Jebus said:
Thanks for the pic. Do you think those small bottles would be enough to float it? Or I assume that's why you added the extra foam - just in case. I've been contemplating this mod, or just strapping some water bottles to the skids via zip ties, or my original plan was the pipe insulation/pool noodle. Just can't decide! haha
I did not test it with just the small bottles. My guess is they would not be quite enough. That's why I added the foam blocks.
I tried pool noodles on the skids and they do not work well. The problem is that if they are as short as the skid, the Phantom will tip over easily. If you make them longer, then they are sticking out into the prop wash and also subject to pushing around by wind. The small bottles are hidden under the motor are so they are not affected by prop wash. Same with the foam blocks. They are nested inside the width of the main body so the prop wash does not really hit them. They will be affected by wind coming from the side but not too badly.
I did sucessfully take off and land in the pool with the larger bottles attached under the motors. The farther away from the center you place the floats, and high up on the bird, the more stable it will be when floating. If it falls out of the sky without a controlled descent, it is just as likely to land "buttered side down." In this case the floats might save it from sinking.
I am often flying over very turbulent white water, so no float system is likely to keep it upright. For this reason I am building a completely waterproof quad that floats.
