Seaplane General

[piker]

Bill,

See my "float sizing" response in the thead about the build classes (tickler).

The Hanger 9 floats have a serso pocket built into one of the floats with a hole at the back for a pushrod exit.  The pushrod steers the rudder (single float only).  If you'd like to see, I can bring them to the meeting next week.

Robert

[eric]

Hey Rob;

Don't know whether you've seen this video or not, but knowing your love for water flying, thought you'd like this lovely little flying boat. Just type  "Maiden flight of N216JP" into YouTube and have a look.

Maiden Flight of N216JP Muskegon, MI October 17, 2007

Eric

[piker]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for contributing to the theme 

Yes, I have seen that.  That looks like a smaller, recreation of the Machhi M5 or M7 that I have a partially built model of, as does Bill.  Cute plane, eh?

BTW, a variation of the M7 won the 1921 Schneider Trophy race.

Robert

[Wingnutz]

Eric,
Wow! Cool video! Reminded me a bit of Father Goose from Fly Away Home with the birds seeming to follow the aircraft. The M5 replica looked spectacular!
Damn! Now I'm really torn about what to build next! There's an M5 short kit waiting in the basement!

[Wingnutz]

Bill,

See my "float sizing" response in the thead about the build classes (tickler).

The Hanger 9 floats have a serso pocket built into one of the floats with a hole at the back for a pushrod exit.  The pushrod steers the rudder (single float only).  If you'd like to see, I can bring them to the meeting next week.

Robert

Thanks Rob,
Does anybody use a Sullivan cable to drive the float rudder?
I'm going to try to make the next meeting if my new knee settles down a bit. I'd love to see your float rudder system.
I've flown my Polaris and Seawind off water and they both use a water rudder connected to the air rudder for steering. Navigating back to the launch point has been fairly easy.
I have light foam core floats for my Apprentice with no water rudder. The model weather vanes in even the lightest breeze and to get enough authority out of the main rudder to turn the model requires some speed. Crosswinds and lightly loaded high wing floatplanes taxiing at speed are beyond my ability so I always wait until I can stand downwind of the launch point or until I wear a wetsuit and walk out to retrieve the Apprentice before it blows away. Limits my opportunities.
Here's a link to some float flying I did in Pamlico Sound NC. The last few seconds shows my first Polaris on its final take-off...a few seconds later it became a victim of a faulty AR500 receiver. Battery and ESC are still in Pamlico Sound!Apprentice/Polaris..Feet wet flying! April 15, 2010_0001.wmv
Can't wait for float flying weather!

[piker]

Cool video, Bill.

Boy, you really get "into" the float flying     We generally stay on shore at our events...

I've flown my Cub for years with no water rudder.  It works fine when the wind is light, but if the wind is a bit stronger, there's no control.  But here's what I do:

If it's an on shore breeze, I let the wind blow it in.  If it's an off shore breeze, the plane will point in, and I can taxi easily to shore.  Any combination of the two generally works for cross winds.  You have to be patient.  One time last summer, I forgot about my Cub that had blown into shore a ways down 

Rudders are nice, but they add weight and a bit more care is needed in set-up and general use of the plane (sitting on the ground, etc.)  Still, I'd lean toward going with a rudder.

I've never linked a water rudder to the air rudder, but it's a common technique.

[piker]

Time for another instalment of "Seaplane General".

The link below is for a video of a very cool electric seaplane model in 1/4 scale.  I posted this on another forum a while ago, but wanted to post it here as well.  As Michael pointed out before, you can skip to about 3 minutes into avoid listening to all the speeches.  However, at about 2:15 the guy starts giving details about the plane.

Loughead F1 Model Airplane

[Skyking]

Hi Bill,
2 strategies:I have glued a piece of strip carbon fibre to the rudder on my Aquastar.  It Hangs straight down and I attached a piece of aluminum from a pop can to it. Works fine.
I just finished my Boeing L-15 ( light observation plane) and I buried a micro servo in one float and installed a scratch water rudder on that float and connected a micro push-pull system that uses very light carbon fibre thread. That set up would work on the apprentice as the thread is very strong and I have used it on a similar-sized model before.

Ken

[Gregor77]

I was at PIN last night waiting for something and I was reading FLY RC and there is a company that introduced an ARF of the Northstar, looks mint at $159.

I need to find out what company it was... that would be great for the funfly!

[Gregor77]

http://modelaero.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=POL-ULT&Category_Code=AM

Found it.. I was wrong...  But still cool!

[piker]

Ooooo..... that DOES look nice!

[Michael]

An ARF version of the Polaris.

Perfect for flying from grass, snow and water.

[Wingnutz]

Michael, is the ARF the same size as the Polaris you built? It's a lot bigger than mine (Polaris).

[Michael]

A bit smaller than the Polaris XL.

[sihinch]

Yet another tempting model!  The Hobby Gods can be so cruel!