Protech Zoom 400

[G-DAVE]

Just put and hour on my new Zoom indoor last night at Willington .
The model is great a very smooth performer BUT!!!!
The first fault has shown up - there is a brass bush supporting the carbon tail torque rod midway along the tail boom - and it's failed and is screaching dry and is probably wearing the carbon rod away and will if left untouched fail and cause a crash.
The solution is to disassemble the tail boom and replace the bush with a ball race. Anyone else got any mods.
Dave D

[Raptorite]

Hi Dave,

From what Ive seen as I still havent got mine yet is one of the first upgrades is to replace the tail control bowden style wire with a more rigid carbon rod.

I think other than changing the standard flight pack things like the gyro and tail servo for a decent heading hold gyro like the Futaba GY401 or a CSM SL560 micro and hitec HS50 tail servo, the rest is pretty much cosmetic stuff like a carbon fin and stab etc.

Cheers,

Pete.

[G-DAVE]

I put a carbon tail control rod on 2nd flight - also you are expected to put a Z-bend on the cyclic pushrods without any adjustment - replaced them with proper connectors .
The airbourne flight pack is ok as standard, I will put gy240 gyro on at some stage and I'm using Lipo's instead of the supplied Lion - they give more power.
Dave D

[Raptorite]

Hi Dave,

I had a call today saying the zoom airframe I have been waiting for is now in so I will go and collect it on Thursday.

I noticed the z bends on Matt Watkins' one on the Protech stand at Sandown, when I asked him about it he said that they were thinking about proper ball links as a standard upgrade but he thought it was ok as it was, Im still not convinced though.

Cheers,

Pete.

[G-DAVE]

Didn't even try to make Z bends - used connector similar to the ones G.W.S. put in there sponge kits"Moth"
They screw to the servo output horn and the pushrod passes through and after adjustment is secured with a set screw. I think slec do one - it's not pretty but gives you the adjustment needed for setting up the swashplate.

If your going to use Lipo's you will run into CofG problems because there so light .
The solution is to extend the battery platform forward - there is plenty of room in the canopy. This will allow you to place the Lipo for correct Center of Gravity.
Dave

[G-DAVE]

Zoom Update

Just aquired a gy240 which is installed in the Zoom now awaiting this terrible run of windy weather to clear for a test flight.
I see a lot of gyro's mounted on the tail boom on Zoom's - but if your using 1300 Lipo's there's room for a 240 in front of the mechanics on the battery tray.
Dave D

[Raptorite]

Hi Dave,

I have the zoom here now, Ive looked at it a few times but as yet havent installed the radio gear yet, as I am waiting for a few parts to come in from the states.

Have a look at www.mjpcarbon.com they have some great upgrades for the zoom. I ordered the gyro mounting plate, tail pushrod kit and 3d fin set.

The radio gear I have for it is the stock electronics pack things with the exception of the gyro, I got a GY401 for it when I picked it up.

One question for you, I have been doing a little sifting through the web but Im still not entirely sure of the difference between Li-ion and Li-Poly, any ideas?

Cheers,

Pete.

[G-DAVE]

LiPo v LiIo

As far as I know and to a layman there is very little difference - I think the electrolite is different and the cases are different.
LoPo's seem to have a plastic flexable case where as the LiOn has a hard case.
On other forums the information I have gathered indicates that the gyro plate with the servo mount which fixs to the tail boom at the rear of the mechanics is not the best postion - reports of flexing and movement of the servo causes poor tail control.Check Run Ryder !!
I have fixed the tail servo in the stock position and made a 2mm carbon pushrod up with a support midway along the boom.
Seems to work fine.