ORIGINAL: pimmnz
Wetbird, for what you are doing the lightest waterproof covering will be shrink film, of whatever brand. I only use Koverall on models over 80" odd span, to get a good waterproof finish on any of the fabrics you need a good few coats of dope, followed by colour and most likely a two pot clear. Having done that, though, the fabrics do last and look good much longer than the films. If you wish to consider repair ease, then films are way ahead of the fabrics here. As for your floats. it is important to waterproof the insides, as much as the outsides. I don't think balsarite is waterproof when dry, better would be a polyurethane varnish which you can get from any good DIY store, cheap too. Koverite and dope on the outside, followed by a good two pot paint will keep the outside of the floats dry, and be tough enough to withstand the 'grass field' landings you will do. I know this 'cause my Brandenburg never got its feet wet, but spent over ten years sliding around on the float bottoms at the usual club fields! As for a replaceable wheel/float deal, of course it can be done, you have to do a bit of redesign so the legs can be unbolted and the float struts fitted, but as both sets use the same pickup points on the fuselage, that is no big deal. Having removeable floats makes transport much easier too.
Evan, WB #12.
Hi Evan, I've been using Balsarite for years to water poof the inside and out of the floats & plane. Balsarite when dry is water proof, I know this because of the crashes I've had and the floats & plane were opened up and wet. The water just rolls off and drys fast. If you look at the photos you can see the floats are already Balsarited inside & out and it's lite weight. I've never heard of anyone flying a float plane on grass, that's interesting. I have thought of it but using a dolly with the plane mounted on it, take off leaving it behind and landing on grass. I just wondered if that would work, I guess it will
The removable floats I think I have already engineered it to make it work. The aft struts will be removedfrom the fuse. and the cross bar removed from the landing gear axle. I'm going to replace the cross bar at the aft strut..I'm thinking it may not be strong enough need to go one size larger. Did you check out my photos..I was hoping to show what I did. The main struts are fixed and not removable so I had to work with the floats being removable without making the main gear removable. I also made the tailwheel removable for installing the Ventral fin.
Thank you for your ideas and much needed help. I'm concerdering many options as to covering my Waco and floats.
Gerry