Moray Monster (oz9803)

About this Plan

Moray Monster. Radio control flying boat model for .60 power.

Quote: "This is an experimental beast. It is relates to the '67 vintage Piranha (oz268) with some short-comings rectified and a few more problems in their place, which will be discussed. I think a review of the earlier Piranha is in order, to set your thinking in motion on the features incorporated in this Moray design. Going back 15 years to the Privateer (oz311) design, I found the hull design excellent, but the big bird lethargic on the turns. Thus, over the years I kept chopping excessive bow volume away in the hopes of having an aircraft which could negotiate a turn over the same state. On the earliest Piranha, I went too far, and soon found it plowed through the waves, with a sinus condition. A modification bulletin went forth to extend the nose 2in or more, with spray rails added. Made a big improvement. It did however take off moderately well as it was first designed, with .46 power and up. The extended nosed versions handled waves in better fashion however and the kit version in production soon to be re-leased will have none of these short-comings.

A later Mako (oz9789) design explored the idea of a vented hull inconclusively, in that suction is not a problem with this type step design anyway, and the venting as on the Mako drives the tunnel right through where you are barking your knuckles on the pushrod connections as it is. And the main problem remained, the tendency of a Flying Boat to hook a wing float on a passing wave. Unless level and true on a take-off, a wing float can grab onto a wave and yank the model from its path. The same is true of a landing, a hard touchdown sinks wing floats deep in the water, wrenching them out of their mounts. They are designed to pop free, and no damage ever occurs from any of these troubles, but it sends you out retrieving flotsam and such, contributing in general to your grouchiness.

Thus, the Moray was born, whether you like it or not. Since you already bought the issue, you might as well make the best of it. It is similar to the "Piranha" and earlier "Mako" in many ways, with improvements in bow dis-placement, nacelle design, internal structure and a higher stabilizer location. Power has been upped from a .45 to a muffled Enya .60. However, the main feature of the design is in the retracting wing floats. With wing floats in the retracted position, the aircraft is as clean as can be in the air, for wing floats are a perfect continuation of the basic wing airfoil..."

Moray Monster, Flying Models, January 1969.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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