First Snow Fall, has a plus side.

[murankar]

Today North East Ohio (Greater Cleveland Area, East Side) has received its first snow fall of the season. Its a wet heavy snow that's ices up as you compress it. The advantage is it can cushion a crash if need be. I am thinking of ordering the servos soon also everything is almost on the up and up.

[Derek]

That's a lot more snow than what we have gotten. We've gotten a few flurries but not even a dusting yet. I'm a plane and heli guy...I'm not ready for this snow yet. Perhaps it's time to start shopping for a pair of rc trucks for the wife and I.

[murankar]

Or maybe some snow skidders. Just make sure you min wax your foam board before introducing it the snow.

[Tony]

Wow, that's a lot of snow.... Good ideas there on another vehicle to use in the winter.... Hmmmm...what can I get...lol

[ken jackson]

Was that lake effect snow off Lake Erie?

I was born in Columbus and travel to Cedar Point and Put In Bay every summer.

Born a buckeye always a buckeye, LOL.

[danhampson]

Nice pic Uri. I've got plans for some ski's for my edge, I'm unsure of what material to use, whether to make them out of some strip pine or some abs plastic. But that's a whole other thread.

[murankar]

I believe it to be lake effect. The inner belt of Cleveland has not seen much snow. Most of the accumulation is in the snow belt. I live in Mentor (30 miles east of Cleveland). My wife has been on the road since 1530 and she is coming in from Shaker Heights. She has been on the RT 615 (center street) exit for about 40 minutes. That exit is 5 minutes from my house.

[murankar]

Someone on rch had made a snow skidder out of foam I think. It was setup like a plane. You could clear coat balsa planks to make some sleds from.

[ken jackson]

Seemed like the problem with the snow skidder was the density of the snow and the craft being too light or too heavy depending on the snow...

[KevG]

Yeah that's defo a good dusting there uri,

[Tony]

What about just using floats, I think nightrider had some on one of his helis, they looked cool...

[murankar]

Knightfkyer used them on his helis. They were for visual only since his eye sight is really bad. As for pontoons for a skidder, I dont think they would work well. Without having the fronts upturned a little they may dig into the snow.

As for a skidder type craft I think going with a fan boat design would be more ideal but you create more drag due to more surface area in contact with the ground. I think with the snow I have now (wet and dense, almost ice) it might be more ideal for a skidder. Powder snow may not work as well since its mostly air and not compact enough. This could cause a pile up in the front of the craft regardless of design. If the snow is wet and dense the pontoon route could work as long as the fronts of the pontoons dont dig into the snow.

[Tony]

Yeah nightflyyer that's him... We might never get snow here, but I'll find some solution if we do...lol

[Lee]

Hovercraft, that'll do it.
I have wanted to make one for ages.

[Tony]

I did think of a hovercraft a while ago when I realised I can't do this heli flying...lol... But is there an HC that's not a toy out there?

[Lee]

Not that i Know of.
I was thinking to scratch build it.

[KevG]

Wolfman started one didn't he

[Tony]

That's right yeah, I wonder how he is progressing.. I'll skype him!

[Marius]

No snow here yet.

[Tony]

I've been in touch with Kyle about the hovercraft, he's going to do a build thread when the forum is up and running. He's a bit busy at moment with work etc..