Saving an Overweight Helicopter

[H₂SO₄]

My J&H Tornado 2025-2026 that I have previously built is overweight with it being 5g. This is the rebuild from that kit, and it's still overweight. I would like some tips on how to save this.

For starters, I have read a topic on this forum about doubling up on rubber motors viewtopic.php?t=29557. This interested me a bit, and I have some .125" and .115" rubber. My idea is to double up these motors to fly them. Now, are braiding these motors together applicable for a helicopter too? Since it needs a little more power to fly, it would be nice if I could do this. I can copy the trussing method from FFM with some spare balsa wood I have to increase the strength of the motorstick if necessary. Also, are multiple strands of sewing thread twisted together be as strong as the High Strength Yellow Thread provided by FFM?

In addition to this, I want to change the covering material. I have used veggie bags before, but I am looking for more options (aside from Mylar) that I can find in my house. Is plastic wrap a good material? I feel that it is similar to Mylar, and I have plenty of it.

Finally, for one tournament, I let my friend borrow this helicopter since his kit was getting delayed, but my friend's partner held the motorstick too tight and it snapped. Now, there is a warp in the wood that I am trying to fix. Any suggestions for how to fix this?

Overall, this helicopter was built somewhat overweight by me, and I want to give it a fair chance to be used in competitions, considering it was around $70-75 dollars when I bought it. Any tips, help, advice, or guides would be appreciated.

[coachchuckaahs]

If the motor stick failed, and it was repaired not straight, then it is unlikely you can salvage it. See my recent post on another thread concerning motor sticks. Your best bet is to build a new one. The highest load in teh motor stick is compressive end-to-end, which leads to buckling. The crooked point you have added will bring on that buckling from the outset, and the stick will fail again.

In order to repair a MS, you must carefully fit together all of the parts, adn align it overall as well as locally with a straightedge. Only when it is perfectly aligned, use a cappillary applicator to adda drop of CA to the break. then reinforce the break on all sides with some carbon strip.

All of this will likely lead to more weight. In most cases you will find it easier to build a new MS. If your MS has been improperly repaired that is likely your only option.

As far as doubling the motor, that is extreme. Yes, a double loop of rubber is fine to use, and essentially doubles your density. However, if you are doubling 0.125" rubber, you now have the equivalent of 1/4" rubber! This is overkill for the heaviest heli! If you doubled your 0.115" rubber you are still way over the next standard size of 3/16". Perhaps you can find some scrap 3/32" stock from another year (airplanes), that would double to 3/16" equivalent, which is still probably too much for even the heaviest helis.

I suspect your 1/8" rubber is in the 0.060-0.075g/in range. Even the heaviest kit built heli's, say 5.5-6g, would likely not need more than 0.090-0.100g/in. So if you have some older rubber that is in the 0.040-0.050 range, then it may make sense to try doubling that.

I hope this helps

Coach Chuck