Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper
The Canadair CL-415 is designed specifically for aerial firefighting.
My wife and I saw a couple of these planes in action last week at
Stagecoach Reservoir in Oak Creek , CO. They were "gathering water" for
the Elk Creek Fire, which they and the ground crews obtained 100%
containment on. Quite spectacular flying... here's a video:
Canadair 415 Fire Fighting Plane - Stagecoach Reservoir - Elk Fire - Oak Creek , CO August 2025
So my mind got to thinking about a scale version of the plane, but as a
rocket. The upper wing would be removed for flight... or perhaps the
plane could be made as a glider.
2025-08-22 CAD Drawing Of Fuselage
2025-08-23 Fuselage Blank
Glued up the fuselage blanks... I mean... after all... what else wood I use... it is a Boat / Plane / Rocket.
2025-08-24 Fuselage Fabrication
Used my wood lathe and a 2" diameter Forstner bit to bore the hole.
Then cut the bevels on the table saw, and sanded the final profile.
Came out pretty nice... and the weight was even less than the CAD model. All in all a pretty good end result.
2025-08-29 CAD Model... In-Process
2025-08-30 Drawing Set, Rev 01
2025-09-13 Spool Tube and Plywood / Dowel Items
Tuba-Paloosa... Cut the (6) tubes for the Spool Tube, as well as cutting the Fuselage to length.
The BT-52H Motor Tube is sleeved with a C-55, the C-50 is sleeved with a BT-50H, both secured with Elmer's White Glue.
The
(2) C-55's were cut longitudinally and are used as spacers between the
BT-52H and the BT-50H, all secured with Gorilla Wood Glue.
Also cut the items from 1/4" Plywood and 3/4" Dia Dowels
2025-09-14 Centering Rings and Bulkhead
The Centering Rings were cut from 1/4"
Plywood. A 1" Forstener bit was used to cut the holes for the BT-50H
tube and the elliptical holes were cut using a 3/4" Forstener bit and a
Dremel. This will be the Altimeter Bay opening.
The
Rear Centering Ring was then attached to the Rear Bulkhead using
Gorilla Wood Glue. Once the glue set-up, the altimeter opening was then
drilled thru the Rear Centering Ring.
The rings were then placed over the BT-50H and Gorilla Wood Glued into place.
2025-09-15 Upper Rear Body Panel
Cut the Rear Upper Body Panel from 1/8" Basswood and began gluing it into place with Gorilla Wood Glue.
It was clearanced / sanded on the bottom center in order to give some clearance for the C-55
2025-09-17 Rear Side Body Panels
Glued the Rear Side Body Panels to the Bulkhead and C-55.
Making the Tray for the Altimeter Bay from cardboard, and wood gluing it to the sides.
2025-09-19 Altimeter Bay Vent Holes, Ballast Hole, Lag Screw Eye and Belly Panels
Drilled (2) 0.170 Diameter holes into the Altimeter Bay as vent holes.
Used a spade bit to drill a 1" dia. x 7/8" deep hole for the Nose Ballast.
Used a 1/8" dia. drill bit, drilled the Nose Cone and installed the Lag Screw Eye.
Cut the Rear Belly Panels.
2025-09-20 Rear Upper Side Plates
Cut, sanded and glued the Rear Upper Side Plates to the Rear Body.
Horizontal Stabilizer Attachment
Horizontal Stabilizer Spear
Did some fine tuning on the Spear to get it to fit just right... then glued it into place.
2025-09-21 Mini Vert. Stabilizers and Nose Cone Ballast
Cut the 1" dia x 3/4" long steel Nose
Ballast and glued it into the Front Fuselage. Started gluing the Mini
Vert. Stabilizers to the Horizontal Stabilizer.
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