Here's my latest seaplane conversion, a Stringer 40 on old timer style, tail dragger floats. I haven't flown it yet from water, but have several flights from land. I have flown the floats on another plane that has been retired so I don't expect any problems.

A couple of things of note about tail dragger floats:
1. The tail float acts like the water rudder. In this case, it is attached to the rudder.
2. As soon as you hit power, the tail is up and you are on the step, so to speak.
3. The original plane skimmed in very nicely, then settled back on the tail float. I have also brought it in very slow in a head wind and sat it down 3-point.
4. The rear of the main floats is in the location of the step on conventional floats.

Sea Stinger Specs:

Stinger 40 ARF
Saito .72, 13-6 prop
Front float: 15" long
Rear float 7" long
The floats were made from a pair of Niagara foam floats.

What kind of hinges do you use in the rudder? My only worry would be that the rudder hinges would be taking a beating. Any problems there?
Paul

Just regular CA hinges. I've had more problems with fun fly & 3D planes breaking hinges than I ever had on seaplanes. The previous plane with these floats did not have a hinge failure.

If I ever have a hinge problem, I sew the surfaces together with figure 8 hinges using Kevlar thread.

Ed-
any damage from the storm?

I like the Stinger. Disappointed that Grape Pains gutted a lot of the good models from the Lanier lineup when they bought the company.

Jim,

Tropical stortm Fay was down to nothing by the time it got to the Fort Walton Beach area, just some breezy winds and a little rain, not even as much as we needed.

I know what you mean about GP dropping several Lanier planes. I bought this Stinger 40 when the price went way down, less than $100, just before they ran out. It could be that GP is having they redesigned slightly and being made by their manufacturers, rather than the one that Lanier used. I can't see them killing all the Stingers. They were too popular. The 40 size needs to be redone with 2 aileron servos and maybe wider ailerons, although one aileron servo is good for water flying.

I hope to get up to the lake next weekend or the one after. Next weekend is Labor Day, so skip that one. I also have a new Arrow delta to test fly. Right now we have a bind in the right elevon that we are trying to get rid of. And it needs some trim on top. JBA .56 for power.

Thinking back I've never had a CA hinge fail, it has always been the wood around the hinge.
I've never heard of a figure 8 hinge. Is that just a hinge made of the kevlar thread?
Paul

Figure 8 hinges date way back to my CL days in the 50s and 60s only we used carpet thread.

I get the Kevlar at a sporting goods store in the fishing section. It's Kevlar leader or something. Yellow colored. Never breaks.

I get big needles at a sewing place.

I usually drill 1/16" holes opposite to each other in the surface and the control. Go down through the surface, then up between the surface and control, then down through the control, up between and back and forth a few times. I usually hit the holes with medium CA.

Interesting approach to hinges. I'll have to give it a try. I'm going to try the tail dragger float also, as soon as I get my Decathlon back together. Thanks for the ideas.
Paul

Here's a shot of the Sea Stinger on the shore of Lake Jackson in Florala, Alabama, our usual float fly place.

In my opinion, the tail dragger floats are outstanding. As soon as you add any power, the tail comes up and you are skimming along on the step. Steerng is with the air rudder. The plane lifts off easily, much more so than my Sea Roar (Uproar on conventional floats). Landings are great, too. The plane skims along on the step until it slows down. I could do touch and goes with this thing all day long. I would say they handle better and are easier to take off or land than any of my conventional floats.

I made these tail dragger floats by cutting down some conventional floats, but I am gettng ready to order some from Seaplane Supply. Their Hot Timers look good to me.