The blades on my Apache are getting pretty droopy. I've got it hanging as if in flight, so they shouldn't be drooping at all; in fact they should be somewhat elevated.
Anyone have a simple fix for this? I can crazy glue thin wire to the underside of each blade to add support but that's going to look like crap.
Anyone?
Droopy Apache rotor
-
USCGSARdog
- Officer - 1st Lieutenant
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:42 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
I had problems with the rotor blades on both my Blackhawk and my Apache. To solve this I removed the blades from the rotor hub and slowly heated each blade with a hair dryer while bending the blade in the opposite direction of the "droop". Be sure to heat the blade evenly by moving the hair dryer back and forth along its length. I bent mine slightly more than was needed because the blades tend to try to return to their original shape while cooling. I also found that if you heat the side of the blade towards the OUTSIDE of the bend the process goes a little faster. Hope this helps!
-Rob
-Rob
DroopyApache rotor
I had the same problem with my BBI Apache. They need to work on the hardness of their plastic formulas.
Anyway, I rubbed some Viagra on my rotor blades and they straightened out right quick!
Anyway, I rubbed some Viagra on my rotor blades and they straightened out right quick!
Go Starbuck!
-
momaw nadon
- Officer - Captain
- Posts: 777
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 3:07 pm
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Contact:
aferguson,
I don't own any bbi copters, but is it a four blade? If so, you could use some fine fishing line and tie the tips to each other (opposite tips). That way you would get the effect you want by how tight the line is? That would be cheaper than buying a hair dyer too. If you don't like the look of it you have something else to fall back on. Hope that helps.
momaw nadon
I don't own any bbi copters, but is it a four blade? If so, you could use some fine fishing line and tie the tips to each other (opposite tips). That way you would get the effect you want by how tight the line is? That would be cheaper than buying a hair dyer too. If you don't like the look of it you have something else to fall back on. Hope that helps.
momaw nadon
-
DocTodd
- Officer - Lt. Colonel
- Posts: 1146
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:37 pm
- Location: Central Texas
- Contact:
Re: droopy blades
I actually had a more severe problem with my BlackHawk-a rotor blade broke off. However that lead to an innovation that has worked well. I got a fine threaded rod and drilled a small hole from the end that attaches to the hub down into the blade. Then I advanced the threaded rod into the rotor blade. After I repaired the broken one I did it to the other 3 and it has been hanging for several months with no droop. E-mail me if you need any more specifics and I can go back and give you more detail if needed.
Todd
Todd
-
USCGSARdog
- Officer - 1st Lieutenant
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:42 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
aferguson- set the hair dryer on high, just be sure not to over heat the blade. If you work back and forth along the blade you will not have to worry about over heating.
As for "will they stay"; well, so far so good on mine! I repaired my rotor blades soon after I purchased both choppers (about a year ago???). I think the key is to bend them a little more upward than you want them to be. As I said, the blades tend to have some "memory" and will settle slightly while cooling.
As for "will they stay"; well, so far so good on mine! I repaired my rotor blades soon after I purchased both choppers (about a year ago???). I think the key is to bend them a little more upward than you want them to be. As I said, the blades tend to have some "memory" and will settle slightly while cooling.
Droopy Apache Rotor
Aferguson:
I talked to Julie at BadCat Aviation. I told her about the problem with BBI's plastic hardness vis-a-vis the Apache rotors and F-18 main landing gears. I asked her to pass on our complaints to any BBI sales rep she might be talking to. I said that I for one wouldn't mind paying for a revised, harder set of Apache rotor blades. That might give some of y'all heartburn, having to pay for parts that weren't done right the first time.
I talked to Julie at BadCat Aviation. I told her about the problem with BBI's plastic hardness vis-a-vis the Apache rotors and F-18 main landing gears. I asked her to pass on our complaints to any BBI sales rep she might be talking to. I said that I for one wouldn't mind paying for a revised, harder set of Apache rotor blades. That might give some of y'all heartburn, having to pay for parts that weren't done right the first time.
Go Starbuck!
I finally got around to blow drying my apache rotor blades to make them go 'up' instead of droop. I referenced a few in flight pics of apaches and tried to adjust each blade as they appear at the various stages of rotation.
I actually realized that the blades themselves had not drooped but the little nubs that slides into the main rotor hub is what had drooped. So i focused on heating them nice and warm, bending them and then running under cold water til cool again. I over-corrected as advised; i suspect they will droop a bit from where they are now. I hope so at least as they look a bit goofy. I'll give it a few days and see how they look before i make any corrections.
All and all a fairly quick and easy procedure. Thanks for the tip!
I actually realized that the blades themselves had not drooped but the little nubs that slides into the main rotor hub is what had drooped. So i focused on heating them nice and warm, bending them and then running under cold water til cool again. I over-corrected as advised; i suspect they will droop a bit from where they are now. I hope so at least as they look a bit goofy. I'll give it a few days and see how they look before i make any corrections.
All and all a fairly quick and easy procedure. Thanks for the tip!
Last edited by aferguson on Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
If you use heat
If you heat any plastic, be sure to immerse the heated section in ice cold water. Plastic has a "mold-memory". By heating the plastic, you literally put it to sleep as far as the memory is concerned and by immersing it in ice cold water, you shock the plastic into the new shape (you give it a memory block). Boiling hot water is probably better than dry heat for damage control. For large items, boil your water in any large pot and then pour the boiling water in a turkey or deep baking pan. Place parts in water for ten to twenty seconds, remove and shape, then immerse in ICE COLD water while holding part in desired shape. Be careful, parts are hot till chilled.
Note: The rotor blade on the Apache are concave in section and will curl if too much dry heat is applied. This method has worked for me.
One other thing. If you are tire of the wobble in you aircraft's landing gear, tighten the wheel up on the axle by looping heavy duty black thread between the wheel and the strut, wrapping and knotting the thread when desired stiffness is achieved. Light the excess thread with a torch or match (extinquish before it causes damage). Machine oil the in-place thread will allow rotation.
Note: The rotor blade on the Apache are concave in section and will curl if too much dry heat is applied. This method has worked for me.
One other thing. If you are tire of the wobble in you aircraft's landing gear, tighten the wheel up on the axle by looping heavy duty black thread between the wheel and the strut, wrapping and knotting the thread when desired stiffness is achieved. Light the excess thread with a torch or match (extinquish before it causes damage). Machine oil the in-place thread will allow rotation.