have you thought about using kite rods for the skids?
a filament wound epoxy tube 32 inches in length weighs in at just over half an ounce at .656 That's a
length 32.5"
OD .231"
ID .176"
WT0.656 oz
it's sturdy hollow and shouldn't bend like you reported on.
Multi-rotor landing gear
The question would be how well they handle a rough landing. I have used aluminum helicopter landing gear and it bends on a rough landing. I switched over to solid 1/4" fiberglass. It holds up very well.
On my new craft designs I use legs made from ply that is connected to the aluminum booms. This works very well and holds up in a rough landing and crumbles on a crash.
On my new craft designs I use legs made from ply that is connected to the aluminum booms. This works very well and holds up in a rough landing and crumbles on a crash.
Well the fiberglass rods you were taking from the yard reflectors is a bit more flexible but the wound epoxy tubes would be a bit stiffer. But it takes a pretty hard hit from on high for a spar in a kite to break. And they are generally cheap to buy. Though if you go in for carbon fiber rods it can get expensive and they are more brittle while lighter.