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Where would you have a super cub worked on?

Well I hoping to get opinions on where you’d have a cub redone? First I don’t want to wait a year to get in. Second I don’t want someone that takes two years to get it done. Im seriously thinking of doing the work myself as years and years ago I helped my uncle put new longerons and fabric on his and we recovered the wings. Not fun and took all winter. I’m in Midwest and the wings are off, but I don’t mind driving and can fly for free to help as needed. I remember years ago there was a good guy In Iowa that was a cub specialist but forgot his name. I like guys that are blunt and tell me the truth and no bs (I know it’s old man syndrome). Any thoughts? I’ve restored two cars myself because of all the flakes I meet in the restoration business I’m hoping to avoid that here. Thanks
 
Well, the quick answer is CubCrafters. They have a great restoration shop and everything I have seen come out of there has been pretty darn nice.

There are lots of other places, but as I said, that's the slam dunk in my opinion.

sj
 
HO aircraft. You didn’t say where in Midwest. They are a sponsor and do excellent work.


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You might just give the Johnson Brothers a call.
Not sure they have time but worth a phone call.

Ryan & Cory.
Johnson Brothers Flying Service
Spring Green, WI

(Mineral spring / Dodgeville)


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Dan Byker did mine in 2004. Good work. I bought the plane in 2010, so no contact with him until then.[h=4]Dan Byker[/h]
  • Shop: 712-552-2648
  • Cell: 712-441-5121
  • Hawarden, Iowa
 
Thanks so much to all that replied, I’m going to make a few calls next week after I study all the replies and I do some leg work checking these suggestions out. I am thrilled with the reply’s in just a few hours. Thanks
 
Well, the quick answer is CubCrafters. They have a great restoration shop and everything I have seen come out of there has been pretty darn nice.

There are lots of other places, but as I said, that's the slam dunk in my opinion.

sj

I think CubCrafters quit doing restorations. They’re doing new builds only. This is according to my friend who had his finished last summer. They told him it was the last one they were going to do.

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Dan Default builds some pretty planes, and fantastic work.

Mike Skup in Birchwood might have some time.

Taking it to a quality builder will pay bigger dividends than you know, it is the little things you find later on that really show the difference between a great job, and a job. When you have to cut your new fabric to work on a part you should not have to touch for years it becomes clear.

Good Luck, just remember: Good, fast, cheap. If you are lucky you can get two.
 
For the Midwest, you have some great options listed! I would second HO Aircraft, Dan Byker, and the Johnson Brothers. They are all quality people and shops. Dakota Cub in South Dakota might be worth a call too. They do a few rebuild and bigger repairs though it isn’t the core of their business.

Good luck!

—Amy
 
I had Cub Crafters recover my Arctic Tern in 1992 and the did a wonderful job at a fair price.

Kurt
 
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As a note, per the CC rep, Cubcrafters is still doing repairs and rebuilds.


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Remember Farmer Ted unless the aircraft is stripped down already, there may be surprises and unforeseen expenses. Call it fudge factor. Cub crafters still does rebuilds too. Most rebuilders I know will estimate as best they can but in the end doing it right is not always cheap. Did you try Roger & Darrin Meggers in MT? It’s Bakers air service. Good guys! They did the AOPA Super Cub given away this past summer. Did you Check Don Wade in Alabama? He did EAA J3 give away in 2018. I’ve got more but some have been mentioned here. Dan Dufault in Maine is a super guy. Tom Ford in NH at Grass Patch Aero, another friend who rebuilds and just finished his own last year or so.
 
Dan Default builds some pretty planes, and fantastic work.

Mike Skup in Birchwood might have some time.

Taking it to a quality builder will pay bigger dividends than you know, it is the little things you find later on that really show the difference between a great job, and a job. When you have to cut your new fabric to work on a part you should not have to touch for years it becomes clear.

Good Luck, just remember: Good, fast, cheap. If you are lucky you can get two.


I'd second the statement on a quality builder...and can vouch for Mike Skup. To the precise point, he rebuilt my -12 and I haven't had to touch the fabric (except to clean it) in approaching 10 years. Location's likely wrong for the OP.

FWIW, there's a spectrum of time for a rebuild (I've seen quotes ranging from 2 months - 3 years) and while offering assistance, careful planning, and knowing precisely what one wants will move you quite a ways back from the 3 years, trying to force a "rebuild" into 1 season / 1 year starts to impact the quality aspect, IMO. Depends of course on the meaning of rebuild and on what one finds after the fabric is off.
 
In my experience as a customer doing a restoration becomes a balance between the builder keeping their current clients supported and adding yet another project. Work that out up front plus payment scheduling. If that's not acceptable then go elsewhere. It only takes years if there's other obligations to fulfill.

Gary
 
American Legend Cub in Sulphur Springs, Texas does rebuilds and recovers. They do a lot of repairs for customers as well. They know cubs.
 
yeah he's kinda unrealistic!!
Funny, In 1978 my uncle and my father replaced the lower longerons on a pa18a recovered it and rebuilt the engine in two months. But now under three years is unrealistic? Is this how far we’ve sunk? Wow! I do wish to thank all who responded with helpful information. Thank you!
 
Just watched an almost 3-year rebuild on an undamaged airframe with very few mods and no engine work. Money not an issue. It happens when other customer's needs and other interests share time.

Gary
 
Funny, In 1978 my uncle and my father replaced the lower longerons on a pa18a recovered it and rebuilt the engine in two months.

I'm glad you are happy and have found someone to do your job, meeting you timing requirements!

Oh?, or?? am I just assuming you did find that??? ;-)
 
I'm glad you are happy and have found someone to do your job, meeting you timing requirements!

Oh?, or?? am I just assuming you did find that??? ;-)
Don’t worry yourself Mike I can tell it’s already above your abilities. You remind me of a local electrician we have around here, he always says how hard he works and how covered up he is, but any time you go to town his truck is at the coffee shop. It will get done in less than three years if I have to do it myself. So if you don’t have anything constructive to say keep it to yourself!
 
In my experience and observation it comes down to doing a restore job versus needed compensation for some. If needing barter work or money the job gets done quickly. If there's other sources of easier barter or money it can take more time as it allows the project to blend the work into other obligations. Maybe the answer is source someone that's focused on the agreed work and compensation because other obligations won't take over much. Restoration is demanding of time and skill which can cause some stress - quality takes skill and effort vs cleaning spark plugs for example. Just some thoughts.

Gary
 
Don’t worry yourself Mike I can tell it’s already above your abilities. You remind me of a local electrician we have around here, he always says how hard he works and how covered up he is, but any time you go to town his truck is at the coffee shop. It will get done in less than three years if I have to do it myself. So if you don’t have anything constructive to say keep it to yourself!

Farmer Ted, you haven't been here long so I will assume you do not know what Mike is cabable of. If you got your feelings hurt from his comment I can understand but no reason to personally attack him. He is a fabricator, machinist, welder, etc. and has built some amazing Cubs. Yes, he can be a cranky SOB as can most of us. I thought what he posted but didn't use my "outside voice". The people that do this regularly and do it well are covered up with work. I have at least a 2 year wait. I know Cub Crafters is not taking any new projects from when I spoke to them a few weeks ago because of their current work load and Stan retireing. I can replace longerons in a weekend and wrap the fabric back around and you can fly away. These airplanes have been recovered multiple times over the years but not rebuilt or restored. Piper was in production to build airplanes fast. They were not meant to last this long. If you want an IRAN (inspect and repair as neccassary) there are people that can do that and it takes a fraction of the time that it does to rebuild one. Spend some time on this site and you will realize the depth of work some put into these airplanes. You might not need or want that and that is fine but know what we do is not done by many. This reminds me of Christina going on a tirade about getting her L21 restored in a few months and how we were all full of ****. Came out she got an IRAN. Just be sure to compare apples to apples and not oranges. There is a place for both just recognize the difference.
 
Don’t worry yourself Mike I can tell it’s already above your abilities. You remind me of a local electrician we have around here, he always says how hard he works and how covered up he is, but any time you go to town his truck is at the coffee shop. It will get done in less than three years if I have to do it myself. So if you don’t have anything constructive to say keep it to yourself!

Actually, with that attitude, I’d suggest you get started on the restoration yourself. That way, you won’t have to transport it, and won’t have anyone else to blame when it takes a little longer than you prefer.

MTV
 
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