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PBY-5A Catalina 1/8 scale
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I started my PBY build almost 20 years ago, I designed the plans along with the build.
At that time I had a RC model store and through my store I met an old PBY mechanic who was a big help with the design as well as an RC modeller who I could not have done this without. During the building process two PBYs came to Iceland and I was fortunate enough to get the chance to see them up close and measure them from top to bottom. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2031815http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2031816http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2031817 Finally in June of 2001 the Cat flew for the first time. After 62 great flights, the PBY crashed this summer. Being of the old school I make all my plans by hand, but I have had laser cut plans drawn for me that I am going to use for the rebuild. I am looking forward to using laser cut parts for the build and I am also excited to put in the new landing gears that I have been perfecting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQSWkYhp0IY Here is a video of fligh 63 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xapvM0N7D60 Best regards, Sturla www.rcsturla.com |
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I have tried three times to take of off water. It is quite the mission attempting waterflight as you will need the perfect weather conditions and someone with a boat. Both things at a time was the first challenge. Then I always ran into some troubles when trying fly the PBY off the water. On the first attempt I was on a long narrow lake with crosswinds coming on the right side and every time I gave throttle the left wingboat pushed down and the plane spun around. So no takeoff there. The second time I tried, the crosswinds came on the left side and everything was looking great. Then, seconds before takeoff, the nose wheel doors came loose on the front hinges and one of the doors cut through the bottom of the plane and took control of the plane causing it to flip. That was such a disappointing day. It was a beautiful day and I had convinced one of the best photographer and videomaker to come with me to capture everything on film. What a letdown! The third time the weather wasn't ideal, with rough turbulence coming from a nearby mountain. Water splashed the motor and killed it two times. So that was that. Later talking to an ex PBY pilot he told me the only way to take off water was with crosswinds on the left wing, as the left wingboat would otherwise always push down and make the plane spin. That was the exact same thing that happened to me. So for the fourth attempt I was sure I would have success with what I had learned. 1. Crosswind coming on the left side. 2. Tightening the nose door really well. 3. Good weather and still waters. Unfortunately the PBY crashed before I could make my fourth waterflight attempt. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2033726http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2033727 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4kb1D2HhKc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6zPkze5_c |
Everyone says that PBY's do horrible in water. I was hoping that your larger scale one would do better but I see it acts just as the smaller scale ones do.
Good luck with your rebuild! That left crosswind trick sounds interesting. |
Very cool project!
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Amish Warlord,
The second time I tried, the crosswinds came on the left side and everything was looking great. Then, seconds before takeoff, the nose wheel doors came loose on the front hinges and one of the doors cut through the bottom of the plane and took control of the plane causing it to flip. Watching from 1:05sek this seems easy before the nose wheel doors took control of the plane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4kb1D2HhKc |
Did you build the tail group to scale? G&P Sales and Don Smith enlarged the verticle stabilizer on thire PBYs.
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I have often seen it done on scale models, enlarge the stabilizer.
My models are in scale also the tail, no problem, just land as full scale. not like the model trainer. sturla www.rcsturla.com |
Sturla,
I built a 13' PBY from an old Westcraft kit Igot a few years back. I did not install retracts and did it as a flying boat as my intention was to use it only for float flying. This is my second summer flying it and currently have over 50 flights on it and dozens of touch and go's with it . PBY's have to fly off water that is the element that gives them the real wow/joy factor. Here is a link to one of my flights when I was still mastering the take offs and landings. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbikydJxkS4 Bob |
Originally Posted by twofly
(Post 11894781)
Sturla,
I built a 13' PBY from an old Westcraft kit Igot a few years back. I did not install retracts and did it as a flying boat as my intention was to use it only for float flying. This is my second summer flying it and currently have over 50 flights on it and dozens of touch and go's with it . PBY's have to fly off water that is the element that gives them the real wow/joy factor. Here is a link to one of my flights when I was still mastering the take offs and landings. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbikydJxkS4 Bob |
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Hey sturla, I just bought a book of Icelandic stamps off ebay. What do you think? ;)
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2044345http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2044346 |
Originally Posted by twofly
(Post 11894781)
Sturla,
I built a 13' PBY from an old Westcraft kit Igot a few years back. I did not install retracts and did it as a flying boat as my intention was to use it only for float flying. This is my second summer flying it and currently have over 50 flights on it and dozens of touch and go's with it . PBY's have to fly off water that is the element that gives them the real wow/joy factor. Here is a link to one of my flights when I was still mastering the take offs and landings. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbikydJxkS4 Bob Randy |
Hi Randy,
I am using two Syssa 30cc engines. Due to the placing of the engine nacelles on a PBY the maximum size prop that you can use is 18" diameter. The Syssa engines spin an 18X8 prop at 7800 rpm. More than enough power for this size of plane. Take off is full power and I cruise at about 2/3 throttle. Bob |
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I just came across these photos of Brian's PBY Catalina in Australia, that he made from my plans. You can see quite a few photos on this link:
http://badmac.org.au/PBY5A-Catalina-...ian-Hutchinson As you can see he has put a lot of hard work into it and has made the blisters open and close. He made the Landing Gear himself which is admirable. Best Regards, Sturla www.rcsturla.com http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2097120http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2097121http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2097122 |
Laser Cut Kits Australia
www.lasercutkits.com.au are now offering my plans and lasercut kits for my PBY Catalina, Douglas DC-3 and Aeronca Chief. I am of course still selling the plans as well as all the accessories and landing gears. Best regards, Sturla www.rcsturla.com |
One more Catalina in the air!
Lyle Vasser of Best Pilots (www.bestpilots.com) and his father Bob Vasser have taken their Catalina on it's first flight. Lyle sent me the video of the flight, and what a success! It flew well on Zenoah 26cc engines. I can't wait to see it when the paint work is finished. Check out the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PIItnKKmkM |
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Covering my PBY Catalina front part with Fiberglass Cloth
and primed with epoxy filler base, filling something and sanding. Construct new windows and many small items. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149663http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149664http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149665http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149666http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149667http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149668http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149669http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149670http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149671http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149672http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149673http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149674http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149675http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149676http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149677http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2149678 |
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Just painted the Catalina and now looks like before the crash.
http://rcsturla.com/ http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2156555http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2156556http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2156557http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2156558http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2156559 |
After my PBY-Catalina crashed in 2014 it finally took off again 3 years later at Tungubakkar Airfield.
The new DLE20-RA engines performed beautifully, they are a perfect match for the 1/8 scale Catalina and DC-3. |
GREAT JOB to rebuilt this Catalina. I own a small one with 1,4 m wingspan ( fiber fuselage and balsa covered foam wings) that i built from a german kit back in the 1990s and still fly it once in a while on Lake Geneva Switzerland.
I wish you many happy flights with yours - one day i want to build a big one like yours.... Stefan |
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Splash deflectors?
I won a 71" Catalina PBY electric at a raffle in New Hampshire. The plane flies great, but I am getting an awful amount of splash from the bow getting into the props during take-off. Someone there suggested that splash deflectors could glued onto the bow, to alter the direction of the splash. Does anyone have experience with this problem, and could give me details on the splash deflectors?
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Originally Posted by [email protected]
(Post 12428155)
I won a 71" Catalina PBY electric at a raffle in New Hampshire. The plane flies great, but I am getting an awful amount of splash from the bow getting into the props during take-off. Someone there suggested that splash deflectors could glued onto the bow, to alter the direction of the splash. Does anyone have experience with this problem, and could give me details on the splash deflectors?
Seriously, you could probably build some chines onto the hull that point down. That may reduce the up-splash and help it up on the step. |
Hi!
I have the Kyosho 74" Catalina powered by two OS FP .15 engines swinging 8x5 APC props and yes, there is some splash from the bow at take off even with the added splash deflectors I added when building the plane (added those to the fiber glass hull but I do not think they prevent water from splashing into the props at take off at all). -Are you sure you have the model correctly balanced?? If it plows with bow at take off it might be to front heavy. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...8116085661.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...463a2a24b1.jpg |
Sturla - Hello. Are you still selling plans, parts, etc.? Have you flown off of water with the PBY? Send me an email please: [email protected]
Chic White |
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