Forplay (oz5863)

About this Plan

Forplay. Radio control floatplane model. For IC or electric power.

Quote: -"A two channel lightweight super performance 1/2A glow or 05 electric powered float plane. Fly it with or without the floats. By Bill Young.

The airplane detailed in this article was designed 10 years ago to serve a specific purpose. That purpose was to compete in a local contest in which, with a limited engine run, each competitor climbed as high as possible and then completed as many maneuvers as possible during the glide, ending in a spot landing.

Having been around competition for a long time, and having seen what was being done with free-flight and R/C. I designed this airplane to take advantage of both types. As it turns out, most of the criteria for this early airplane also applies to electric flight. So when I began thinking of an electric airplane, this came came to mind.

After the original contest, I wanted to continue to fly the airplane. Being involved in model boating also, it became a natural to add floats. Here, again, I added my knowledge from another field in order to improve performance. Much of my observation of model float planes indicated much needed improvements which were easily solved by using my racing boat knowledge.

In the original design, weight was a problem that would detract from obtaining high altitudes. Thus a very light airframe, with free-flight construction for rigidity, was called for. The covered airframe weighed 9 ounces. In order to insure similar weights, the use of Sig contest balsa (or weighing your own balsa) is a must, otherwise you will probably end up with a weight of 16 ounces. Weight is also a problem when carrying an electric motor and battery pack. Substitution of sheet tail feathers and fuselage construction would probably add another 5 ounces.

This airplane is intended to fly and the floats only get it into the air and keep it afloat until it can be retreived. Therefore in order to keep weight down, I use no internal waterproofing other than attention to details. I carefully overlap the MonoKote and seal the corners, etc with epoxy. I use non-water softening glues throughout and I keep it out of the water as much as possible.

The radio installation weighed 5 ounces using the smallest servos and a 225 mah battery pack. Again, some of those older radios may add so much weight that the ship's ability to become airborne is in question. The .049 version, without floats, would climb nearly vertical. With the floats, it climbs at about a 45 degree angle. The electric version with floats climbs very gently. The long tail moment helps this ship to point where you want it to go and it does not wander.

The complete float assembly weighed 7 ounces. The construction I used has subsequently appeared as an article by Dick Hansen in the November 1978 issue of RCM. It is straightforward and results in a float that gets loose in a hurry. Resist all urges to put rounded corners on the floats as this will slow them down faster than anything else.

The rest of the construction is very straightforward and is adequately detailed on the plans and in the photographs. The .049 version and the electric version are both shown on me drawings. The only thing you will have to make allowances for is the different wingspans. Have fun..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics.

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