Your next float plane

[sparks]

Here it is ,your next float plane. The PBM
8 foot span and can be broken down and carried in an SUV. She weighs 12 pounds and flies at half throttle with a pair of .45's. I'm doing a construction article for Model Airplane News and will be turning it in soon. The model in the article will have .52 four strokes in it and windows as well as turrets. I've contacted several companies that have agreed to cut short kits. The model is made of foam, balsa and fiberglass. The model here has 47 flights on it. ( it was a busy summer ) It flew so well I just had to put it on paper. It would have been a crime to keep the design to my self.

[Da Flying Man]

spectacular plane sparks!! real good! u should put in as an option working cargo hatches etc!! great plane once again

[Paul Penney]

now imagine two purples in that or astro 40's!

Paul

[Viper Pilot]

. . . . . . and about a 40-cell pack!!!

VP

[sparks]

If I would have went electric it would have 4 motors and be a Martin Mars. Something like the C-130 I did last year. 4 speed 400's geared 4 to 1 with four bladed veri props it was easy to "dial" it in. I'm using two 50 amp speed controllers and 40 NMH cells. .....Flight time.....7 to 8 min.

[Rudderman98]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sparks
[B]If I would have went electric it would have 4 motors and be a Martin Mars.


You mean like this?;)
I'm working on this one right now. Powered by four Mag Mayhems and MAS 3.5:1 gearboxes on 18 cells. Who needs 40 cells?

Your PBM is a beaut! Too bad it's not electric. Let me know when the "short" kits are available and I'll do one up in "E" power. :)
Perry

[temacc]

Dang, Perry,

Paul said not to say anything about the mars, because...

Anyway...tell us more details!

And, sparks:

If Texas wasn't so far away, I would bribe and cajol you into parting with that beautiful C-130. Did you know one was once paper-designed for float use?

H2OFLY (Terry)

[Rudderman98]

Originally posted by Terry
Dang, Perry,

Paul said not to say anything about the mars, because...

Anyway...tell us more details!

And, sparks:

If Texas wasn't so far away, I would bribe and cajol you into parting with that beautiful C-130. Did you know one was once paper-designed for float use?

H2OFLY (Terry)



OOPS! :rolleyes:

Somehow I knew you'd chime in Terry ;) No more details until further notice. :p
Perry

[sparks]

That is a fantastic mars. I'll bet the people at float flys all come in and land to see it fly while you are getting ready.
Sorry it took so long to reply. I was putting the finishing touches on the PBM article. Here is a shot of the plane that will be in the article.

[temacc]

DANG, Sparks,

You sure do build Pretty! I'm envious!

Terry

[sparks]

Thanks Terry. This one took twice as long to build due to the vacuform tooling,doing the drawing, and article on the side. I don't know when the article will come out but they are going over the package now.

[Rudderman98]

Sparks,
She's sure a beaut! I think an "E" version of this will be in order sometime in the future.

Waddaya think Terry? I know you'll chime in :D You're probably hiding in the shadows right now aren't you??
:p
Perry

[King Kong]

OOOO
That's nice. I need an E version. Please:D

[temacc]

Perry,

The PBM as an electric...doooable! But - out there on the edge! That wing is relatively small (for me) and so, like the Canadair, I would want flaps so I could land it at something slower than Warp 5.

I built a Pica Cessna 182 many years ago, and - like all Pica kits - it was Heavy, even as a 'slimer.' No flaps on the first one; took 1/4 mile to bleed off speed and land on grass. Never wanted to try landing on a paved runway!

The Canadair I built in 1980-84 was/is heavy, too...78 inch span, and 12 pounds (that's with 2, OS .32's). Landing it without flaps on a pond is like skipping a rock over a pond! But with full flaps (about 80 degrees of flap) I have to dial up 4 clicks of throttle, to keep it from dropping like a rock. But in this configuration, I can slow it to a virtual walk, still have solid control, and drag it in for perfect landings. The electric Canadair Must have flaps, too :D

Terry

[Kuni]

Hi,
any update about the PBM? I am highly interested, but don´t like to build with foam. I also can´t cut foam :(
Is there anybody with a plan for a wooden PBM?

Kuni

[sparks]

For those interested in a built-up version of the PBM 5A Ed Zemaitis did the design and that's all I know about the plane contact him at. ejzemaitis@peoplepc.com

[sparks]

For those interested in a built-up version of the PBM 5A Ed Zemaitis did the design and that's all I know about the plane contact him at. ejzemaitis@peoplepc.com

Since I'm here, I did a book on "Building with foam"
Foam building is faster than you might think and cheaper too.
The book describes all you would need to know to get started.
If you want to know more go to
parkflyerplastics.com
The PBM airframe weighs 11 pounds. I don't think it can be done in wood, this size and be lighter.

[arrow5]

Hi Sparks, Any chance your book will be available in UK or could you do one mail order ( if that is not breaking Forum rules ). Any thoughts on doing a recent (post WWII) Russian flying boats, some nice colour schemes on them.

[sparks]

I have sent several books to the UK. As it turns out, making models with foam is rather popular there.
I only wish I could find a dealer in the UK to help distribute them. This would make them more affordable. Sending them "over the pond" one at a time is not very efficient. The postage is in the neighborhood of $12.

[arrow5]

Whew Sparks, I`ve looked up your site and my birthday is in March..so just time to start dropping hints around the family :rolleyes: Thanks for rapid reply. About the Russian `boats have a look at the pics for some of the more recent designs including jets suitable for EDF on www.beriev.com

[TLyttle]

Interesting that this thread is dealing with 'boats, instead of guys hanging floats on an Ugly Stik or something; I like it!

I scratchbuilt a biplane 'boat, using the Sea Otter as a rough(!) guide; so far off scale that I call it the She Oughter (fly). I'll run pics soon...

And I'm still beating the neighbourhood for a GWS Islander so that I can do that conversion mentioned earlier this year, that's gotta be my next flying boat! Meantime, I'll just dream about BV Wikings, and S5s, and Walrus, and....

[arrow5]

Yes I agree. There is something majestic about a flying-boat. Plenty of designs out there that havent been attempted,ancient and modern. Hope you can post your near-enough-scale Otter. Was the Islander conversion a Ross by any chance ?

[TLyttle]

I don't remember now who did the conversion; gonna look for it now, maybe in the GWS forum. He just whacked off the bottom of the fuse and built a foam hull replacement (!). I have a number of small lakes in my area, some of them wading-depth, so I tend to build smaller boats. Having lived on the BC Coast most of my life, there were always lots of 'boats out there, from Mallards to CL215s to Mars to Stranraers to Dash 8s on floats (along with anything with enough power to hang floats on!), and all the stops in between. BC has ~8,000 miles of coastline, so the only quick transport was floats or 'boats. I used to take them for granted...

[arrow5]

The reason I asked about the Islander conversion was that I had a flight in the full-size Teal of the guy behind the project,Kenn Heeley. There was a model built of the conversion with I think two .60 glo engines. He had recruited famed designer David Thurston to add a "slipper" section to the hulls of refurbished Islanders. The engines were raised above the wing otherwise it was a pretty staightforward conversion.There was even talk of Britten-Norman going into production again if the supply of second-hand Islanders dried-up. They were to be built in north of Scotland in the county of Ross and Cromarty hence the name Ross.The project withered, funding being the main problem I believe. Picture of the model appeared on the web somewhere......... Much later, sorry but this is the only picture I could find.

[TLyttle]

Ha. Now I have to redouble efforts to get an Islander, as information like this is always the reason for me to build a model. If there is a history behind the model or the full-size aircraft, then I am really interested.

Thanks for the background!

[arrow5]

Hello again TL, You can find more on the Ross project on an old site that I found on a Google search. The picture of the .60 model cant be sent for some reason, I`m a computer duffer, sorry! Hope it is of use. I typed in kenn heeley ross islander and up came on old site .

[TLyttle]

Thanks, I'll check that out...

Meanwhile, here is my little lakeplow. This is the one previously mentioned; 24" span, 300-power, not quite finished yet (no tip floats, etc). I haven't finalised the engine nacelle yet just in cse it needs a 400 in there (likely).

[arrow5]

Thanks for pics , look great. Lets see it flying or on the water next time.

[TLyttle]

I'll try, once the ice and snow disappear, and the lakes are less solid! Canada, you know...

[arrow5]

Yep I know , I`m at 57o N myself, thank goodness for the Gulf Stream. I think you could get plans for that wee thing published.

[TLyttle]

Kind comment Arrow5, I'll look at that. Boddington should be able to get a pullout plan of it in there without difficulty.

Once I get it to fly!

[arrow5]

Ooh, Boddo and ,as he or, someone would say, "E******c! oh dear, pass the Brandy" ! He`ll have to deiselize it.

[TLyttle]

Hey, I ain't sure that ain't a bad idea! I have a couple of those lovely PAW55s, one of THOSE will drag it out of the water, alright.

I guess my problem is that I am a confirmed diesel freak trying to get into the civilised world of electrics. They say once you learn to ride a bike that you never forget; just don't (at my age) try to ride a unicycle...

[sparks]

For those interested in a built-up version of the PBM 5A Ed Zemaitis did the design and that's all I know about the plane contact him at. ejzemaitis@peoplepc.com

[section 08]

Here it is ,your next float plane. The PBM
8 foot span and can be broken down and carried in an SUV. She weighs 12 pounds and flies at half throttle with a pair of .45's. I'm doing a construction article for Model Airplane News and will be turning it in soon. The model in the article will have .52 four strokes in it and windows as well as turrets. I've contacted several companies that have agreed to cut short kits. The model is made of foam, balsa and fiberglass. The model here has 47 flights on it. ( it was a busy summer ) It flew so well I just had to put it on paper. It would have been a crime to keep the design to my self.

That is one amazing water-plane
you should enter in the 2005 Georgetown Lake Lodge Float Plane Classic
(90 miles South of Missoula Montana)
dates are Fri. September 02-Sun-04
www.georgetownlakelodge.com
email - section8bozeman@yahoo.com

Nice Job!!

[sparks]

There is another thread running on the electric version here.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278766&goto=newpost