Mike Line

Here are so more pic's of the Neptune that I recovered. Hope you enjoy them. These were taken in March at Table Rock Lake MO.

Mike Line

Some air pic's.

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

Looks great. Nice colors and graphics. It might could use some false cabin windows in black, white or light blue.

TPAGEL

My Feedback: (6)

Ed, did your Sea Monster balance ok without lead in the nose? I have an OS .70 in mine and it is tail heavy. Total weight is only 6 1/2 lbs so overall weight is not a problem. I need 2 1/2 ozs in the very front part of the nose for balance so I guess I'll have to think about a hatch of some type.
Tom

Mike Line

Thanks Ed. I'm not quite finnished with all the graphics yet. I will be adding more later. Can you see the side force generator below the engine pod?

Ed_Moorman

My Feedback: (1)

The Sea Monster didn't need any ballast with either the Saito .72 or the Magnum .70. The nose is actually sealed so you would have to cut a hole to add weight.

I saw the side force generators in your other photos. How do they work?

After flying a Sea Cruiser with sponsons and the engine pod mounted to the wing, I am thinking about another Sea Monster or a Neptune, but modifying it with sponsons and re-doing the pod in between the 2 root ribs. Our Cruiser was built from plans and it turned out a little heavy. For the Monster, the thing is so top heavy without the wing, I have a special cradle to keep it upright in the back of my truck.

Strykaas

Mike,

Your boat looks very nice, with leathers, audio, and so on... Do you have a pix ?? This is the best way to fly seaplanes !!

Mike Line

Ed........The side force gen just adds more side area to the plane at the C.G. You've seen the small foamy 3D air craft like the tenser and others. They can fly knife edge for ever. Same concept, but mine has a control surface to make it even more effective. It moves opposite the rudder. If the rudder moves the tail to the left, the SFG will move the nose to the right. Both work together making rudder comands more effective. It also helps hold knife edge with less rudder deflection or yaw. I read about these in an issue of 3D Flyer magazine a few months ago and thought it was cool.

Strykaas.......Thanks! We love our boat. It's a Crownline 202. 5 liter Merc 20ft. It will do mid 40's loaded with coolers and such. We go to Table Rock lake most of the time. I wanted an air plane to play with on the lake and the Neptune fit the requirements just right. Even with the boat at full throttle, the Neptune only needs about 1/4 throttle to keep up. That's some fun stuff flying the plane down the lake right next to the boat. It's really cool to see the plane that close in action. Here's a picture of the boat.

Strykaas

Mike,

I'm speechless, I did not even think you were two onboard, one driving the boat, the other flying the neptune. Man that sounds very very cool indeed to be able to fly the aircraft just next to you while trying to keep up with it !! How close to you do you fly ? Could you perhaps land directly on the boat ? If you could just tape it, it would be a "first time" on RCU, taping a seaplane that way while in flight !! Plz plz plz, Mike, do it for us !

It really makes me think of the guy flying with ducks :

http://www.vol-avec-les-oies.com/

Mike Line

Strykaas........Thanks man! Flying next to the boat is a blast. I've only had one chance to do it though. As the summer moves on I will have more chances. Getting a video is on the list of things to do. With my wife driving the boat my camera operator would be my 12 year old daughter. She does ok, just needs more practice. It's extra hard with the boat moving. The last time we were out the only thing she got on film was a very bad landing.[] (missed the few things I did right) Oh well, things will get better with time. Landing on the boat is some thing I have only dreamed about. I'm not sure my flying skills could support that just yet. Not to mention my wife would put my trasmitter in a dark place.[X(] Also, I will soon be putting a digital camera on the Neptune. That will be cool too. Take care and I'll post pic's as I get them.

Radiofly

How do you think the Neptune would do with the new O.S. FL70? What's the max prop clearance?

Mike Line

I can put a 12in prop on mine. I'm running a 11-6 APC now with the Evolution .46. With a Mac's tuned exhaust I'm getting 11300 rpm's. Plenty of power. It almost leaps out of the water and has very good vertical performance. The 70 may be to much.

Radiofly

Yes, you are probably right that the FL 70 would be too much. It would probably require too big a prop for best performance. I guess the OS FS 52 would be the way to go since I'd would prefer trying a four stroker with this plane.

Mike Line

Radiofly.......A 4 stroke would be great. I have a Saito .72 that I thought about putting on it. But it would need a 3 blade prop to work right. I've even considered electric. But, I've been very pleased with what I have. With the tuned exhaust, it sounds very angry and intimdating. Like a big, mad bumble bee.