Icon RC Inc. is a California-based model aircraft distributing company who is now offering a line of ready-to-fly, foam constructed, electric-powered RC models. The subject of this review is their “WALA”, an electric powered RC twin float plane that is capable of taking off and landing from lakes, ponds, etc. It can also be flown as a land based aircraft with a conventional tail wheel configuration

Photo 1

The WALA has 260 square inches of wing area, a wing span of 45 inches, weighs approximately 20 ounces and consumes about 150 watts electric power input. Floating in the water, the WALA has a scale-like, very attractive appearance. The 23-inch long twin floats are just perfect for this size aircraft.

The WALA is essentially a Ready-To-Fly (RTF) aircraft. It is advertised as 99% RTF, because there are a few required final assembly steps. Everything you need for your first flight is provided, including the aircraft structure, electric motor, Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) with a Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC) that allows the motor battery to power the on-board radio system. Also included are a Li-Poly battery pack, battery charger and a complete RC system that includes a transmitter, receiver and three servos. Normal control functions include aileron, elevator, rudder and motor throttle trough the ESC.

The foam airframe parts looks like this.

The wing comes in two panels that must be joined, but the aileron servo is already installed. Likewise, the elevator and vertical fin must be attached to the fuselage. Little work is involved since even the control surface hinges and control horns are factory installed. The brushless motor comes already mounted with the ESC installed. Both the elevator and rudder servos are factory installed with the control rods in place. A vacuum formed plastic cowl, the twin floats and a landing gear/wheels set complete the package.

Icon RC provides a 3 cell Li-Poly battery pack rated at 1100 mAh capacity that weighs 3.2 ounces and is claimed to be 10C load capable. Also included is a wall-plug transformer type charger that operates from 115 VAC and has an output of 12 volts at 1 amp current.

This is a very basic charger that is not adjustable in any way. It is intended to charge this specific battery pack and it can do that in less than an hour.

The Li-Poly battery pack, as supplied, comes with a red plastic JST connector (Ed. Note: The small red connector) along with a special cable that brings out separate connections for each of the three cells and terminates these connections in a multi-pin node connector. This connector enables you to balance charge the battery (charge each cell separately) but that technique can’t be accomplished with the supplied charger.

You will also notice in photo 7 above that I substituted a pair of APP (aka Sermos) connectors for the JST. The reason for this is that the JST is somewhat limited in current capability. As such, with the expected 13 amp motor current in this case, I opted for the heavier duty connectors. A mating half of the APP connectors was likewise substituted on the ESC power input.

Since the battery did have a node connector I inquired if Icon RC might offer a balance type charger that accepts the special battery connector. The answer is that they do and it is specifically the GWS GWCHG004 (C3-LP Li-PO charger).

If you decide to go this route you will have to purchase this particular charger as an optional item. I strongly suggest you do that. You will notice that on the end of this charger there are two output connectors. One handles two cell batteries, while the other three cell packs.

Output current can be adjusted from zero up to 1.0 Amp. In this application, with the 1100 mAh rated battery you would set this charger to the maximum 1.0 Amp (or 1000 mA) charge rate

A fully depleted battery should be completely recharged in about an hour. This charger can be operated from your 12-volt car battery at the flying field or from 115 VAC using an optional AC adapter.