I am considering building a 108" Mud Duck from either plans or their kit. As the plane is foam, I hav a few questions:
Haqs anyone built one of these from plans or kit?
What foam is the strongest if I build from plans without being too heavy?
as I want to go electric, what motor and prob should be explored?
What are your thoughts about using Liquid Sheeting that is sold by Wowplanes instead of paint?
Any other issues I should be aware of?

on another note, I think it would be beneficial for everyone building kits to have a sub-directory in Kitbuilding compiling all the build threads scattered over the RCUniverse. Thoughts?

thanks ahead of time for any info you can shed light on for me.

Lou

I'm building the 83" Sport kit. My shop is too small to try to deal with those full sheets of Foamcore board to measure and cut. The foamcore is plenty strong enough and rattle can paint goes on easily. If using CA, go with the "foam safe" because the regular will cause the foam core to melt. When I recognized that problem, I went back with Titebond to reinforce those joints. I'm using an OS .65 LA as I had it on hand. As I learned to fly using ailerons, I added them; I didn't want to take a chance on getting in a tight and instinctivly try to use them when they weren't there. I'm painting it with flourescent yellow and red paint. With those colors and slow speed I've dubbed it the Ultimate OFF (Old Fart's Flyer)

I'm scheduled for the other half of cataract surgery next week, so I hope to have it ready it maiden soon after that.

Jack

thanks for the info, good luck on your surgery

Thanks, Lou. The first eye is now 20/25 after one week, and shoukd continue to improve. I've worn glasses and then contacts since age nine (61 years) and am still delighting in waking up able to see without reaching for the cheaters.

BTW, I sprang for the pneumatic tires on the Duck. A little less "clunky" rhan the foam set which came with the kit.

HiLou,

You may want to hear from some of my customers for unbiased feedback, so I debated on posting, but felt it was worthwhileto share what I haveexperienced regarding the foam choices.

<u>Foam Materials:

</u>For the 108"version,I recommend using the foamboard for thewings at least. The foamboard is very structurallyridgid, far more than anyother foam out there, butit also weighs more so you can save weight by using FFF or thicker Blue-Cor for the fuselage empenage (keepthe tailitselffoamboard). Even if you built according to the plans with all foamboard, it will fly well on an electric set up. I have a video from last year's JCSF Electric Fly-in of Stefan P's Electric MkIIwhich was basically stock. And it flew awesome.One thing to consider about attempting to make it muchlighter is that is will be like a balloon in the wind... keeping some of the mass is abenefit there.

<u>Electric Set-up:

</u>The following is the set up that worked awesome in a relatively stock Mud Duck MkII, in the words of the builder:
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 10pt">"Now these numbers ,I may have rounded them up or down a slite bit. As for power I'm at 1,375 to 1,400 watts.This is right after the batteries where off the charger.It is quite a bit of power. Like I tell people: I'm making almost 2hp (750 watts is equal to 1hp).You really don't need that much power. Anywhere between 75watts to 100watts per lb of the planes weight will fly good. Also, I generate lots of thrust because of the prop I use (APC-E 19x8). The motor is a Welgard C- 6362-10. </span><font color="#0000ff">http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=A2586784&amp;pid=W001765</font> Link on the motor specs. As for an ESC, all you need one that can handle the motor and batteries being used. My flight times are around 9min. I can go 10min but I'm pushing the batteries. Longer times require a higher milli amp rating. A better choice would be in the 4000mah or higher. I use a motor based on how the plane is meant to be flown."

<u>Liquid Sheeting:</u>

I am not familiar with it other than what i just found out checking out the website and the info there, but in my opinion it is completely unnecessary if you use foamboard. Foamboard privides as smooth of a surface. if you decide to go with FFF or Depron or something else with a more porous surface it will help but you are adding back some of that weight you were trying to save by using the lighter material.

I will leave the rest of the questions to other builders to point out if they feel there is anything to point out. I try to make everything as honest and out in the open as I know how, so if you have a specific question about the plane don't hesitate to contact me here or directly by email at [email protected] or by phone in the evenings at 732-441-3727.


Jack: Glad to hear your almost ready to get your Duck airborne, good luck on the surgery!

Greg
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Hi Lou. I have built and flown the mudduck. If I were you I would buy the kit from them. Use the foam board, no need for liquid sheeting, just paint the foamboard. We used a .91 four stroke we fly at about a quarter throttle. If you get an electric motor around the .90 size, you should be happy.

Aaron D.

thanks to all for the input.

Lou