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Author Topic: Waterplane Scratchbuild--jump in, the water's fine!  (Read 87784 times)
PTKohlmann
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« on: January 10, 2013, 08:29:03 PM »

Hey fellas,

I was challenged the other night at the Board Meeting to start posting here on our forum.  I gave it some thought and I’ve come up with a plan that might be kind of fun.

I’m going to build a 29” WS (note--previously I said 38", but that is the length) foamie water plane called a Polaris.  It was designed by Steve Shumate as a simple foam knockoff of the Northstar.  Here’s a link to Steve’s build thread on RCGroups:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=922465&highlight=jetset44

Judging from the video on the build thread, this thing is going to rock!  Steve claims that his has a useful speed range between 10 and 70mph.

You can find the plan free online.  They build up really fast and the airframe is so cheap to build that it is practically free.  They are inexpensive to outfit, too.  I’m planning on having mine ready in time for the first Float Fly in May.

So here’s the trick:  if a couple of guys are inspired to build one of these then I’ll prepare the cut files so that Red can cut them for us.  Red has already generously agreed to do so.  

Any takers?  Here’s a photo of the finished Polaris:


* IMG_8807_(800x565).jpg (39.52 KB, 800x565 - viewed 1129 times.)
« Last Edit: February 03, 2013, 10:07:17 PM by PTKohlmann » Logged
Red
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« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2013, 08:44:33 PM »

Well, I guess I'm going to have to have one then........
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2013, 09:00:39 PM »

Hah—I knew that you would jump!  That’s good ‘cuz now I don’t have to feel guilty about free laser time.  Drew just signed up to build one, too.

Just to sweeten the pot for anyone else, I can tell you a little about the Shumate designs.  My son Drew and I each built a Shumate T38 early last year.  The boy was 11 at the time and he had no problem tackling this project with just a little guidance.

We built our Talons from Dollar Tree foam poster board.  That means that the airframes cost about $5 each including the CF wing stiffener.  What can I say—I’m a tightwad.

These things scream, though.  We run 2200kV motors on 3S for unlimited vertical.  But the best part is that they are nimble enough fly on a softball field and they will slow to a walk.  In fact, they are so easy to fly that Drew maidened his by himself.

I expect the Polaris to perform similarly, but it will have the ability to scoot off of the grass/water/snow.  Should be fun.

Here is a pic of our Talons right after Drew and I knocked out back to back maidens.


* rsz_1dsc_7423.jpg (100.31 KB, 292x395 - viewed 1084 times.)
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2013, 09:05:49 PM »

One more shot of mine right after the paint shop.  She looks a little rougher now after a couple of hundred flights but is still a blast to fly.  She lives in my trunk and gets flown alot.


* rsz_1photo2.jpg (95.74 KB, 500x373 - viewed 1103 times.)
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jeff_penner
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« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2013, 09:07:50 PM »

I'm in . . . I have never had anything to fly off water. This looks like a good one to start with.

And thanks Red for stepping up with the laser.

Jeff
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2013, 09:24:19 PM »

Sweet!  I decided that if we hit 4 that it would be worth it to me to make the cut file.  But I didn't think that I'd hit that number in less than an hour.  This forum is even better than you guys said it was!

And check me out--I've got as many posts as Jeff already!

Anybody else?  It would be great to have a whole squadron flying this spring!  Proven kits for the cost of the foam . . . .

Paul
« Last Edit: January 10, 2013, 09:26:46 PM by PTKohlmann » Logged
W3racing
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« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2013, 09:30:49 PM »

This build was fun and the plane flies great. Just be sure to add inlet and outlet airscoops to cool the esc i've seen a few smokers (ask Merle). Also dont use a cheap servo for the elevator you cant get to it without alot of cutting believe me I learned the hard way.


* IMG_20130112_083649 (1).jpg (92.37 KB, 640x480 - viewed 1096 times.)
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2013, 11:10:39 AM »

Thanks for that!  I remember a couple of foamie delta waterplanes at the Float Flies this year but I couldn't recall if they were from the same design.  Yours looks great.

I finished the tracing of the parts for the kit.  Just need to arrange them for the laser. 

Btw--I got a big bottle of CorrosionX for the dunking of our electronics.

Paul
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2013, 09:42:46 AM »

We talked about this project a little bit at the Members Meeting this week.  Merle told us that he has built 5 of these things already for various people!  Flight reports were positive as well, especially in regard to how these planes will slow to a crawl for a gentle touchdown.

One question that came up was what does it cost to outfit one of these planes.  Based on what Drew and I did with our T38s I see it like this:

Foam      $ 2 for posterboard, Depron ?
CF tube.  $ 5 wing stiffener and hstab joiner
Power     $29 2200kV combo Grayson Hobby
Servos    $30 HS55s from Jake

So I'm looking at a $66 airplane needing nothing to fly but an Rx.  You could save $15 on servos but I'm trying to stop using cheap junk.  You could find a cheaper motor/ESC but we've been very happy with the system that we've been using. 

Red--what's Depron run?

Steve Koll jumped in at the meeting signing up for two kits.  I'll see if I can't complete the cut files next week while I'm on the road for biz.

Paul
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DaveM
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« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2013, 03:23:32 PM »

Paul,

Count me in for a kit. While I haven't done much "building" to speak of, I figure even I can handle this.

Dave
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2013, 04:30:25 PM »

Welcome aboard, Dave!  We'll keep you out of trouble. Grin

Oh yeah, Go Niners!!!

Paul
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Red
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« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2013, 12:48:27 PM »

Paul,

A sheet of 6mm Depron 27"x 39" is about $10 shipped.

Red
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2013, 03:39:51 PM »

Thanks Red.  I'm in Huntsville Alabama tis week but I got some work done on the Polaris last night.  It will take two sheets for all of the parts.

The alternative to Depron is foamboard with the paper removed for a buck a sheet. Red, don't you roll your eyes at me.

Paul
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PTKohlmann
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« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2013, 12:29:50 PM »

Got the cut files knocked out and passed on to Red.  He needs to massage them a little before his laser can run them but we should be close to cutting some parts.

I heard from Paul Eason last night and he is in for a kit, too.  To sweeten the deal, he offered up some of his personal Bluecor stash.  Bluecor is like Depron but used for construction.  Normally its quite a bit cheaper than Depron, but in this case it is free!  Thanks, Paul!

Before we start cutting we'll need to nail down what type of foam each builder wants to use.

Paul
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peason
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« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2013, 03:28:09 PM »

Yep, I'm in.  If Red can cut Bluecore, I have a bunch of it and would be willing to donate to those willing to build the cut kit.  I've built a few foamies from Bluecore and using gorilla glue, and careful construction you can make a pretty nice planes.  I've built a "Twin" from "Foam and Tape" (one of the Sorilli (sp) brothers on RC groups), a Bluebaby (this didn't turn out well), and a couple of wings (I fly them at home all the time) with great success.  Some of you have seen the "Twin" fly - 4' wing span but only two 24gram blue wonders powering it.  I've also got a few tips for painting the foam's plastic coated side with Kyrlon Fusion.  Should be fun.

Sorry I haven't seen you guys much, but I've been a traveling fool gone every other week for work. 

Paul
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