I am still working on my KMP Dehaviland Beaver.

What is the purpose of installing these Winglets? on the Tail?

Does it keep the plane from weathervaneing?

Make it fly better or handle better?

The reason I ask, I am trying not to add any more weight to the tail.

But if it makes the plane fly better, more stable, I will.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

They provide additional fin area when it is mounted on floats. The floats have a massive side area, and a lot of it is in front of the center of gravity, and the center of lift, which tends to destablize it... The little fins help to offset that. They are only needed when it is on floats..... On some models they may not even be necessary...

Thanks Wayne,

I will leave them off , and test fly it on wheels.

when I install my floats, I will add the winglets, and adjust CG.

Ohh,

your Beaver is a Beauty!

What model is it? and what engine?

The Kenmore Air STC for installing EDO floats on Beavers includes the small vertical stabs you mention, for the purpose of improving stability.
Other companies that modify Beavers use sub-fins.

http://www.kenmoreair.com/sub_conten...ontent_type=29

That is a full size Beaver..I found the picture on the net to illustrate what I was talking about....

And Jim is right...most Beavers on floats use a single subfin

I talked with a Beaver pilot in Alaska about this subject and he said the sub fin will get in the way when the plane is at the dock and they swing the tail around over the dock. For this reason they go with the horizontal stab fins.
Seaplane

Hi there,

Just wondering if you ( or anyone ) had come across a neat way off adding some wheels to floats on these bigger Beaver planes?

Thanx, Paul

Hi Paul;

Are you looking at fixed gear on the floats (to be flown only from a paved surface) or retractable ?

Regards
Randy

Hey Randy,

Fixed.. but removable, if that makes sense? Retracts would be the bee's knees but fear that weight penalty would out weigh the bling factor!

Anything that is practical really... good looking too a bonus

Thanx, Paul

Hi Paul;

What model are you going to be modifying with the retract floats?

A couple of options here.

Go to www.hostetlersplans.com
About half way down on the page you will see J3 floats. Bring this up and you will see a 30% Cub on 60" flat top floats with wheels. They are recommended for model aircraft between 120-130" wingspan, 25-35 lbs.

The designer (Wendell Hostetler) also indicates they are offered in a retract form.
I remember getting a set of these plans a while ago, and I believe the floats can be modified for wheel removal. Just went through a house move and can't find the plans but will keep looking.

Another option is to "google" Fema Modelltechnik. Bring up the site that says "uebersicht" then bring up the catalog, it is a PDF file.
Fema is a German company that does advertise retractable landing gear that may be ok for floats, but I do agree the weight factor might be to great.

Hope this helps.
Keep me posted.

Regards
Randy

Thanks Randy, my model is the KMP Beaver. It came with floats, are you familiar with this plane? Something like 84inch wing and I'm powering it with a Saito 180.

Cheers, Paul

Hi Paul;

I have the same model. One of the earlier versions. Use a Zenoah G-26 with a FEMA onboard electric starter.
Have made many changes to the model, especially the float set up. It now fly's quite well.

I have a number of pics both in the air and on the water. Let me know if you are interested, I can send them to your
e-mail address.

Haven't been able to hook up the pics to this chat page yet.

Regards
Randy

I have read many of you posting over the last several months regarding the KMP Beaver. I am currently building one of what maybe one of the older models. Based on your recomendation, I have purchased a g26 and the electic starter from Hobby Lobby. Are you still running your G26? Have you made any futher mods? It would be of help if I could see some of your construction and mod pics.

If everything goes well, there will be a Beaver in the skies over Rome, Ga.

Thanks
Larry

I got to checking, and Wipline uses both a subfin and tip paddles. http://www.wipaire.com/Main_html/boss_beaver.html

Hi Fellows;

I tried posting pics on this forum before and things got a little "messed up".
(On my end)
If someone can step me through the process of how to register etc. I'll give it another try.
Failing that I can send the pics and further explainantions through the personal e-mail system.

In answer to your questions.

I presently use both winglet fins on the tail and ventral fin on my model. Pretty well a must on floats, if you don't you can see the tail "sag" in the turns. Once I get the posting of pics figured out I'll send those also. I built the ventral fin very light, not adding much weight at all.

Re the engine selection.
Yes, I'm still using the Zenoah G-26 with the Fema on board starter. Pretty slick outfit. I was initially concerned with the extra weight however the model requires nose weight.
The only thing I changed on the engine was the muffler. I found that the stock muffler did not breath enough and restricted the rpm. The modified muffler came from Abell Hobby. I increased 900 rpm turning an APC 18x6W prop. (I think it's about $45.00) Well worth it in my opinion. The modified muffler is a little louder than the stock muffler.

I find that the extra rpm on take off on water is what the model needed. Certainly in the air you won't need the power and will fly at under half throttle.

Hope this assists you.

Regards
Randy

Hiya Goldfinger, yours is a KMP Beaver? whats your thoughts on the landing gear supplied with the kit? As you mention I too will be flying firstly on wheels before fixing floats and the wing tips.

CFN, Paul

Hiya Randy

I think on my previous attempts to put pictures on here, you click the upload thingy ( below left on this writing panel ) click browse and find your pictures and upload them. Don't try and insert or click image in the above toolbar as they will be added when you OK the post. Someone may correct me but I'm sure that's what I did... give it a bash, looking forward to seeing your pitures.

CFN, Paul

H Paul;

Thanks for the info.
Still experiencing a few probs.
I went to the upload bar, then to the browse page, picked the pics from my file, then hit "ok".

But "no go".
Any idea where I messed up?

Watch this, all of a sudden I'll have a bunch of the same photos on this page.

Regards
Randy

Hi Fellows;

Tried it again but no pics.
However it says that the file was uploaded successfully !!!!!

Regards
Randy

Correction, got this one to go through, will try the rest.

This pic was taken at sunset by my son. It is the KMP model.

Here's the question. Without photo enhancing it, is the model taking off and turning to the right or decending to the left.
Just one of those "fluke" pics taken at the right time.

Regards
Randy

Sorry fellows, I guess it was a "fluke" that I got the above pic through.
It says that the file was uploaded successfully but when I push OK it doesn't transfer the pics to the forum thread !!!!!


Regards
Randy

Hiya Randy,
Don't think they'll load if you try to preview.. you're as good as me now.

I'll try one to showing a Antartic Royal New Zealand Airforce Beaver, here goes...

Hey cgrc,

You should put that photo, up for RCU shot of the moment. I bet they would except it!

Austin

Yip, I got it Randy... I did my text first then clicked upload pictures, brouse, selected and loaded, ok'd and ok'd the post.
Paul