Source of 1/72 floats - any ideas?

[puddingwrestler]

It will come as no surprise that, when contemplating a return to whiffery, I am also contemplating floats. So I ask you this; what is the best source of floats for 1/72? Looking for a relatively cheap kit which comes with two floats, nicely streamlined, for fitting to a ww2 fighter sized aircraft. I have none in the stash (which IS a surprise!)

[PR19_Kit]

Aeroclub used to do a set of vacform floats in various sizes, but I'm not sure if they still do them.

[sandiego89]

Two ideas for cheap, streamlined twin floats:

The PM kit (and reboxed by a few others) 1/72 Spitfire mk. VB on floats is a good choice for a lighter fighter.  Available. Inexpensive.  streamlined. Many use the kit just for the floats.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-72-Supermarine-Spitfire-Floatplane-MODEL-KIT-PM216-/231300625880

I used the amodel bf-109 kit #7275 as the source for the floats for my my Attacker on floats, but had to lengthen the floats to give enough buoyancy.  The floats are pretty small and streamlined floats- good for a smaller fighter.  Smaller, sleeker than the spitfire floats.

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,26643.0/highlight,attacker+on+floats.html

search amodel #7275 for more pictures of the 109 kit

[zenrat]

The ideal float donation kit is one that has a wheeled option as that way you can still build the kit without having to rob wheels from elsewhere and thus starting a never ending chain of whiffery.
The Hasegawa Heinkel He-51 sea plane contains the under carriage parts.  It is very old and can therefore be got cheap on Evil-Bay or at a swamp & smell.  My version is so old it has swastikas on the box and decals.  Cool box art though.

I used the floats on an FW-190.  They looked spot on size wise.


The Airfix Vought Kingfisher also has undercarriage included in the box.  Again, it's an old kit so should be easy to find cheap.  I used the single float on a Skyraider but felt it needed lengthening.  Easy to do with sprue to bridge the gap folioed by styrene sheet, filler and PSR.  On a small fighter you probably wouldn't have to do this.


Although it doesn't show it on the box the AZ Models Kawanishi K5Y2 retains the undercarriage from their K5Y1 version.  At least, my copy does.  Not cheap though but it's a nice kit if you wanted to whiff a biplane trainer that wasn't a Tiger Moth.
Floats are small though so probably only suitable for something tiny.


And if you are not worried about being left with a plane with no legs to stand on then look for the Airfix Arado AR 196.  Another old mould repopped many times and so should be plenty around cheap.

Oooh, just remembered.  The new Airfix Swordfish floatplane still has the wheels in it as well.  The floats on that are quite large compared to the others i've listed and are very nicely moulded being New Airfix.

Also Matchbox Norseman has floats, wheels AND skis as does another ex matchbox kit that Revell have just re-popped but which I can't remember what it is.  Something Canadian anyway.

[Dizzyfugu]

The Matchbox/Revell Norduyn Norseman also comes with relatively modern, sleek floats. Since Revell re-released the kit, prices dropped considerably.

Used here, but shortened & modified:



The floatplane version of the He 51 is a perfect bet, too, and it's rel. cheap.

[loupgarou]

Also ex-Frog Blackburn Shark and Fairey Swordfish have both wheels and floats. They have been repopped by Novo and by uncounted russian brands, shouldn't be too difficult to find cheap.
For a smaller size: Airfix Auster Antartic
or bigger: Italeri/Supermodel CanT Z 506  This one doesn't have wheels, but would make a pretty whif. 
Seriously, the Zvezda Disney Dusty has nice amphibious floats, and it's cheap. Found a few in model shows at around 4,50 euros.

[kitnut617]

Khee-Kha Art Products also do a number of float sets

http://www.mtaonline.net/~zdk/extras.htm

[chiglet]

The chap who ran PM Models died last year [so I was told]  As the family didn't want to carry on, the moulds were destroyed   
Afaik, [which ain't a lot]  Big H has most of the stock. So PM kits "may" increase in value

[PR19_Kit]

Khee-Kha Art Products also do a number of float sets

http://www.mtaonline.net/~zdk/extras.htm

Some LOVELY stuff on that site Robert!  Thanks for the link.

[ericr]

long live floats!

Matchbox/Revell Twin Otter also has wheels/skis/floats, the latter quite large in size

[ericr]

long live floats!

Matchbox/Revell Twin Otter also has wheels/skis/floats, the latter quite large in size

ah, and the Beaver and Otter kist from airfix and hobbycraft also have these options

and the old airfix Ju52 too, with really large floats