Adventura maiden nearly becomes a sinking

[uglystick]

Yes, that's what happened. With 7x1000 Nicds, the nose rode pretty low in the water. It never did get up on step. At the end of my attempt, it just nosed over, and bobbed in the water like a fishing float. Tail up.
When I rescued it, I found the windshield/cowl missing. It must have ripped off, allowing water to flow inside, fill the nose, then nose over.

At the very least, I need a cowl ( I haven't checked the electronics yet).
Since this is an ARF from overseas, I don't know how much trouble I'll have getting one.
I AM open to any suggestion that will get this plane back on the water quickly ?????

[Steve_S]

Hi uglystick,

Can you make a new windshield from clear plastic sheet??? How did you attach the windshield??? I use Scott's tape all the way around and it will not come off or let water in.

[uglystick]

I used scotch tape too. But mine had some gaps in it. I guess that's what let the water in. I wish I had done it differently now.

[aeropenguin]

how are your electronics?

[Corky Boyd]

It's not as pretty, but I use blue masking tape to seal gaps. The adhesive does not harden and it does a pretty good job of conforming to compound curves.

Works well on fiberglas, foam and shrink coatings and is easily removable after many months.

[aeropenguin]

Well, I do not have any aventura, but what I think would work very well is to lay down a permanent teflon water seal tape (the stretchy white kind...) all around the surface where the canopy sets down, and then since the since the teflon can be "squished" down a little, you'd need screws (maybe one for the front and one for the left and right?) to hold the canopy down, and the canopy would be be squeezing the teflon, and creating a perfect water-tight seal?

Is this a joke or a reality?

-Michael

[Fredrik W]

The problem with the Aventura canopy is that you have to remove it every time you connect / disconnect the battery pack. With screws holding the canopy that whould be a pain.

But I still whant one! :D

Have you seen these two Aventura-videos?:

http://www.quietflyer.com/video/seaplane.mpg
and:
http://www.quietflyer.com/video/twin.mpg


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Steve_S]

I have always used Scott's tape to hold the windshield on. I make sure it is sealed all the way around. I have found that I can use the same tape three times before replacing it. I just peel it from the fuse and let it stay stuck to the windshield and place it someplace clean while I take care of the battery. Doing this I have found it to be fast and easy to take care of battery changing. Also the waterseal is great. I have had my plane nose up in the water like uglystick's and had no water inside.

uglystick, I hope you get yours going again soon.:)

[aeropenguin]

Fredrik, my speakers are fried, so I had no sound ( :mad: ) but OMG!!! Those vid's really make me want one even more, even sooner!
Until I get new speakers - what was he talking about in general? Was that stock power?

Thanks Fredrik! I had done a lot of Google searching, but only found the two from hobby lobby. :(

I was considering getting the Donald 4 from Hobby Lobby, thinking it would be just as spumky and fun, but then I saw that...
http://www.espritmodel.com/
click on electric airplanes>seaplanes>donald 5

For the video, click on "video" from the home page and scroll down to the Donald.

All of the pretty aspects on the photos from HL were hand painted on, IE the canopy roof, black nose, etc etc etc.
Also, they have a video of it flying, and it looks like it is never going to take off. You need Lake Superior to fly that thing!!! And, in the video, they say they used a BL motor, and they recommend a Mega 22/20/2 on the page, so I am assuming they used that! I don't think it can fly at all with the 600!

Thanks!!!
-Michael

[Fredrik W]

Glad to help ! :)

A clubmate of mine has the Donald 4 and he had no proble to ROW, his motor is pointed more up than the motor in the video. I think that helps a lot.

I don´t know why they call it Donald 5? The video is named Donald 4. :confused: None of them has ailerons, that for shure.

Aeropenguin, to whet your appetite even more :D - here is a link to a review of the Aventura at RC-Universe:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/reviews.php?action=show_review&reviewid=26


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[aeropenguin]

Fredrik, I gotta admit though - that guy must've been really silly to take out the ailos on a plane without dihedral that was meant for them :rolleyes:
I still didn't see a nice, long video, not just a 12sec take off, or landing, or flyby. :(

His reports don't exactly persuade me much...
Thanks for showing me that though! More opinions are always good!

Here are the two best Aventura links, in my opinion, besides Hobby Lobby and the vid's you showed me:
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?sid=557253483&t=article&cat=198&id=4179
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=58424

That last link REALLY makes me want one! Without that thread, I prolly still wouldn't have the Aventura on my to-do list!

The aventura is really growing in fame!

Anyway, Fredrik, can you please tell me what the guy was talking about in the first video you showed me?

Thanks!
-Michael

[uglystick]

Thanks to all for your replies...I hooked up the same electronics, that had taken a bath, and they all still work. Lucky I guess.
I think I will try to make a pattern for the cowl, from poster paper, which will let me cut a flat piece of plastic (if I can find some), then, I need to heat the plastic, and form it to a kind of horseshoe shape, like the original cowl...Seems like a lot of work, just to get back to the point, where I didn't tape it well enough.

[aeropenguin]

uglystick, I am glad your electronics still work!!!
What do you mean you need a new "cowl"? Do you mean that you need a new windshield/window?
What I would do first is email or call Hobby Lobby. They have exceptional customer service, I hear, so they will probably sell you one separately, or, if you get really lucky, maybe they'll feel sorry for ya and send you one free.

One simple and fun way to do it: buy a giant 2 liter bottole of Coke or Pepsi, doesn't matter, drink it up (or pour it into a different container for later) then cut out an oversize shape from the material, and trim it down until it fits. It has the perfect curve, too! Maybe this will work? I heard one guy used a mountain Dew bottle since it has that green tint :D

-Michael

[uglystick]

Yes, the windshield is what I need. I bet you're right about the 2 litre bottle. It's pre-bent, and may be large enough. I'll look into it, thanks.An e-mail to Hobby Lobby would,nt hurt either...

[aeropenguin]

Glad I could help! Good luck with HL, too. They will prolly offer you a deal...
-Michael

[ManxFlyr]

Uglistick

I had a very similar experience. Used 7x 1300 batteries . ROW no problem but appeared to be out of trim so I brought it down - a little too abruptly. Lost the windshield. I talked to the local hobby shop and they tell me that I can get a new windshield. I ordered two. I have been waiting for two months. I'm told that Hobby Lobby has to go back to their supplier. I'm not confidant that I'll get them before the lakes freeze here. But for next year I'll be ready - I hope.

[uglystick]

Manx, good luck. I e-mailed H.L. and asked about the windshield also. They said, they are out of stock. Yeah, like they were ever in stock to begin with.
But, they know we will order some, so I guess they WILL stock them at some date.
I am going to e-mail them again, to see if I can get on a waiting list or something, because I deffinately want one. Nice to know that 7x1300 will ROW. Thanks

[aeropenguin]

Hah - you guys can't fly in the winter since the lake is frozen, I can ONLY fly in the winter since I don't HAVER a lake in the summer to begin with :D
aaaah, sunny California :)

Have you tried the Mt. Dew tinted green 2liter bottles?
-Michael

[Ironsides]

aeropenguin:

We northerners do a lot of float flying in winter.

The great advantage is that you don't need a recovery boat :)

Winter Float Flying (http://webhome.idirect.com/%7eironsidz/winterfloat.htm)

David

[aeropenguin]

Yeah - I know - float flying from slow sounds like tons of fun for me, too. I wish we had snow! We drive towards the mountains in the Winter though...but no time for airplanes - or space in the car.
-Michael