Flight Trimming

[illusionist]

Most of the time, it just takes a tiny drop of glue to balance out the rotors. Put it on the tips of the rotors (lever efficiency and all).

[kjhsscioly]

The issue with that is that you can't predict how heavy the glue is going to be. I like to sand the corners of the heavy side, so I can control what I take off.

[mrsteven]

good idea! but if it only is off enough that a single drop of glue or a little sanding fixes it, then is it really worth fixing at all? what kind of difference does it make time wise?

[kjhsscioly]

I don't know, but in my opinion, weather always amplifies imbalances, so in the event it is humid, or the room is breezy, I like to balance my stuff.

[jander14indoor]

Hmmm...
2e. Rotor construction: Competitors must construct the rotors themselves. Commercially available rotors or propellers must not be used in whole or part. Rotor thrust bearings may be commercially available items.
I interpreted this as meaning any part of the Ikara prop -hanger included- is not allowed.
So using this

and its corresponding hanger wouldn't be allowed. I know it says bearings can be commercially available, but that just means beads or teflon washers, right?

Again, not the place for clarifications, blah...
To be clear on my earlier post. The only thing illegal under this years rules is the plastic hub and spars to the left in that picture as they are part of the rotor. The bead, washer, wire, and round plastic dohicky (a complex technical term meaning something I don't know the name of!) to the right is part of the prop hanger and OK as others have mentioned.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[mrsteven]

Ya requiring us to make our own bearings from wood seems rather farfetched.

[kjhsscioly]

It doesn't say wood. You could theoretically make them from metal. But I think the purpose of the rule was mainly to prevent people from using commercially made stuff to get a perfect pitch matched on both sides.

[mrsteven]

It doesn't say wood. You could theoretically make them from metal. But I think the purpose of the rule was mainly to prevent people from using commercially made stuff to get a perfect pitch matched on both sides.

ya thats true. I know teams that have gotten essentially pre-made kits that are online that are specific to SO saying 'SO legal.' I really dont like teams that use those because it's not in the spirit of the competition if someones giving you a mostly built one that all you do is attach prebuilt rotors to prebuilt motor stick.

[chia]

Well, it's not quite that simple to build a kit - then it wouldn't actually be "SO legal". I know what you mean, though... I built my first helicopter from a kit, and I'm really glad I managed to learn from it to build my newest one.

[illusionist]

Not to sound arrogant, but I've never built one from a kit. But I bought a kit for Wright Stuff last year, which taught me a lot toward building indoor duration models. Kit's do help, however students should take the experience and build their own helicopters.