Master airscrew
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Master airscrew
Hi guys,
My apologies if this is the wrong subforum for this topic...
What´s up with these props? This is the fifth one in a month that is impossible to balance properly without damaging the prop or deforming it.
I´ve used Masters excessively in the past without too many problems but nowadays they seem to be manufactured with an afterthought or something like that.
I used to go to my hobbyshop with a prop balancer and ask for four or five props the same size and test them quickly in order to get my hands on a prop that had the best balance so balancing would be simple.
The latest props I purchased were ordered on line from the same shop. I had a total of 8 ordered. 5 of those were just junk! Not to balance whatsoever [:@]
What´s the experience in general with these props? Are they really as bad to balance as they seem to be?
Cheers
Tjen il-vec
My apologies if this is the wrong subforum for this topic...
What´s up with these props? This is the fifth one in a month that is impossible to balance properly without damaging the prop or deforming it.
I´ve used Masters excessively in the past without too many problems but nowadays they seem to be manufactured with an afterthought or something like that.
I used to go to my hobbyshop with a prop balancer and ask for four or five props the same size and test them quickly in order to get my hands on a prop that had the best balance so balancing would be simple.
The latest props I purchased were ordered on line from the same shop. I had a total of 8 ordered. 5 of those were just junk! Not to balance whatsoever [:@]
What´s the experience in general with these props? Are they really as bad to balance as they seem to be?
Cheers
Tjen il-vec
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RE: Master airscrew
Master props are coming unbalanced.
4 years now that I am using them I had no problem with balancing them. All kinds of them (k-type, classic etc).
Stelios
4 years now that I am using them I had no problem with balancing them. All kinds of them (k-type, classic etc).
Stelios
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RE: Master airscrew
Same problem here, I have spent too much time trying to balance MA's. Their quality control has seemed to go down the tubes lately. You think that two bladed MA's are difficult to balance, try on of their three bladed models. I use clear polyeurothane spray to balance my props and I am getting pretty proficient with a spray bomb these days.
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RE: Master airscrew
Here is a little known fact concerning the MasterAirscrew 3 blade props. I use these props a lot and they are "put it on and forget it" props. From the Tower Hobbies website.
FEATURES: Factory-balanced 3-blade prop has NACA airfoils and holds true pitch.
They have been accurately balanced and create a greater thrust
at lower RPM.
Prop is glass-filled nylon as opposed to a wooden prop.
FEATURES: Factory-balanced 3-blade prop has NACA airfoils and holds true pitch.
They have been accurately balanced and create a greater thrust
at lower RPM.
Prop is glass-filled nylon as opposed to a wooden prop.
#6
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RE: Master airscrew
I've had many MA props that seem to have a heavy side, rather than a heavy blade. They'll lie horizontally with one side down and rotate to that position if the other side is down on the balancer, as if the hole is off center. A friend has suggested putting some lead/epoxy mix in the hub cavities on the light side, but I haven't tried it yet.
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RE: Master airscrew
I too bought three wood 12-6 and one I removed so much wood the tip is pointed. The other two I scrapped off all the finish on one side with a pile of dust but at least thier useable.
#8
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RE: Master airscrew
They went through a streak of this nonsense over ten years ago. Didn't know they were still doing it.
To me, any prop that needs balancing from the factory is a defective prop. Return them and complain about it to the manufacturer, the retailer and other modelers. If enough of us make it known that we won't be doing their work for them any longer, they will change, or perish.
To me, any prop that needs balancing from the factory is a defective prop. Return them and complain about it to the manufacturer, the retailer and other modelers. If enough of us make it known that we won't be doing their work for them any longer, they will change, or perish.
#9
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RE: Master airscrew
I have about 20 of the three blade MAs and none has needed any balancing. I've had a couple of APCs that I had to practically remove one blade to balance them and two or three that had the hole drilled at an angle.
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RE: Master airscrew
If you're not mail-ordering, try before you buy. I take my prop balacer with me to the LHS just to be sure the props are at least in the ballpark.
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RE: Master airscrew
ORIGINAL: Wings of peril
If you're not mail-ordering, try before you buy. I take my prop balancer with me to the LHS just to be sure the props are at least in the ballpark.
If you're not mail-ordering, try before you buy. I take my prop balancer with me to the LHS just to be sure the props are at least in the ballpark.
ORIGINAL: Tjen il-Vec
I used to go to my hobbyshop with a prop balancer and ask for four or five props the same size and test them quickly in order to get my hands on a prop that had the best balance so balancing would be simple.
I used to go to my hobbyshop with a prop balancer and ask for four or five props the same size and test them quickly in order to get my hands on a prop that had the best balance so balancing would be simple.
ORIGINAL: Strat2003
I've had many MA props that seem to have a heavy side, rather than a heavy blade. They'll lie horizontally with one side down and rotate to that position if the other side is down on the balancer, as if the hole is off center. A friend has suggested putting some lead/epoxy mix in the hub cavities on the light side, but I haven't tried it yet.
I've had many MA props that seem to have a heavy side, rather than a heavy blade. They'll lie horizontally with one side down and rotate to that position if the other side is down on the balancer, as if the hole is off center. A friend has suggested putting some lead/epoxy mix in the hub cavities on the light side, but I haven't tried it yet.
COMMENTS: The general rule for converting a 2 blade prop to a 3 blade is
subtract 1!QUOT! from Diameter OR subtract 1 from the Pitch.
PER MASTER AIRSCREW: All 3- and 4- blades props are balanced
dynamically at the factory prior to drilling. The mounting holes
are then drilled slightly off center, if required, to properly
balance the propeller. As such, your mounting hole may be slightly
off center. Master Airscrew assures us this is perfectly normal
and will not cause any problems during usage.
subtract 1!QUOT! from Diameter OR subtract 1 from the Pitch.
PER MASTER AIRSCREW: All 3- and 4- blades props are balanced
dynamically at the factory prior to drilling. The mounting holes
are then drilled slightly off center, if required, to properly
balance the propeller. As such, your mounting hole may be slightly
off center. Master Airscrew assures us this is perfectly normal
and will not cause any problems during usage.
Furthermore, I checked the 2-blade prop before I threw it away and I noticed, while rotating the prop on the propbalancer, that the blades aren't in line at all for about 3mm!! As if a blade was bent.
Well, conclusion, no MA's for me anymore! and I have have four 3-blades coming this way []
cheers,
Tjen il-vec
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RE: Master airscrew
Quote, As such, your mounting hole may be slightly
off center. Master Airscrew assures us this is perfectly normal
and will not cause any problems during usage.
It says that this is not a problem and that is very true. I have the 3 blade ones from 11x7 to 16x10 and no problem.
off center. Master Airscrew assures us this is perfectly normal
and will not cause any problems during usage.
It says that this is not a problem and that is very true. I have the 3 blade ones from 11x7 to 16x10 and no problem.
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RE: Master airscrew
ORIGINAL: Hobbsy
I have about 20 of the three blade MAs and none has needed any balancing. I've had a couple of APCs that I had to practically remove one blade to balance them and two or three that had the hole drilled at an angle.
I have about 20 of the three blade MAs and none has needed any balancing. I've had a couple of APCs that I had to practically remove one blade to balance them and two or three that had the hole drilled at an angle.
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RE: Master airscrew
ORIGINAL: Hobbsy
Quote, As such, your mounting hole may be slightly
off center. Master Airscrew assures us this is perfectly normal
and will not cause any problems during usage.
It says that this is not a problem and that is very true. I have the 3 blade ones from 11x7 to 16x10 and no problem.
Quote, As such, your mounting hole may be slightly
off center. Master Airscrew assures us this is perfectly normal
and will not cause any problems during usage.
It says that this is not a problem and that is very true. I have the 3 blade ones from 11x7 to 16x10 and no problem.
Maybe those 3 or 4-blades are totally different in their quality compared to their 2-blades.... don't know yet [sm=red_smile.gif]
cheers
Tjen il-vec
Pitch is not consistant with the M/A 3-blades!
#20
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RE: Master airscrew
Out of the several dozen MAS props I've accumulated over the years, I don't think I've ever had one that balanced right out of the package.
Had a few that were so far off that I didn't want to mess with 'em any more...
Some of the newer series seem to be a little better...
Graupner: had a few of those that needed substantial "attention" too...
APC: most of mine have balanced with a few spray coats of Krylon "crystal clear", but I have encountered a few troublesome ones.
Had a few that were so far off that I didn't want to mess with 'em any more...
Some of the newer series seem to be a little better...
Graupner: had a few of those that needed substantial "attention" too...
APC: most of mine have balanced with a few spray coats of Krylon "crystal clear", but I have encountered a few troublesome ones.
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RE: Master airscrew
Most all brands of props need alittle balancing. I 've seen people complain about MAS balance but still left the warning label stuck on one blade. Factory balancing would require a heathy price increase. Not everybody uses a prop ream and drill them out. Talk about a sloppy hole. Reusing a prop from an SAE to Metric threaded engines cause balance problems too.
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RE: Master airscrew
To Balance: Take a 1" piece of masking tape and place it on the light blade. Adjust the tape until the prop is in balance. The amount of tape will tell you how much material you will need to add or remove for final balancing.
In most cases, the weight of the tape is so slight it won't show up on a gram scale - say 1" or less of tape. If this is the case, the prop is within spec and can be flown without adding or removing material.
To Add Material: For g/f nylon props, place modeling clay or silver solder in the holes in the back of the hub of the light side until balanced. For wood props, try adding paint or nail polish to the back of the blade.
To Remove Material: For g/f nylon props, use a pocketknife to trim the "trailing"edges of the heavy blade. For both wood and g/f nylon, use sanding paper and take material from the heavy blade to bring into balance.
anyone read their website? I personally use MA but I have not had one that was bad. I had a graupner prop and it flexed so bad I 'm not sure I can use it. Have an apc prop to try but I am not messing with it untill my others are toast. I added "trailing" in the description. only because if you trim the tip, you will get vibration, if you mess with the leading edge, well, it will be bad.
In most cases, the weight of the tape is so slight it won't show up on a gram scale - say 1" or less of tape. If this is the case, the prop is within spec and can be flown without adding or removing material.
To Add Material: For g/f nylon props, place modeling clay or silver solder in the holes in the back of the hub of the light side until balanced. For wood props, try adding paint or nail polish to the back of the blade.
To Remove Material: For g/f nylon props, use a pocketknife to trim the "trailing"edges of the heavy blade. For both wood and g/f nylon, use sanding paper and take material from the heavy blade to bring into balance.
anyone read their website? I personally use MA but I have not had one that was bad. I had a graupner prop and it flexed so bad I 'm not sure I can use it. Have an apc prop to try but I am not messing with it untill my others are toast. I added "trailing" in the description. only because if you trim the tip, you will get vibration, if you mess with the leading edge, well, it will be bad.
#23
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RE: Master airscrew
I don't think there is a brand of plastic prop that is better than the other
when it comes to balancing. I have seen a couple wood Zingers that were
perfectly balanced from the factory, but I don't recall ever seeing a plastic
one that was.
The Master Airscrews are the easiest to balance because you can shave
the edges of the blades by scraping them with an Exacto knife on the heavy
side until the prop balances. I have one MAS prop that was heavy on one
side of the hub, and could not be balanced by conventional means.
I had a couple APC props that could not be balanced because the were
impropely drilled (off center) and were tossed. APC's cannot be scraped
and shaved like the harder plastic MAS props, and are harder to balance.
The APC's are made from some kind of rubber/plastic, and resist sanding
and common balancing techniques, that is one of the reasons I don't like
the APC's because of the balance problems.
On the wood props....I sand the backside of the "light" blade, and apply
a thin amount of epoxy...right on the balancer. Then I quickly add or remove
some epoxy till the prop balances, the set the prop aside and let it harden.
I haven't seen any "new" problems with MAS props. I've been using them
since they first came out.
If you look at my gallery you will see wood and black plastic props. I gave
away all my ugly grey plastic ones.
FBD.
when it comes to balancing. I have seen a couple wood Zingers that were
perfectly balanced from the factory, but I don't recall ever seeing a plastic
one that was.
The Master Airscrews are the easiest to balance because you can shave
the edges of the blades by scraping them with an Exacto knife on the heavy
side until the prop balances. I have one MAS prop that was heavy on one
side of the hub, and could not be balanced by conventional means.
I had a couple APC props that could not be balanced because the were
impropely drilled (off center) and were tossed. APC's cannot be scraped
and shaved like the harder plastic MAS props, and are harder to balance.
The APC's are made from some kind of rubber/plastic, and resist sanding
and common balancing techniques, that is one of the reasons I don't like
the APC's because of the balance problems.
On the wood props....I sand the backside of the "light" blade, and apply
a thin amount of epoxy...right on the balancer. Then I quickly add or remove
some epoxy till the prop balances, the set the prop aside and let it harden.
I haven't seen any "new" problems with MAS props. I've been using them
since they first came out.
If you look at my gallery you will see wood and black plastic props. I gave
away all my ugly grey plastic ones.
FBD.
#24
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RE: Master airscrew
Dave,
I never saw a prop that needed very much balancing; the most extreme was an 11x6 MA black that needed about 2 mm cut off the heavy blade tip...
With Bolly Clubmans, just sand off the little casting slag off the leading and trailing edges (to make the prop as efficient as its manufacturer intended it to be and to protect your fingers during hand starts...) and the prop is guaranteed to balance out around the originally cast hole. It is that simple and there is no need for those drilling balancers.
I never saw a prop that needed very much balancing; the most extreme was an 11x6 MA black that needed about 2 mm cut off the heavy blade tip...
With Bolly Clubmans, just sand off the little casting slag off the leading and trailing edges (to make the prop as efficient as its manufacturer intended it to be and to protect your fingers during hand starts...) and the prop is guaranteed to balance out around the originally cast hole. It is that simple and there is no need for those drilling balancers.