Floatfly

[RUDOLF]

Yes, the time is more than convinient for this kind of activities. This year I have tried or intend to try the following floatplanes:
- Pondside /PS/
-Donald 5
- Aventura III
- Osprey X28
- Super puddlemaster
- Twinstar - float conversion
- Coot A

The photos I enclose belong to PS produced by Hobby Hangar with Speed 500 7.2 race and 8 el 1200 2/3 SCR or 1600 4/5 SCR.
On this plane I have a wing where I cann attcah 2 x S400 or 480
as well. So far the twin version has proved to be much better option.

I have now some 30 flights or so on this ship and it is quite nice to fly, little more tricky with pilon motor as it is often the case with pilon mounted engines. Take off in some 10-15 meters /cca yards/. The ship has no ailerons which is sometimes inconvenient especially in stronger wind.

I will keep on reporting on the other flying boats as well.

Rudy

[RUDOLF]

More pics

[RUDOLF]

More pics

[RUDOLF]

More...

[Dereck]

Rudolf
Thank you for sharing your Pondside photos. I have had three in total - the third is still awaiting repairs. I was flying it from the "back yard" of a friend's lakefront house and he thought I hit their neighbourhood turtle on alighting!

I've always found it a good flier, though as you say it really is a calm weather model. Having said that, I test flew my first one in England in winds around some 35 Km/Hr! The model was designed to take off water on power that now we would regard as a joke. My first one would ROW on a Graupner S600 on six cells - maybe 120W. My last one had an Astro 035 on seven cells pulling 30A + on a fresh pack - it took off much quicker!

Right now, I have no access to water - the last waterplane meet in our area was cancelled thanks to the local authority who controlled the lake. They stopped barricading off one end of the lake as this cut down on fishing licence revenue apparently - for one Saturday in a year! So my dear Pondside hangs up forlorn and missing her bottom.

Good luck with the other models you intend to try

Dereck

[RUDOLF]

Hi Dereck!

Glad to hear from you! In fact I am honoured to say that I read a lot of your articles and comments before assembling the PS! Thanks a lot for all the input, you made my /and definitely many others'/ life in assembling the bird much easier, hi!

yes indeed it is a nice flyer, one has to keep it as light as possible, then the landings are very nice! Take offs are very good, the plane is so quickly on the step! I had used before also splash rails, and with those the plane took of much much earlier. Unfortunatley I destroyed them when using the plane on the terra firma landings. This plane is not nicely made, I use it as a test ship, I try different motors, batteries etc; as such the ship suffered a lot....but would still fly! I reinforced the front planning surface with a kind of a plastic film which I epoxied on balsa. Lik this any landing on terra firma is no problem. Not any longer.
The plane even got /almost/ sunk once as the bottom virtually exploded on landing, I used too thin balsa then...Now with the plastic film - no more problems.
Of course I have always an inflating boat with me, just in case.
But as you say, S600 is completely sufficient if you do not have a brushless. I have some of these but will wait for a while, do not want to get them wet, hi!

Too bad to hear the things about the situation with H2O fly! This is pitty as I consider H2O fly as the most exciting way of flying, I'd be least bored, probably sad. But woudl try to find another water surface. Even if I had to drive a bit! It is worth.
Rudy

[Kevin Murray]

Rudy, Any thoughts on how you will float the Twin Star ?

[RUDOLF]

HI Kevin,

Thanks for your reply! Yes I already have the TS prepared for ROW. I learned a lot from the article by Irv Cooper with regard to adaptation of TS as a floatplane. I made a plannig surface from two plates of extruded polistyrene /thicknes 0.6" x 2/. just to the from the nose to the point of the step. the planning surface is cca 1.5 " wider than the TS fuse. I followed the principle of a wide planning surface from Aventura which ROWs fantastically just because of this! I was taxying the TS like it as already and it seems it shoudl be working nicely! The motors I will use is 2 x Aeronaut S400 6.0 V with 2.33 gears and 9x5 Graupner Slimprop and 10 el 1600 4/5 SCR. I hanlounched the TS with this motor setup and it flies very nicely, the sound of twin geared is absolutely marvellous. The two motors have a lot of thrust and I imagine there shoudl be no problem with ROW. We will see. I will post some pics on the TS for details!

Mor questions - just drop a line!

Rudy

[Stelio]

Hi Rudolf,

Do you have some pictures of your Twinstar with the modifications you described in your last post?

I am thinking of converting mine with just wingtip floats, but I am interested in seeing what you have done.

Stelio Jackson

[Fredrik W]

Rudolf, why did´nt you post this thread over in the WATERPLANE (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=174) Forum?


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

[RUDOLF]

Hi Stelio, hi Fredrik!

Soory for being silent for so long! I was on holidays for almost 4 weeks.......I only returned home yesterday...

For Fredrik: I am sorry I awas not aware of the extra forum...seaplanes. I woudl have done diffrently had Iknown it...
Thanks for warning!

For Stelio: I will make a pic of the arrangements! I have not ROW with the TS so far but only a handlounch. I think it shoudl ROW fine as it is. In fact I think there is not need for drastic arrangements like mine with TS - this plane is like it was originally designed for ROWS. With some nice gearing - I woudl recommend MPX 2.33 G gears with nice plastic Guenther prop which I use on another TS. I hanlounch it with some 30% of throttle. From snow it ROGs or ROS like hell.

Rudy

[GregG]

I've moved this to "Waterplanes" as it seems more appropriate here.

[RUDOLF]

Hi Greg!

Thank you for arranging the issue!

Rudy