Mechanism

  • Place servos.
  • Place zip ties through designated holes and hot glue.


Faux Bomb Assembly



  • Use two nickels as nose weights. Hot glue in the nose.
  • Slide two pieces together and hot glue.
  • Place zip ties.
  • Fasten bombs to wing.
  • Connect wires into servo.

 

 

Pontoon Floats

 

 

Floats

  • Clear out cavities.
  • Hot glue doublers on etch lines.
  • Line up middle piece—score cuts to holes.
  • Make B fold and hot glue. Repeat on both sides.
  • Make A fold on back and hot glue.
  • Bevel cut front.
  • Form first bottom piece and bevel cut.
  • Hot glue first bottom piece.
  • Hot glue second bottom piece.
  • Reinforce with tape or hot glue.

 

Landing Gear

 

 

  • Bend landing gear wires.
  • Place into doublers with hot glue.
  • Reinforce with hot glue.
  • Place barbecue skewers into smaller holes and hot glue.
  • Place wires into bigger holes with hot glue.
  • Make sure they’re even.
  • Last but not least, place pontoon floats onto fuselage!

 

Get the FT Simple Cub speed build kit here!

Get the FT Simple Cub get started kit here!

Get the FT Simple Cub plans here!

Get the FT Simple Cub pontoon floats here!

Get the FT Simple Cub lightning decals here!

 

We hope you like these three upgrades! Share some of your own upgrades with us in the comments below!

COMMENTS

Talsharf on July 6, 2017
Great job guys!
I especially waited for the pontons to come, as where I live, there is a lot of water and lakes, and due to the new regulations, those places are more safer to fly.
I would suggest to inject the Ponton with isolation foam (can be found in any hardware store), it will prevent water from coming in, and will make it more solid and strong, without big increase in weight.
You just need to have 2 holes, one for the injection, and 1-2 on the other side (1cm diameter), for the ejection of the excess foam (it will expand inside).
Log In to reply
dkruger` on July 16, 2017
I finished my simple cub with flaps and cub logo on the tail. It is a blast to fly!
I wish there is an engine mock up similar to the one on the Sportster. I tried to copy it but that one is too big for the cub.
I would post pictures of my model but I don't see where to post them. You should have a link here.
Log In to reply
Axel Sundelin on July 24, 2017
Can you guys please give us the plans for the window decals? Thanks
Log In to reply
MynyddGlas on July 30, 2017
Hi, just building the Simple Cub, I quite like the design. Just wondering, the fuselage doublers have two slots, the front one for undercarriage support, have I missed somewhere what the rear slot is for? Couldn't see it (or missed it) in the build video.

Also, looking at the unsupported pushrods running back through the fuselage, was considering adding a cross-brace to support the rods about mid way.
Log In to reply
mjpicard1979 on August 1, 2017
The rear slot is for the pontoons.
Log In to reply
MynyddGlas on July 30, 2017
Aah, OK looking at the photos of the floats above, I see it!

Log In to reply
SwineFlew on August 11, 2017
Are you going to upload the plans for the pontoons?
Log In to reply
dcstoo@sprintmail.com on August 18, 2017
I cannot download the plans for the pontoons

Log In to reply
BMC on August 19, 2017
Would really like to scratch build the pontoons - are you going to make plans available?
Log In to reply
dkdewolf on August 28, 2017
wondering the same thing...
Log In to reply
sueppel on September 1, 2017
I am also waiting for the plans for the pontoons.
Please make them available for download.
Log In to reply
camago64 on November 4, 2021
They are included in 1.1 version of the plans right here https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?resources/ft-simple-cub.38/
Log In to reply
andrewketterman on September 2, 2017
Did they upload the scratch build plans for the pontoons?
Log In to reply
MoHawkins on December 18, 2017
where are the scratch-built pontoon float plans? I built a set to my own design using the pictures in the video to estimate the sizes. I then built a set when the plans came out which showed my floats to be practically identical. Now I want to do another set for a smaller cub which I have built and now I can't find the plans online again. Are they still available?
Log In to reply
Huskersfan74@gmail.com on January 23, 2018
I too would like to know if you could make the window and lightning decal drawings available. I have the equipment to make vinyl decals. Thank you for all your inspiration to model builders e everywhere
Log In to reply
stephen.guest@hotmail.co.uk on June 22, 2018

Log In to reply
stephen.guest@hotmail.co.uk on June 22, 2018

Log In to reply
harbot on June 25, 2018
Did they upload the scratch build plans for the pontoons?
Log In to reply
mrice108@gmail.com on July 22, 2018
Are these the floats that were on the Simple Scout in the snow video
Log In to reply
uniondelta on October 18, 2018

Log In to reply
Jmmarignac on April 29, 2020
hello, I cannot download the plans for the pontoons
Log In to reply

You need to log-in to comment on articles.


How to Upgrade Your FT Simple Cub