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outlawbrewingco
08-09-2018, 10:26 AM
Good afternoon everyone. I just purchased a Corben Jr Ace with a Continental 75. I am excited to get this bird back up in the air but I have some questions that are unanswered.

As an amateur build the builder deviated from the plans on the width of the cabin and the wing span. It has a 30' wingspan that doesn't correspond with any info I have listed. It also has a wider cockpit. Does anyone know I this was a common modification and if so any and all info would be great. It also has a 12 Gallon tank and everything else I see is much larger.

I am sure there is a great story behind all of these decisions to deviate but... unfortunately the builder passed away not long after building the plane.

Any and all help would be appreciated. This is my first experimental. My father built a Commuter II when I was growing up and I knew I would always end up following in his footsteps in some way shape or form!


Cheers.

Rick

Tench745
08-11-2018, 10:32 PM
Hi there Rick,
I've just recently started a build of my own Corben Jr Ace. I'm not an expert by any means, but here's what I know.
The Corben Jr Ace, also known as the Baby Ace model E, is almost universally considered to be too narrow to be a real 2-seater. Either building it with only one seat, or widening the fuselage seem to be a common modifications.
The stock tank is approximately 16gal. They may have used a smaller tank for weight/balance reasons, or because it was commercially available, who knows.
As for your wingspan, that's a new one on me. I believe the earliest aces had a 34' span, so maybe this was some odd compromise?
A picture or two would be interesting and informative.

outlawbrewingco
08-15-2018, 09:32 AM
7436

I think I attached the pic correctly!

rwanttaja
08-15-2018, 11:23 AM
The stock tank is approximately 16gal. They may have used a smaller tank for weight/balance reasons, or because it was commercially available, who knows.

I believe the 12-gallon tank is a J-3 Cub tank. Lots of Fly Babies with those, as well.

Ron Wanttaja

outlawbrewingco
08-15-2018, 11:48 AM
That makes a lot of sense. It has what I believe is j3 landing gear. I was fortunate to also get a set of plans with it. The original builder passed away but the guy who I bought it from was going to build one but bought one built instead.

Tench745
08-15-2018, 07:17 PM
Looks to me like your rudder came off that cub too. I wonder what else the original builder borrowed. Perhaps the wings are modified cub wings with the ace style tip bow?

outlawbrewingco
08-16-2018, 01:04 PM
Looks to me like your rudder came off that cub too. I wonder what else the original builder borrowed. Perhaps the wings are modified cub wings with the ace style tip bow?

That is a possibility. I will have to research it a bit more. It has a 3 hinge aileron and there is different rigging for the control cables than what is in the plans.

martymayes
08-16-2018, 04:03 PM
That's pretty cool.....it looks like it's been "cabinized" as well!

martymayes
08-16-2018, 04:06 PM
Looks to me like your rudder came off that cub too. I wonder what else the original builder borrowed. Jackscrew trim but I'm kinda curious how that works with the stab braced like that. Bungee cords maybe? (just kidding)

Ron Blum
08-17-2018, 09:40 PM
As an amateur build the builder deviated from the plans on the width of the cabin …

I did the drawings for the original plans for the Pober Junior and Super Aces. Paul Poberezny bought the rights to the Corbin airplanes. We widened the fuselage on the Super (single place) by 7" (to 26" between upper longeron center lines) and the Junior (two place) by 9" (to 39" between upper longeron centerlines). Ironically, I happen to have what remains of the original drawings at my house (on loan from Jim Irwin at Aircraft Spruce who now owns them). I show the wingspan at just shy of 34' on the Junior (and 27'3.5" on the Super).

Although it looks like you have an in-flight adjustable horizontal stabilizer, it can't be with the double support wires (front and back). My guess is that this is ground adjustable (with washers/spacers) and then the support wires would have to be adjusted too. The Cub horizontal stabilizer is in-flight adjustable, but it only has a single support wire (aft, about the pivot point).

Good luck with the project; it looks like tons of fun! If you would like anything else, let me know … or email me at solutions@blueontop.com

Thanks,
Ron "Just happened to be in the right place at the right time" Blum

outlawbrewingco
05-14-2019, 06:21 AM
First flight finally! A few things to sort out and get a handle on but ultimately a wonderful flight!


7839

Ron Blum
05-15-2019, 07:20 AM
Beautiful, congratulations and job well done!

Paul would be happy and give you a big thumbs up 👍.

Frank Giger
05-15-2019, 10:57 AM
Hurray!

The mix of emotions before, during, and after the first flight is unique!

cdlwingnut
05-15-2019, 07:10 PM
that is a gorgeous airplane. well done

CHICAGORANDY
05-15-2019, 10:25 PM
Sweet bird - Kudos