RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes...

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes...
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Foamies! - RC Electric Foam Aircraft >> RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... Page: << < prev 1 2 3 4 5 [6]

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 6/27/2008 3:21:57 AM

lthibault

Posts: 358
Joined: 1/9/2005
From: Gatineau, QC, CANADA
Status: offline

Back from the Marina to report on maiden...total success!!!

This one is a winner! Once you get the hang of it, the Seawind is a very agile and smooth flying model. Just make sure you start with a small throw and expo on the ailerons, they don't need much to be effective. Waterproof the electronics, seal the wing area and you'll have a model that will give you hours of fun.

_____________________________

Luc

(in reply to jmupilot)

Post #: 126

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 7/5/2008 9:47:19 PM

RoyR

Posts: 153
Joined: 11/28/2006
From: Nederland, TX, USA
Status: offline

I just flew my new Seawind EP today. I have had three good flights on it, all from grass at this point.
It flies well and does some good basic aerobatics.
Just for the heck of it I wanted to see what it would do with a knife edge. That is when I noticed in flight the rudder has little effect, and it seems to have opposite effect. I mean, from level flight, when I put in right rudder the plane yaws slightly to the left.
I have plenty of throw and the servo is strong enough. The rudder is very effective scooting along the grass before take off, but when it's up to speed it may as well not be there.
I don't know if it is standard, but there is almost a quarter inch gap between the rudder and vertical stabilizer. It seems to require being mounted like that to keep the water rudder from touching the fuselage.
I am going to try putting tape over the gap before the next flight to see if that has any effect.

Do all the Seawinds have a large gap on the rudder?
Has anyone else had the problem of the rudder not being effective in flight?

(in reply to drdoom)

Post #: 127

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 7/10/2008 5:54:34 PM

Bob93447

Posts: 54
Joined: 9/4/2004
From: Playa del Rey, CA, USA
Status: offline

What is the consensus regarding the best cg for water takeoffs? Does moving it back a little seem to help? I'm stuck with a weak battery for the next few days and mine just doesn't want to lift off. Anyone find a prop better than the 8x6 that GP supplies?

(in reply to RoyR)

Post #: 128

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 7/10/2008 6:03:25 PM

jbarnes

Posts: 510
Joined: 1/13/2006
From: Mead, CO, USA
Status: offline

For water takeoff and landing being nose heavy is not ideal. I have a standard setup (prop, esc etc.) and when I use my 2100 battery (which makes it nose heavy) it doesn't takeoff and land as nice as it does with a 1500 battery. I also notice that I need several clicks of up elevator to maintain level flight when using the 2100 as compared to the 1500. I added a nylon bolt to the front hatch to keep the hatch from seperating on those occasional splash downs during landing.

_____________________________

Longmont Aircraft Modelers Association
Longmont, CO visit our site at www.lamarcclub.com

(in reply to Bob93447)

Post #: 129

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 7/19/2008 7:03:22 AM

Dave ESPI

Posts: 1602
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Latham, NY, USA
Status: offline

My Buddy Kris loves the seawind, but has never flown it. I was debating gettign him one, but I don't think he would fly it for fear of crashing. I let him borrow my RealFlight for a while, but I don't think he flew much.

quote:

ORIGINAL: The_Mongrel

Looks great!

A little off topic, but if anyone is looking for another sea plane, I just maidened a Catalina - Vid of land and then water testing here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2p5Z3nJNEM

Cheers
-J

haha I love my GUANLI catalina

that Islip character PM'd me a while ago and asked if I thoguth it was good. I said yes. He is like 13, and has never built a plane.

I told um to mail me it, I'd build it for him. LOL.

< Message edited by Dave ESPI -- 7/19/2008 7:04:56 AM >

_____________________________

HIROBO SRB QUARK = Heli of the year. Seriously; if you hate always fixing your helicopters, you will LOVE this one !

(in reply to The_Mongrel)

Post #: 130

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 7/29/2008 3:17:56 AM

Calmo2

Posts: 65
Joined: 9/7/2002
From: Fernie, BC, CANADA
Status: offline

Hi guys; I just got mine last week and am going to put it together this week. I didn't buy the rimfire motor, I bought a TURNIGY 2830, 1050KV from Hobbycity in Japan for $19.27. It had good reviews and it can turn up to a 10-6 prop and only draws 14 amps max so I can use my 18 amp ESC. I just had to sand the fist plywood mount layer off and put my own mount on because the Turnigy has a 4 hole X mount rather than a 3 hole mount. I will let you know how it works out. I am not sure if I am going to fly off grass or water for the first time but I will decide that when the time comes! It looks like it could be a fun plane to fly.

(in reply to The_Mongrel)

Post #: 131

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/26/2008 12:31:33 PM

lthibault

Posts: 358
Joined: 1/9/2005
From: Gatineau, QC, CANADA
Status: offline

A few modifications that I taught might be interesting for other R/C pilots.

On top of other mods - fixed wing with spaces filles with MONO white sealant - I decided to do the following:

-Completely isolate Servos and use MONO sealant to create a wall against water
-Put Receiver and ESC on top of the plane body, protected from water
-Install cockpit clip-on

Attachments

Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize
Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize

< Message edited by lthibault -- 9/28/2008 3:15:57 AM >

_____________________________

Luc

(in reply to drdoom)

Post #: 132

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/26/2008 1:04:50 PM

timid1

Posts: 15
Joined: 11/9/2004
From: Inverness, IL, USA
Status: offline

Nice work on the installation and photos. Here is my observation having built, flown, and emersed this aircraft. You will lose your esc and receiver on the first hard water landing. The cockpit will fill with water, and depending on orientation after the crash, your aircraft may be upside down in the water. unless your canopy installation is completely watertight, you need to seal the esc in silicone and encase the receiver in a rubber baloon. Working material could include: party baloons, rubber (latex) glove finger; condoms (your choice); sandwich baggies. Whichever you use, the end should also be sealed with silicone.

Just my thoughts. Also take care that your water rudder clears the fuselage. The reason for my initial crash and ultimate loss of aircraft, was the rudder dropped and was binding on the fuselage elimating my ability to turn. Result, flew into top of tree. Retrieval process destroyed aircraft and battery (power could not be shut off overnight while plane laid in tree.)

(in reply to lthibault)

Post #: 133

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/28/2008 3:10:07 AM

lthibault

Posts: 358
Joined: 1/9/2005
From: Gatineau, QC, CANADA
Status: offline

Thanks for the feedback. I have had many flights with this one and frankly, my water landings are pretty smooth. I worry more about the take-off on windy days as the plane have a tendancy to jump on waves and then submerge.

With all due respect the possibility of putting this bird upside down

after rough water landing seems almost like a challenge to me.

Hopefully the cockpit clip will prevent hatch removal. Will report back after a few trials.

< Message edited by lthibault -- 9/28/2008 3:13:51 AM >

_____________________________

Luc

(in reply to timid1)

Post #: 134

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/28/2008 4:20:12 AM

Bob93447

Posts: 54
Joined: 9/4/2004
From: Playa del Rey, CA, USA
Status: offline

I agree, after flying the bigger GP Seawind, that the foam one is a piece of cake. Putting the foam version upsidedown on landing would be a challenge although I have managed to do so with the large version. Rather than spending a lot of time with the waterproofing, I've chosen to use white electrical tape to seal the wing roots and to tape down the hatch so that it doesn't pop off during landings/takeoffs. This has proven sufficient to keep the interior dry. However, most electronics are relatively forgiving of freshwater. If they do get wet, drying before applying power is usually sufficient to prevent failure.

I'm currently flying my Seawind EP using a BP A2212-10 motor (1400 kv) coupled with an APC 8x6 prop and a 2100 mah battery. I can pull nearly 200 watts at full throttle with this setup (at an altitude of 6000 ft.). It balances perfectly with the receiver under the wing and the ESC between the rudder and elevator servos.

Bob 93447

(in reply to lthibault)

Post #: 135

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/29/2008 3:55:55 AM

lthibault

Posts: 358
Joined: 1/9/2005
From: Gatineau, QC, CANADA
Status: offline

Well, Bob got me adding this extra precaution. The receiver is sealed and the ESC end was also filled with silicon.

One small but important detail: I've put a 6 inch servo extension on the BATT circuit. This is in case I need to use the binding plug and rebind the receiver.

Attachments

Click to see fullsize image.

Click for fullsize

_____________________________

Luc

(in reply to Bob93447)

Post #: 136

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/29/2008 4:09:04 AM

The_Mongrel

Posts: 2674
Joined: 9/19/2007
From: Murrumbateman, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: lthibault

Well, Bob got me adding this extra precaution. The receiver is sealed and the ESC end was also filled with silicon.

One small but important detail: I've put a 6 inch servo extension on the BATT circuit. This is in case I need to use the binding plug and rebind the receiver.

Hi Mate,

Why not just drop it into a balloon and seal the end shut! that way your RX is recoverable should the plane make an early exit to god!

Cheers
-J

_____________________________

Crashing is such sweet sorrow!

(in reply to lthibault)

Post #: 137

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/29/2008 11:35:23 AM

lthibault

Posts: 358
Joined: 1/9/2005
From: Gatineau, QC, CANADA
Status: offline

I prefer the silicon or sealant option because I want to leave the short antennas out for better radio contact.

_____________________________

Luc

(in reply to The_Mongrel)

Post #: 138

RE: Foam Seawind EP from Great Planes... - 9/29/2008 4:09:51 PM

dgliderguy

Posts: 334
Joined: 12/13/2001
From: Snohomish, WA, USA
Status: offline

I'm using the Futaba R606FS receiver (6EX 2.4gHz radio), with the whisker antennae. My solution was to place the receiver in a ziplock baggie, and zip it shut around the servo wires. Then I wrapped a small rubber band around the wires, and added a drop of silicone glue. There is plenty of room inside the baggy to arrange the whisker antennae so that they are not lying next to each other, and with enough spread between them to allow good radio reception.

Works for me.