H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
09-18-2011, 07:30 AM
#1
H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
I like my Pulse 60XT on floats so much, I've ordered the 25E from Horizon.
I'll be using a Rimfire 32 motor, Flight Power 60 ESC, and 3300 4S packs.
I did some performance testing this morning on the stand, and got these results with a 12x5 APC E prop. (I tested some others, but none came close to this one. I was looking for under 50mph and all the thrust I can get.) The mph and thrust figures come from Thrust HP software, which I have found to be fairly accurate.
50A
700W (the motor is rated at 925 continuous)
9960 RPM
46mph
5.85#
A 20A current rate will give about 10 minutes on that pack, and this yields 31mph, sufficient for cruising around. As the plane will weigh approximately 5.5 pounds, these numbers should make it fairly peppy.
I'll be using a Rimfire 32 motor, Flight Power 60 ESC, and 3300 4S packs.
I did some performance testing this morning on the stand, and got these results with a 12x5 APC E prop. (I tested some others, but none came close to this one. I was looking for under 50mph and all the thrust I can get.) The mph and thrust figures come from Thrust HP software, which I have found to be fairly accurate.
50A
700W (the motor is rated at 925 continuous)
9960 RPM
46mph
5.85#
A 20A current rate will give about 10 minutes on that pack, and this yields 31mph, sufficient for cruising around. As the plane will weigh approximately 5.5 pounds, these numbers should make it fairly peppy.
09-20-2011, 04:29 PM
#2
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
I looked at the ARF floats offered by Horizon, and they weigh around two pounds. Way too much to add to a 4 pound airplane, so I dusted off my old Fly Baby float plans, reduced them to 75%, and am building these for the Pulse 25E.
I've added the bow blocks to the one that's nearly completed, and it still weighs only 3.8 oz. If I'm careful, think I can avoid adding more than a pound to the bird when converting to seaplane.
I've added the bow blocks to the one that's nearly completed, and it still weighs only 3.8 oz. If I'm careful, think I can avoid adding more than a pound to the bird when converting to seaplane.
09-21-2011, 08:06 PM
#4
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Weight and $$, Jim. I'm busted for this month.
I built all of this with stuff I had on hand. Besides, I like building with balsa. Must be something wrong with me. Sniffing glue and breathing dust are two of my favorite activities. [:'(]
Anyway, here she is to date. Gotta wait a few days until they close out my Visa for the month, then I'll be able to order the servos. I was hoping to modify it for some standards, but there just isn't enough room in the wing for them, so I'm going to get four minis.
The motor installation was a bit of a thrash- of course, the Rimfire and Eflite motor mount patterns are just different enough that nothing lines up right away. I had to hog out the slots on the Rimfire's star mount, then cut some 1/2" spacers from aluminum stock to get the drive washer in the correct location.
The nylon float mounts are actually Fultz nose gear blocks. The hole in them is 1/4". I found some aluminum bushings at Home Defect that are 1/4" OD, and then drilled them out to accept the axles. Voila.
I'll be making a sub fin that will be held on by the nuts that hold the tail feathers on. I'll hang a water rudder off the back of it, and stick the tail wheel axle through it for operation. I did this on my 60 size Pulse, and it works really well.
I built all of this with stuff I had on hand. Besides, I like building with balsa. Must be something wrong with me. Sniffing glue and breathing dust are two of my favorite activities. [:'(]
Anyway, here she is to date. Gotta wait a few days until they close out my Visa for the month, then I'll be able to order the servos. I was hoping to modify it for some standards, but there just isn't enough room in the wing for them, so I'm going to get four minis.
The motor installation was a bit of a thrash- of course, the Rimfire and Eflite motor mount patterns are just different enough that nothing lines up right away. I had to hog out the slots on the Rimfire's star mount, then cut some 1/2" spacers from aluminum stock to get the drive washer in the correct location.
The nylon float mounts are actually Fultz nose gear blocks. The hole in them is 1/4". I found some aluminum bushings at Home Defect that are 1/4" OD, and then drilled them out to accept the axles. Voila.
I'll be making a sub fin that will be held on by the nuts that hold the tail feathers on. I'll hang a water rudder off the back of it, and stick the tail wheel axle through it for operation. I did this on my 60 size Pulse, and it works really well.
09-22-2011, 01:09 PM
#7
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RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
ORIGINAL: Mustang Fever
I looked at the ARF floats offered by Horizon, and they weigh around two pounds. Way too much to add to a 4 pound airplane, so I dusted off my old Fly Baby float plans, reduced them to 75%, and am building these for the Pulse 25E.
I've added the bow blocks to the one that's nearly completed, and it still weighs only 3.8 oz. If I'm careful, think I can avoid adding more than a pound to the bird when converting to seaplane.
I looked at the ARF floats offered by Horizon, and they weigh around two pounds. Way too much to add to a 4 pound airplane, so I dusted off my old Fly Baby float plans, reduced them to 75%, and am building these for the Pulse 25E.
I've added the bow blocks to the one that's nearly completed, and it still weighs only 3.8 oz. If I'm careful, think I can avoid adding more than a pound to the bird when converting to seaplane.
NIce floats, Ifly my 25 piper with the Horizon floats and it has plenty of power and still retains most of its agility, with the 25 size motor, I really like the way it flys with these floats.
What do you floats come out to in the weight category?
Being as limited as I am with my flying abilities I like the stability of the Horizon floats, they will definitely take some rougher treatment.
Looks great though and with a 32 power motor it should be off the water in less than 30...
09-22-2011, 05:24 PM
#8
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Thanks, Piper.
Half glassed, the floats are a little over 5oz each. I thinking after covering, and with the hardware and the rear strut, that I'll still be adding less than a pound to the weight of the A/C when converted to floats.
I don't know what weight category they are- the full size Fly Baby floats fit 60 sized birds pretty well, maybe a bit short, and provide plenty of flotation. I chose those plans and built them for a 4*60 maybe six years ago. I just recently put them on a Pulse 60, (weighs 7.8# w/o floats, and 9.8 with) and it flies so well I decided to get the 25 and flotate it. The 25 spans 52", and the 60 spans 70", so the 25 is about 75% of the 60. That's what I set the copier to when I copied the parts patterns- 75%.
Half glassed, the floats are a little over 5oz each. I thinking after covering, and with the hardware and the rear strut, that I'll still be adding less than a pound to the weight of the A/C when converted to floats.
I don't know what weight category they are- the full size Fly Baby floats fit 60 sized birds pretty well, maybe a bit short, and provide plenty of flotation. I chose those plans and built them for a 4*60 maybe six years ago. I just recently put them on a Pulse 60, (weighs 7.8# w/o floats, and 9.8 with) and it flies so well I decided to get the 25 and flotate it. The 25 spans 52", and the 60 spans 70", so the 25 is about 75% of the 60. That's what I set the copier to when I copied the parts patterns- 75%.
09-23-2011, 01:24 PM
#9
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Checked the CG today, with the landing gear. Way nose heavy. Probably because of the 32 motor, which weighs close to twice the 25.
NBD Made some 1/8 ply plates that fit into the lightening holes in the rear of the fuse. Put a couple HS 325s back there and hooked up the rudder and elevator. Now, she'll balance with the pack about in the middle of the tray. Cool, as the CG will shift forward a bit after the aileron servos are installed and connected.
The floats are all glassed. Changed my mind- gonna Krylon em white.
NBD Made some 1/8 ply plates that fit into the lightening holes in the rear of the fuse. Put a couple HS 325s back there and hooked up the rudder and elevator. Now, she'll balance with the pack about in the middle of the tray. Cool, as the CG will shift forward a bit after the aileron servos are installed and connected.
The floats are all glassed. Changed my mind- gonna Krylon em white.
09-24-2011, 09:58 AM
#12
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
One of the nicer touches of the Pulse design is the tail wheel that's attached to the rudder, and the bolt on tail feathers. Makes it possible to rig a very simple, reliable water rudder setup & ventral fin that can be removed in about a minute.
09-24-2011, 07:22 PM
#13
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
ORIGINAL: Mustang Fever
Yeah, I can always make stuff look nicer with iron on, but paint over glass seems to hold up best under water, and on the beach.
Which eagle did you get?
Yeah, I can always make stuff look nicer with iron on, but paint over glass seems to hold up best under water, and on the beach.
Which eagle did you get?
09-25-2011, 04:54 AM
#14
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
I like that Eagle. Same power set up as my Pulse, only with a lighter pack to keep the weight where it belongs. I was reading the manual, and they say to use a voltage regulator for the Rx when flying 3D. Is that because 3D flying requires so much throttle bursting?
The floats came to 6oz each after painting. Like all float installations, the CG goes aft when they are attached, so I'll need about 1.5 oz in each bow to get it back. That will still keep the total weight added a bit over one pound, counting the aft strut and the fin/water rudder setup.
The floats came to 6oz each after painting. Like all float installations, the CG goes aft when they are attached, so I'll need about 1.5 oz in each bow to get it back. That will still keep the total weight added a bit over one pound, counting the aft strut and the fin/water rudder setup.
09-25-2011, 01:18 PM
#15
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Got to messing around this afternoon, and realized there's a piece of the bulkhead at the front of the battery hatch that protrudes down into the tray area and prevents the pack from going all the way forward. I removed it with a dremel and now the pack can go right up against the firewall. The CG with floats (and no aileron servos) is now just a touch aft of the 3" mark. I won't have to put very much weight at all on the float bows to correct that.
09-26-2011, 02:24 PM
#16
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Took everything apart today so I could weight the various pieces on my 3# electronic postal scale. Aileron servo weights are taken from HiTec specs, as I don't have them yet.
Airplane (land) with pack: 4# (64.7oz) W/L: 18.8 oz/sq foot
Airplane (sea) and pack: 5# (80.8oz) W/L: 23.5 oz/sq foot
Weight added by float conversion: 16.1 oz (1#)
As I'll have at least 6# of thrust, even with the floats on this critter will honk. 700W for 5 pounds works out to 140W per pound, and in the land configuration, 4#, it's 175.
I can't wait.
Airplane (land) with pack: 4# (64.7oz) W/L: 18.8 oz/sq foot
Airplane (sea) and pack: 5# (80.8oz) W/L: 23.5 oz/sq foot
Weight added by float conversion: 16.1 oz (1#)
As I'll have at least 6# of thrust, even with the floats on this critter will honk. 700W for 5 pounds works out to 140W per pound, and in the land configuration, 4#, it's 175.
I can't wait.
10-04-2011, 02:59 PM
#17
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
A quick update:
Haven't flown off the water, yet. We're on vacation in the east, and I was able to test fly this bird at my club field in NJ. Gobs of power. Even in the tall grass (our field is maintained by a park system, and they keep the mower decks kinda high.) she had no problem accelerating and taking off at nowhere near full throttle. Handling is pretty much the same as the big Pulse- very smooth and predictable. Nose heavy, too, just like the big one, at the rearmost recommended point. I've been moving the battery back in increments and have been able to take out a lot of the up trim required for level flight.
The counterbalances on the elevator are just too big. I guess they are supposed to look cool, or something, but they are a hazard in tall grass. I hooked one on landing and damn near tore it off. When I get home, I going to build a new stab and elevator for it out of 1/8 sheet balsa. I'll make the elevator a bit larger to compensate for getting rid of the counterbalances.
This thing will be marvelous off the water. It has an unlimited vertical from the wheels, and will probably be the same on the floats.
Haven't flown off the water, yet. We're on vacation in the east, and I was able to test fly this bird at my club field in NJ. Gobs of power. Even in the tall grass (our field is maintained by a park system, and they keep the mower decks kinda high.) she had no problem accelerating and taking off at nowhere near full throttle. Handling is pretty much the same as the big Pulse- very smooth and predictable. Nose heavy, too, just like the big one, at the rearmost recommended point. I've been moving the battery back in increments and have been able to take out a lot of the up trim required for level flight.
The counterbalances on the elevator are just too big. I guess they are supposed to look cool, or something, but they are a hazard in tall grass. I hooked one on landing and damn near tore it off. When I get home, I going to build a new stab and elevator for it out of 1/8 sheet balsa. I'll make the elevator a bit larger to compensate for getting rid of the counterbalances.
This thing will be marvelous off the water. It has an unlimited vertical from the wheels, and will probably be the same on the floats.
10-09-2011, 02:38 PM
#18
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
This critter flies just as well on floats as its big brother. Very aerobatic. Not positive on the vertical yet, but it's very strong.
Very nice water handling. There's a bit less float in front of the prop on this one as compared to the 60 size, so the prop throws some water unless she's on plane. Taxiing on plane is really fun and takes care of that. She pops up on plane real fast and accelerates quickly to flying speed at about 75% throttle.
Very nice water handling. There's a bit less float in front of the prop on this one as compared to the 60 size, so the prop throws some water unless she's on plane. Taxiing on plane is really fun and takes care of that. She pops up on plane real fast and accelerates quickly to flying speed at about 75% throttle.
10-13-2011, 12:21 PM
#19
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Final report on this one, guys. She's a great flier. When into the early part of the pack charge, the vertical is unlimited, and she can do real pretty stall turns with almost no aileron corrections needed. Standard aerobatics- loops, rolls, cuban 8s, spins, are a snap.
She likes to touchdown level with some speed and throttle, both on land and sea. No flaring three points for this one, she slows down too rapidly with the nose up and tends to stall in and splash or bounce.
I bought a set of tail feathers to replace the busted counterbalance. Glad I did. She looks nicer that way.
Very nice handling airplane. I would recommend it anyone who has mastered their first tail dragger, but would not recommend it as follow on to a trainer, due to the landing characteristics.
She likes to touchdown level with some speed and throttle, both on land and sea. No flaring three points for this one, she slows down too rapidly with the nose up and tends to stall in and splash or bounce.
I bought a set of tail feathers to replace the busted counterbalance. Glad I did. She looks nicer that way.
Very nice handling airplane. I would recommend it anyone who has mastered their first tail dragger, but would not recommend it as follow on to a trainer, due to the landing characteristics.
11-16-2011, 06:55 AM
#23
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
Got my utube account working. Here's the landing, the TO is uploading now and I'll post it here soon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvppO5nneBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ChiaYi9-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvppO5nneBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ChiaYi9-w
03-05-2012, 08:36 AM
#24
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
The Pulse 25E has been down for awhile, since before Christmas, as I stole the radio, speed control and motor for some other projects.
There will probably be some controversy about my choices of equipment, but the bottom line is I'm tired of paying some suppliers' inflated prices for replacement items like receivers, escs, motors and packs that you can get for about 75% less if they are part of some "combo" or "arf" or "set". Futaba, Flightpower, and Electrifly all belong in this rogues' gallery. They are giving all the price breaks to the newcomers, and screwing the serious RCers.
These are the items I chose, and they all work as good as or better than the "original" equipment:
Turnigy Trust 55A ESC/BEC
Orange RC Futaba 617 copy (8 channel) (for 2.4g 6EX system)
Turnigy 46-420/550/670/brushless outrunner*
Turnigy 3.0A 5S LiPo*
The last two items (*) are actually in another airplane, but I'm tryin to make a point, ya know.
Had a ball flying the Pulse off the lake this morning. 8 degrees F, a bit of wind and deep snow. Seaplanes make the best snow planes, I'm convinced.
There will probably be some controversy about my choices of equipment, but the bottom line is I'm tired of paying some suppliers' inflated prices for replacement items like receivers, escs, motors and packs that you can get for about 75% less if they are part of some "combo" or "arf" or "set". Futaba, Flightpower, and Electrifly all belong in this rogues' gallery. They are giving all the price breaks to the newcomers, and screwing the serious RCers.
These are the items I chose, and they all work as good as or better than the "original" equipment:
Turnigy Trust 55A ESC/BEC
Orange RC Futaba 617 copy (8 channel) (for 2.4g 6EX system)
Turnigy 46-420/550/670/brushless outrunner*
Turnigy 3.0A 5S LiPo*
The last two items (*) are actually in another airplane, but I'm tryin to make a point, ya know.
Had a ball flying the Pulse off the lake this morning. 8 degrees F, a bit of wind and deep snow. Seaplanes make the best snow planes, I'm convinced.
03-05-2012, 08:10 PM
#25
RE: H9 Pulse 25E On Floats
I've been flying one of my EP planes on the HK line of products, including a Orange Rx, it's been working great,, so I put together another one with HK stuff this winter. I'm sure it will work great too.
p.s.
next time,, Value Hobby has very competitive prices with HK, and the parts ship from the US so you know they'll get to you soon, without the long wait and worry shipping times. Also makes any returns more practical.
p.s.
next time,, Value Hobby has very competitive prices with HK, and the parts ship from the US so you know they'll get to you soon, without the long wait and worry shipping times. Also makes any returns more practical.