Pulse 60 XT on floats
09-13-2011, 05:49 AM
#1
Pulse 60 XT on floats
Just completed my first test flight with this setup. I'm very pleased. Pops up on plane quickly, short takeoffs, and nice handling. With an OS 75AX and a 15x5 wood prop, there's plenty of punch for playing.
The specs are:
36" plans built Fly Baby floats from http://www.rcmplans.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=1615
This kit is about the right size, too: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ929&P=7
Two large 60 size struts. These will work fine, but the aft one must be bent in the center to conform to the wing's dihedral: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ924&P=0 I used some slightly longer bolts at the standard landing gear and wing hold down areas to mount the struts.
I have the CG set at four inches from the LE for both land and sea operation, the wing incidence at two degrees positive compared to 0 for the float tops, and the CG is 1/4" aft of the steps. I added the ventral fin (held on with the tail feather nuts) just in case. There's almost no float extending beyond the spinner, maybe 2", but up elevator keeps the prop out of the water during taxi, so who cares. The smaller the floats the better in this game, I think. No water rudder. If it won't go where I want it to, I just idle back and she'll weathervane into the wind, then it's easy to steer with the air rudder and throttle.
Very quick to setup at the lake: four bolts holding the struts and wing in place, and away you go.
The specs are:
36" plans built Fly Baby floats from http://www.rcmplans.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=1615
This kit is about the right size, too: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ929&P=7
Two large 60 size struts. These will work fine, but the aft one must be bent in the center to conform to the wing's dihedral: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ924&P=0 I used some slightly longer bolts at the standard landing gear and wing hold down areas to mount the struts.
I have the CG set at four inches from the LE for both land and sea operation, the wing incidence at two degrees positive compared to 0 for the float tops, and the CG is 1/4" aft of the steps. I added the ventral fin (held on with the tail feather nuts) just in case. There's almost no float extending beyond the spinner, maybe 2", but up elevator keeps the prop out of the water during taxi, so who cares. The smaller the floats the better in this game, I think. No water rudder. If it won't go where I want it to, I just idle back and she'll weathervane into the wind, then it's easy to steer with the air rudder and throttle.
Very quick to setup at the lake: four bolts holding the struts and wing in place, and away you go.
09-13-2011, 07:51 AM
#4
RE: Pulse 60 XT on floats
Yeah, I think I'm gettin ready to bring the floats in and repaint them black. They were originally on a 4*60 that bit it about five years back, and it was blue and red.
The tailwheel is permanent- part of the air rudder.
No water rudder. Doesn't seem to need it, but it would be easy to stick one on the TE of the ventral fin and couple it to the air rudder.
The tailwheel is permanent- part of the air rudder.
No water rudder. Doesn't seem to need it, but it would be easy to stick one on the TE of the ventral fin and couple it to the air rudder.
09-14-2011, 07:58 AM
#6
RE: Pulse 60 XT on floats
Mike:
I think this looks a bunch better.
I flew it again about 8 this morning, and I am really impressed. So much so that I plan to get the 25E version and the floats. (I have a Rimfire 32 w/mount, esc and some 3300 4S packs to put in it.)
She does like to slow down and be flared on landing, tho, or she skips a little. Just like off the wheels.
I think this looks a bunch better.
I flew it again about 8 this morning, and I am really impressed. So much so that I plan to get the 25E version and the floats. (I have a Rimfire 32 w/mount, esc and some 3300 4S packs to put in it.)
She does like to slow down and be flared on landing, tho, or she skips a little. Just like off the wheels.
09-14-2011, 08:04 AM
#7
RE: Pulse 60 XT on floats
Much better!
One trick I have learned is: When properly balanced, you can start to settle her in for a landing, then just before it touches down, add a few clicks of power.
If you time it right, the power is too late to keep it from touching down, but it gives it a little more pull to overcome the sudden increase in drag the water provides.
It makes for some really smooth landings!
One trick I have learned is: When properly balanced, you can start to settle her in for a landing, then just before it touches down, add a few clicks of power.
If you time it right, the power is too late to keep it from touching down, but it gives it a little more pull to overcome the sudden increase in drag the water provides.
It makes for some really smooth landings!
09-15-2011, 07:04 AM
#9
RE: Pulse 60 XT on floats
OK, Flintstones water rudder. Will be clear of the water when on plane, so should work ok. If not, will be very simple to remove.
I put it on because yesterday I got into a situation where it would have been useful- close to shore, pointing downwind, and there wasn't enough breeze near shore to make her weathervane, and I just had to wait until she climbed up on a rock at idle before she'd turn away and I could motor out.
I put it on because yesterday I got into a situation where it would have been useful- close to shore, pointing downwind, and there wasn't enough breeze near shore to make her weathervane, and I just had to wait until she climbed up on a rock at idle before she'd turn away and I could motor out.
09-16-2011, 06:49 AM
#13
RE: Pulse 60 XT on floats
The H2O rudder worked great, but using iron on for hinges didn't. I ended up removing it after the first flight at this morning's lake session.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best flying seaplanes I've ever seen, and I rate it right up there with my Mikulasko Arrow on the fun scale. It has plenty of punch for aerobatics, and does lovely spins. A little slow on the entry, but nose down and pretty once it's in them. Probably an indication that I didn't need the ventral fin, but it stays. Recovers instantly upon control relaxation. Does the prettiest axial aileron rolls, right up there the Bullet (land based version of Laddie's Arrow). The floats hanging down have something to do with that, I think, as well as contributing to great roll stability. (It has to be held in a bank, or it will straighten itself up.)
Gonna dig up some DuBro plastic hinges and take another run at the water rudder. It really needs it when the wind comes up. Coming up on partial plane and kicking it around with the throttle makes me look unprofessional. [8D]
Without a doubt, this is one of the best flying seaplanes I've ever seen, and I rate it right up there with my Mikulasko Arrow on the fun scale. It has plenty of punch for aerobatics, and does lovely spins. A little slow on the entry, but nose down and pretty once it's in them. Probably an indication that I didn't need the ventral fin, but it stays. Recovers instantly upon control relaxation. Does the prettiest axial aileron rolls, right up there the Bullet (land based version of Laddie's Arrow). The floats hanging down have something to do with that, I think, as well as contributing to great roll stability. (It has to be held in a bank, or it will straighten itself up.)
Gonna dig up some DuBro plastic hinges and take another run at the water rudder. It really needs it when the wind comes up. Coming up on partial plane and kicking it around with the throttle makes me look unprofessional. [8D]
