Belt floats

[peddler]

I have'nt found any floats made for my Belt size heli so do you guys have any suggestions on what to use. Is anyone out there flying with floats? I'm not interested in inflatable sharks as I have seen, although the pop bottles were interesting. Dave

[Ian 777]

To show my Ignorance is it safe to mix lipo's with water? or do you intend to seal the batteries or something?

Ian:)

[Ber60]

On youtube there is a Greek flying with those perhaps you can ask him

[peddler]

I have never flown off water so I don't no how much of a problem water spray would be. Maybe someone out there knows and can shed some light. I've seen the video of the inflatable sharks, I'd like something a little more sophisticated. I'm picturing 2 little kids (in the video) standing off to the side crying cause they want there sharks back.:YeaBaby:

[Ian 777]

Really?? thats appalling what a nasty daddy:mad::mad::mad:

:rolling

[Ber60]

Come to think of it there is a guy who posted some pics of his belt on this forum with floaters, but can't seem to find them, they where orange.

[another_finn]

The CMP fiberglass floats might work. They're supposed to keep at least 3 kg above water - but they are 33" long, which sounds a little heavy for helicopter work...

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-17210252890263_1996_65805435

The GWS foam floats are only 21" and about $11:

http://www.rchobbiesandmore.com/image.php?productid=24566

Of course, for round helicopter-style floats, all you need is some styrofoam and patience :)

[Ian 777]

And a hot wire Mika! trying to shape this stuff without one makes fills the room with static charged snow which sticks to everything and defies the vacum cleaner;)

I used to knock out fuselages for planks from blocks of packing foam, could get one flying in about three hours from scratch :)

Foam would be good for weight and a hot wire is easy to rig up along with some thin ply formers

[peddler]

The styrofoam thing is food for thought. Ian777 do you know of a plan for a cheap hot wire?

[foggy]

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/03/how_to_make_a_hot_wire_foam_cu.html

quick easy hotwire cutter hope it helps

[Ian 777]

It was 30 years ago when I used them so I cant really remember what we used.... just a battery and some wire or a model train transformer I think. Make sure the floats are long enough to stop the tail hitting the water though, you will pobably need to run a carbon fiber rod or something down the middle to support them. You could use the rod to attach to the UC?

[wibble]

I have'nt found any floats made for my Belt size heli so do you guys have any suggestions on what to use. Is anyone out there flying with floats? I'm not interested in inflatable sharks as I have seen, although the pop bottles were interesting. Dave

Just stiffen up two lengths of those throw-away "foam pipe things" that everyone has for their swimming pools with carbon fibre rod and then snuggle your chopper into them. Probably don't even need to stiffen them up?