Float plane conversion and exposed servos?
12-10-2005 | 11:45 AM
#1
Float plane conversion and exposed servos?
I'm converting a large scale plane to floats. The plane now has the rudder and elevator servos exposed in the rear of the fuselage. Do these servos have to be moved inside the fuselage? [
] Or can hoods be fabricated to keep the water spray off of the servos? 
Thanks for your help!
Chris
] Or can hoods be fabricated to keep the water spray off of the servos? Thanks for your help!
Chris
12-10-2005 | 12:14 PM
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From: , CA
RE: Float plane conversion and exposed servos?
Chris, If you can without to much trouble, put them inside the fuse. If not, the hoods will work too. Seal any opening around the servo with silicone. You'll be suprized how the water can find it's way into place's you don't want it. A small o-ring under the horn around the output shaft of the servos is also a way to help stop water penatrateing the servo.
Good Luck.......
Good Luck.......
12-10-2005 | 01:03 PM
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RE: Float plane conversion and exposed servos?
The servo shaft fits pretty tighly and has a big glob of grease on it. You won't have trouble with water inside the servo. Even if the plane dunks, it will float nose down on its back with the tail out of the water. As JustPlaneKrazy stated, your real challenge is to keep water from getting into the fuselage around the servos.
12-11-2005 | 07:34 AM
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From: Leesburg,
IN
RE: Float plane conversion and exposed servos?
On the planes that I plan to use for floats in addition to wheels I normally mount the rudder servo at the rear of the fuse so that I can then attach a flexible control rod (Gold-n-Rod) to the floats for a water rudder. The only thing to watch out for, as has been mentioned previously, is to put silicone sealant around the servo to keep water out of the fuse. See photo of Balsa USA Stingray for clarification.
On my 80" Midwest Extra 300S, I have the rudder servo inside the fuse and the water rudder is controlled by a servo that's on top of one of the floats, and this hasn't been a problem either for that servo or the two elevator servos that are externally mounted.
In the attached photo of the Extra you can easily see the rear-mounted elevator servos. If you look closely you can also see the port to which the water rudder servo wire attaches, between the cockpit and the wing, and if you look VERY closely you may be able to see the water rudder servo arm (white) sticking up above the rear portion of the left float, behind the rear float mounting bracket.
On my 80" Midwest Extra 300S, I have the rudder servo inside the fuse and the water rudder is controlled by a servo that's on top of one of the floats, and this hasn't been a problem either for that servo or the two elevator servos that are externally mounted.
In the attached photo of the Extra you can easily see the rear-mounted elevator servos. If you look closely you can also see the port to which the water rudder servo wire attaches, between the cockpit and the wing, and if you look VERY closely you may be able to see the water rudder servo arm (white) sticking up above the rear portion of the left float, behind the rear float mounting bracket.
