goirish

Has anyone built this model?

goirish

can a moderator move this to the beginners forum?

Fast Freddy

I have the plans by Laddie Mukalsako (spelling), but no, I have not built it. Laddie is a great model designer and all of his planes fly well. Lately he has turned to electric power and the Aquastar was originally designed for glow. If you decide to build this bird I highly recommend you waterproof the entire structure inside (as well as outside) before you glue on the sheeting.

alasdair

A friend had an Aquastar powered by a 40 or 46.
I seem to remember he had trouble getting it to unstick from the water.
I think the wing was the same as a Laker wing. Is that the right model?

goirish

Sorry not familiar with the laker.

alasdair

This is the model. Many years ago my friend Sid Sutherland brought an Aquastar to the big Highland Splash-in at Loch Insh. He said it was a design by Laddie Mikulasko and used the same wing as Laddie's Laker design.
I finally managed to dig out some old prints and scan them.
The model beside it is one of my own old designs (I called it Seapup I think as it was developed from a camera plane callyed SpyPup)
We put them together as I was struck by the similarity. Two designs from opposite sides of the Atlantic but so similar in concept.

I don't think I got a flying shot of the Aquastar. All I can find are these comparison shots. It did not take off as well as my Seapup.

goirish

Which tail setup do you like the best. These are the AquaStars, right? Thanks for the pictures.

alasdair

The Aquastar is the one with the low tail, the straight wing and the blue canopy.
The one with the T-tail is my design Seapup and needed wire struts to support the tail. It was very floppy without the struts, I have found T-tails always are.

I don't think the tail made a difference to the take off. I think it was maybe hull design. The most obvious difference I remember is that Sid's Aquastar had its step very far forward, ahead of the CG, whereas my Seapup had its step just aft of the CG.

Here is a Laker for comparison, and another shot of the same Aquastar that I just rediscovered. It was taken last year at Colwick Park, England. Whoever it was that bought the late Sid Sutherland's model brought it along and I took this shot. I don't think the new owner managed to get it to take off either. I don't have any flying shots.

goirish

WOW!!! the aquastar sure looks like it sets deep in the water. Wonder if the engine mounted in the back causes the tail to sink in the water.