teemto

In the last few days I've finished and succesfully flown my Catalina (discontinued Kyosho ARF, ~70" wingspan, 2x Magnum XL15A).

Catalina was my dream since I've returned to building models four years ago. But after crashing my first trainer (bought it, assembled, went to fly, thought - it's piece of cake - hours on the PC with Rougue Squadron and other games - I'm the best!!! Crashed into hundred pieces after 10 seconds) I realized, that the way is long... Went with patience through styro electrics, sailplane, glow trainers, two small electro seaplanes, and now after four years my Catalina with two glow engines flies safely !!!

This beautiful plane always keeps attention wherever appears - even at sunday morning 7AM at the lake !!!

Here there is a short [link=http://www.organy.com.pl/modele/catalina_teaser.wmv]"teaser trailer"[/link]. The video comes soon - some shots are in my buddy's camera.

teemto

OK - the new video:

[link=http://www.organy.com.pl/modele/catalina3_low.wmv]Catalina3_low[/link] (2min38s, 9.6MB, WMV9)

The above clip contains mostly scenes from the maiden flight, so flight it's not rock stable due to some necessary "in flight" trimming and generally getting familiar with the new plane.

By the way - I feel better and more safe when trying a new plane over the water than on the ground (of course with seaplanes ). I have wheels for my Catalina, but first couple of flights I'm still doing on the lake [sm=drowning.gif]. How about You ?

highroller-delete

Nice flight !

I really enjoy the PBYs Catalinas. I finished building one a year ago from RCM magazine plans but have still not flown it. I fly my r/c helicopter most of the time but I decided to begin a new project of an electric PBY Catalina of 83" span powered by 2 Speed 400 motors. I ordered the plans from Ivan Pettigrew at http://www.geocities.com/ivansplans/

Dominic

http://pages.videotron.com/heliweb/

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

I like that lonnnnnnnng scale like take off...!!!

teemto

highroller

IMHO Speed 400 for over 2 meter plane is a bit weak... I remember my Multiplex Twinstar with 1.42m wingspan, 1500g all up weight, and two 400s - flew like a cow. Lazy cow . It was very good for flight practice, but not for regular flying.
Maybe consider something brushless - the motor has to swing a 9x5 or 10x5 prop with this scale

nony

Scale like takeoff is the thing Catalina is born to !! The fact is, that the real Catalinas were underpowered, and had trouble with takeoffs especially with calm water and wind conditions.
By the way - a bit ago when I practiced takeoffs and landings with a plain trainer I obtained a quite heavy trainer .40 class, 63" wingspan and put smaller .28 engine. Nedded at least 150 feet to takeoff on asphalt . But the landings and takeoff's were like with real plane - not those 3D Fun-Fly's having 5 feet takeoffs, hanging on props and generally doing things that the real planes don't do.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Very, very nice!! [sm=thumbup.gif]

highroller-delete

teemto,

You're pretty right, the real Catalina seem underpowered and a 2 meter model powered with 400s motors will indeed, flight slowly, pretty much like the real thing. See this great info about multi-engine electrics : http://www.geocities.com/ivansplans/Multiengines.htm

The Kyosho Catalina equipped with .15 seem to fly really fast, maybe .10 should be enough. The RCM Modeler Catalina (63-inch wingspan and 80 oz weight) was designed for two .10 engines.

I put .15 in mine but I should have used .10, I think we all have this tendency to overpower our airplanes.

teemto

highroller,

Ivan is right - the scale speed is easier to achieve with light model and there is less power necessary in such case, but there is always a dark side too: when flying in a real world you mostly fly with wind - lighter or stronger - but you have to handle it. With models with wing loading like Ivan's I wish you good luck!!! Flying IS possible, but not really relaxing, and definitely it looks not very scale when light plane is shaked desperately with the winds.

And with the engines for my Kyosho - I had problems with first takeoffs (first attempts failed and we returned home to make some modifications), but soon it appeared, that it wasn't due to the power. Now after couple of flights I see, that .10 also would do.
The only advantage of larger engines is, that You can put larger, more scale looking props, and You can fly with half power, lower rpm-s which again looks, and after all sounds more scale.

48chebbie

My Feedback: (58)

well then,i may be over-powering my catalina,i am putting 2 magnum .30 4-strokes on mine. how does this plane fly? any weird or bad tendencies?

teemto

I don't think so. With four strokes You can use larger three bladed props - very scale looking And that sound of two four strokes !!!
Just keep eye on the weight - Kyosho kit is quite heavy itself. Two Magnums .30 FS make 7 - 8 ounces more that my Mags .15... I didn't make any major modifications to lighten the model except to replace four standard servos in the wing with mini sized (GWS Park HPX).

LaxLife72

My Feedback: (108)

I've just converted my Kyosho Catalina to electric. This seems like the most specific forum so I'm posting here.
here is my setup:
2, Axi 2812-10 motors
APC 8x7 e props
2, Jeti 77 Opto Advance plus ESC's
2, TP4200mAh 3s (11.1v) lipo bricks
ready to fly weight: 7.0 lbs
Its a beautiful airframe. Its pretty realistic but the wing is a little short compared to scale. Scale detailing is 6 foot scale at best but that's fine with me. I'm ready to maiden but hurricane eneresto will frustrate us this weekend. stay tuned.

WhoDaMan

My Feedback: (164)

Hi Guy's a little pricey,,,, but good to know its there



http://www.airworld-usa.com/catalina.htm

shv2sail

My Feedback: (42)

Laxlife- have you maidened your PBY yet? I'm working on the same conversion and I'm interested how your power system worked out. Do you know the RTF weight and total watts?

thanks-

shv2sail

LaxLife72

My Feedback: (108)

No we haven't maidened the Kyosho Pby yet. Our choice of seaplane flying "fields" is limited here in DC.
As stated the All Up Weight, ready to fly is 7.0 lbs.
I am playing with props but I think I'll get 100 watts per pound from these motors/batts/props and that should be enough.

jaka

Hi!
Using .30 fourstrokes certainly will overpower the Kyosho Catalina.
2,5cc (.15) OS LA engines is the perfect choice as they provide ample power and are very reliable and throttle very good. I fly mine with APC 8x5 props (scale size) and it cruises along nicely at under half throttle.
.30 fourstrokes are perfect in little larger twins like the Marutaka or Top-Flite DC-3...but not in the Kyosho PBY Catalina.(I got OS .26 fourstrokes in my Marutaka DC-3)

Regards!
Jan K

teemto

And the wing in Kyosho kit has raised up wingtips. I was thinking to make new wingtips (I didn't glue them permanent) and make them straight like original and maybe a little longer...

LaxLife72

My Feedback: (108)

We flew the Kyosho Pby Catalina last week on our vacation.
Here is a video:

http://media.putfile.com/Kyosho-Pby-...ne-RC-Electric

Setup was modified to have both motors (see above) drawing on one TP 4200 mAh 3s lipo. That lowered the weight and it flew off the water better. Water is sticky and it takes a ton of power to get a seaplane into the air. Once airborne, the Kyosho flew fast, very fast. For a 5 minute flight we used 2400 mAh and ended with an 11.5 pack voltage before the recharge. Props were 9x6 APC e props. This gives only about 1/8" clearance with the fuselage but it was enough. Three bladed props may help but would drain one pack very quickly. I don't see 2-3 minute flights as much fun.

moodier

My Feedback: (1)

Hi;Anyone see one of these for sale anywhere?Like the GP one but cost of electric gear is prohibitive for it!Have plenty of gas equipment!I assume the GP one would be little lite to convert to gas?The Kyhoso one is designed for gas!Thanks!!

chaoschild

Hi I recently bought a kyosho PBY from a small time hobby shop I was stupid opened the box up and set it on the side to work on other things now that i'm back to trying to work on her i find most the peices seem to up and walked away and half the tail is broken off right where the slot for the tail wing assembly goes. does anyone know how I can fix this plane or where I can get parts for the plane. thxs

siddus74

Hi guys, I have just purchased an airframe of the Kyosho Cat has any body got a pdf instruction manual or can anyone tell me what the control surface movements and CG are?

Siddus74

LaxLife72

My Feedback: (108)

I've got one and I'll check on both the control specs and getting a pdf made. Its a busy time for me so be patient and certainly don't be afraid to remind me that I made this commitment to you. I've got some video on putfile of my PBY maiden. I'll see if I can find you a link to that as well. Mine is electric and flew well once we figured out how to "pop" off the water.

siddus74

Lax,

That would be magic . . . no rush, model is not with me as yet . . .

Scott.

Jack.m44

Hello I have a Kyosho PBY like yours. I have tried to it fly twice and crashed both times. I was wondering if you had any advice. On take off as it leaves the water it rolls to the right and crashes. I'm not sure if I'm pulling up to soon. I have never flown off the water before, also have never flown twins before. Im running 3 bladded props and before I can get the plane to step up on plane it is cutting the water and I'm afraid it will kill one of the engines. Someone told me that I need to have one engine turning right and one turning left this true. I have 1* of right thrust in both engines should I lose that 1 degree? Any help would be great. Love the plane afraid to fly it. Thanks

moodier

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Jack:no expert on PBYs but would not use rt.thrust on both engines would go for out thrust on each not both same way?Keep it on water till it wants to take off horsing it into air is sure tip stall as you have found out!!Have been told by a fellow who flys one quite a little that they really need 25s but people put 15s in and they make a fine boat!Look on the seaplane section there are a couple of fellows who realy know these things and try to contact one of them for advice!Just doing the GP electric one will use CR props on it but is easy on electric!Every thing I see here claims not a big asset,had a dualist with them flew beautiflly but I understand they fly nice without them to!Good Luck!!

Avaiojet

For you PBY guys:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%26start%3D500