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."
The piper cub will also loose against too strong winds, like many other airframes. I you want wind stable planes, you may switch to some larger span e-glider at a later stage, when flying and especially landing (an easystar?) becomes routine. Good you train hard in FMS. it's worth every minute.
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.
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!
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?
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
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.
My bet: a cheapo Cub made in China won't last half the EasyStar experimentation time... I've flown/crashed/repaired 12-15 airframes in 3 years since my pilot maiden, and my 60'' Piper Cub ARF is waiting in its box in the basement... for 2 years. I'm so glad I did not rush assembling that kit yet. Now I could, it would survive some flights.
And my last thoughts are: (1) the Cub is a tail dragger. It WILL nose dive as a beginner airframe! and (2) an easystar probably could water land on a pond and the electronic probably would survive.. as we said, it's a floater!
@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).
Don't forget the prop will be in the way on the cub for FPV et al.
I would also council the Easystar to start, remember your first airframe will be more about learning to fly and enjoying that. Don't worry too much about the autopilot bit just yet. Being able to trim your aircraft for flight and fly correct circuits will help you no end when you start fault finding autopilot behaviour.
Comments
-Rd
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!
BTW-Is that easystar a mix of the blue and silver models?
Thanks again!
-Rd
s 2 flight - 3 waypoint test flight success...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
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.
And my last thoughts are: (1) the Cub is a tail dragger. It WILL nose dive as a beginner airframe! and (2) an easystar probably could water land on a pond and the electronic probably would survive.. as we said, it's a floater!
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).
I would also council the Easystar to start, remember your first airframe will be more about learning to fly and enjoying that. Don't worry too much about the autopilot bit just yet. Being able to trim your aircraft for flight and fly correct circuits will help you no end when you start fault finding autopilot behaviour.
Keep practising good show!!
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