scale floats for 1/5th Scale WACO
 

Could anyone in this forum direct me to a good set of scale floats for a 1/5th scale built up model of the WACO YMF? This is not the ARF version, but is based on the PICA fifth scale kit (with a few modifications) The model will weigh approximately 14.8 pounds when finished (excluding the floats). It's for flying, so they need to be more than a display model. Thanks in advance.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

RE: scale floats for 1/5th Scale WACO
 

Bill--A long time ago (1977) I bought Dave Platt's Waco YMF-3 when I was teaching university in Norway. Because there was no place around to fly it from landing gear (but lots of lakes and fiords), I decided to put it on floats. I flew down to London to some show or conference that hosted models and bought a set of floats designed for a 60's powered Supermarine racer. Sorry to say I don't remember which company, but the floats were two-piece glue-together fiberglass and in appearance fit the model perfectly. The Dave Platt Waco has a 60" wingspan, and I would like to fit it with a Saito 90 radial (it's about 60% complete after forty years) . But by the time I add in the weight of the floats, radio gear and aerial video for AV flying, I'm guessing the weight will be around yours, and I'm uncertain whether the scale floats I fitted have enough bouyancy. I have been debating between Saito's 90 radial swinging a 13" prop, and their FSR 170, which can swing a 16" scale prop. But I don't know if the Waco designed for a 60 will handle something that large, probably three pounds more than the recommended 60, though I've heard biplanes are notoriously tail heavy and have to have extra weight up front. I'm assuming your 1/5 scale Waco has a 60" wingspan, same as mine. What are you using for a powerplant? Unfortunately I'm sitting over here in Norway for the moment (until April 15) and the plane is at my home outside Salem, Oregon, or I would mail you the dimensions of the floats. When I get back I plan to put the model in my pond, load it with all the weight I think I need to finish it, and see if the existing scale Supermarine floats are adequate. Would very much like to hear from you on your proposed powerplant. Dick

RE: scale floats for 1/5th Scale WACO
 

Dick,

No, you have the smaller of the two WACO's. Mine is the 72" wingspan version, and I have built 3 others of this size. I found early on that the OS 160 FT twin is the perfect engine for this one. It will balance with no additional weight. (you do need to be able to move the airborne battery (2400mah) to set the C/G in the correct location. I think tha the Saito 90 twin would be an excellent choice for yours or even the 100 twin that they (Saito) offer.

The floats that were the correct size for your 60" version will be too small for my larger one. Thank you very much for thaking thetime and trouble to answer me. I may even have to build a foam plug and pull a mold from it, and lay up my own floats. It seems that no one knows of a set that I might purchase that would be adequate for a plane of this scale and weight.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

ps...If you like the WACO's there is a fairly large thread in Vintage and Antique forum that details the build on mine and others. There is also a thread in the ARF forum on the new release from Cox. Looks like these may be a viable alternative to building one.

RE: scale floats for 1/5th Scale WACO
 

Rtparr, I've been making and selling foam core floats for nearly 5 years now and I have created a spreadsheet to calculate the displacement of a float. If you can give me some detailed dimensions, I will plug them. I need info like width at widest part, at the stern and at the nose. Height at the same 3 places. Flat bottom or vee bottom. Depth of step. And of course total length of float and length from step to nose.

Stickbuilder, look at www.geocities.com/planefunfloats . The length of float should be 75% - 80% of your fuselage length measuring from the prop to the rudder hinge line.

Seaplane

RE: scale floats for 1/5th Scale WACO
 

Seaplane,

Thanks for the link. I think that one of the larger kits may work for me (with some modifications)

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1