Questions on first FT Build - Mini Sea Duck

[iceking1152]

I took interest in a community remix of the Sea Duck as I believe seaplanes will be a huge focus of this hobby for me. I have this posted in the specific thread for this build, but I wanted to cast the net wide to get any and all recommendations and advice possible. I've got all my parts ordered to build this, it will be my first FT build, first build in general, and my 2nd plane (first made it ~25 flights before becoming stuck in a tree). I've watched most of the build video, but I still have a few questions:

• "mounted with the U spar in the upright orientation", does this mean the spar sits with the open side facing the underside of the wing? So if the plane is sitting normally on its belly, the spar would be "U" instead of "n", just like it does in the video for the center section? In the full size kit, I would refer to the outer spars as being in the "n" orientation.
• I've watched both FT videos on waterproofing: the foamboard video and the electronics video. I was just wondering what you have personally done and found the most effective?
  • Which foamboard did you use? Regular, or waterproof?
    • Does using waterproof foam board with the brown paper already on it essentially just skip the step of peeling the white paper then applying brown paper? I can just paint the polycrylic over the existing brown paper?
    • To be clear, the polycrylic is used without baby powder on the wings, and with baby powder on the fueselage?
  • I plan to use this from a boat, and can see many situations where my transmitter may get splashed. Are there any recommendations for waterproofing a tx16s?
• I've watched a few setups on differential thrust, but I was wondering if anyone has any clever models or suggestions? I do not plan to have a servo for the rudder in the first iteration of this build for me, although it would be very nice, the author cautioned it as the placement of the servo would be tricky.
• In general, any comments or tips that you may think would be helpful, especially as it relates to foamboard seaplanes.

Thanks!

 

[Mr NCT]

I've built the mini Sea Duck and really enjoy flying it. I can answer some of your questions.

"mounted with the U spar in the upright orientation"

The open part of the U is against the upper part of the wing so the battery and control wires are easier to route.

Which foamboard did you use? Regular, or waterproof?

I used the white water resistant foam board. I have only flown it off wet grass or snow not water but it kept everything dry without any other water proofing.

I've watched a few setups on differential thrust, but I was wondering if anyone has any clever models or suggestions?

Differential thrust alone gives me plenty of steering on wet grass or snow and good yaw while flying. On the mini Sea Duck I don't see that adding rudder control would be worth the work or weight.

Have fun, it's a great plane.

 

[levigabel]

I took interest in a community remix of the Sea Duck as I believe seaplanes will be a huge focus of this hobby for me. I have this posted in the specific thread for this build, but I wanted to cast the net wide to get any and all recommendations and advice possible. I've got all my parts ordered to build this, it will be my first FT build, first build in general, and my 2nd plane (first made it ~25 flights before becoming stuck in a tree). I've watched most of the build video, but I still have a few questions:

• "mounted with the U spar in the upright orientation", does this mean the spar sits with the open side facing the underside of the wing? So if the plane is sitting normally on its belly, the spar would be "U" instead of "n", just like it does in the video for the center section? In the full size kit, I would refer to the outer spars as being in the "n" orientation.
• I've watched both FT videos on waterproofing: the foamboard video and the electronics video. I was just wondering what you have personally done and found the most effective?
  • Which foamboard did you use? Regular, or waterproof?
    • Does using waterproof foam board with the brown paper already on it essentially just skip the step of peeling the white paper then applying brown paper? I can just paint the polycrylic over the existing brown paper?
    • To be clear, the polycrylic is used without baby powder on the wings, and with baby powder on the fueselage?
  • I plan to use this from a boat, and can see many situations where my transmitter may get splashed. Are there any recommendations for waterproofing a tx16s?
• I've watched a few setups on differential thrust, but I was wondering if anyone has any clever models or suggestions? I do not plan to have a servo for the rudder in the first iteration of this build for me, although it would be very nice, the author cautioned it as the placement of the servo would be tricky.
• In general, any comments or tips that you may think would be helpful, especially as it relates to foamboard seaplanes.

Thanks!

i just scratch built a mini sea duck, although i have no intention of flying it, i just love the sea duck and wanted to build one. The build went smooth and fallowed the normal build video for the most part.