Prop: APC 6x4 (2 standard rotation, 2 pusher rotation)
Current max: 40 amps total (10 amps per motor)
Watts: 450 watts total
Power loading: 175 watts/lb
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 1.7:1
Speed control: Castle Creations Phoenix 10
Flight controls: Elevator, ailerons, rudder, throttle, retractable tip floats
Number of servos: 6
This model is built almost entirely from 6mm and 3mm Depron, and features four motors and working retractable wingtip floats. With a 60” span and 41 oz AUW, it has a nice light wing loading (only 12.6 oz/ft2) and can be flown slow and scale-like and in small fields.
The PB2Y was one of the more obscure American warplanes from WWII, and even devout airplane geeks often struggle to recognize it. It was intended to be a larger and faster replacement for the famous PBY Catalina, but never achieved the same level of success (due in large part to poor range capability). About 200 were built and used throughout the war for long-range patrol, transports, anti-submarine, and bombing. Today only one Coronado survives, and is on display at the U.S. Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, Florida.
While the PB2Y may be an obscure airplane to some, it has always been near and dear to me since it’s the primary airplane my grandfather, Lt. JG Leland Shumate, piloted during WWII. I grew up hearing amazing war stories about his exploits in the airplane, so it has always been on my lifetime “bucket list” to someday build an RC model of the PB2Y to honor his legacy. Hence this model!
Needless to say, there’s no need to use more than half-throttle on this model and it cruises well at only quarter-throttle. I also used counter-rotating props to eliminate asymmetric thrust effects, made possible by the fact that APC makes both standard and pusher rotation versions of their 6x4 prop. I would have included differential throttle for better control while taxiing on water, but the extra channels in my 7 channel receiver were already being used for the retractable wing tip floats
How to make a radio-controlled aircraft model Consolidated PB2Y Coronado
Electronic:
4X Eachine 2206 MN2206 Buy: 4X EMAX LS2206 Lite Buy: 4X Racerstar Racing Edition Buy: 4X BrotherHobby Returner R4 Buy: 2 Pairs 6040 Bullnose Buy: Gemfan 6X4 6040 High Buy: KINGKONG/LDARC 6040 Propellers CW Buy: Simonk 30A/40A 2-4S Brushless Buy: RCTimer 30A OPTO Brushless Buy: SimonK 30A 2-3S Brushless Buy: 4X Racerstar RS30A 30A Buy: Anniversary Special Edition Racerstar Buy: Hobbywing 3A UBEC 5V Buy: External BEC UBEC 5A Buy: JX Servo PS-2503HB 25g Buy: Towerpro MG995 High Torgue Buy: Emax ES08MDII Metal Digital Buy: 6X MG90S Metal Gear Buy: ZOP Power 11.1V 2200mAh Buy: ZOP Power 11.1V 2200MAH Buy: XF Power 11.1V 2200mAh Buy: GAONENG GNB 11.1V 2200mAh Buy:
In this video we look at the changes made to improve the flying characteristics of this DIY foamboard plane and I also speak to some of the comments that viewers left on the original video
