Seaplane General

Gregor77 · March 22, 2013, 01:33:46 PM

I am grabbing the Tidewater from Flyzone tonight... If you have not seen it, it's great, but bigger than a sea wind and really looks the part as a sea plane. I wanted something that I could use in the snow also that could be carried in the back of the car. Running a 3S, 2200, it should have a good flight time. This weekend looks good and I might be able to try it out a bit at the field.

Michael · March 27, 2013, 09:05:54 PM

I think Robert infected me.

I bought E-Flite floats for my Twinstar, and a I also bought a Polaris ARF.

There had better be a reasonable amount of calm days with access to water-runways this summer!

piker · March 27, 2013, 10:54:55 PM

Hey, I never touched ya!

Michael · March 31, 2013, 02:57:41 PM

OK, two seaplanes ready for flight.

Polaris Ultra ARF, and almost-ready-to-fly foamy version of the depron kit. Bigger than the standard Polaris, but smaller than the Polaris XL (which can be seen in the bacground of the photo). This has a clear canopy, rounded fuselage and airfoil wing and stabilizer. The pilot shifted and dried in the wrong position. I think I'll leave it for now and see if the plane flies straight.

The other is my Multiplex Twinstar. I added E-Flite floats, which adds quite a bit of weight. I'm sure I have enough power, but with the wing-flex I've experienced before, I think I'll add wing struts with plywood anchors.

Papa · March 31, 2013, 04:15:18 PM

You can call him the "inattentive pilot". He's looking at the spectators and not the instruments.

Twinstar looks like a natural. You could dress it up to look like a twin Otter!!

Jack.

sihinch · March 31, 2013, 05:06:48 PM

Looks like I need to get round to mounting the floats on my Freshman!

Nice work, Michael.

Michael · March 31, 2013, 05:27:33 PM

Wing struts done according to the KISS principle.

Approx. 3/32" wire bent with hooks as per photos, hooked on the floats struts, and hooked around a bolt which goes through the wing with very hard 1/8" plywood epoxied into the top and bottom of the wing.

It's very strong.

I'll cover the wing servos with plastic tape.

Wingnutz · March 31, 2013, 06:42:18 PM

Quote from: Michael on March 31, 2013, 02:57:41 PM
OK, two seaplanes ready for flight.

"Polaris Ultra ARF, and almost-ready-to-fly foamy version of the depron kit. Bigger than the standard Polaris, but smaller than the Polaris XL (which can be seen in the bacground of the photo). This has a clear canopy, rounded fuselage and airfoil wing and stabilizer. The pilot shifted and dried in the wrong position. I think I'll leave it for now and see if the plane flies straight. "

I predict this model with its shifty pilot will be good at turning right.
The ARF version of the Polaris is way cool and closer to Jack's North Star than the kits ever were. I'm currently (as recently as this morning) flying three Polari and am curious about the ARF version.
1. Where did they put the rudder and aileron push rods?
2. Is the battery strapped in?
I'll have something to add to the thread...eventually!

Michael · March 31, 2013, 07:43:34 PM

Rudder and aileron servos in the fuselage.

Battery is strapped in.

Radio installation, particularly the elevator servo, and the motor installation, were more difficult on the ARF than the depron kit.

wollins · April 05, 2013, 09:22:53 AM

Just for you Robert ... a unique record of the last airworthy civil Sunderland flying boat in the world. Air (Flying) Boat '95

Enjoy!

Colin

Papa · April 08, 2013, 03:22:37 PM

I have it on good authority that a certain Stranraer is being scaled up to beat this record.

Way to go Rob!

Worlds Largest RC Flying Boat -- Kawanishi H8K

Jack.

piker · November 25, 2013, 11:58:02 AM

Wow! I had to dig WAY down to find this old thread

But I just came across a cool picture of the Supermarine S6 under construction. Probably in 1928/29

Papa · November 25, 2013, 12:51:45 PM

You can see from that they clearly got an engine and designed a plane around it. The external radiator looks cool. Is that opening behind the cockpit for the exhaust?

Jack.

bfeist · November 25, 2013, 01:20:55 PM

Very cool. While we're at it, attached is a photo I found a while back of Felixstowe F3 flying boats under construction in Toronto during WW1.

piker · November 25, 2013, 02:47:25 PM

I'm very curious WHERE in T.O. these were built. I assume near the lake somewhere. I wonder if that building is still around. Probably not.

Apparently there were 30 Felixstowes built in Toronto and the type served in the RAF until 1925 when they were replaced by the Supermarine Southampton, which became the Stranraer.

It would be very cool if someone in our club built one. There are plans available