RC Plane Prop Saver

RC Plane Prop Saver: I found this while researching the Super Cub and thought it might be usefull to those of you not flying EasyStars. :From: http://thesmithfam.org/blog/2006/10/17/rc-plane-prop-saver/Direct quote:"Michael Torrie created a really handy tool to save your RC plane’s propellers from a spinning death on impact. It’s called a prop saver and it’s based on the “elastic rules, static drules” principle. Read on for pictures and explanation:The following is a close-up picture of a prop saver:

saver4.jpg

It bolts on to your propeller shaft just like a normal propeller, with two hex nuts (which are barely visible on the left and right of the black plastic yoke). The black plastic yoke is made from an old propeller, with the blades cut off, and two screws drilled into it and, of course, coated with tape for good measure. The tape provides a little bit of friction when you slide the new prop on the top. You then attach your prop onto the tip of the yoke with a rubber band, securing it to the screws like this:

saver6.jpg

The prop sits on the tip of the yoke, swallowing it slightly. The rubber band holds it to the yoke and delivers the rotational force to the prop like a normal nut would, except with a bit more elasticity. That way, the prop’s blades don’t take the brunt of a crash, but rather the rubber band, as this picture shows:

saver3.jpg

That’s one safe prop! You’d have to crash it pretty hard to break it, in which case the prop will be the cheapest repair you’ll make.This approach observes the “elastic rules, static drules” principle by allowing the prop to give a bit, rather than statically absorbing impact forces. This same principle applies to just about every component that break easily."
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  • Looks fast! What motor is that running? Do you recommend the rip-off [axn floater/clone of easystar] at all or are you linking to that flight because it shows what an easystar could potentially do?

    Thanks again!

    -Rd
  • Link to flight!
  • This is a clone of the easystar by Hobbycity. I have 5 of these. Nice thing about these, ailerons are built in. I have added ailerons to most of my easystars. Except the one for autopilot.

    They scream:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9PkAxlt_sg

    Just like in this video, forward towards the end and you will see what I mean...
  • The goal of my reply was to say - NEVER LET WIND BOTHER YOU - TUNE IT OUT AND Fly the Plane!!! The stock 450 series in-runner on the Easystar may not be ideal, but it can handle easily 30mph winds. Take that out, throw a solid brushless engine, add angle on the mount so the engine points more towards the sky. This allows bigger prop use. And then watch out, will fly like a rocket. I have to hard tape the wings to the fuse to make sure they do not come off in flight!!!
  • Thanks For the info Peter I will remember that!;)
  • I have a Hacker A20 running 1320 3S1P 11.1v spinning an 8x6e and let me tell you, half throttle gets me roughly 45mph....So you can fly in anything. I recently flew just before a thunder storm, winds were clocked at almost 48 mph...not a problem.....The theory wind is your enemy, is just that theory. Its all in the head of the RC pilot, I have trained thousands of RC pilots in my time, that is the hardest thing to get them over. WIND....Everyone always is afraid of it, at my RC field half the old timers sit in their chairs all day waiting for a 30 minute window of calm air. Honestly. Planes were mean't to fly in WIND!!! - LOL :) Rant over!!!
  • Thanks Reto! Thanks to you guys I will most likely get and easystar. But the real thanks is for convincing me NOW not later so I can reshape my project a little for the easy star's abilities!

    Thanks-Rd
  • By the way, I saw EasyStars climbing unlimited vertical, or taking of from concrete or grass! Those could fight most wind conditions with ease (in high wind, it then much more depends on pilot skill and experience, than airframe...)
  • This depends much on the engine setup, of course. But agreed, with the original can brushed engine and 2 cell lipo, it won't win a speed race! With an adapted brushless and a 3 cell battery, it's another story. If you get a chance to try out RealFlight (RC simu), you may tweak the entire setup to your needs, then try it out before getting the real stuff. I mostly test my E-setups with RealFlight, prop size and pitch, lipos, etc. vs. weight, CG, power consumption and autonomy. The readings are very similar to measures of the real setup. Very handy.
  • Thanks Reto though it is the Super Cub I'm looking at not the piper [they are about the same but I would like to clarify]. I just flew in FMS and The stock easystar appears to be able to barely handle up to 12&1/4 Meter per sec winds at a velocity of 10 meters per second at full throttle so I would say maybe about 10 in the real world?
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