Whiz on "Styrofoam Floats"
Construction
| Each Float is cut from Styrofoam block. (See Float drawing). Make 4 plywood crosscetion patterns, glue to the ends of your the styrofoam blocks and cut out 2 floats. Cut the bottom of the floats for the desired shape. The Floats must be recessed for the spruce mounting strips so they will mount flush with the top of the float. Install the Gear spruce mounting strips, the plywood step protector, and the plywood transom with 30 minute epoxy.(see part drawing). Cover the top and sides with 4 or 6 ounce fiberglass cloth and paint with some laminating epoxy. Allow to cure. Trim fiberglass edges when cured and apply fiberglass to bottom of floats and paint with laminating epoxy. Allow to cure. Apply fiberglass to transom and paint with epoxy. Fabricate Rudder as per Rudder drawing. Wrap steel or tin clamp strip around 2 1/2" long 1/8" diameter steel rod and solder. Drill 1/8" holes in clamp for 6 - 32 bolt. Cut Rudder from Aluminum stock, drill 1/8" hole for mounting bolt. Install Rudder inside clamp and install with 1/4" 6-32 bolt. Mount the water Rudder on the transom of one of the floats using 2 "Nose wheel mounts" with 1/2" # 6 wood screws, make sure all components are assembled for proper alignment. Fabricate the float Gear from 3/4" x 1/8" aluminum strapping. 2 pieces 20 1/2" long and 2 pieces from 1" x 1/8" aluminum 22 1/2" long. Connect the Rudders together with a Nyrod control linkage or connect water rudder to the nose wheel linkage if applicable. (see rudder photo) The Floats must be installed on the airplane so that the step of the float is directly below the CG point of the aircraft. Mount 2 pieces of 1/4" x 1 1/4" plywood on the underside of the fuselage at the proper locations to mount float gear. |
