Lizlips

What is the best hydrofoam out there? And where can i get it!?!? I want one that is going to hover really good and have LOTS of power and looks like a boat.

BaldEagel

The Graupner HydroPlane 3D is the best looking one by far, don't be fobbed off with anything else the others i'v seen are c*** looking and don't fly a dam either, I'v got an AXI 2208/34 in mine and its soooooo much fun. Be aware that it only comes in natural white you will have to colour it yourself.
Mike

Wayne Miller

Hi,

I was just emailed a couple of links for the HydroFoam. I-Care has two models for sale one is expensive and the other is cheaper. Here is the link for both at I-Care:

http://www.icare-rc.com/hydroplane.htm
http://www.icare-rc.com/piranha.htm

Fly4Fun,

Wayne Miller

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

Here's another one...
By the looks of the video, I don't know how well it'll hover, but I suppose that'd depend on how you powered it.

http://www.redshangarone.com/

BaldEagel

My Graupner Hydroplane comes in at 8 1/2 onz yes thats right 8 1/2 onz without battery, power is adequate to say the least with the AXI 2208/34 on an 8 x 4.3 it hovers and fly's around fine, have not tried it off water yet but on grass its a hoot.
Mike

balsabrain

My Feedback: (1)

Is there a basic starting point for CG on a Hydro?

BaldEagel

I have just received a very rude e-mail from someone on this thread, casting personnal comments concerning my abbility and housekepping.

You need help sir. Your inferiority complex is affecting your judgement.

I will not be entering into any correspondance about this.
Mike

Greg Covey

The basic starting point for the CG is to keep it near the step on the pontoon float.

My boats hover and look great!

BaldEagel

Greg
I must admit yours look a lot better and more substantial than most, what thickness is the presumed depron? and are they available in the UK? can you let me know the spec i.e. motor, prop, weight, etc?
Thanks
Mike

Greg Covey

Mike,

Hopefully, you can answer most of your questions after looking at the [link=http://www.gregcovey.com/flying_boats.htm]Flying Boats[/link] page in my Web Hangar.

The RCU thread link on my page for Red's "Miss Hangar One" design has the kit parts listing in it.

Good luck!

c/f

My Feedback: (1)

MISS HANGAR ONE hands down: Graupner a close second but it has yet to provide a video of all performance disciplines listed below.


What to look for what to avoid: IF you desire one that can perform in ALL these disciplines, water, grass, hard surfaces, 3D/ Hoverbatics, WALL climbing

The motor thrust line MUST be as close to the c/g in height and distance, AND zero thrust in any direction, zero zero is best. ALL those goofy pods and excessive thrust angles are performance degradation.

Towards this end adding thirds rudders and biplane wings end up compensating by moving motor outward to get c/g, or adding weight on an already small wingspan of no airfoil.

Thrust becomes and issue because of props running lo rpm's/high torq, thus your better off buying motors that turn high rpm's and low pitch to combat this, IMHO a GWS SLo FLy 8X6 prop is MAX to not have torq issues which show up as an axial rotation versus a more conventional yaw. A GWS 7X3.5HD prop is best setup, becuase it allows the motor to become closer to c/g in height AND not have prop strikes in water use. Reds 9X6 prop recomend has been revised and thus the thrust angle goes back to zero.

Dual angled rudders act as stabilizing dihedral AND create a mechanical clearance advantage of rudders to elevons. Those that are straight generally have smaller square areas OR they are moved outboard of the optimal effectiveness of the small prop arc for 3D/HOverbatics.

Heres #2::







PS My personal peeve, it must be "ALL HYDRO" not some goofy flying fish or biplane looking thinga ma bob. Micheal Mconlleys cartoon looking hydro has a video and did not even generate 1/2% interest as compared to Ernest Butlers 1 million view Miss BUD/Dewault.

BaldEagel

Greg

Thanks for that, I saw your site address after I posted, as Homer would say dhoo!

Mike

sanman55

I don't understand the thrust line thing. I have red"s hydroboat and a 9x4.7 prop performs best with my motor, but it hits the water. I used a stick mount because I had too, and I thought that if it turned the motor around the prop would not hit water. The motor is now 3/4 inch higher than it was. What problems would this cause? I have seen rc seaplanes with a pod mount on top wing.I have not flown it yet? The graupner boat , which I ordered, has a high mount on its motor and I saw the video and it flys great and hovers.? Thanks sanford

Greg Covey

If your "best" is defined by lower cost, less work, and better performance...stay tuned.

777

My Feedback: (1)

I would really like one to be made of EPP; or at the very least, be extremely crash-damage resistant.

Brad

c/f

My Feedback: (1)

EPP airfoiled HydroFoam,

How bad you want one ????

It would run you about $150 but I can get them.

I fly the Indian Spirit, Pocket Rocket, and the Rapid...........

www.jomari.de

777

My Feedback: (1)

Are you a manufacturer or distributor? I need to spend some time on that link that you provided.

Thanks,
Brad

nitro wing

My Feedback: (1)

Is the BME hydroboat worth buying? I need one of these in the next week or so,and its the only one available around here.
Have flying and building experience.Got some lipos and airplane esc's,but willing to buy equipment to outfit one of these with performance.

HeidiC

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can help me. I would like to buy a Hydrofoam for my bf. I have no idea where to start and which one is the best to buy?

Can anyone help me please? I live in Australia and would prefer to order locally if possible.

Thanks!
Heidi

whirlybird7

My Feedback: (1)

Hopefully I can revive this post.... I'm still looking for the best hydrofoam/hydroplane. I started out with the Air Hogs Storm launcher and it has me addicted to these things. After ripping it apart and rebuilding numerous times, I want to try out something better. The list from here looks great, but most are not for sale anymore (eg. the hydro hawk 2) I would like a RTF or almost is ok as well, but if there are other kits still available i'd like to know. I was looking at one on ebay...search hydro foam and it shows up...but I can't find any info on it. The movies they show are not always the one they are selling. If i'm going to spend $150 or more, i'd like to know what I was getting. Any info on this or other hydro's still available today would be great!

Ram270

My Feedback: (3)

Are Hydrofoams a thing of the past in 2010? I've been out of the hobby a few years and just discovered them a couple of weeks ago, been trying to find out all I can about them and have even been trying to find a good ARF, RTF or a used one but having no luck. There's an RTF on eBay but it looks cheap, has an AM radio system & looks to be straight from China. Miss Hangar seems to have disappeared off the map, the FMA Hydro Hawk isn't around anymore and all the posts here about Hydrofoams are 3-5 years old. Anybody out there have any advice or information about them or am I kicking a dead horse? [&o]

Glacier Girl

My Feedback: (4)

Ram, check with www.allerc.com. They were running a special on some of the Miss Hyperions a while back, they may still have some.
I've bought a pair of them. Decent kit, only two items I'd mention needing attention is the tri rudders need some cross wire bracing as they tend to wobble on rough grass, and secondly the decals tend to not stick too well.

The decals are a good heavy body material, and are used to help strengthen the moving surfaces and the main body, but the adhesive is either poor or old. A thin coat of 3M 777 contact adhesive will help with making them stick.

Will take a beating and flies and drives well. I'm running a TP 2212-13 (1000 kv) motor, 30 amp esc, 3s2200, and a 8x5x3 prop.

Only other tip I can think of is use a heavy body tape for the bottom of the sponsons for running on pavement to protect the foam. I found 3M makes a clear protector tape (used on cars to prevent paint chipping) that works great. Keeps the bottoms nice, and makes a really slick surface for gliding along.

Whoops just thought of something else. Put a piece of tape on the inside of each sponson in line with the prop arc. The prop tends to throw stuff against the sponsons when it's run over the ground or pavement and can tear up the foam pretty quick.

I have one set up to play in the daylight, and one to play at night with multiple LED's on it to light up the body and to act as running lamps and nav lamps.


I had one of the original Red's Hangar Ones too, and I like the Hyperion better as the center rudder, of the three, on it gives better ground handling then the dual rudder set up did.



If worse comes to worse, if you look up the old Red's builds on RCG there used to be downloadable plans and cutting templates for them. So you could cut your own.

Best of luck.

SuperChargedRC

This is my home made hydro-foam and the first flight on water. It's very steady.
I have PDF plans for this Hydro if your interested.
www.superchargedrc.com/Plans.html

Eyeguy

My Feedback: (1)

Are these HydroPlanes still available for sale somewhere ?