[Cam]

I'm interested in building a Beaver (with floats) as a winter project and would like to know anyones thoughts on what manufacturer would best suit me. I am relatively new to rc having built a SIG Kadet last winter to pass the time. I am looking to build a Beaver as I have always been fond of the plane. I am not looking for an ARF, rather a kit to keep me busy. One that would be as close to the looks of the real Beaver as possible as I would paint it up to match a real one (C-FODA). The Unionville Beaver appears to be quite popular, is there any difference in scale appearance between the 6' and the 8' kits? The reason I ask is that I already have a Supertigre .45 engine that would fit the 6'.
Your input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Cam

[Jollidude]

Personally, I think the 6' Beaver looks better than 8' version. Since you already have an engine to suit the smaller one I'd go for that. The only real problem with the Unionville Beavers is that the fuse corners are too square. If you double up the 1/4" stringers in the rear you can round off the corners more. The wood quality is great and they fly well.

Cheers!

Jollidude

[Cam]

Thanks for your thoughts and tip Jollidude! Not having to buy a larger engine is something I'm keeping in mind. So far as suitable floats, is there a manufacturer that I should be looking at that would have a pair that would match the style on the attached photo? Thanks again.
Cam

[DBlackadder]

Unionville supplies a float kits as an option for the 2.15m versions of their kits. I would expect they'd do the same for the 1.8 version of the Beaver.

If not it should be fairly easy to scale the larger plans down. And you're going to wind-up having to 'dress' them anyway, no matter what you buy or make,.

[cf-drg]

Foam floats are the easiest to make, but you have to know how to make them... A good wood kit for that model (6' Uni Beaver) would be the Great Planes 40 size sport float kit.. They're pretty good,scale wise,and an easy kit to build... Some people don't like the wood ones but I have had a pair of the 60 size (Great Planes) ones on my 8' beaver for over 7 years now and they don't leak..

[Cam]

Derek,
Thanks for your information on the floats. I called the local hobby shop yesterday and ordered the Unionville 1.8 scale plane. From speaking with the shop owner, he tells me the instructions with the kit are a little bit more complicated for a freshman like myself but offered to assist with any advise if I need it through the build. As well, I may end up posting a few questions on the board here if need be.

[DBlackadder]

Don't worry much about it. I hadn't built anything in something like 30 years and mine are air-tight and pretty, if a little heavy (this new-fangled cynao stuff...).

[cf-drg]

If you have any problems... Just post some pics with your problem and we can maybe send you in the right direction... I myself have built 5 Unionville kits and they aren't a well instructed kit ... But can be built and are a little more time consuming and funner than the standard "glue 4 sides and its done" kit....

[DBlackadder]

I actually like the way the instructions work. Bit of a challenge and an excuse to sit down with a cigar or a glass of red and spend some time trying to figure out where things are going and what they would look like if you went this way rather than that...

But definitely a fun build.

[Cam]

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I picked up the Beaver last night and went through the instructions. They certainly are a different type of instructions than what comes with a Sig Kadet. Much more thought and planning will go into this, especially as I want it to come out looking as scale as possible right down to the nav. lights. but I'm up for the challenge.