Making blades more visible

[Cralis]

Hiya guys.

I have the black Gaui CF blades (550m). On the simulator (Phoenix), I find I watch the blades to check the helis orientation. If it's banked a bit, it's pretty easy to see. But in real life, the blades are pretty much invisible!

Can anyone recommend a solution? Paint them?? Maybe there's some tape or something?

[Phoinix]

You can paint them or you can use reflective stickers.

[Cralis]

Thanks Phoinix.. I saw some tape on some site, but ... it was black, with.. colourful reflective stars or something. Does that help a lot?

http://www.readyheli.com/Reflective_Prismatic_Blade_Tape_Stars_1_x3_p/tape_stars.htm

Would it 'highlight' the blades?

[Phoinix]

It helps a lot, yes. It reflects the light and looks kinda cool. I got my blades marked with a sticker, and it helps to have them only on one side (top or bottom). During a bit more confusing manuvers, you know which way is up :D

[Cralis]

ReedyHeli's system is adding $21 onto a $0.99 item, so I don't feel like paying 21.99 for a .99 item... Mailed them to ask them if they can sort that out for me, because I can't find a supplier here in Australia.. :(

[bearwood]

One of the blade manufacturers uses a Magenta colour on the bottom of the blades that makes them really standout.

I am going to try painting the bottoms a similar colour and make the tops Black and White bands as suggested by mjdee14

[kahn10]

found that painting the last four inches of both blades gloss white helps lots also gives a good background for tracking tape. there's a spraypaint called krylon that dries fast with a nice gloss finish

[concept1]

Or how about watching the heli and not the blades? I acctually preffer a blade I can't see, I find it makes flying the heli much easier. once you focus on the heli, it is much harder to loose orientation!

[mjdee14]

I have white blades but paint black stripes usually use majic marker but having the white and black really makes a big difference in quickly seeing the attitude of the heli.

i would just take some good white spray paint and "put several "LIGHT" coats on in about 2-4 inch stripes. then check balance....it didn't change my balance.

I also paint one tip about an inch in just one tip...and it's easier to track the blades...as one looks shorter than the other...

[mjdee14]

Or how about watching the heli and not the blades? I acctually preffer a blade I can't see, I find it makes flying the heli much easier. once you focus on the heli, it is much harder to loose orientation!

It's not a matter of focus....it's just the stripes HELP in that one split instant the sun gets in your eyes or for whatever reason you loose or are unsure about orientation.

I even had an old heli flyer tell me to paint the skids bright white...it will also help with orientation, the skids are either blocked by the struts meaning it's tilted one way...if it's not blocked it's tilting the other way....depending on which way your flying.

ANYTHING that helps is OK with me....my old eyes are bad enough as it is.

[bearwood]

I just painted my fuse a "Fluro Orange" and it has made the heli soooo much more visible. I kept loosing orientation with the "Lime Green" I had previously.
I think I am with Concept1 on this one. I am now tending to concentrate on the Fuse now that I can see it and I see the blades less.

[mjdee14]

here is what mine look like....you would be surprised how it stands out at a distance.







http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=44428&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1207513983 (http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=44428&d=1207513983)

[bearwood]

There is a pic on Rcheli mag site that shows Curtis Youngblood's heli with white strips on the bottom side. He must have a reason for having them.

Here is my heli in its current form. This is the better side, as the canopy is banged up on the other side after last weeks bingle. Repainted after that altercation.

[xodarap1]

Sharp lookin' heli :thumbup:

[Cralis]

Those look good. My onl,y problem is they started off white, right? I guess I just need to find white gloss light spray paint then...

[bearwood]

Thanks xodarap1, I like this colour scheme it is easy on the eyes when flying.:glasses2:

Cralis, the Dulux Quick dry enamel spray paks from Bunnings, Mitre 10 or any good hardware store work well. I also use "Squirts" spray pacs. Use green 3M masking tape it works a lot better than the white.
Those particular blades are the std 500mm woodies marked black with "Marker Pen" as suggested by mjdee14.

[vicrc]

I recently purchased an RCPV2 blade from Readyheli and it comes pre-painted white on the most of the blade except near the mounting area. I had RCPV2 that were all black carbon. These should stand out pretty nice in the air.

[Cralis]

OK guys. Got my reflective stickers for my blades today...

How do they go on? They're maybe 10cm long, and 2 to 3 cm wide... Do they go length wise along the length of the blade? Or how?

[Graeme67]

Hi Cralis, I have painted 2 flouro orange strips 100mm wide on my white woodies & it has made a huge difference to the visibility / orientation issue. Whether we like it or not we are actually flying "the disk" the fuse just comes along for the ride. I find that seeing the disk better makes a huge difference when flying across in front of me. By seeing the inclination of the disk I know whether I am actually flying straight. My eyes aren't good enough to see small angular changes in the fuse when the heli is out wide.

If I can see it I can fly it!

Cheers
Graeme

[mjdee14]

If I can see it I can fly it!

Cheers
Graeme

Hope your just hovering....man you have lots of "obsticles" ot hit there....I would end up in one of those tree branches.

But I definately agree with you on being able to see the disk. At a distance it has saved me many times knowing I'm tilted either toward me (can see the stripes) or away from me (no stripes).

I will never fly with out some form of visibilty enhancement.

[Cralis]

Thanks Greame. Agreed. Flying the disk is easier. As I say at the start, I find it easier to fly on Phoenix, as the disk is nearly solid and easy to see. Would be nice if they had an option to change that to be nearly invisible...

I've painted 3 strips on my black blades now. Will put photos soon.

[Cralis]

Not the neatest job, but I think it will be pretty visible when I get a chance to fly them. Will I need to balance?

Strips of reflective stuff from ReadyHeli added as well.

[mysticmead]

it's always a good idea to check the balance

[mjdee14]

Not the neatest job, but I think it will be pretty visible when I get a chance to fly them. Will I need to balance?

Strips of reflective stuff from ReadyHeli added as well.


Looks good...I always re-check the balance

[Graeme67]

Hope your just hovering....man you have lots of "obsticles" ot hit there....I would end up in one of those tree branches.

Mjdee it looks worse in the photo. I actually had a fairly large open area in between the branches. I am just about to make a sharp left turn in that pick.

Cheers
Graeme