RCU Forums - SIG LT 25 FLOAT QUESTION

Here are four sources to get good foam-core floats. The first one is Ralph Smith; "seaplane" on this forum. Ralph's are the standard by which others are measured.
http://www.geocities.com/planefunfloats/

The next one is Niagara model products. They make a nice set of floats with a rounded top.
http://www.foamcorefloats.com/

These guys seem to specialize in floats for electrics, still I don't remember a negative word about them.
http://www.foamfloats.com/

These floats have been around a long time, and the ones I have seen seemed to work quite well.
http://users.cwnet.com/zdgreg/index.html

The Slocan floats from the previous post have a cultishly loyal following in the PacNW. I've never seen them. Must be good.

OR you can make your own: see RC Ski and float construction in Randy Linderman's website. http://www.flyinglindy.homestead.com/index1~ns4.html

Floats should be 75-80% of the length of your fuselage. Most "experts" suggest locating the step a little behind the balance point, but there are those who are proponents for putting the step under the balance point or a little in front, even. Just get them both the same and it will probably work. The nose of the floats should be a little (20% of the prop diameter) in front of the prop. If nothing else, it helps keep you from breaking the prop when you taxi up to the dock. There is also added resistance to nosing over. If you have the right size floats, and you put the step in the right place, the nose length will take care of itself.

With the tops of the floats level, on a Kadet, the bottom of the wing should also be level to a couple of degrees positive i.e.: Nose-up. Do NOT raise the nose of the floats in some misguided attempt to make them jump up on top of the water faster.

Mount your floats parallel to the centerline of the plane. Some advocate a little toe-in but I have never found it necessary. Wheels, yes. Floats, no.