Donald Granlund Sr
Jul 01, 1996, 01:00 AM
<html>
<head>
<title>Converting the Ace Puddle Master to Multi-Engine Power</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong3.jpg" width="356" height="188"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong4.jpg" width="317" height="162"></p>
<p align="left"> </p>
<p align="left">My first experience with the Puddlemaster (PLANE 1) was with a stockbuilt
kit with a goldfire can motor on 7-1400 cells. The plane was a good flying sport plane
with a long take off run.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong1.jpg" width="310" height="162"></p>
<p align="left">With satisfactorily results of the kit plane I decided to build a larger
version with twin engines. (PLANE 2) I had some 12 volt can motors that I bought at a
surplus store for $3.50 each. After some testing on the test stand, the results looked
promising so I decided to build a 600 square inch version. The only changes besides the
size of the motors, was wood sizes, an "I" beam spar, leading edge planking to
the motors and then 1/8" stringers to the tips. The wings would be bolted down
instead of rubber bands. The motors were run in series with 20-1400 ma cells. I used an
ACE speed control. The first flight was made from a grass field, the plane rose of the
ground in about a 100 feet. The power was better then expected. The plane was then flown
off the water. The plane was off the water in about 50 feet. The plane in a very good
sport flyer with plenty of power and speed. Acrobatics are limited due to the large amount
of dihedral.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong5.jpg" width="222" height="143"></p>
<p align="left">With the improvements using twin engines, I decided to change the stock
kit to a twin. (PLANE 1, 2 motors) I built a new wing with a an "I" beam spar
like the larger version and also cut the dihedral in half. The goldfire motor was replaced
with two Speed 400 7.2v motors running in parallel with a 7 cell 1400ma battery.
Performance is improved with a shorter take off run and smoother flying with less dihedral
and the motors mounted lower. </p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong2.jpg" width="362" height="221"></p>
<p align="left">Using the lessons I learned with the first two models I decided to build a
third version using four Speed 400 motors for power. (PLANE 3) I used a computer program
that I made in QBasic to enlarge the stock kit to the size I desired. To keep the wing
loading about the same as the biggest version, I decided on a wing area of about 500 sq.
in.'s. Other changes would be less dihedral, ailerons and a slight "V"-bottom to
the front of the hull. Batteries would be 14-1400ma cells. This plane also flys like a
good sport plane. It's off the water with a short take run and is a stable flyer. The
ailerons make the plane more acrobatic then the larger version but it does not have as
much power. The slight "V"-hull helped reduce wave slapping when landing in
choppy water.</p>
<p align="left">My next project will be building a new wing for the 600 sq. in. version
with less dihedral, ailerons, and flaps. I also plan on building a "V" into the
front of the hull. Here is a listing of the spec's on each plane. </p>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 1 stock kit</h2>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 383 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 42oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 16oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 7-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 22 amps</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 7-6 apc</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 12000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Astro 217</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motor Goldfire </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 1 stock kit with two motors</h2>
<p align="left"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong5.jpg" width="222" height="143"></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 383 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 45oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 16oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 7-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 17amps </p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 6-6 Graupner</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 9000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Astro 217</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motors Speed 400's wired in parallel</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 2</h2>
<p align="left"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong1.jpg" width="310" height="162"></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 600 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 96oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 23oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 20-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 18 amps</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 9-6 apc </p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 8000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Ace</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motors 2 12 volt surplus can motors wired in series.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 3</h2>
<h2 align="left"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong2.jpg" width="362" height="221"></h2>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 503 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 81oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 23oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 14-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 19 amps </p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 10000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 6-4 cox</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Astro 210</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motors 4 Speed 400's 7.2volt, wired with motors in each wing in
parallel, wings wired in series.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<div align="left">
<address>
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=dfgranlund&d=msn.com">dfgranlund(at)msn.com</a><br>
Don Granlund Sr.<br>
7213 Oliver Ave No.<br>
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430<br>
612-561-5282<br>
</address>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<head>
<title>Converting the Ace Puddle Master to Multi-Engine Power</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong3.jpg" width="356" height="188"> <img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong4.jpg" width="317" height="162"></p>
<p align="left"> </p>
<p align="left">My first experience with the Puddlemaster (PLANE 1) was with a stockbuilt
kit with a goldfire can motor on 7-1400 cells. The plane was a good flying sport plane
with a long take off run.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong1.jpg" width="310" height="162"></p>
<p align="left">With satisfactorily results of the kit plane I decided to build a larger
version with twin engines. (PLANE 2) I had some 12 volt can motors that I bought at a
surplus store for $3.50 each. After some testing on the test stand, the results looked
promising so I decided to build a 600 square inch version. The only changes besides the
size of the motors, was wood sizes, an "I" beam spar, leading edge planking to
the motors and then 1/8" stringers to the tips. The wings would be bolted down
instead of rubber bands. The motors were run in series with 20-1400 ma cells. I used an
ACE speed control. The first flight was made from a grass field, the plane rose of the
ground in about a 100 feet. The power was better then expected. The plane was then flown
off the water. The plane was off the water in about 50 feet. The plane in a very good
sport flyer with plenty of power and speed. Acrobatics are limited due to the large amount
of dihedral.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong5.jpg" width="222" height="143"></p>
<p align="left">With the improvements using twin engines, I decided to change the stock
kit to a twin. (PLANE 1, 2 motors) I built a new wing with a an "I" beam spar
like the larger version and also cut the dihedral in half. The goldfire motor was replaced
with two Speed 400 7.2v motors running in parallel with a 7 cell 1400ma battery.
Performance is improved with a shorter take off run and smoother flying with less dihedral
and the motors mounted lower. </p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong2.jpg" width="362" height="221"></p>
<p align="left">Using the lessons I learned with the first two models I decided to build a
third version using four Speed 400 motors for power. (PLANE 3) I used a computer program
that I made in QBasic to enlarge the stock kit to the size I desired. To keep the wing
loading about the same as the biggest version, I decided on a wing area of about 500 sq.
in.'s. Other changes would be less dihedral, ailerons and a slight "V"-bottom to
the front of the hull. Batteries would be 14-1400ma cells. This plane also flys like a
good sport plane. It's off the water with a short take run and is a stable flyer. The
ailerons make the plane more acrobatic then the larger version but it does not have as
much power. The slight "V"-hull helped reduce wave slapping when landing in
choppy water.</p>
<p align="left">My next project will be building a new wing for the 600 sq. in. version
with less dihedral, ailerons, and flaps. I also plan on building a "V" into the
front of the hull. Here is a listing of the spec's on each plane. </p>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 1 stock kit</h2>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 383 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 42oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 16oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 7-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 22 amps</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 7-6 apc</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 12000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Astro 217</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motor Goldfire </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 1 stock kit with two motors</h2>
<p align="left"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong5.jpg" width="222" height="143"></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 383 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 45oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 16oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 7-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 17amps </p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 6-6 Graupner</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 9000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Astro 217</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motors Speed 400's wired in parallel</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 2</h2>
<p align="left"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong1.jpg" width="310" height="162"></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 600 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 96oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 23oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 20-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 18 amps</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 9-6 apc </p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 8000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Ace</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motors 2 12 volt surplus can motors wired in series.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<h2 align="left">PLANE 3</h2>
<h2 align="left"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1996/../images/dong2.jpg" width="362" height="221"></h2>
<ul>
<li><p align="left">wing area 503 sq in</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">weight 81oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">wing loading 23oz</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">batteries 14-1400ma Tower cells</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">current drain 19 amps </p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">rpm's 10000</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">props 6-4 cox</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">speed control Astro 210</p>
</li>
<li><p align="left">motors 4 Speed 400's 7.2volt, wired with motors in each wing in
parallel, wings wired in series.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="left"> </p>
<div align="left">
<address>
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=dfgranlund&d=msn.com">dfgranlund(at)msn.com</a><br>
Don Granlund Sr.<br>
7213 Oliver Ave No.<br>
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430<br>
612-561-5282<br>
</address>
</div>
</body>
</html>