View Full Version : Anyone have floats on their Blade CP?
I was curious to know if anyone has floats setup on the CP. I was thinking of making a set but I'm not sure what material would work the best. Foam? styrofoam? airbag of some kind?
heliboy1023
05-21-2006, 04:17 PM
You would have to use some very water resistant foam. If the foam sucks up any water at all, it will create a suction, and with the stock motor, chances are it won't be able to get out, and it will just sink.
Thats what I thought. I was thinking of using something like a pool noodle or styrofam and shrink wrapping it in monokote or something similar. I guess i'll just have to experiment and find out what works best before I attach it to the heli.
heliboy1023
05-21-2006, 08:15 PM
The problem with that foam is that it can't handle the heat the monokote needs to stick. What you could try is ordering some high temp foam, which can have low temp monokote bond to it. However, you are starting to go up in price then.
The problem with that foam is that it can't handle the heat the monokote needs to stick. What you could try is ordering some high temp foam, which can have low temp monokote bond to it. However, you are starting to go up in price then.
Crap I didn't think of that. I have a feeling that this float project is going to end up with me going swimming to retrieve a heli from the bottom. Anyone have any proven ideas for this?
spork
05-21-2006, 11:30 PM
My first cut at it would be to use standard styrofoam (EPS). I'd sand it reasonably smooth, and then paint it with styrofoam safe paint.
Other than that I'd be tempted to make inflatable floats. I'd copy the technology used in my kitesurfing kites. I'd ask the wife to make the envelope out of some old kite material, and I'd make the bladder out of an old kite bladder.
But I would think the styrofoam approach is likely to work well. Now you've got me tempted to try it with my T-Rex.
RC
Crash Gordon
05-22-2006, 03:04 PM
You might be able to use some Plast-Dip on the styrofoam... just dunk 'em in, shake off the excess, and let 'em dry... maybe??
lakespinner2
05-22-2006, 03:23 PM
I once bought some little styrofoam floats for a little foamie plane and the instructions that came with the foam floats said to simply put transparent packing tape on them.
Interesting idea to put the CP on floats; I have an old CP laying around and some spare foam floats. hmm....
I went to the craft store today and picked up one of those blocks of foam that they stick fake flowers in. 18''x18''x2'' for 6 bucks. They had two kinds, the kind that absorbs water and the kind that doesn't. I also bought plastic shrink wrap that they use for gift baskets. 5 bucks for a roll only comes in clear. I decided that I would try to torture test the foam before using it.
First I cut a piece off to see if it can be cut to a desired shape cleanly. An exacto knife cuts this stuff perfectly and you can even dremel it to a desired shape (on low speed)
Then I took a hair drier and held it a quarter inch away for 60 seconds on full blast to see if it could handle the shrink wrap. The foam barely reacted by the heat so the heat shrink will go on just fine.
I then held it under water for 60 seconds to see if it would soak up any water and weigh down the foam. It did not absorb any water at all and was shaken dry very easily.
I haven't tried to paint it yet, but it says that a water based paint is ok to use on the package.
The one downside to it is that it is fairly fragile and won't tolerate a crash or very hard landing and will most likely crack.
Total weight is minimal and the blade cp should be able to handle the extra load. I don't think you'll be doing any 3d any time soon with the floats on.
I will make up a set as soon as i fix my cp. (Had a mishap learning inverted hovering) I'll post pics as soon as I get it going.
This foam looks to be perfect for this project. I can probably make about 3 sets from this 6 dollar block too. :D
Rick Rotorhead
06-03-2006, 10:31 AM
This sounds like fun. I bet on water the CP will skim around like a hovercraft, but watch out for wind! Tell us how you will mount them. I would not be happy with the track of the existing U/C set up - you can't afford to tip her over on water it will wreck the radio electrics, so how about 2mm cf booms to get more width (smaller than a training U/C though). Also what about their shape - will you have upswept bows and a step like full size sea plane floats or just basic block floats?
I'm still gathering up some parts to fix my cp. I may start my rebuild today. I haven't yet figured out how to mount them but they will need to be stabilized somehow. Maybe a cross brace on the skid or something or good old fashioned hot glue :D I plan to make the floats into a boat hull shape if I can or at least with a 45* angle bow so I can taxi across the water without diving down. It all depends on how much foam I will need to make the heli float without tipping or having the tail in the water. I wish there was a way to water proof the 4in1 without it overheating. I don't mind if I break anything else in the process but not my 4in1. I'll post pics as soon as I figure out a way to get this project up and running. Should be lots of fun if it works.