Savoia Marchetti S55X 1933 Twin Hull Flying Boat

[Papa]

Looks great Bruce.


Jack.

[piker]

Looks wonderful, Bruce!

I see you even have the servo's installed!  You'll be finished in no time.

I like the beer can approach.  It reminds me of an old friend, who I knew in the early days of Electric flight, who used the metal and graphics from a Miller can to created the top of the front of his Heath Parasol model.  It looked so cool.

[bweaver]

While the beer can is a little short, the circumference of the beer can is the exact size required.  I plan on beefing it up and securing it with foam. I will make a plug for the rear portion that will house the free wheeling dummy prop and make the correct length of cowling.  With the ends of the beer can cut out, the can feels like there is no weight to it at all.


Almost forgot to caution all, that I nearly burnt the plane down by grinding off the ends of the 6/32 screw ends holding the engine pod on. Don't do that at home! Next time I do some grinding, I will be shielding the balsa from the cast off sparks.

[bweaver]

I have roughly crafted the battery hatches for the hulls. They have to be carved and magnets will be used to hold them in place.


Next steps include finish forming the hulls and making the centre cockpit access hatch.


Spring is coming quickly.

[sihinch]

Spring is coming quickly.

I admire your optimism, Bruce!  Especially today!

[Papa]

This must be the first flying boat powered by licorice allsorts.


LOL


Jack.

[bweaver]

Bruce is fuelled by liquorice allsorts.  The plane will be battery powered.

[piker]

I can sense the ice melting as we speak!

Keep going, Bruce.  It looks fantastic!

[bweaver]

Carving and sanding..........

[bweaver]

After the heckles I received at the last pilots meeting, I have really cut and shaped and sanded and sanded.


I have thought again about using two motors as apposed to the one G 10 as proposed at the meeting.  (Here I am on the fence again.)



I am considering using two of these motors View Product. Each equipped with an 18 amp ESC and 3 bladed 8 inch prop.  The HK product information indicates that the motors will apparently provide a maximum of 120 watts each.  I can provide a 1000 mah 3 cell battery to power each motor individually. 


The wing area is approximately 325 sq inches.  The weight of the unfinished plane now including the two motors, two ESCs and two 1000 mah batteries weighs in at 2.18 lbs, (35.2 oz). These are not mounted yet or wired.  I think I can bring the finished weight of the aircraft in at close to 2.75 pounds.


Appreciate any thoughts.

[Papa]

Hi Bruce, I don't think that motor is your best choice. I think you may have trouble mounting a prop on it. It looks like a slow flyer with an "O" ring for the prop.


Here is a better choice.


http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__21478__NTM_Prop_Drive_28_26_1000KV_235W.html


You would need the accessory kit. We bought some for our gliders and they look to be very well made. You would have the ability to get more watts by going to 4S which the motor will take.


If you go two motors remember the second prop has to have a coarser pitch as it will be running in disturbed air.


Jack.

[Frank v B]

Bruce, 


I am very partial to the E-max  CF 2822 outrun bell motor which is a 150 watt motor, have a 3mm shaft.  I have flown several airplanes on them (3 cells).  They are powerful, light, small and inexpensive.  I do not see it in the current HobbyKing website but I have 3 new ones if you want to try two.  I have flown a 42" Cessna Skylane, a 60" Fournier glider (.049) and a Cessna Skymaster  332 (36" span) with a single motor in the front and a free wheeler in the back.
The closest one currently available on the Hobby King website is the one listed under the 28mm-34 mm outrunner motors FC 2822 1200 kv.
I can bring them to the next pilot's meeting if you are interested in looking at them.


Frank

[bweaver]

That would be great Frank if you would bring them out to the next meeting.  Do you know what size ESC I would require for each? Personal message me with your price.  Thanks Bruce

[Frank v B]

Bruce


A 15-20 amp ESC.  I will bring them, have a look at them, use them if you like them.  If they are fine...$8.00 a piece.  If they are not powerful enough I will take them back at no cost.  They are brand new and unused.  No money changes hands until the maiden flight proves they are good enough for your project.  Just in case my opinion was wrong!


Frank

[bweaver]

That's a deal Frank, but I will definitely straighten out with you before its' maiden flight, because while I am really sure that it will fly, I have to be positive that it will float first.


Bruce