Helicopters C

[coachchuckaahs]

My local hobby shop carries CST carbon, and another brand. You can find them online at CSTSales.com.

The motor sticks on my kids' first Chinook are about 10" hook-to-hook. These are vertical, and are joined with horizontal balsa sticks at the hook end and at the mid-point. Then x-bracing of Kevlar thread (if you cannot find thread, use some kevlar fishing line (braided fishing line, 5-10 pound), though glue may not stick as well). This rectangle formed by the motor sticks and the horizontal members is covered to make one vane, prevents looping. Then some additional vanes sticking out in the center of this covered section to prevent end-to-end instabilities.

I don't know yet if the 10" will be enough, I have no experience with these larger rotors. We fly next week, so we'll see if we are even close on our rubber selection.

Generally, we found last year we kept throwing more and more rubber at it, and times got longer and longer. We ended up with 16" motor stick last year. You can get bulk rubber at FAI, and hope either 3/32" or 1/8" will work well. Or you can strip your own, but a stripper is expensive. Dave at Freedom Flight will strip any width you want.

I think the Chinook will be quite a different learning curve, but I understand Dave has had excellent results so far with the prototypes for the kits. So it is do-able, and the bonus is huge. So we decided to go for it!

Good luck, and keep asking questions

Chuck
AAHS

[coachchuckaahs]

TEN086:

I cannot seem to send you a PM, it gets stuck in outbox. If you PM me your email, I can send you a few photos that may help get you started. Forum does not have photo posting capability. If your pm gets stuck in outbox, reply here and I'll get you my email address.

Chuck

[daydreamer0023]

TEN086:

I cannot seem to send you a PM, it gets stuck in outbox. If you PM me your email, I can send you a few photos that may help get you started. Forum does not have photo posting capability. If your pm gets stuck in outbox, reply here and I'll get you my email address.

Chuck

PMs stay in the outbox until the recipient user opens your message. So, it's safe to assume that the message has been sent, but not opened.

[coachchuckaahs]

OK, thanks for the clarification!

Chuck

[Unome]

Top three scores at around 1:30 raw time at Forsyth Central this past weekend. I expect a few scores to reach perhaps 2 minutes by Brookwood invitational in early January (barring someone getting a good Chinook going).

[Raleway]

Top three scores at around 1:30 raw time at Forsyth Central this past weekend. I expect a few scores to reach perhaps 2 minutes by Brookwood invitational in early January (barring someone getting a good Chinook going).

Are you saying that 1:30 Raw time is a non-chinook bonus? It's better for one to say overall scored time rather than raw time IMO now with the bonus and stuff added on. Thanks!

[Unome]

Top three scores at around 1:30 raw time at Forsyth Central this past weekend. I expect a few scores to reach perhaps 2 minutes by Brookwood invitational in early January (barring someone getting a good Chinook going).

Are you saying that 1:30 Raw time is a non-chinook bonus? It's better for one to say overall scored time rather than raw time IMO now with the bonus and stuff added on. Thanks!

Agreed, I just couldn't remember which bonuses. I believe the top time was slightly over 1:30, non-chinook, but all of the other bonuses (colored panel and setup time are the only ones right?)

[SluffAndRuff]

No one flew the Freedom Flight model? Seems like an easy bet to beat 1:30 with bonus

[Ten086]

TEN086:

I cannot seem to send you a PM, it gets stuck in outbox. If you PM me your email, I can send you a few photos that may help get you started. Forum does not have photo posting capability. If your pm gets stuck in outbox, reply here and I'll get you my email address.

Chuck

Sorry I've been inactive for so long!! Thanks so much for the tips so far. I'll probably be more active as we slowly figure out teams for my school.

Do people already have the Freedom Flight kit? Is it still possible to order one now?

[CTMSRoadScholarKING]

This is my first building event. I have had a problem with too much friction due to the rotors I believe rubbing up on the shaft. My partner and I added a tiny bead, but the bead ended up still causing friction. Any tips for us?