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Esprit Model . Thunder Power RC . Mikado Modellhubschrauber

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Beginners Corner > Tracking Tape - how do you put it on?
 
 
Bird_E
Senior Heliman
Location: Erie, CO

I know this sounds stupid, but for tracking purposes, not balancing. Do you put tracking tape on by wrapping it around the the end of the blade, like an inch or so in. OR do you put it length wise on the leading edge?
seems like if it is on the leading edge it would be easier to see.

Also, do you balance you blades with or with out the tracking tape on (for tracking purposes, not to get the blades to balance)?

Once the blades are in track should I take the tracking tape off?

Thanks
Bob
05-24-2002 Over year old.
 
 
linus
Senior Heliman
Location: Tennessee

 Bob,
The tape is called tracking tape because it's used as a visual aid in setting the tracking of the blades. If your blades are already balanced without it, you just use it for tracking and take it off. If, however, you need the tape to balance the blades, leave it on.
05-24-2002 Over year old.
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Tom Berg
Senior Heliman
Location: Clovis, California

I only use tracking tape to balance my blades. Just use regular balance procedures, at the tip to move the CG and at the CG to just change the blade weight.

For Tracking, I could never tell (and still can't) the blades apart, with or without tape. To track, I watch the tips, if they are flying separate, I pick a blade (preferably marked) and adjust the link. If it gets better, I try the same link again, if worse, I put the first link back and turn the link on the other blade.

This may take a couple of different trys, but again, I can never tell which blade has the tap on it.

Blue Skies
05-24-2002 Over year old.
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jbrundt
Veteran
Location: St. Charles, MO

You need to make sure the blades balance with the tape on as well. Any sort of tape will work. If you want it to be permanent use monokote trim sheet cut into strips about 3/4" wide by at least 2.25x the blade chord width. Make sure the strips are different colors so you can tell which blade is high/low. Apply the tape near the tip where the trailing edge and leading edge start to be parallel to one another. Apply it to the top of the blade first then wrap the tape around the trailing edge onto the bottom. Then wrap the leading edge around. This will allow an overlap that will 'flow' with the direction of rotation to help keep the air from trying to loosen it.

I usually set the blades on the blade balncer to do this. That way I make sure they still balance with the tape applied. There can be variances in tape densities so just measuring equally won't always work. It'll be close but by doing it on the balancer you remove the chance of that. Also to get the approximate location remove the backing paper and lightly tack just a small part of the tape in the location you think it needs to be initially.

If this tape is only temp. then you can get by with masking tape. You can color one of the peices with marker to tell them apart. But the procedure is still the same.

Hope this helps,

Jeff
05-24-2002 Over year old.
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falcon9
Heliman
Location: Bellmore, New York

For tracking I like to put about a 2inch long piece of black electrical tape on the leading edge of one of the blades at the tip. I place the heli so it is in front of a light colored background. When the blades spool up the black tape makes one of the blades look shorter. You just have to look at the blade tip on the side that is comming at you. It is very easy to tell which blade is which. I then make the changes to the appropriate link. I remove the tape before flying and stick it on the tail boom for next time. My blades are white so the blak tape is the highest contrast I can get black blades could probably work with white tape against a dark background.

Just my 2¢

Mike
05-24-2002 Over year old.
 
 
rcpylon
Senior Heliman
Location: Saltillo, MS

good one

good one there falcon9, I'll have to file that one away for the next time.

Thanks,

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Alan Warfield
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05-24-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Moore
Senior Heliman
Location: California 93094-0940

I like to track my blades with dry-erase markers. I use them to color the ends of my blades. I color one tip black and the other tip red. When you are done tracking, the marker wipes off easly with a little bit of alcohol.
05-24-2002 Over year old.
 
 
YSRRider
Key Veteran
Location: Ingleside/Fox Lake, IL

to put it on, wrap it around the end once is fine, about an inch in is good. make sure the end of the tape is pointing the trailing edge of the blade, so it doesnt catch the air and fling off, I guess it doesnt matter for tracking purposes, its not going to fly off that soon, but if you use it for balancing, the exhaust can loosen it and it will fall off if the air gets under it.
05-29-2002 Over year old.
 
 
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GrandRC . CanoMod . Futaba-RC

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Beginners Corner > Tracking Tape - how do you put it on?
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