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:

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:

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:

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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Comments

Robert Drone July 25, 2009 at 7:04am

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
Robert Drone July 24, 2009 at 11:21am

Thanks For the info Peter I will remember that!;)
Robert Drone July 24, 2009 at 10:57am

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
Robert Drone July 24, 2009 at 7:16am

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?
Robert Drone July 24, 2009 at 6:55am

Thanks for the info Sgt Ric; I just flew the FMS model and they would have you think it could go pretty fast. Maybe I'll get it after all everyone has presented a good argument in it's favor but I'm still a bit worried about the wind; I'm going to turn on wind in FMS and see how it handles. Where I live I have to worry about sudden strong gusts of wind every once in a while and I don't want to lose my first good [not airhogs] plane to a gust of wind.

-Rd
Moderator

Sgt Ric July 24, 2009 at 6:36am

One final note about the EasyStar before everyone get tired of hearing about it...
It is interesting how any bent part or one that is misshaped or crushed, etc., can be corrected by immersing it in boiling water!

The Elapor material is superior to regular foam in many ways!
Robert Drone July 24, 2009 at 6:28am

I will look more into the easystar but I'm also worried about it's ability to handle sudden gusts of wind. I'm also about to fly an easystar in FMS so I'll see how it goes meanwhile thanks again for the comments and thanks to peter for the awesome picture.

BTW-Is that easystar a mix of the blue and silver models?

Thanks again!

-Rd
Jerry LeDrew July 23, 2009 at 6:22pm

Hi Sgt Ric......
I agree with you about the EasyStar .... I started at this racket
before servos and proportional control ( escapements ) and there
was no throttle just full speed till the fuel ran out .... My EasyStar
has been through everything from nose in’s to water landings ...
One nose in push back the nose so much that now the canopy won’t
fit in ...I just bring it home and get out the CA and heat gun Heat
gun ....
De VO1ET Jerry
Moderator

Sgt Ric July 23, 2009 at 5:15pm

If I had had an EasyStar back when I began 35 years ago, I am positive my Cub (and alot of my other planes) would still be around today!

Learning to fly/ experimenting/ really understanding R/C airdraft takes time and practice.
Unfortunately, this means crashing!

That can be frustrating, sad, and expensive... but an EasyStar not only is very stable and forgiving, its also almost indistructible.
Mine have reglued tails, noses, and wings, and more than a little road rash and grass stains, but they still fly beautifully.
Moderator

Sgt Ric July 23, 2009 at 2:13pm

@Robert
A reminder that the Cub, while being a stable high wing airframe, is a tractor config.
While this does not affect autopilot use, you just mentioned FPV flying, and a front engined airframe makes mounting the FPV camera more of an issue.

Also, I've owned a 72" J3 Cub years ago, and while it could float like a glider, it could not bounce back from a crash like either of my EAsyStars can (and have).

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