Q: about propellers
 

Hello. I'm a new user to RC Universe, and hopefully I'll be a new flyer soon. I do have somewhat of a random question that probably won't apply to me for a while.

Does anyone fly with a scale or scale-ish prop? I see all these beautiful warbirds pulled around by tiny little two-blade propellers. I'm just curious if anyone makes or flies with large diameter multiblade props. I remember seeing Byron ads a decade or so ago advertising a "Byro-drive" or something that used big, slow-turning props on their birds.

Somewhere in my distant future lies a giant-scale Corsair. Probably an F4U-4 or -5 (although the earlier ones seem to be more colorful :cool: ), and I'd love to see a big honkin' black 4-blade-er on the nose.

Cheers
Mark

Q: about propellers
 

HI I only fly 2 blades due to the greater thrust, but they do make 3, 4, 5, bladed props and I Believe master airscrew make three bladed but I'm not sure. I am sure that you will get more relpies.

Scale props don't work well.
 

You can get semi-scale props or even true scale. The problem is that scale props don't work well becuse when you scale airplanes up or down, they react differently in the air... this goes for props too. Multi-blade props are higher drag and less efficient than two or even one bladed props (yes, one blade props exist.) For this reason, most will not go beyond a three bladed prop. This is not to say it can't be done, it just isn't common to do.

For example, at scale contests, the pilot/builder will often display his/her model with a true scale prop. However, they will switch to a better working, but not scale prop for the flying.

Q: about propellers
 

Part of the reason is that our props aren't variable pitch, like you'll see on full-scale complex aircraft. With a fixed pitch, certain compromises must be made for the props to be effecient. Early Hurricanes had 2-blade fixed pitch props, so some of the effects do scale.

3-blade props are rare at the field, but easily availible. They're often used when a model's engine is more powerful than recommened and the reduced diameter is necessary for ground clearance. They're also somewhat quieter, but there is a performance penalty.

Q: about propellers
 

Thanks for the info. Just what I wanted to know (but not what I wanted to hear :D ).

Would at least a scale diameter and color be too much to ask for?

Q: about propellers
 

Diameter of the prop is a function of engine choice and desired performance characteristics. Most RC props are black, gray, or wooden. You can always paint them if you so desire, but I'd not want to do that.

Q: about propellers
 

As for a scale looking prop, you can always make one for 'show' (I think that the Top Flite Skyraider instructions show how to make one for that kit).

I'm not sure what the rules are, but if you plan to fly in any Scale events, you could have a 'show' prop for realism, then change it to an un-scale prop for actual flying.

Does anyone know if/when one could change between a scale prop and a flying prop, according to the rules??

Thanks,

Bob