Looking For Floats For E-Flight Apprentice...

[NFA Fabrication]

The warmer days are coming upon us, and I am looking to outfit my E-Flight Apprentice with floats. I have access to a friends waterfront property, and have a perfect place for float plane activity.

I was assuming this was going to be an easy find, but I am only finding unfinished floats. I don't mind making brackets or whatever to mount them, but I would like to buy ready made floats. Any idea's where to look?

[solentlife]

Will the EPO Cessna 182 floats on HK suit ? I bought a set for my Skyartec Cessna and I haven't fitted them yet - but they have all needed ... brackets, screws, finished floats, water rudder etc.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=16660

I'm waiting for winter to completely go ... then I shall fit and fly at back of my house ...

[NFA Fabrication]

Originally Posted by solentlife

Will the EPO Cessna 182 floats on HK suit ? I bought a set for my Skyartec Cessna and I haven't fitted them yet - but they have all needed ... brackets, screws, finished floats, water rudder etc.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=16660

I'm waiting for winter to completely go ... then I shall fit and fly at back of my house ...

That is this plane here: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=16659
, which is about a 37" wingspan. The Apprentice is a 58" wingspan. Too small I'm afraid.

[NFA Fabrication]

I may have found them! Horizon Hobby has a set for another plane with a 65" WS, and there is even a review from someone that used them on an Apprentice!

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...ntor-MPU733062

A little pricey at $40, but if they will work, I can get past that.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by NFA Fabrication

That is this plane here: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=16659
, which is about a 37" wingspan. The Apprentice is a 58" wingspan. Too small I'm afraid.

Yep -my fault - should have checked more.

But HK do have floats for larger machines ... and at budget pricing. OK shipping always hits - but if other gear ordered as well ?

I'm looking fwd to fitting mine to my Skyartec 182 Cessna ... as I have a large river at back of my house that is often like a mill-pond .. I have 2 yachts, 2 motorboats and 3 dinghys ....... so no problem to retrieve model !!

[Timewarp]

I just sold my Apprentice a few months back and I picked up a Fun Cub with floats. From what I can tell the FunCub is similar in size to the Apprentice and should be able to use the floats built for the FunCub. Try these, they should work. http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...-cub-MPU733063

[xmech2k]

I hesitated to chime in with this link before because you said you wanted finished floats, but seeing as what we've all found so far, I figured I might as well throw this link in:

http://www.seaplanesupply.com/index.htm

You say you don't mind making the mount brackets and such, so the worst thing here is covering the floats. Not only is there a page on installing floats on an Apprentice, but there is also a PDF 'book' all about float flying, including what size floats a plane needs, what location and angle they should be attached, etc.

I just got a set from them for my Apprentice, but have yet to start working on the installation. Good luck!

[NFA Fabrication]

Originally Posted by xmech2k

I hesitated to chime in with this link before because you said you wanted finished floats, but seeing as what we've all found so far, I figured I might as well throw this link in:

http://www.seaplanesupply.com/index.htm

You say you don't mind making the mount brackets and such, so the worst thing here is covering the floats. Not only is there a page on installing floats on an Apprentice, but there is also a PDF 'book' all about float flying, including what size floats a plane needs, what location and angle they should be attached, etc.

I just got a set from them for my Apprentice, but have yet to start working on the installation. Good luck!

That was one of the places I originally found as well. They look nice, and are proven, but wanted to see if there was a simpler method first. The fun cub is only 3" smaller wingspan, so those floats may be a good option as well...

[xmech2k]

Originally Posted by NFA Fabrication

That was one of the places I originally found as well. They look nice, and are proven, but wanted to see if there was a simpler method first. The fun cub is only 3" smaller wingspan, so those floats may be a good option as well...

Agreed, but they look just like what you get from Seaplane Supply. I looked but didn't see instructions for the FunCub floats to see just what was involved with those.

Anyway, just thought I'd throw it out there, and to make sure you got to see the cool e-book. I can't wait to get mine done. I'll try to post pics when I do. Do the same for us!

[gramps2161]

Here is a few more floats from Maxford USA. might give you some ideas.
http://www.maxfordusa.com/floatsandparts.aspx

NFA I moved your thread to the Seaplane area you should get more answers here than in general electric thread.
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66311

[NFA Fabrication]

Originally Posted by gramps2161

Here is a few more floats from Maxford USA. might give you some ideas.
http://www.maxfordusa.com/floatsandparts.aspx

NFA I moved your thread to the Seaplane area you should get more answers here than in general electric thread.
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66311

Thanks! Din't even see that there was one!

[Jim Casey]

OK, the world may start spinning backwards for me saying this, but SIG offers GeeBee floats. They are blow-molded plastic-like a detergent bottle. I have been among their harshest critics. Bit if you want a finished set of floats that are not ridiculously heavy, you could try these.

[NFA Fabrication]

Originally Posted by Jim Casey

OK, the world may start spinning backwards for me saying this, but SIG offers GeeBee floats. They are blow-molded plastic-like a detergent bottle. I have been among their harshest critics. Bit if you want a finished set of floats that are not ridiculously heavy, you could try these.

Any Links?

[Jim Casey]

Here's one: http://www.toddsmodels.com/product_p/geeq2000.htm

[Jim Casey]

They are no longer listed in the SIG website. Googling "Gee Bee Floats" produces very few hits.

Fiberglass floats appear in the Maxford site, and if you check the weight they weigh a substantial fraction of what the plane weighs.

Hobby Lobby used to offer Zeedoo floats, but now the floats that LOOK like zeedoos in the HL website are advertised as ABS; which would make them SF floats. Not bad, just Chinese copies instead of German. (And only in .40 size which would nominally be 32".