Rubber

[chia]

Hah! Finally got my 1/8 rubber. Let's see if it makes a difference for the better...

[Frogger4907]

Hah! Finally got my 1/8 rubber. Let's see if it makes a difference for the better...

Good Luck!

[Lily Essence]

Hello~!

I'm a avid fan of this event so far in this year, and I've worked hard over my designs and building ability.

I now have a helicopter that flys beautifully on 1.5g of 1/8th rubber with about 700 winds. It attemps to climb for about 1:40 before descending gracefully. However even with a 25 foot ceiling and a 20 second falling phase, it still lands with about 200-ish winds.

I feel that these winds represent power that I'm not using, since in other tests with different/thicker rubber, my copter falls with almost no winds left (perhaps only 10-20) but these flights never reach the time it does with 1/8th (perhaps only 1:30-40). I also look at the alloted 2g of rubber and feel that I should use all of it. After all, it is the power, right?

Could getting thinner rubber possibly keep my copter climbing for longer since I'm only using 1.5 g of my alloted 2 g? Or perhaps even just a shade thicker? Would using only one g of thinner rubber help? I just need some guesses as to which direction I should move toward and I will continue to test and experiment.

[Frogger4907]

Hello~!

I'm a avid fan of this event so far in this year, and I've worked hard over my designs and building ability.

I now have a helicopter that flys beautifully on 1.5g of 1/8th rubber with about 700 winds. It attemps to climb for about 1:40 before descending gracefully. However even with a 25 foot ceiling and a 20 second falling phase, it still lands with about 200-ish winds.

I feel that these winds represent power that I'm not using, since in other tests with different/thicker rubber, my copter falls with almost no winds left (perhaps only 10-20) but these flights never reach the time it does with 1/8th (perhaps only 1:30-40). I also look at the alloted 2g of rubber and feel that I should use all of it. After all, it is the power, right?

Could getting thinner rubber possibly keep my copter climbing for longer since I'm only using 1.5 g of my alloted 2 g? Or perhaps even just a shade thicker? Would using only one g of thinner rubber help? I just need some guesses as to which direction I should move toward and I will continue to test and experiment.

I would try sticking with 1/8th but increasing to use the full 2 grams. more rubber = more winds. maybe extend your hook, and/or motor stick if needed due to the longer motor. gl post results.

[aubrey048]

I used 1/8 but only could get about 200 winds out of it. (22.4 seconds, which is pathetic I know ) The rubber band snapped at Regionals when I tried more.

Any advice for next time? (My helicopter's image is in the image gallery, if that helps. It's the one with the blue wings.)

[jander14indoor]

What kind of rubber, how much, did you lubricate it, when you say winds, do you mean actual motor winds, or winder winds?

PS, 22.4 seconds isn't as pathetic as all that, had to fly a little at least, and it would place or win many regionals. The rest is just practice, data collection, and adjustment.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[aubrey048]

What kind of rubber, how much, did you lubricate it, when you say winds, do you mean actual motor winds, or winder winds?

We lubricated it. We got the rubber from Turnertoys. The 200 winds were actual motor winds (sad I know).

I got a mediocre 6th place at Regionals. The winner had a flight time of 49 seconds, with second place at 45. I don't recall what was third. Also my helicopter was really heavy, which may have been its downfall. The winner couldn't have been much heavier than 5 grams, while mine was about 8.
But oh well. This was my first year doing this event. I guess I learned a lot of lessons, though, which will help me next time.

[illusionist]

Great job, that's nothing to fuss over...
But, yeah, this event will MOST likely be an event next year.

[Lily Essence]

I would try sticking with 1/8th but increasing to use the full 2 grams. more rubber = more winds. maybe extend your hook, and/or motor stick if needed due to the longer motor. gl post results.

Thanks for the information! I do think that a longer motor stick may help; I must build and test.

[Frogger4907]

I would try sticking with 1/8th but increasing to use the full 2 grams. more rubber = more winds. maybe extend your hook, and/or motor stick if needed due to the longer motor. gl post results.

Thanks for the information! I do think that a longer motor stick may help; I must build and test.

No problem! Good Luck!