Rotors

[jander14indoor]

Variable pitch makes a big difference on airplanes, better manages/uses the rubber, allows enough thrust to fly over a wider range of torques getting more out of the motor.

Don't know how it would affect copters, but strongly suspect it would help there.

If you want to look into mechanisms, look up variable pitch F1D propellors. Amazing examples of miniature hand manufacturing.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[thewinner]

I am currently building a new helicopter design with larger rotors than I used to use. I weighed all the parts today, and with glue and mylar I think it's going to weigh quite a bit over 4 grams, like maybe two tenths of a gram over, so I just wanted to ask whether anyone had any ideas on how to make the rotors lighter. I want to cut down on the rotor weight because the balsa I bought for the motor stick was unfortunately quite dense, and I cut it relatively thin so I don't want to risk making it any thinner.

[lllazar]

Well, even with dense balsa, i get my rotors under .7 grams, though they are probably not as big as yours. How do you apply the mylar?

[thewinner]

I usually attach them with spray glue. My rotors weigh about .9 grams without covering.

[New_Albany_Eagle]

I want to make my rotors out of balsa wood and in a shape similar to that of WS propellors. Is this a good idea?

[lllazar]

I don't know much about WS, but those props seemed fairly small in diameter, i wonder if they'd provide enough lift for a copter.

[Frogger4907]

I want to make my rotors out of balsa wood and in a shape similar to that of WS propellors. Is this a good idea?

It could with a small enough motor stick and light enough copter.

[thewinner]

.

[thewinner]

Remember, there is a minimum weight for any helicopter... so any helicopter able to fly well on a WS prop would probably not be legal.

[chia]

I want to make my rotors out of balsa wood and in a shape similar to that of WS propellors. Is this a good idea?

Balsa wood is almost a given - basswood will likely be much too heavy. If by Wright Stuff propellers you mean the Ikara prop... well, I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of helicopters built like that (similar shape, but larger), but never one in real life. I think they're a lot harder to build, though. If this is the first one you're building, you might want to start with something else.