Hey check this out. A flying buddy of mine from Green Bay took the Balsa USA Northstar kit and converted it into an electric version. This plane screams. Check out the vid.

Super fast electric Northstar (2 min 24 sec)

Paul, can we get some details, please? Motor, battery, and particularly the placement of components so as to keep them watertight and yet provide airflow for cooling? Any special arrangements to keep the C/G in the right place?

She's faster than any glow Northstar I've ever seen. Awesome Paul!

Originally Posted by BobRCnut

Paul, can we get some details, please? Motor, battery, and particularly the placement of components so as to keep them watertight and yet provide airflow for cooling? Any special arrangements to keep the C/G in the right place?

Watch the video, he gives all that information. 4025 motor, 100amp ESC, 6S lipo, scoops for cooling (and not watertight, if it goes upside down water is going to get in).

On 6S not surprising it screams, mine is a 4S model and that is fine for me. I would be interested in knowing the weight of the model, though, with a 6S in place. Bet it's more than the 5.5 lbs with 4S in place that I ended up with...

Originally Posted by PaulDaniel

Hey check this out. A flying buddy of mine from Green Bay took the Balsa USA Northstar kit and converted it into an electric version. This plane screams. Check out the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ag6SpPCn8

Your friend and his buddy always had fastest glow powered North Stars at the Skymaster’s Float Fly. I am looking forward seeing his electric NS at the Skymaster Float Fly Sep. 8&9. I will be there Sept. 8 only.
Laddie.

Thanks for the update. I've been asked to recommend an E-power setup by a friend who has one built and ready for finishing. Any problems with running ESC-to-motor leads that far?

ESC to motor is not a problem at all, it's ESC to battery you want to keep as short as possible...

Hey Paul, Great meeting you at the Marshall, WI Float Fly rain and all. Just watched that video again a few posts back. WooHoo, that NS just screams!!

What size prop was being used with that power setup? Thanks

Well, as designed nothing larger than a 10" prop will fit, so unless he modified it, that will be the diameter...

Prop is a 9-6 3 blade made by apc. I bought them for a twin project but never used them so I gave them to Dave. I think they are hard to come by.

Built the glow version years ago & now will build the electric. Is there an ESC that has a heat sink that could be somehow mounted in a hole threw the top of the hull then sealed with a caulk? That way outside air would cool it very well & no need for as much cooling air in the hull. Just the alumnium part of the heatsink exposed not the electronicts for the heatsink. Sure would be effectivive at the speed he was flying, might freeze the thing LOL. I am new to electricts and do not know ESC to well to know what 100 amp one that has the heat sink where I could mount it in this way to avoid having cooling to big of vent holes in the hull. If you know of one that would work please advise.
On the motor it comes in a 5mm or 6mm shaft which should I go with? Have flown for 25 years but new to electricts so thanks in advance for any help.

Curious what size wire was used in the esc to motor wiring? I am converting one slowly, and I have #12, Currently planning on max of 50A on a 6s, so not as nuts as this, but wondering about your experiances. Do the connectors come back warm?

As far as esc cooling, You also have to think about battery heat, so going to the work of putting the esc throug the hull to maintain a cool inside may be futile. If you want though, an Ice 100 has a nice big sink, could be mounted with at least some of it through the hull into the air.

That being said, at least on my Polaris, I have a fairly big hole in the top of the canopy for air, and even though I am nowhere near the best pilot, I have yet to get water in there. If there were really big chop, it might happen, but I don't generally fly in those conditions anyway.

LUPY Thanks for the ICE 100 info. What ESC was he using to make his fast run? I don't need to fly that fast but sure like the fact I could jump off the water that fast. My thinking is if I can keep the ESC heat out and away from the battery I may need smaller holes for cooling. The Northstar seems to have the dryest run on the water of all the seaplanes I have looked at. It sprays out to the side instead of into the prop.

Originally Posted by LADDIE

Your friend and his buddy always had fastest glow powered North Stars at the Skymaster’s Float Fly. I am looking forward seeing his electric NS at the Skymaster Float Fly Sep. 8&9. I will be there Sept. 8 only.
Laddie.

Hey Laddie: Didn't see you there. Not much flying on Saturday because of the winds but my group all got up. Sunday was nice with no wind so lots of flying. Overall the pilot count was slightly down. Raffle was much, much smaller because of some deal with Michigan.