bdphil;
this looks like the procedure for adjusting RC car engines. Make adjustments, drive a little to see how it works, adjust some more etc... I thought of strapping the heli to a tall heavy table and making adjustments at various throttle settings, but your way seems better.

alvin1;
would I achieve the same result with an airplane prop (which I have "tons" of)?

Then "today's new question":
How do you start a helicopter? Do you switch on throttle hold before starting to keep it at idle?