One of the things I find all too often in this hobby that those who proport long times modeling, all too often assume that their own views are inherently correct.

Case in point is the "fuel in the back of the tank on downlines" myth even proported IN MAGAZINE WRITINGs by RC greats such as Clarence Lee.


A simple video put up after my observation that this was physically impossible shattered years of insistence from long term modelers who really SHOULD have known better but never questioned the status quo.


Proptop:

YES I've seen spinners "explode".

I've had it happen to me, and during many training lessons that I take part in teaching.

But instead of merely assuming that "plastic spinners are to be avoided" I looked at the cause of the problem.

In ALL cases it's turned out to be user error of one type or another.

Those same errors ( over tightening, deformation of the backplate, etc. ) apply just as redily to metal and aluminum backplates you are espousing.

I've seen them "explode" too more often than plastic ones.

If anything the flying metal fragments have more energy and are far more dangerous than those "cheap plastic spinners" you are nixing.


There is absolutely NO REASON to avoid plastic spinners, they are no more dangerous ( and are probably SAFER ) than metal spinners.

What is to be avoided is improper setup by inexperienced flyers, who have been erroneously told that metal backplates are "safe" or "ok".

That false sense of security that simply because the backplate is made of metal, it will not shatter, will someday blind someone.



Overtightening or improper seating are the most common causes for spinners exploding.... particularly if the novice cranks things down and does not realize that they are stressing the backplate FORWARD or BACK due to improper configuration setup.

And that applies EQUALLY to metal backplates, all metal spinners, carbon spinners or plastic ones.