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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / April 2004yikes......my thumb got in the way of the prop.
Hello, I have a beginner plane...RTF. Electric. I started to fly it late last fall. Didn`t get used to it before winter hit here in the midwest. The first time I went to fly it last Sat. wasn`t paying much attention......I picked up the plane in my left hand and set the throttle to full on the transmitter. I felt that my grip on the plane was loose on my left hand and tried to shift it a bit. Yikes....the plane went forward and, in this plane being the prop is in the back of the wing, it flew right into my hand......the prop hit my thumb. How many times I don`t know. It chopped my thumb nail to.....well like I was a nail biter....way down. Also cracked it almost to the bottom. Hurt like hell for a couple of days. Big blood blister on the top of the thumb. Pounding pain. I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? Dan. > I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized >motorized plane? Well I forgot that a full sized motorized plane would be a different suituation. The prop would be in front of the wing so it couldn`t have happenned like the way it did with the electric. Anyway.....what would happen to a finger or whatever other part of your hand if you got it in the prop? Dan. | > I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized | > motorized plane? | | Well I forgot that a full sized motorized plane would be a different | suituation. Well, I assume you mean something like an 0.40 glow plane, and not a full scale plane that seats two people :) | The prop would be in front of the wing so it couldn`t have happenned like the | way it did with the electric. There's plenty of pusher glow planes out there too, you know. Of course, they don't usually roar to life without the application of an ignitor and some turning of the prop like an electric can. | Anyway.....what would happen to a finger or whatever other part of | your hand if you got it in the prop? Depends. An 0.049 engine could just throw your finger back out and not hurt you at all, or could cut you like the electric did. If it was running at full throttle and you put your finger in just right (wrong), an 0.40 could possibly remove your finger from your hand -- requiring a lot more than just stitches. People have certainly lost fingers (as in have them completely cut off) in props before, and lots and lots of people have had their fingers cut up bad enough to have permament nerve damage. And a few people have died due to props hitting them, usually due to blood loss (those hits usually aren't in the hand, but you get the idea.) Even if it's a small electric, respect that prop -- even a park flier can give you quite a nasty scar. If it's a glow plane, secure it (or have somebody hold it) before you start it. Make sure the throttle is at idle! If possible, paint the tips of your props white or some bright color -- it makes them much more visible, so you're less likely to not see it and put your finger through it.  SignatureDoug McLaren, dougmc@frenzy.com "Only drug dealers and software companies call their customers 'users.'" - anon. > | > I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized > | > motorized plane? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > course, they don't usually roar to life without the application of an > ignitor and some turning of the prop like an electric can. I remember about 10 years ago I was cleaning out an old diesel. Unfortuantly it kicked into life momentarily in my hand, the prop cut the base of my thumb right to the bone. I needed 8 stitches and I still have a hard lumpy bit there. > > | > I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized > > | > motorized plane? [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > thumb right to the bone. I needed 8 stitches and I still have a hard lumpy > bit there. Some of the hardest "thumps" that I received on my fingers were generated when I was learning how to start my McCoy .09 diesel engine. The prop was way to small for a diesel (8x6), but was just right for a .15 glow, which is where the prop came from. Some years later, I had given the engine to my father. While I was gone in the USAF, my father had mounted the engine to the backyard fence and tried to start it. His yelps of pain and profanity (he normally did not use profanity) kept the neighbors in stitches all afternoon, or so I was told when I came home on leave. Ed Cregger >when I was learning how to start my McCoy .09 diesel engine. My first engine (20 years ago) was a Picco .45. For those who don't know Picco, they primarily make boat engines. This aero engine was of the Rossi design: big, heavy, and HIGH compression. One day, while attempting to start it (by hand, no chicken stick), it backfired and whacked my thumbnail with a Zinger 10-7. After much jumping, loud swearing, and thumb-holding, I went out and bought an electric starter and battery. It was cheap at $40. I was lucky, all I lost was a thumbnail. I've never stuck my finger in a prop since. I ALWAYS use a chicken stick or electric starter. Even when walking around a plane with the engine running, I keep my eye on the prop circle. I got my first power tools (8" table saw and 12" wood lathe) at 12. I still have all my digits, and I intend to keep them until I die. :) Moral: ANY prop can get ya!!! Smaller props may not have the mass impact, but they whirl like a food processor and slice accordingly. Larger props have mass and a lot of energy to maim. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!" >>when I was learning how to start my McCoy .09 diesel engine. > > My first engine (20 years ago) was a Picco .45. My first engine, 35 years ago was a Frog 80 diesel, if we are going to indulge in 'how I hurt my finegr as a tenager' stories. Sounds like I was flying RC before you were then. For those who don't know > Picco, they primarily make boat engines. This aero engine was of the Rossi > design: big, heavy, and HIGH compression. One day, while attempting to start [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Dr.1 Driver > "There's a Hun in the sun!" Well, MY first engine was a WenMac .049 Beech Bonanza..... in 1958. So PPPPPPPPPPPBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Second engine was a Cox .049 Golden Bee P-40.... in 1959. Third engine was a McCoy .35 Redhead in a Sterling P-51 profile... in 1960. So double PPPBBBTT . David >>>when I was learning how to start my McCoy .09 diesel engine. >> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> Dr.1 Driver >> "There's a Hun in the sun!" Hehehe...well MY first engine (also in about 1958) was an ETA .29 and a little later my second engine was an MS .29 (an Aussie copy of the Dooling :). Brian > Well, MY first engine was a WenMac .049 Beech Bonanza..... in 1958. > So PPPPPPPPPPPBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > . > David >Well, I assume you mean something like an 0.40 glow plane, and not a >full scale plane that seats two people :) This being rec.models.rc.air newsgroup I assumed people would know I was talking about a full motorized model plane. I know there are different sizes of RC planes also. Dan. > > I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized > >motorized plane? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > whatever other part of your hand if you got it in the prop? > Dan. As you have discovered, Dan, nearly any motorized model is capable of inflicting a wound. It would amaze some people to learn just how serious a wound can be generated by such little power. Glad it wasn't more serious. Ed Cregger A full sized motorized plane is usually started by the pilot from inside the cabin. They have electric starters in em. Seriously, since many guys use electric starters to fire their engines and use a remote glow igniter, there is usually a point where the left hand is on top of the plane and the right is reaching over the prop to remove the igniter. Prime time to get prop bit. My worst prop bite was hand flipping an engine to prime it completely forgetting that APC stands for All Parts Cut. Sliced that finger to the bone. SignatureFubar of The HillPeople AMA605992 KE6ERB "I've heard the screams of the vegetables." > > I wonder what would have happenned it this was a full sized > >motorized plane? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > whatever other part of your hand if you got it in the prop? > Dan. | A full sized motorized plane is usually started by the pilot from inside the | cabin. They have electric starters in em. Usually. Of course, if the battery dies, they get hand cranked just like ours do. And some older planes don't even have a starter or even a battery. This plane -- http://mclaren.frenzy.com/~dougmc/old/airstart_cub.jpg may be one such plane. (I don't know what the story is. Either way, that's some big cajones that guy has ...) | Sliced that finger to the bone. At least the bone stopped it :) SignatureDoug McLaren, dougmc@frenzy.com Westheimer's Discovery: A couple of months in the laboratory can frequently save a couple of hours in the library. > Usually. Of course, if the battery dies, they get hand cranked just > like ours do. And some older planes don't even have a starter or even [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > may be one such plane. (I don't know what the story is. Either way, > that's some big cajones that guy has ...) That has got to be a fake..... >This plane -- >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >That has got to be a fake..... I doubt that the picture is fake. I have seen similar feats in the past during airshows. But I think the story was, the pilot climbed out of the plane (a J3 Cub) with a rag to wipe off the bugs on the prop and windsheld and climbed back in to start it again. He had been down low in a grassy area and climbed up for altitude to shut off the engine to do the stunt. For those who have never seen it, it is truly amazing what some of those old "Flying Farmers" could do with an old Cub. You just do not see them at the modern airshows anymore. rick markel My Model Aircraft Home Page http://hometown.aol.com/aileron37/index.html > >> http://mclaren.frenzy.com/~dougmc/old/airstart_cub.jpg > >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > an old Cub. You just do not see them at the modern airshows anymore. > rick markel I was thinking, as per thread (the Piper Cub not having electric start), that the engine had stalled, and he was attempting to start it again whilst airbourne. Actually would that be possible, how much 'leverage' would be required to start one of those. It's entirely possible, if he can reach the prop. Many times, I watched my old friend, "Papa" Cargile, crank his Cub with one hand, standing behind the prop... "Papa" didn't weigh 150 lbs... Had to carry a block of lead to maintain the CG when flying solo.... I sure miss my old pal.... Read his story here... http://www.customcutgrafix.com/billstuf/cub.htm Bill "freeda" <ted_maul_is_god@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message > > >> http://mclaren.frenzy.com/~dougmc/old/airstart_cub.jpg > > >> may be one such plane. (I don't know what the story is. Either way, > > >> that's some big cajones that guy has ...) [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > during > > airshows. > I was thinking, as per thread (the Piper Cub not having electric start), > that the engine had stalled, and he was attempting to start it again whilst > airbourne. Actually would that be possible, how much 'leverage' would be > required to start one of those. > It's entirely possible, if he can reach the prop. Many times, I watched my > old friend, "Papa" Cargile, crank his Cub with one hand, standing behind the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > http://www.customcutgrafix.com/billstuf/cub.htm Also, as I have heard, flying solo, you sit in the back, and the Cub is very light weight, I know it is stable, but surely standing that far forward and to the side, with no one on the stick, it aint going to keep a level attitude for long. Somethings fake. . .that 'N' number belongs to a 1974 Bellanca 7KCAB. > >This plane -- > >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > My Model Aircraft Home Page > http://hometown.aol.com/aileron37/index.html >Somethings fake. . .that 'N' number belongs to a 1974 Bellanca 7KCAB. Were did you look? I have seen several of those aircraft registration sites that gave the wrong aircraft type for planes I flew or could not even find them listed. The other thing that hit me was, at what airspeed would a Cub have to be before the prop would windmill? I guess it would depend on the engine/prop combo. When I saw the stunt years ago, the pilot only spent a moment outside the airplane at the prop and a bit longer wiping the bugs off the windshield. I know when I lost the power in a 152 during a series of stalls, the prop stopped for a second or two till my tiny brain caught up to the fact that the damn thing in the front had stopped turning and I was still in the air and not on the ground. I only recall the prop windmilling around 80 knots or so while I was off the starter for short periods of time. I had a field picked out and plenty of altitude to loose, so I also used the airspeed to help turn over the engine till she caught on again (carb ice). Personally, I was ready to go for it. I had a really great instructor who taught a lot of "stick and rudder" and other cool things you can do. rick markel My Model Aircraft Home Page http://hometown.aol.com/aileron37/index.html >...they get hand cranked just like ours >do. And some older planes don't even >have a starter or even a battery. The starter-less Aeroncas were noted for frequent flyaways when hand propped. Bill(oc) >Hello, I have a beginner plane...RTF. Electric. I started to fly it late last >fall. Didn`t get used to it before winter hit here in the midwest. The first >time I went to fly it last Sat. wasn`t paying much attention......I picked up >the plane in my left hand and set the throttle to full on the transmitter. <SNIP> Stick with the itty bitty electric stuff until you learn to pay attention. A decent .60 glow engine makes on average about two horse power. That's the same amount of power needed to run a garden-variety bench top table saw. Would you use a table saw without paying much attention ? Cheers, Fred McClellan The House Of Balsa Dust http://home.mindspring.com/~the-plumber What is bolted on the engine, or motor, is CALLED a propeller, in reality, it's manufactured under license from Ronco and more commonly known as the "Vegi-matic" It slices, dices, and will make French fries out of anything that comes into contact with it. It's specialty is fingers. Best avoided at all costs. I have been told that electric motors are more dangerous than glo, something about the motor reacting to load and trying to push the prop through, instead of the load (Your finger) causing the engine to slow down. ;>) Careful out there. Bill > Hello, I have a beginner plane...RTF. Electric. I started to fly it late last > fall. Didn`t get used to it before winter hit here in the midwest. The first [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > Dan. > What is bolted on the engine, or motor, is CALLED a propeller, in reality, > it's manufactured under license from Ronco and more commonly known as the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > instead of the load (Your finger) causing the engine to slow down. > ;>) ON the other hand, you don't need to put yor fat porkies antywhere near them in order to get them to do the 'rotating knives (TM)' trick... > Careful out there. > Bill > What is bolted on the engine, or motor, is CALLED a propeller, in reality, > it's manufactured under license from Ronco and more commonly known as the [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > > Dan. There are two kinds of modellers: Those who have caught their fingers in a prop and those who will catch their fingers in a prop. My scarred hands are a good witness to that!!!!!!! <snip> > There are two kinds of modellers: Those who have caught their fingers > in a prop and those who will catch their fingers in a prop. My > scarred hands are a good witness to that!!!!!!! Once you have caught your hand in a prop, it is a long time before you do it again. There is nothing like pain to increase your concentration!!! tom johnston <tomjhoo@earthlink.net> scribed in <a14f33a3.0404131526.4f51a469@posting.google.com>: >There are two kinds of modellers: Those who have caught their >fingers in a prop and those who will catch their fingers in a >prop. My scarred hands are a good witness to that!!!!!!! oh cool, so having been hit by my Baby Bee prop back in 1982 I'm safe now, even though I swapped it for a train set in 1983? swarf, steam and wind -- David Forsyth -:- the email address is real /"\ http://terrapin.ru.ac.za/~iwdf/welcome.html \ / ASCII Ribbon campaign against HTML E-Mail > - - - - - - -> X If you receive email saying "Send this to everyone you know," / \ PLEASE pretend you don't know me. NEVER underestimate the power of a whirling prop!!! Since we are indulging in "sea stories", my first experience was with the venerable Cox .049. Yes, they will slice you up good and if the conditions are right, I believe they will relieve you of a finger if it is fed through at full throttle which was the only way ours ran with the C/L planes I grew up with. I have scars on my fingers to prove that they will cut you up quite well. Still have all my fingers and thumbs though. > Hello, I have a beginner plane...RTF. Electric. I started to fly it late last > fall. Didn`t get used to it before winter hit here in the midwest. The first [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > Dan. I used to get nailed by my .049 cox engine on nearly every outting but never did it with the engine running full speed. Generally was a back fire kind of thing and it just stung like the dickens. POP! OUCH! Those old white nylon props werent as sharp as the black MA or any APC prop. SignatureFubar of The HillPeople AMA605992 KE6ERB "I've heard the screams of the vegetables." > NEVER underestimate the power of a whirling prop!!! Since we are indulging > in "sea stories", my first experience was with the venerable Cox .049. Yes, [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > > Dan. That's why I LOVED the spring starter. <G> David >I used to get nailed by my .049 cox engine on nearly every outting but never >did it with the engine running full speed. Generally was a back fire kind of [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >> > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? >> > Dan. Spring starter?!?!?!?! THPTHPTHPTHPTHPT!!!!!! Only sissies used spring starters when I was a kid! (1969) Us cool guys took those off right away and displayed the neato scars on the backs of our trigger fingers like the proud badges of stupidity they were. :-Þ SignatureFubar of The HillPeople AMA605992 KE6ERB "I've heard the screams of the vegetables." > That's why I LOVED the spring starter. <G> > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > >> > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > >> > Dan. You thought scars were neat???? After the Ginsu treatment ONCE, and got glow fuel in the cuts, I got smart VERY QUICKLY. <G> David >Spring starter?!?!?!?! >THPTHPTHPTHPTHPT!!!!!! [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] >> >> > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? >> >> > Dan. > NEVER underestimate the power of a whirling prop!!! Since we are indulging > in "sea stories", my first experience was with the venerable Cox .049. Yes, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > fingers to prove that they will cut you up quite well. Still have all my > fingers and thumbs though. Rubbish. If you grab them hard enough they just stop. Never lost a finger yet. Mind you, we used to keep an old rag to throw at them to do that. In the days before superglue, to glue up the gashes, the blood stains on the models got irritating. Glo fuel is a good disinfectant. >Rubbish. If you grab them hard enough they just stop. Never lost a >finger yet. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Glo fuel is a good disinfectant. Now, _that's_ rubbish . . . Cheers, Fred McClellan The House Of Balsa Dust http://home.mindspring.com/~the-plumber >Now, _that's_ rubbish . . . That wasn't the word I had in mind, Fred. :) Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!" It is quite possible that you would no longer be able to count to 10 if it had been a .40 sized glow engine or larger. A good cobalt or brushless electric would have taken that puppy right off also. In my early days of RC I got an interesting "railroad track" pattern down the inside of my right arm with I lost my grip on my Cermark Easy Electro. SignatureFubar of The HillPeople AMA605992 KE6ERB "I've heard the screams of the vegetables." > Hello, I have a beginner plane...RTF. Electric. I started to fly it late last > fall. Didn`t get used to it before winter hit here in the midwest. The first [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > Dan. >It is quite possible that you would no longer be able to count to 10 if it >had been a .40 sized glow engine or larger. A good cobalt or brushless >electric would have taken that puppy right off also. I have a table saw and use one at work and appreciate the power of the blade to cut fingers off. I still have all of my fingers intact. I don`t know why I got caught by this electric planes prop. I guess I never thought of what it could do. In the future I will definately be more attentive. Thanks for all of the replies. Dan. I wince to think about it, but in '56 or so, after I had smashed my cox P-40 (did anyone actually get one of those pretty bricks airborne for a full circle?) we would hold the engine in one hand, start it, and then release it to see it helicopter. But then, we also held lit M-80's till the fuse got short so they exploded in the air when we threw them. Few things dumber than an 8 year old farm boy with 3 friends to egg him on! OK, Now you are conjuring all sorts of memories. > I wince to think about it, but in '56 or so, after I had smashed my > cox P-40 (did anyone actually get one of those pretty bricks airborne [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > threw them. Few things dumber than an 8 year old farm boy with 3 > friends to egg him on! If there was anything left to stich > Hello, I have a beginner plane...RTF. Electric. I started to fly it late last > fall. Didn`t get used to it before winter hit here in the midwest. The first [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > motorized plane? I guess stitches would be needed in that case? > Dan. |
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