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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/1/2007 7:54 PM   
Bax


 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: dhillfolk

I was contemplating one of these till I just saw mention of a RCG member getting his who sounded really unhappy with it. He was going to do a build thread but doesn't feel it's worth it.
I'm trying to get more info from him as to specifics.

Here are further comments from RCG member----I have reason to believe he is an expirenced builder


Why is the PBY junk? Briefly this:

1. I weighed the plane parts, over 5 lbs just out of the box. With motors, batteries, etc. will total near 7 lbs. A 7 lb plane will not fly with those dinky motors they suggest.
2. The motor nacelles with the mounts are thin and will break if you look at them the wrong way.
3. The fuse may be fiberglass, but it's just the liquid hardened.
4. The plastic parts are paper thin, such as motor cowls.
5. The only way to get at the servos when completed is to cut out the blister windows, they provide an extra set for that.



Ummm....give a link, please.



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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/1/2007 8:13 PM   
MinnFlyer



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Status: offline 		Well, all I can say is...

" 1. A 7 lb plane will not fly with those dinky motors they suggest. "

They said that, "at 20lbs, the Top Flite Cessna 310 would never fly with two 46's" - yet it flies great with two 46's

" 2. The motor nacelles with the mounts are thin and will break if you look at them the wrong way."

They look ok to me

" 3. The fuse may be fiberglass, but it's just the liquid hardened."

No, it's fiberglass. If it were just the hardened resin, it wouldn't be fiberglass. It would be resin.

" 4. The plastic parts are paper thin, such as motor cowls."

Well, he was just complaining that it was too heavy, now he wants to make it heavier? Thin, lightweight parts are not unusual on small electrics.

" 5. The only way to get at the servos when completed is to cut out the blister windows, they provide an extra set for that."

Can't comment.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/1/2007 8:43 PM   
dhillfolk


 

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Status: offline 		If you read Carl Rich's build thread in RCG as mentioned, you will see the member who previously stated the planes deficiencies (IE 7LBS, etc) has, after reading Car's thread, agreed that some of his first impressions were maybe not well founded & has gotten inspiration now from Carl to complete his plane.
My respects to him for telling it like it is.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/2/2007 9:35 AM   
Carlos Murphy


 

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Status: offline 		I don't have a pool sos they gota make it BIGGER!!!

Saw a friends fly at Lake Hennesse in Napa county, the plane had 100"+ span with retractable wing tip floats. Powered by a pair of OS 91 4 strokes and she flew great. Beautiful low passes and looked just like the real thing especially while on step and of course while in the air.

Think I'm gona try to make it to Red Bluff Ca, the weekend of June 6/07/07 to 6/10/07 (Next weekend)

Today I'm starting the "build" on a Sig Sun Dancer (the big one) gota find floats for a 17 to 20 lb. plane (built) and maybe a 50cc twin.

< Message edited by Carlos Murphy -- 6/2/2007 11:21 PM >

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/2/2007 4:00 PM   
moodier



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Status: offline 		Hi;Just waiting for Tower to get more Cats and a good discount.Already used my last $30 one for the new Futaba Spread Spectrum!WOnder about the motor size they recomend that 950.Any thoughts!Thanks!

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/11/2007 6:32 AM   
d_bodary


 

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Status: offline 		FLY RC magazine has published a review on the pby catalina using the recommended motors. did'nt make it through the complete article. Maybe someone else will.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/22/2007 11:25 PM   
splinter


 

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Status: offline 		Hi Rekeng

I was wondering if you received your PBY Catalina ?

I am interested in buying one but really wanted a review before I bought one.

Bill Walter Naples Fl. ( Mr Splinter)

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/23/2007 3:17 PM   
rnkeng


 

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Status: offline 		Splinter...Yes I have mine and have had for some time, but haven't had time to build it yet. I was kind of waiting until I heard how it flew with the recommended power package, & now just can't find the time. So perhaps in few weks I can get asround to it.


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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/25/2007 5:51 PM   
HK182


 

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Status: offline 		Hey guys. Anybody using a spektrum DX6 with this bird? I'm wanting to get a new spread spectrum radio, and was wondering if the DX6 had the range for this plane. I'll probably wait a while and get a full range spread spektrum though......thanks

< Message edited by HK182 -- 6/25/2007 5:52 PM >

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/25/2007 7:09 PM   
splinter


 

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I bought GP PBY Catalina yesterday from Tower, after reading article from Carl Rich in RC GRoups (Electric Warbirds) I'm convinced plane will have enough power for what you want a plane like this to do. Let's face it no seaplane is made for 3D. The fun part here is the landing and takeoff from the water and flying a twin at the same time. I'm going to use everything suggested but I am going to try to use my Thunder Power 11.1 volt 4200 mah battery. I'm a little worried about the weight but will only find out after I build it I guess.

I should have by the middle of July and will let you know.

Mr Splinter

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 6/26/2007 2:27 AM   
TonyF


 

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Status: offline 		I'm flying my PBY with a Spektrum AR-6100, the DSM2 parkflyer receiver. I've had no problems, so I believe an AR-6000 with a DX-6 would work fine.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 7/17/2007 4:31 AM   
Cobra II


 

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Status: offline 		Are the cooling vents for the motors sufficient? This looks like a marginal setup at best. I am thinking about drilling holes between the fake cylinder heads on the cowl to get more air. Also would like a recommendation on keeping the esc's cool due to the lack of ventilation in the fuse.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 7/17/2007 5:18 AM   
Carlos Murphy


 

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I use a Dremel with a tapered stone for making holes in plastic and fiberglass parts, clean and neat.

Then I run the tip of a felt marker (black) around the inside edge of the hole to make it not so obvious.

Has anyone flown one of these yet? Is the factory power sufficient?

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 7/18/2007 12:30 AM   
Cobra II


 

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Status: offline 		Here is a link with comments and video. Hope to have mine in the air next Monday.
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18501&page=2


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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 7/18/2007 2:56 AM   
Carlos Murphy


 

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Thanx C-2,
Looks good.
C.M.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/6/2007 5:00 PM   
CFII_Jim


 

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Status: offline 		Guys,

Good stuff at the wattflyer link. I got my pby in the air about a week ago and it flys pretty good. I agree with the comment about the watter rudder and have a few other comments.

I have been flying my HZ SuperCub on gws floats and the really neat thing about that is the ALL foam design. With the PBY I have about 8 or 10 landings and the last one (my fault) I aborted a takeoff because the left tip float was dragging really bad as it came out of the water and turning left hard. I chopped the power and went in sideways. The aircraft started a very flat cartwheel and broke off one tip float, then flipped on its back. I was far enough out that I could not retrieve with the fishing poll very quick and that caused the covering to loosen so now I have a moderate repair job. Not really too much damage and should be an easy repair but I hate building and repairing is just as bad.

I think I will try using a little smaller battery setup to try and reduce the weight a bit. I am using the 950 rimfire motors which I think are plenty. All flight so far have been with TWO 1500mAh 20C 11.1 battery packs and I may try two 1250 10C packs. I fly slow and like the long takeoff runs (as long as I can keep it straight). I think my current weight is about 4 pounds with the two battery setup. (I should probably go to a single battery!)

I had a lot of trouble with water getting into one tip float so make sure to seal those up good (that is what got me on the aborted takeoff).

My very first flights went perfect because nothing was out of balance yet!

I also got a lot of water into the fuse, I think it comes in under the wing into the saddle. I taped over the hatch and then over the top of the wing and around the leading edge and still seemed to get in somewhere...

If I can get this thing repaired and solved the leaks and lighten it up a bit and move the CG aft just a hair to help with water taxi I think I will really like it.

I just have to say one more time how nice the super cub is- I have tipped it over trying to taxi downwind and the plane sits on the wingtips and you can even get the nose out of the water by pushing the tail down with down elevator as it is laying on it's back. Once it drifts back to shore I just shake the water off and toss it back in and go some more!

I love flying off the water and electric makes it even more fun!

Jim

< Message edited by CFII_Jim -- 8/6/2007 5:02 PM >

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/6/2007 10:44 PM   
splinter


 

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Status: offline 		Hi Guys

Well after 3 days ( approx 10 hours) I am finished w/ my PBY Catalina I'm using a ThunderPower 4200 mah 11.1 volt which a few said was going to make it tail heavy. It balances right on at the furtherest back on the battery plate toward the speed controllers.( Battery weighs 9.95 oz.) I will get about a 20 minute flight.

As stated in other forums I am using the 950 KV motors and have used 4:40 "T" nuts on the wings section to hold the braces on. I wanted to able to take wing on and off easily.

My first flight will be off wet grass ( a liitle PAM on the bottom) I have NOT installed the wing tip floats yet and will do so after my first flight.

Happy Flying

Splinter ( Bill)

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/7/2007 8:45 PM   
splinter


 

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Status: offline 		Hi Guys

First flight with my PBY Catalina. I flew first flight off grass with the help of a little PAM. It flys like a trainer. I did have a little trouble with the hatch. The clearance is so tight on the left side less than 1/8"( SEE PICTURES) The prop hit the hatch on landing even though I used a safety line (fishing wire) and I put a piece of styrofoam on the back for my first water flight. (SEE PICTURES) I guess I will have too tape the hatch on like others have done.

Also see pics for the way I attached the wing to the struts I used cap screws so I can remove them easier.

Happy Flying

Mr Splinter
Attached Thumbnails

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/8/2007 2:47 AM   
jeffterrie2


 

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Status: offline 		HELP want to find Hu-16 Albatross electric 50- 55 inch wing

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/8/2007 5:44 AM   
Cobra II


 

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Status: offline 		Maiden voyage at last! Recommended motors worked great. Needed two oz lead in the nose with a 2100 lipo shoved all of the way forward. A little vasaline smeared around the lip of the canopy hatch cut down a lot on the water in the fuse on the second flight. I am going to build a wing gasket as there is a gap at the front between the wing and pylon.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/14/2007 5:05 AM   
Cobra II


 

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Status: offline 		More vasaline... I smeared vasaline around the observation canopies, the rear pushrod exits, the wing saddle and the hatch area. Cleanup with a soft cloth and you don't know it's there. Zero water on three flights. I also put waterproof boat trailer wheel bearing grease in the rudder bushing before I installed the rudder.
Gotta love those slow fly bys

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 8/15/2007 3:37 AM   
duke



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quote:

ORIGINAL: MinnFlyer


quote:

ORIGINAL: KiwiKid

I would like to see a full review and flight (and water handling) vid before investing though.

Ask and Ye shall receive.

I have one on its way for an RCU Magazine Review

that's so fkn cool, nice to see interest pulls reviews.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 9/3/2007 7:27 PM   
MCLIATT


 

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Status: offline 		I maiden voyaged my PBY a couple of weeks ago at our clubs float fly. I had my test pilot make the first flight. I was able to obtain the correct CG with battery movement. Instead if glueing the engine narcilles and spotter canopies I used silver, black and white 3-M 1/4" pin stripping tape. I used the seaming iron to smooth out the bulges and it worked perfectly. On the maiden voyage it rose perfectly out of the water unlike my GP Seawind which porpoises frequently. Very little trim was needed and it flew perfectly. Everyone at the meet was impressed. Upon landing it bounced three times and after the third bounce it stalled and nosed over. I lost one speed controller and the wings warped. I have since repaired and am ready to try again. Any sugestions on waterproofine a speed controller. I race radio control boats and put the recievers in balloons. This may not work with the speed controller due to all leads have to come out of one hole(too short leade, heat and possible interference). My suggestion if you dunk this model immediatly cut throttle, remove the battery an soon as possible, dry out as much as possible and store the wings on a flat surface with weight so they don't warp. I learned that for $135.00.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 9/4/2007 12:41 AM   
daveosoar


 

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Go to Puffin Models in the UK. They have a fine model which I have used off water and, a plus for me, will slope soar!!
Daveosoar.

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RE: PBY Catalina ARF by Great Planes - 9/8/2007 5:11 AM   
Cobra II


 

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Try a product called Corrisonex. It's a spray on water resistant spray. One of my first landings was a bouncer, not pretty, but no damage. My landing technique now for the PBY is to trim it out for a good glide and add a little power at the flare. I don't do a full stall landing, just level out a couple feet up and fly it onto the water at slightly more than stall speed.


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