Netdewt

Someday I'd like to build an "boat-plane" style seaplane. Not sure what you guys actually call them. The Andersen Kingfishers on here are pretty much the coolest thing I've ever seen.

Anyways, I really like the Sig Sealane (one of the few kits that seem to be available?) but the sponsons are really ugly. Would it be pretty simple to swap out the kit sponsons for different ones?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDUC7&P=7

Netdewt

I got this from the pictures thread. These sponsons look good:

mimhoff

My Feedback: (3)

I am currenly building a Sig Sealane (very slowly). Anyway floats/sponsos are attached to the wing with a nylon bolt into a blind nut in the float so they can be removed for flying from land so yes it would be very easy to change the floats. The plans also show you how to build removable landing gear so you can fly from land. If you decide build it you might want to search RCU - there are several threads about adding chines etc.

Mark

Netdewt

Cool. It looks like a nice little plane. If I made it I would only be using it in the water. I have to learn how to fly first though. I'm afraid. It's been 10 years and I finally don't care about my trainer.

P.S. does anyone know what that orange plane is (above)?

mimhoff

My Feedback: (3)

I think it is a Lanier Mariner 40 MKII ARF. I am not sure it is still in production.

Mark


http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_gu...fm?kit_id=1941

Lamoilleriver

Hope to maiden my Sealane soon if the weather cooperates. Agree that the sponsons are ugly, built my to plans anyway. Be curious to see what substitute you come up with.

beau0090_99

Hey Net,
I see you're in the same area as me. I built a Sealane last summer and fly it at the float fly for TCRC each year. I thought the sponsons were ugly too until I built them. They are actually pretty decent looking and the plane is a rocket. Here are a few pics. If you haven't ordered your kit yet, and want to wait and swing by the TCRC float fly at Bush Lake Park in Bloomington in September and check it out.

Curtis

Netdewt

Very cool color scheme on yours. I saw it in the pictures thread and was going to post it at the top but I felt creepy reposting your baby (the human baby)! I think I'll definitely put the float fly on the calendar. Is there a set date yet this year? I'm actually in St. Louis Park.

I'm going to finish my Big Swamp Buggy first and start something new when it's done.

Are there any good sources for plans out there? I'm sure I could cut all my own wood with the scroll saw I have but rarely use.

beau0090_99

Thanks,
The Float Fly is Saturday the 19th of September at Bush Lake park on the East side of the lake at the beach. I'd be curious to see your swamp buggy, I used to have a Lil' swamp buggy when I was about 16 with the cox .049 on it. What do you put in the big one?

Not sure about the plans service, but you may be able to find stuff int he AMA plans service. A coupld of months ago their was a profile of the drake or drake II in the Model Aviation magazine.

Come on out to the FF this fall. It will be a lot of fun.
Curtis
P.S. Post some pics of the BSB when you get her done.

Netdewt

I think the recommendation is .40 to .60. I've got a OS .60 FP for it.

I got the Fly-in on my calendar. My 20 month old will probably love it!

beau0090_99

That will be great. I'll have to make sure my wife brings Laurence, he will be 18 months then.
Curtis

jaygee

I built a Sealane a couple of years ago. It was originally made with the unusual Sig floats, but when one got damaged (the nylon bolts did not break) I made my own. They are foam covered in 1/16 balsa with a ply pylon. They work very well. The fuselage bottom forward of the step has trailing edge stock glued along the chine. The idea was to give more lift and send less splash up over the model. It works but there is still a lot of spray for 2-3 seconds on take off.[img][/img]

beau0090_99

Hey Jaygee,
Nice Sealane. I like your paint scheme on it. I noticed that you are running a 4S on it, did you modify the engine mount/pylon to get a larger prop to swing in there? I noticed that you opened up the cowl.
Looks great,
Curtis

jaygee

Hi Curtis, thanks for the comments. The fuselage is covered in solartex (different coloured off-cuts) and epoxy painted. Everything else is covered in econocote. The engine is a Magnum .52 FS, 11 x 8 prop. To get enough clearance the engine mount was turned over and placed as high as possible on the firewall. The pylon started cracking along its base so I epoxied birch ply plates each side with a thick glue fillet along the top of the wing. I have a bottom cowl and metal spinner, I just left them off.