GP 41" Cub on GWS Floats?

[gotime242]

I have this plane:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHAE3&P=0

It flies really nice. I would like to add some floats to it.

Thesegws ones looks like they could work:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHCR6&P=7

I would of liked to order from foamfloats.com, but they wont be selling for a while now. My cub is 29.5 inches long, and the foam floats are 71.19% the length of the fuse, which is perfect since the recomended length is 70-75%.

What do you guys think about this? I see these floats being used a lot...but all on gws models. I think my only concern would be if it had enough power to get off the water.

Let me know, thanks!!

[gotime242]

....1/2 month later.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5922/floatingcub9ne.jpg

[gotime242]

One day later...

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9718/cubwater4td.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6345/cubtree3fz.jpg

[Art Schmitz]

What happened ? Did it lift off lacking flying speed and snap to the right ? Easy to do with a little 'chop'......

[gotime242]

What happened ? Did it lift off lacking flying speed and snap to the right ? Easy to do with a little 'chop'......

Thats what happend for the pic of it in the water...

The 2nd pic was from flying into a tree. :cool:

I was flying the coastline when a gust pushed me over land and right over my head...i thought for a second "i really hope there are no trees right behind me/to the left". ...since it was the one place i wasnt looking.

Sure enough as my eyes follow it behind me "WHACK" right into like the one tree around!!! lol

Wing was torn apart and it fell to the ground. Nice new cowl destroyed...nice new prop...firewall, floats are ascew but still in tack...

Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. I shall rebuild and fly agAiN!!!

[gotime242]

...Later that day...

Note:

-The "N" number magically moved to the other side.

-New cowl (Glad i bought two, only like 3 bucks too!)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2697/cubwingfix9wl.jpg

Still need to:

-Fix firewall/motor mount.

-Get new prop.

-Re-do float struts.

[Art Schmitz]

gotime242,since you are re-doing your struts,consider spacing the floats 1/4 the wing span .
Some suggestions are:Adding spray rails on the insides of the floats from the bow to the prop will help to keep the prop speed constant and the wing seats dry.
The wings definitely need at least 1/2" wash out at the tips.Easy to do with a helper and a heat gun. Shimming the trailing edge of the wing up in 1/16" increments may help.
Try taking off with full down trim.
The steps need to be behind the c/g about a 1/4 inch.
Fixed water rudders help for a straighter take off run.
I use a very small amount of toe in on the floats for the same reason.

Nice looking plane ! Been there and done that. art

[gotime242]

gotime242,since you are re-doing your struts,consider spacing the floats 1/4 the wing span .
Some suggestions are:Adding spray rails on the insides of the floats from the bow to the prop will help to keep the prop speed constant and the wing seats dry.
The wings definitely need at least 1/2" wash out at the tips.Easy to do with a helper and a heat gun. Shimming the trailing edge of the wing up in 1/16" increments may help.
Try taking off with full down trim.
The steps need to be behind the c/g about a 1/4 inch.
Fixed water rudders help for a straighter take off run.
I use a very small amount of toe in on the floats for the same reason.



Thanks for all the help. I did want to space the floats out more but all i have is the pre-bent wires that came with the floats. I might do that in the future though.

Adding washout is definetly a good idea, and the step is just behind the cg.

Thanks for all the advice!

[gotime242]

Old-School Landing Gear Configuation is a thing of the past.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/2338/cub4x47ht.jpg