Big T

Sarik don’t supply and strip or sheet wood, only the formers.

Pop over to our Facebook group, RC Model Autogyros for more info on blades, set up, first flights etc. Blades are not so difficult to make after you have done one set. However you can buy suitable blanks from Astikmodels.mozella.com

So you need a good computer radio with 4 or 6 channels. The rotor control is done in the radio usually setting the model up as a flying wing with ailevators mixing 2 channels , throttle, rudder. But a word of warning, if you have never flown a radio controlled air plane before this is not a type of model to learn on. Even really experienced fixed wing a rotary wing pilots struggle with auto gyros.

Hi, you can get a Gemini plan from Richard Harris direct. There is also a build log on here from me.

Hi Tom, well done for having a go at blade making. Due to the nature of home made blades the cord wise c of g will nearly always be different and in my experience makes no real difference in performance . With the commercially produced AJ blades, they always advised drilling the hole on the centre of lift for the airfoil section they used and gave a measurement from the leading edge. In fact that’s where the full size gyro blades are mounted. What is much more important is that the blades are as close as possible in weight and the length wise balance point of each blade is the same. If weight is needed to equalise, that’s where it is put. Keep the leading edge as sharp as possible and remember you may need negative shim to increase spin up.

The STL files are available for download at STL Download. I have printed in Prusament PLA and eSun PLA+ and as you can see the printed parts are robust. I have used Balsa sheet for the tail and Correx with bamboo and CF inserts to strengthen. I have used 0% and 5% infill to test the strength and both work well.

Hi David, with a tractor we hang the model from the Jesus Nut in ready to fly condition with blades fitted and radio on. You then measure the angle of the thrust line and horizontal, this is known as the Hang Angle. With a 3 blade set up you are looking for a start point hang angle of between 15 and 18 degrees as a starting point. Too shallow an angle is equivalent to a fixed wing model having too rearward a c of g. You also need to build in right motor thrust. The mast can be angled rearward to aid the hang angle. The longer the mast the more stable in flight but too long causes issues with roll stability. I would start with the Whippit dimensions and work from that. Blade size can be calculated by use of the spreadsheet.

Hi Stephen, I am interested to know if you have experimented with the span wise CofG position. In particular the effect of moving the CofG further towards the tip and if so have you found a sweet spot?

The STL files for the blades are in the FILES section of our private facebook group RC Model Autogyros

Posted by Joakim Karlsson 1 on 29/01/2021 15:47:32: Posted by Richard Franks on 29/01/2021 15:13:39: Really depends on your confidence at building.I dont think the sarik plan pack includes the materials for the rotors but I will look in the unopened one in my workshop Thank you! If you are a 3D printer there are several different STL files for a complete blade set that do very well for the Panther. If not then the thought of making blades from scratch seems more daunting that reality. It’s not that difficult if you select the wood and have either a belt sander or David plane and sanding blocks. Have a go! What’s the worst that can happen?

That’s going to be interesting, never seen a clockwise model gyro.

Posted by Andy Joyce on 18/01/2021 13:39:55: In the process of making the blades. Note the plan shows a 1mm blunt edge to the LE although early pictures on the tread show a sharp LE. So which is better, blunt or sharp? Sharp works best in my experience. Better spin up.

I second the flying close to aid orientation. My regular fixed wing flying certainly improved after flying gyros, it does feel weird when flying vintage 3 channel. I keep trying to level the wings in the turns! Couloir choice is also important though. I like to have o e end of the model a different contrasting colour. On some I have fitted lights.

Posted by Chris Dowell on 12/11/2020 08:46:30: Even when all blades have been made to identical weights ...you will find that the entire head assembly has to be balances as one unit. This usually requires small strips tape to be added to the tips of the lighter blades . This is a critical part of the set up. Chris... Chris I am sure you are correct but.....I have always added weight to the blades lengthwise CofG to get them to the same weight. Then I make sure to cover them with the exactly the same size of film, then double check the weights again. Lately I have experimented with using the thin heat shrink tubing that is used by the food and lipo manufacturers, widely available on eBay. Works very well and is stronger than silly film

It might be an optical illusion but there doesn’t seem to be any rear tilt on the mast? All of my model gyros have at least 5 degrees, some more.