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Blueprints

Posted: October 24th, 2012, 5:36 pm
by NYCSCIOLY
Is it best to have the rotors angled a certain direction or have then flat instead? Also, the helicopter's main body, is it best to make that part light or heavy?
Thanks guys!

Re: Blueprints

Posted: October 24th, 2012, 5:50 pm
by chia
If the rotors were completely flat, they'd barely generate any lift. They need to be angled to push air down as they turn to keep the helicopter in the air. Exactly how large an angle will depend... you'll have to find out what works with the rubber sizes you have (or, alternatively, get rubber that best matches the rotors' pitch).
As to weight... the lighter the better, always. You shouldn't be too concerned about the balsa fuselage (body) not being strong enough to withstand the force of the rubber unless you're using ridiculously soft wood/thin dimensions for the wood.

Re: Blueprints

Posted: October 25th, 2012, 3:30 pm
by retired1
NYCSCIOLY wrote:Is it best to have the rotors angled a certain direction or have then flat instead? Also, the helicopter's main body, is it best to make that part light or heavy?
Thanks guys!
Chia has the blade angle dead on.
As far as the body goes, If you have no experience, you would like to have it be as light as possible and not seriously bow or break with a max wind of rubber.
Consider starting with a good kit such as the one from Freedom Flight which comes out in a couple of weeks. Because of the shorter rotor this year, they are going to a 4 blade rotor. Our teams have done very well at state, but we are still buying a couple of kits for starters and then will start making adjustments like rubber width and length, fuselage length and prop pitch. This can get very complicated as you have 3 very important variables.

Re: Blueprints

Posted: October 25th, 2012, 5:32 pm
by A Person
I suggest you post this in the "designs" instead of starting a new topic.... Keep the forum from cluttering.

Re: Blueprints

Posted: February 9th, 2013, 8:49 am
by Itsanthonguise
I think a lot of people are only using kits so a blueprint may be useless, unless you're not using a kit then..