Unicorn (oz16960)

About this Plan

Unicorn. Radio control sport seaplane twin model. Wingspan 1300 mm. For electric power with 2x direct drive RS 540 motors.

Quote (google-translated): "Construction Plan: An Electric-Powered Flying Boat Design: Unicorn, by Gunther Rieger.

It's more than just their rarity that makes flying boats so fascinating. The peculiar blend of ship and aircraft, the spectacle of a takeoff as the machine races across the waves like a speedboat before transforming into an airplane, only to remain a ship in flight. Anyone who has ever seen a flying boat in action will understand the model builders who love these seaplanes so much. As models, these multi-engine flying boats are no less impressive; the scale models that gather annually at the Graupner Lake Constance Cup are compelling proof. However, these scale models are among the most complex to build and are hardly suitable for casual Sunday flying.

The Unicorn described here, while not nearly as imposing, offers other advantages: It can be built quickly and inexpensively, its twin-motor electric drive allows it to fly on many lakes and ponds (and of course, on the grass of a model airfield), the model isn't scale, but looks realistic, and, last but not least, its flight performance is good!

The construction: A seaplane must be lightweight and impervious to moisture. Rigid foam as a building material fulfills both requirements. The resulting airframe, in combination with two powerful RS 540 S motors, 7 x 3 propellers, and a 6 x 1.2V battery, has proven to be a quite harmonious concept. The thrust-to-weight ratio is approximately 900/1200. The building materials are quickly listed. They are essentially: 6 mm Styrofoam insulation sheets, construction-grade Styrofoam, packing paper, and iron-on film. A detailed parts list can be found at the end of the building instructions.

The construction is divided into the following three sections:

1. Fuselage and Tail Assembly: Begin by transferring the contours for the fuselage sides, reinforcement, bottom and top of the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizer from the plan onto the 6 mm thick insulation board. Cutting them out is best done with a razor blade or a sharp balsa knife. The same applies to the three-layer parts for the step. Sand the tail assembly according to the plan, sand the balsa parts, and paint them..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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