i really want a float plane and now that i am out an expensive seawind i cant decide what to do.. i would like a .61 size cub with floats for the same or less than the seawind's price. i was also thinking about the seamaster.. do they make the seamaster for .61 engines? how do they fly? (like a trainer, etc..) i would actually prefer the cub unless the seamaster has great flight characteristics..

Seamasters fly awsome,I compare there flight characteristics to a four star sixty.I suppose you can put a .60 engine on it,you might have to use some throttle management.-Jeffo

what about a cub with floats, how does it fly? cubs aren't the most stable flyers correct? i have never had an opportunity to fly one, but it seems to me like it should be a good flyer, maybe similar to a trainer.. the reason i am looking for something with trainer characteristics is i have never flown a plane with floats so i want something that flies stable, but i want a large cub as well bc i think they are beautiful! but a couple of older gentlemen at the club say the cubs they have flown flew unstable and tip stalled easily, which i something i definitely do not want to happen on water especially! if a .61 size cub flies fairly stable thats what i want, just let me know guys. plus i really don't want to fit a .61 engine on a plane it shouldn't be on.. might make it a little top heavy as well as causing it to fly poorly.

or what about a yellow senior telemaster? that would be awesome, kind of a knock off 1/4 cub, and for cheap! where would i have to go to get floats large enough though? can i make floats for this plane? if so where can i get plans for them? should i go foam, balsa, or coroplast on the floats? thanks!

A telemaster should be great! If you do that, power it in the top end of the recommended engine range and it should go really well. There are generic plans available for building floats for any size plane. They scale according to fuse lenght and plane weight.

Here's a few pages

http://flyinglindy.homestead.com/skisandfloats.html
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/...oats/index.htm


If you did floats, I'd recommend foam floats. Without hollow hulls, they can't leak, and even after a crash, your plane will stay afloat so long as it's attached to the floats. Built up balsa or hollow fibreglass floats can and do sometimes leak, sinking planes to the bottom.

Flying boats (sorry 'bout your seawind, btw...) are easier to fly off water than float planes, I think. a float plane's CG is several inches above the water, and that means if you flub a landing, the plane is likely to nose over or cartwheel. You can slap a flying boat in pretty abruptly, and since the CG is INSIDE the float, it'll usually handle it pretty well.

Either way, flying off water isn't really all that different from flying off land, just the pieces get wet when you crash... And you need a boat to get it back when it does!

Cubs aren't really unstable, but they're not a trainer. They're either high-winged aerobats (espec. clipped wing variants) or they're floaters needing a bit of a "scale" piloting touch. Most people you hear saying they're touchy or difficult to fly are trying (often in vain) to dissuade a newbie from using one as a trainer. They are find second (and beyond) planes, and look great on floats. The telemaster would be an easier to fly plane, but can also be a real floater (in flight, that is..).

I'd look into a seamaster. Remember, though, especially with seaplanes, power is great, but weight is even more important. If you had a .40 size flying boat, it'd fly better with a 46. Better still with a small case 51 of similar weight. But the bigger block .61 might be enough extra weight to ruin her water handling, especially take-off performance. So, hit the top end of recommended engine size with a light version of that size, and don't be tempted to install 3d power!

I'll vote for the Sr Tele. I flew one for about 5 years until My receiver decided to pack it in one day.
Great floatplane.
Another choice: Kadet Senior. Maybe even better than the Tele.
3rd Choice: Astro-Hog.

The Sr Tele needs 45" long floats. The SrK and AstroHog get by on about 40" floats.

Although I have flown flying boats, I will offer that I am more comfortable with floatplanes. FBs can hook the wingtip float and do strange things sometimes. They ARE less likely to blow over.

thanks guys! i have always liked the kadet senior, but it is a little more pricey than the telemaster.. which one would fly best with an os 61 sf? thanks!

I'm flying a Senior Telemaster ARF on floats with a old magnum .80 four stroke and I have plenty of power for flying scale. I'm sure your 61 would have plenty of power. The only thing I really don't like about the ARF is the covering sucks. It looks fine for about a month and then starts to peel off in places. Also, beaf up the tail section with some triangle stock or additional balsa, the huge stabalizer just wobbles around supported only by thin balsa sheeting.

I have an ultra stick 60 on floats and it makes an awesome float plane.