I just tried out the flat bottom Plasti-Blades from www.jcshobbies.com

My only complaint is that I wish they were available when I first got my BCP and was learning to fly.

Product quality:
Outstanding! They tracked very well and were balanced so I didn't need to add any tape Only took 3 days for delivery too.

Flight time results (Indoor hovering)
I did a 14 minute test flight with them and was pleasantly surprised. The resting voltage for my TP 1320 lipo after a 14 minute flight is normally between 11.11v - 11.15v with the flat bottom wood blades.
The resting voltage with the Plasti-Blade was 11.09V. Not bad!

Flight performance:
The only down side to these crash resistant blades is the additional weight, but that is a reasonable trade off for someone learning to fly. Climb out rate was much slower and cyclic response was on the sluggish side too, but like I said above... This is a reasonable trade off for a newbie pilot.

On the plus side the added weight made my Blade much more stable during hover.

Crash resistance:
I can't comment on this yet as I have not crashed with them, but they look very durable.

Value:
Without a doubt these things are worth the $18 they cost if you are a newbie pilot. I probably will not use them as my flying skill has progressed enough that I don't crash very often, but I may buy the symetrical version when they are available.

Cudos to JCS Hobbies for making a great product.

Here is a pic with them mounted on my heli

Well... I got bored last night and decided to lighten my newly purchased Plasti-Blades.

Using a 1/2" spade bit I was able to shave 4grams of each blade. I then covered each blade with clear packing tape (I intend to replace with monokote.) They flew great! Climb out rate was greatly improved along with flight time. So, for those of you who have these blades and are looking for a way to increase their flight performance you might want to give this a try.

Here's a pic of the modified blades.

Thanks for the info. I ordered mine last Sunday, and should be here soon. I'm curious about the lightening there. I might have to try that, as I intend to run NIMH until I get pretty well through the basics of hovering and FF. Maybe once I can do controlled figure 8s.

LuckyDuc - Thanks for the review! I'm past the beginner stage, and will be bolting on my carbon blades tonight, but I liked what you did with the blades - drilling them out was quite the smart idea! I noticed the shape of the blades themselves - looks quite different from the stock setup. The leadind edge camber is quite pronouned compared to the stock setup, so I'm sure they have a different feel - look cool.

Could I asky you a question about your heli? It's off topic, but I'm really interested in the brushless option for my Blade, and I loved how yours looked - very clean, and nearly stock looking. Could you possibly give me the rundown on the parts you used, where you bought them & how hard it was to install such a setup? My tail rotor is giving me problems, and I'm not crazy about replacing those little, cheap motors every month or two, so I'm looking for a viable solution that really works - too many bad reviews for the GWS DD option. If you don't want to interfere with the cool review thread you have posted, feel free to PM me - I would be very thankful. Thanks, LuckyDuc, and thanks for the review, too. Rare Bear

Well,

I have the blades also. Flew some short flights in the backyard. Compared to my CF-blade's they are indeed a tad more sluggish, wich is excellent for me....beginner.(i find it very hard to fly with barely exponential on the standard TX)

No comments on durability, havent crashed them yet. Overall they are very ok. Flighttimes were about the same (1200 3s1p) as CF blades.

Regards,

Franck

Originally Posted by Rare Bear

LuckyDuc - Thanks for the review! I'm past the beginner stage, and will be bolting on my carbon blades tonight, but I liked what you did with the blades - drilling them out was quite the smart idea! I noticed the shape of the blades themselves - looks quite different from the stock setup. The leadind edge camber is quite pronouned compared to the stock setup, so I'm sure they have a different feel - look cool.

Could I asky you a question about your heli? It's off topic, but I'm really interested in the brushless option for my Blade, and I loved how yours looked - very clean, and nearly stock looking. Could you possibly give me the rundown on the parts you used, where you bought them & how hard it was to install such a setup? My tail rotor is giving me problems, and I'm not crazy about replacing those little, cheap motors every month or two, so I'm looking for a viable solution that really works - too many bad reviews for the GWS DD option. If you don't want to interfere with the cool review thread you have posted, feel free to PM me - I would be very thankful. Thanks, LuckyDuc, and thanks for the review, too. Rare Bear

PM sent

I posted some thoughts here that seem to have be validated by ron osinski:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...t=plastiblades

I did not think of drilling holes however. Good idea but I think it will affect the durability of the blades. I have a set that I am going to try something similar, maybe more smaller diameter holes.

Nice thought though luckyduc

Hi all

I have got a HBCP2 and I found the link to JCS Hobbies and ordered two pairs of the Plastiblade. I have to give credits to JCS for the service and that the package arrived in 4 days, and that is to Norway, amasing. Now I have got a question for you guys, what pinion are you using? As the CP2 comes stock with 3cell lipo the stock motor has a 9t pinion, but when I push more than about 75% throttle it reduces the rpms and it feels like the motor is working to hard and can not put out enough power/rpms.

Originally Posted by iceman3

Hi all

I have got a HBCP2 and I found the link to JCS Hobbies and ordered two pairs of the Plastiblade. I have to give credits to JCS for the service and that the package arrived in 4 days, and that is to Norway, amasing. Now I have got a question for you guys, what pinion are you using? As the CP2 comes stock with 3cell lipo the stock motor has a 9t pinion, but when I push more than about 75% throttle it reduces the rpms and it feels like the motor is working to hard and can not put out enough power/rpms.

I used the 9T pinion as well. Sounds like your pitch might be a tad too high.

LuckyDuc

You are right about the pitch after checking this out on the CP2. One of the bladeholders give way to much +pitch. I will try to adjust it.

My plasti-blades arrived about 30 minutes ago. I installed them and hovered around for a few minutes. Stability is indeed improved, as I was able to hover in my kitchen for a good 10-15 seconds after the initial install. Considering I'm a beginner and my kitchen is only about 6 feet from cabinet to cabinet, that's pretty good IMO. In the basement, I can still hover a pack with only setting the heli down 3-4 times, but now I can do it in an area half the size of what I was using before. Durability is still untested as I have yet to crash. Once my packs are recharged, I'll fly some more and see what happens...

I can see a need to lighten them a little bit if possible. I may go the route of drilling holes, but want to play a bit more first.

Originally Posted by innermonkey

My plasti-blades arrived about 30 minutes ago. I installed them and hovered around for a few minutes. Stability is indeed improved, as I was able to hover in my kitchen for a good 10-15 seconds after the initial install. Considering I'm a beginner and my kitchen is only about 6 feet from cabinet to cabinet, that's pretty good IMO. In the basement, I can still hover a pack with only setting the heli down 3-4 times, but now I can do it in an area half the size of what I was using before. Durability is still untested as I have yet to crash. Once my packs are recharged, I'll fly some more and see what happens...

I can see a need to lighten them a little bit if possible. I may go the route of drilling holes, but want to play a bit more first.

I was surprised by how much more stable hovering is with them too... gets kinda boring IMO.

Considering I can only keep it in a 3x3 square hovering tail-in indoors (basement), I hope to not get too bored. I tried to nose-in hover for the first time this weekend, and it cost me a tail motor, another ding in my woodies, and knocked over a broom (that last one I can live with).

These blades are a must for beginners. I've run them into the concrete walls (tail wagged out on me) and just dented them, no problems with flight. In fact, the only major downside is that the rest of your CP's frame will suffer from the impacts that are normally absorbed by the rotor blades. I've already fractured the head on it

LuckyDuc

Your BL tail mod looks great with one possible exception. I used to run wires wrapped around the boom like that too. Until the first time I had a boom strike, when the blades sliced the wires apart. Didn't hurt anything else, just sliced the wires. Gave me more unwanted soldering practice. Now all my wires run along the bottom of the boom to avoid this from happening again.

Since the Plasti-Blades have an even sharper leading edge, this might be an even bigger problem with them as opposed to the oem woodies I use.

Brent.