55" Cessna 182 & SC Floats & my dog....

[CrimzonRider]

Found a set of Hobbyzone SC floats for sale(almost brand new) on the cheap and I was able to grab them first.
My fault for putting them in the dog's way, but she stepped on box and created a puncture/1" rip about 3" in front of the step.
Being new to floats, I hadn't realized before that they are hollowed out and not solid foam.
Easy fix I thought, CA and some ugly tape maybe. But then I thought about just filling up the void somewhat (or completely) with low-expanding spray can foam. Of course, the other side will be done as well.

Plane is Cessna 182 SS Skytrainer 55" (400w) from NP.com. I have read about fuse/float ratio(70-80%).. Fuse is approx. 35" long & floats are 24" = 68.5%. IMVHO Little small???
So I was guessing a extra foam would be a good thing? ..and worrying about floats taking on water would be a thing of the past.
2nd question......Should I lengthen float behind step to handle a lil extra weight?? 182(38oz.) vs. SC 47"WS(25oz.)?? too much of a mis-match??
Also, gonna be adding servo/1 float rudder.

Any thoughts and/or better ideas??

thanks
CR

(PS....got big rain coming nxt week!!)

[Jim Casey]

You're probably OK with the length. It's measured (Goodness knows why) from the propeller washer to the rudder hinge line, so you may be within the limits of the guideline anyway. And it's only a guideline.

Just make sure that when they float the plane, the waterline is less than halfway up the float. ONE float should be able to support the weight of the plane.

Next-time, get foam-core floats. They barely weigh anything, and can't sink. I had one set last thru 6 airplanes.

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by Jim Casey

You're probably OK with the length...... And it's only a guideline.

Next-time, get foam-core floats. They barely weigh anything, and can't sink. I had one set last thru 6 airplanes.

Good to know, Thanks Jim. I will definitely look for foam core.

cr

BTW Very Nice website....i am reading it now! thanks again

[Jim Casey]

Thanks for the kind words. Good luck with your floats.

[gramps2161]

CR here is a place to buy the foam core floats from prices are good. I am buying a set soon from them myself.
http://www.seaplanesupply.com/index.htm

[CrimzonRider]

Thanks gramps. I was just looking at that very same link on jim's webpage. I was looking at a couple other links, but I don't need the fancy balsa sheeted ones.

Just not 100% sure which ones to get, the 28" would surely be big enough, but looking at the Apprentice 27" set too and the T-28 25".(I'm thinking these are the best suited)

The ones in the pic are actually 23", with less than a 1" in front of the prop, the step is in front, but almost right at the CG.

Shoulda known buy dirt cheap price buy twice. lol....ugh Good to know that its a good place to buy.


cr

[gramps2161]

I asked road king 97 about this site and their floats. He said they are the lightest around and the floats are good. I was looking at some of the GP float kits they wgt. a lot no need to keep adding wgt. to a plane. The floats are super light from Sea Plane Supply, and they are solid foam no leaking.
I need to place a order with them soon like to have a plane ready for the spring to fly off the water.

[CrimzonRider]

Cool, thanks joe too. I ordered the 27" app set, so I could get at least 2" in out front(what I've read on jim's page too.) I think it said 34"s weighed 8oz each after glassing, so just guessing 27" maybe around 6oz. each finished.

cr

[CrimzonRider]

Chalk up another person who thinks seaplanesupply.com is excellent....ordered on Sun afternoon, recv'd this morning. Fast shipping and the foam floats were shipped with the original entire piece of foam(that they were cut from) to prevent any damage during transit.

cr

[CrimzonRider]

Instead of starting new thread, I thought I just ask here. Snow usually doesn't have a long life here in Oklahoma, but still have few inches (slushy and melting), but got another 8-12in. coming tonight and tomorrow.

Do floats work better on "dry" snow, I was just guessing that really wet snow might have more of a "suction" effect. Am I correct in saying this?? Trying to get them done by tonight.

Thanks in advance
cr

[gramps2161]

Dry fluffy snow is better than wet snow, but I don't think it will matter much. The btt. of those floats are pretty slick with the covering on them.
Hope you post up some picks of your float setup. I was just looking at the floats last night I for my electric stick be ordering this week.
Did you find they went together easy?

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by gramps2161

Dry fluffy snow is better than wet snow, but I don't think it will matter much. The btt. of those floats are pretty slick with the covering on them.
Hope you post up some picks of your float setup. I was just looking at the floats last night I for my electric stick be ordering this week.
Did you find they went together easy?

Thanks gramps. I'll post some pics tonight. Also no covering on them, just raw foam. You can tell their definitely cut by CNC, very precise cuts, total weight of floats and 2 CF Tubes 0.25"x 15.5" is only 3.61oz.! No wire supports came in kit, which is okay, but going to town to see what I can find. I have some .0625 brazen rod, but I think its a tad too heavy.

BTW it did come with 2 pieces of bass plywood .75"x3.625"x 0.375" thick.
I'm very happy with them!

cr

[Jim Casey]

>>Do floats work better on "dry" snow,<<
As long as it has not refrozen with a crust.. That'll chew up the bottom.

[gramps2161]

Yup crusty snow will chew up the floats for sure especially when that slushy stuff freezes up. Better off with skis when that happens.

[CrimzonRider]

This what I've done so far.....Daytona and honey-do's happened.... now its chili making/eating time.

Found a old 1/2A nose wheel setup & some 0.110 CF tubing in my pile.(pretty sure it's strong enough) I'm also using the old belly gear braket from the original foamie 182. Still working on nose gear, I have the original nose gear wheel wire, but I think I might just use more CF tubing.

edit: I wonder if piece of acetate along the bottom would protect from potential ice "chunks"??

[gramps2161]

CR are you going to fly this off the water later? If so you have to cover the floats other wise foam does take on water.
If not get a soda bottle and cut it up to cover the bottom of the foam be nice and slick. Scuff the plastic first and glue it on with some epoxy.

Almost forgot looking good so far.

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by gramps2161

CR are you going to fly this off the water later? If so you have to cover the floats other wise foam does take on water.
If not get a soda bottle and cut it up to cover the bottom of the foam be nice and slick. Scuff the plastic first and glue it on with some epoxy.

Almost forgot looking good so far.

thanks ......off water....Gonna try! figured snow would lessen the learning curve. I am lucky to have Jim and you helping (I've been reading Jims old posts from as far back as March of 97'!) (Been reading lots of Larry's and Joe's tips too) I just read about a real tough paint that is called poly-paint??? gotta do a little more reading.... but yeah like the soda bottle plastic idea too. sounds easy

[RabDooley]

Cheap note book binders from the dollar store work well too. I've used them on the bottom of my Polaris XL both off the snow/ice and water.

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by RabDooley

Cheap note book binders from the dollar store work well too. I've used them on the bottom of my Polaris XL both off the snow/ice and water.

Thanks, thats a good idea too, what size of floats did you put them on?

cr

[gramps2161]

CR he is talking about this one.
http://modelaero.com/Merchant5/merch...tegory_Code=AM
I showed my wife the ultra she said if I want to go ahead and buy it, which I did.
I am putting my floats together for the stick. Boy are these things light and easy to do.
Have you tried yours out yet?

[CrimzonRider]

Sweet on Ultra buy permission!!

Covering bottom now with just "packing" tape, easy to fix for "first set". Epoxy & TOW on front wire strut is almost cured. I'll post some pics after while.
Got them mounted last week and COG is real close, might just add thin coat of protective epoxy on the nose of floats might add just the right amount of weight.
Only had one good day for flying in last 3wks, so just belly landed 182 twice. Haven't ordered any Corrosion X yet either. Local True Value supposed to get some soon... and had bad snow storm last week, still fixing "stuff"

BTW, Im thankful for that "test" spare foam that the floats sit on during shipping, all paint/glue(but not epoxy) that I have melts them easily!

Found a new 100ac. sand pit that I could fly off of, quite large "pond" in the middle, and still lookin for a little boat for rescue situations!!

cr

[RabDooley]

Originally Posted by CrimzonRider

Thanks, thats a good idea too, what size of floats did you put them on?

cr

The Polaris is a floating fuselage type plane and I covered the bottom plus the wing tip floats.
Here is a link showing the type of note binder I used: http://www.walmart.com/ip/22632193?w...l5=pla&veh=sem

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by RabDooley

The Polaris is a floating fuselage type plane and I covered the bottom plus the wing tip floats.
Here is a link showing the type of note binder I used: http://www.walmart.com/ip/22632193?w...l5=pla&veh=sem

RabD, Thanks for the tip and the link!

BTW...Welcome to WF.com

cr

[CrimzonRider]

found some good water the other day, maybe 25 acres...perfect nite.... plently of poles, no catfish & no plane, but almost ready, hopefully Tuesday. (forecast zero wind)

[gramps2161]

Originally Posted by CrimzonRider

found some good water the other day, maybe 25 acres...perfect nite.... plently of poles, no catfish & no plane, but almost ready, hopefully Tuesday. (forecast zero wind)

CR they came out great,and it looks like the perfect place to fly from. To bad the plane wasn't ready pond looks like a sheet of glass. I haven't gone pout fishing in a long time they are good eating.

I have mine just about done I will post up a couple of pic's later.