Sharky:EPP Pond Flyer

[Joel K. Scholz]

I have built a few seaplanes over the years and while they were fun, invariably they managed to take on water and were unsuitable for flying off of small ponds or on terra firma. I have been working on this plane for some time and it is almost ready to kit. The originals were built up balsa, that flew well, but suffered from the shortcomings mentioned above. Here are some photos and early video of the process.

[Joel K. Scholz]

I am new to the forum and am not allowed to post the video.

[Larry3215]

Get a few more post in Joel and you will be able to post the video.

Id like to see it!

Is that all EPP foam?

[Joel K. Scholz]

Well, lets see if I am there yet. The plane is 1.9 oz epp with balsa tailfeathers. The videos show the originaL EPP sharky which is covered in ultracote.

Epp Sharky Test Flight Day Two on Vimeo

Sharky Flight testing and Crash on Vimeo

[Larry3215]

Oh man that was one heck of a bounce and it survived just fine! EPP is incredible stuff!

One thing I noticed is it looks like that fin you have at the tail is preventing it from rotating once it gets on step. Id bet it will take off a lot easier - at a much slower speed - if you cut it down by about 1/2 its height. Looks like it may be a tad nose heavy too. Doesnt want to slow down like I would have expected it too.

To improve ground handling there is some super slick tape you can get to put on the bottom just forward of the step. That will allow it to taxi much easier on ground and it will stear better too.

I'll try it find the link to the stuff I use on the bottoms of my Capricorn sponsons and on the bottom of my XXL Polaris.

Its kind of pricey. Even something like duct tape or packing tape will help.

Nicely done!

[Larry3215]

Found the tape.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/var...riant_id=46235

I like the 2" wide rolls but it comes in several different widths. This stuff will stick to almost anything and is very very durable. Im using it on the bottom of my XXL Polaris that weighs about 7.5 pounds.

[Joel K. Scholz]

Larry, I not clear on what you mean by cutting down the tail, nor do I understand how this word make for shorter takeoff runs. Keep in mind this plane weights 28 oz with a wingloading of 14 1/2 oz psf. I will post some more recent video when I can find some time.

[Larry3215]

Hi Joel,

I was refering to that fin you have hanging down below the rudder. It looks to me like its preventing the plane from rotating enough to get a good angle of attack for take off - especially on land.

Even in the water, as you pick up speed that fin is going to tend to ride up on top of the water and make it harder to rotate.

Ive had similar experience with water rudders on normal float planes and with similar fins I added to my Capricorns at one time. Its surprising how much they will lift the rear of a float or float plane at speed. Thats one reason they are always retractable or hinged to swing up on regular float planes.

There is also a drag issue but thats less important if you have enough power which you seem to have.

On the other hand - I didnt realize your wing loading was that hi so your going to need a good bit more speed than I was thinking regardless.

Still, Id bet cutting that fin so it doesnt hang down so far will help a lot on takeoffs.

Of course Im only charging you 2 cents for the unsolicited opinion, so take it for what its worth

[Joel K. Scholz]

Here is the video i completed today showing Sharky in action.
http://www.vimeo.com/3810656

[Larry3215]

Looks good Joel. Good luck with it!

[CHELLIE]

Thats a neet Plane Joel, I was watching the videos, and it reminded me a little of the Wander glider i used to have, i had a Sig power pod on the glider to get it up in the air with, and your power pod/ motor mount, looks just like it, keep up the great work, and Welcome to Wattflyers, Chellie

[CHELLIE]

To Follow the planes easier with your camera, try making on of these camera mounts.
just align the open site with the camera center on the viewing screen at a object about 100 to 200 feet away, set the zoom to about 1/4 to 1/3 and just follow the plane with the open sites like you would follow a Dove Bonnie will love it, make it lite for her with holes in the stock Hope that helps, Chellie

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/show...ighlight=rifle


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTbir0Uc6Q8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DPID2Qrdxc

this video was taken using the rifle camera mount