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[caldrail]

Over the years there's been a few fictional floatplanes put together. Most aren't bad as it happens but I do see the same mistakes being made time and again. Not from a modelling point of view I have to say, but from a technical aspect. Therefore I've put this little document together for advice on adding floats to aeroplanes.

This isn't intended as criticism of any partioular project, nor is it a document to end all documents, but if it helps create a more relaistic model, then it's been worth it.

https://www.mediafire.com/view/nyujs8gzy364q90/Float_Conversions.pdf

[Dreamk]

It's very nice and what is written is very true - the problem is that in this game the relationship between center of gravity and position of the clips on the float is not yet understood - and all has to be done by of try and error.

[Kopfdorfer]

I like the approach you are making here Caldrail.
As a very poor mathematician , I appreciate your simplification of these problems.
I do feel the need to point out, though , that your suggestion that the engine represents the largest part of the mass of the aircraft  is , I fear ,  over simplified. ( I understand the need for simplification in order for those like me to understand at all, yet the discussion needs a bit more info for consideration , I think). Surely , the engine is the single most massive component ,
but on examination , one must acknowledge that to say it is the most massive part of the structure (especially when fully loaded)
is not accurate.

The mass of the Wright R-2600-20 Radial engine (dry - no oil , no lube) is 930 kg *

The unloaded takeoff mass of a TBM is 4,783 kg

The max-loaded takeoff mass of a TBM is 8,115 kg

In the case of the unloaded TBM , the mass of the engine represents 19.4 % of the total mass ;

In the case of the fully loaded TBM , the mass of the engine represents only 11.5 % of the total mass.

Thus the properties of the floats need to account for both a mass variation of  the range of 3,332 Kg and the variations of the C of G that the various loadout alternatives represent.

* all weights from wiki

I am not trying to contradict your effort , but to further develop it.
I appreciate your excellent article.

Thanks

Kopfdorfer

[Dreamk]

The COG position is critical for seaplanes in this game, above all for take off, its importance is higher that the engine emd parameters! but experience has shown that it's a very strange virtual COG, as defined through teh hier.him, that has no relation whatsoever with the real COG of the model or the plane - and this is part of the problem here.