Avios Albatross V2 Modifications & Review

A friend asked me to put this model together for him, and so I included some upgrades such as some magnetic underwing marker buoys, some airbrush weathering, and a pair of dummy engines.
Get your dummy engines for this model here;
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/92898...
Modifications (0:51)
Flying (7:51)
Visit our site;
/ scalemedown
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[@dougcoates5283]

Yesterday, I have ordered your dummy engine cases. Thank you. Doug Coates - Bristol, RI

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks. Brilliant. In the post for you now.

[@jacekwielogorski8453]

great shots, thank you for sharing your experience with this beautiful model

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@alannewman85]

Foam armour! Winner! Great idea - I like your style!

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks

[@1Sail2]

That video work was very well done and informative. Nice background music as well. Thank you for making this video from NH

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks for your kind comments

[@iansummers6945]

Great review as always and added bonus of your mods. Currently on sale in the Aus warehouse so very tempted to pull the trigger
Incidentally, did the props take much balancing?
I prefer MA 3 bladed props as fitted to my skymule… keep up the great work. 🤙

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks. The props were pretty good on this model, balancing easily by sanding a little from the trailing edge(s) - and at least they are handed unlike the ones fitted to the X-Fly Twin Otter we reviewed here; ruclips.net/video/ZZOnLLhQVP0/видео.html

[@InTheTubeDeepRC]

Great work and flying -well done!

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks

[@btbplanevids]

Nice review, and I love your flying site! The external fuel tanks look great and I guess are pretty light (incidentally on the full-size the floats also acted as fuel tanks). The plastic dummy wheels usually pop off pretty easily, which makes painting them (and the foam behind) much easier - this does improve the looks a lot! The water rudder is completely non-scale and can be dispensed with if you use differential throttle (which of course can be used on grass as well as water). I re-used the water rudder servo to drive one of the elevators, giving a bit of redundancy. The fin is way too big for scale - I cut mine down to the level of the top hinge which improves things a bit. The domed spinners are also wrong - there are files around to 3D print more accurate ones. As you found the model is way overpowered on 4S and the stock props have been known to shed a blade if you're heavy on the throttle (with the resulting vibration potentially pulling the motor mount out). I fly mine gently and never use more than about 65% throttle even on takeoff ... I suspect it would be better on 3S (which is given as an option). Half flap slows the model down to a more scale speed but also makes the stall more docile - I fly mine like that at all times now. I noticed the adverse differential on the ailerons when setting it up but this doesn't cause any issues in flight (on mine, anyway). You can get a bit of water coming in where the wing LE meets the fus. - I seal this slight gap with a short strip of clear tape. The stock wing bolts on mine also started to rust (flying only off fresh water) - I got some stainless steel replacements on eBay. There's a big thread on this model on RC Groups, and I have some videos of mine on my channel here. Keep up the good work!

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks. It sounds like you have had fun with your model also. I think this is quite a nice kit, that with a bit of time and care can be made even nicer. The finished plane is perhaps a bit heavier than I would like, but it certainly flies well. I didn't think to pry the plastic dummy wheels off - that would have definitely made the job a bit easier !

[@easystar123]

Great video and well presented. Nice looking and great flying plane.

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks for your kind comments

[@CarterQuillenP.E.]

I'm pretty sure they are auxiliary fuel tanks to extend the range of the plane.

[@ScaleMeDown]

Thanks

[@glennlee8770]

Yes, they are droppable auxiliary fuel tanks. Spent many hours flying as observer crew gathering oceanographic data 500 feet over the Gulf Stream. This aircraft was affectionately known as a “Goat” by the USCG crew, and, god, was it LOUD!!!

[@micsherwood4930]

did you add the zep floor refinisher to the entire aircraft?

[@ScaleMeDown]

Yes, I added it all over except the very bottom of the wingtip floats which I painted with 2 coats of foam armour instead.

[@Ryedady]

Wish this plane had a kit version.

[@ScaleMeDown]

Yes, it would be nice to finish it the way you like it. A good alternative (but a bit more expensive) might be this kit; www.rc-europe.eu/vliegtuigen/flying-dutchman-plans/grumman-goosev2

[@alannewman85]

But doesn't fitting the engine mods interfere with the airflow?? I would imagine the motors need some cooling??

[@ScaleMeDown]

Cooling air is more to do with getting air out of the cowlings. Cooling hasn't been a problem so far

[@TMacDo243]

Would you happen to have a diagram of how you wired the multiplex connector? I think that's a great idea! Thanks

[@ScaleMeDown]

I Will rustle something up. Please send me an email (address in the about section of this channel home page) so I can respond.

[@micsherwood4930]

im not finding your about section. im interested the wiring diagram as well

[@TMacDo243]

It was actually really easy and you can google it. Just need the two outside posts as positive/ negative And then the middle ones are free for individual signal wires