Gerald's Scratch build Float plane " SPLASH"

[Vipertech13]

My flying club has float fly event scheduled for 3 weeks from today so I have been working on a scratch built float or sea plane which ever way you want to name it. I am using my normal boxy fuselage 30" long with a KFM 3 wing 40" wingspan and 7" cord with about maybe 4 deg. dihedral. Power plant is a Turnigy D2836/9 950Kv on 2200 Mah 3s battery, swinging a 11x6 Master airscrew prop. Setup pulls 21.3 amps and 240 watts @ full throttle. I am making the floats out of insulation foam board and will be covering them with tape to waterproof them. So here are a few pictures of the progress.

I start with the basic float idea

Basic floats

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I made the supports from aluminum carpet edging I had from a house project

Supports for the floats

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Here is the fuselage in it's final shape before covering and test fitting it on the floats

Fuselage test fit

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Now the rudder and elevator

Rudder and elevator test fit

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Here is the wing almost finished, still need to add servos. The chrome strip on the wing is actually a kevlar fabric we use at work to protect wire harnesses from heat sources it is adhesive backed and I had some left over from a job, in fact, enough to add a strip on the bottom of the wing and it really stiffened it up.

wing and fuse test fitting

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I am working out the final CG location as I need to know it to properly position the floats, once all that is worked out i will be carving the floats down to the needed shape and we'll see what happens!

Final test for float placement

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I accidentally made the perfect location for the Rx under the wing! I like it when stuff works out like this, it almost looks like I know what I'm doing

Rx location

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And a few more pictures

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The way it's been raining around here this year This might be my most practical plane!

[Derek]

That's really fantastic, Gerald! Looks awesome!

[Graham Lawrie]

Looking good Gerald:)

[Lee]

Nice job Gerald.

[cml001]

I likie!

[Vipertech13]

I have the final shape of the floats carved out and the wood laid into the foam. I did a test assembly and Cg check and all is well now just need to cover the floats and come up with a water rudder system. Also need to get the aileron servos installed.

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[Derek]

WOW! That really looks great!!!

[Vipertech13]

Holy cow! The float fly is Saturday and I still don't have this bird ready!
I have the floats covered now and made a water rudder .

covered floats

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rudder

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I filled the tub and set her in!
IT FLOATS!

sitting in the tub

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The rulers and hot glue stick represent the wing weight and it has the 2200 3s battery setting in it, all up weight 2.25lbs, I am totally pumped at how it sets in the water, looks exactly right. The rear of the floats are just in the water and the front of the floats are just above.

water rudder

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Man it looks cool! I hope it flies well!

setting

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Just some work to do on the ailerons and some sealing to do and I am ready for the lake!

[Derek]

Gerald...that really really looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing some flight video of this plane!

[DOG]

Excellent job you have done there Gerald . I wish you good luck on your first flight. Hope everything goes well and if you can, a video will be nice to see this bird in action.

[cml001]

I wanna see it take off & land!

[Vipertech13]

I found a transporter to match my float plane!
AND it matches colors!

plane transporter

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[Graham Lawrie]

Very Very nice:)

[Vipertech13]

Well sorry to report that my video camera failed, I got no footage at all! Had trouble from the start, Crazy windy steady 10 mph and 18 mph gusts, the plane was too far forward on the floats and it plowed in on the first attempt flipping it over in the water, I was able to move the plane back an inch and had to add 1/2 oz of weight to the rear and I tried it again was able to taxi and got up on plane and took off, the plane flew very well for as windy as it was, the ride was very bumpy you would be flying straight and level and the wind would knock you almost upside down, I did have to add some up elevator and managed several passes and 1 touch and go but the wind proved to be too much at the far end of the lake I was turning back to come in for a landing and the wind knocked me Over. I will say it was tough on everybody flying, of the 10 pilots who were brave enough to go up 4 went into the drink!
One guy was recording some of the action and just panned over to see the rescue boats recover a plane and I took a still image from his video and it sums up my float fly day.

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[Graham Lawrie]

Unlucky Gerald,:) next time:)

[cml001]

Try again!

[Vipertech13]

Here it is in flight!
https://youtu.be/lbDAyVQITgI

[Vipertech13]

This is my best landing of any plane I have flown and I just cracked up laughing!

https://youtu.be/WyWJBcTzaHs

[Derek]

It sure does make ya feel good when you can land em like that. Well done buddy!

[cml001]

Nice!