Gasser

[Sarge]

For the last 10 years I've been a leccy flyer, but now I'm getting the urge for a gasser. Not to sure what to go for but I know I want long flight ttmes 20 min or more, would prefer second hand and it must be a pull start.

What gasses are you all flying? Anything I should avoid?

All help appreciated

Sarge

[rmorris]

Search for the RMJ Raptor E700 Gasser conversion. IMHO one of the best gassers out there.
Rob

[trillian]

I have a Helix (Trex 700) that I've been flying a few months and have just finished an RMJ (Raptor E700) conversion. I've really enjoyed building the RMJ Raptor, everything has gone together so nicely. I will be maidening it soon and it should be a great performer.

In the past I have owned a Century Predator, a Robbe Futura SE conversion and a Kalt GS Alpha.

The modern gasser conversions using the Zenoah RC engines have a few big advantages over older models that used the PUH style engine, namely a nice big fan with a build-in fan shroud and a very sturdy clutch that both come as standard on the engine. So I think gassers have really come into their own now as a viable alternative to nitro.

[George J]

Just sold my RMJ E700 gasser but can tell you that it's the best all round conversion that you can buy and is also the lightest which is a big deal and ends up, with the right engine, being a very 3d capable heli, I had a TRM VX300 in mine and it was very nice to fly. One thing that you will never escape with a gasser though is the extra weight and its impossible to get awy from it so dont expect it to ever fly like a 700 nitro or even less so an electric. However if you're prepared to fly it and take it for what it is you will be massively rewarded with a superb flying heli that will give you 20 min flights per tank and using Aspen fuel, for example, at £15 for 5lt makes it really cheap to run. Chuck pump petrol into it and its flying for nothing!

[Malc1]

I still have my Miniature Aircraft Spectra G fitted with a Hanson G26 3D max PUH engine and am in the process of ordering a Helibug conversion for this and a TRM VX300 engine.
Looks like a very straight forward conversion and I am looking to hopefully 'smooth' the running of the helicopter further.

Apart from spare parts, certainly cheap to run if that is one of the things you are looking for.

[trillian]

Just to follow up on the subject of gassers in general. I spent some time yesterday with the Helix to really get into the tuning of the engine. It currently has a stock Zenoah G260RC and I was getting a bit of bogging in my last flights and although I know it has its limits I wanted to see just how much it could handle before I swap it out with a more powerful TRM 300.

So I started with both needles rich and slowly leaned out the low needle till it's just a tiny bit rich, just a hint of four-stroking. Then I slowly leaned the top end till it would just pull in a climbout. I also pulled down the max pitch to 10.5 degrees. Now it will just keep pulling and won't bog, you can hear it's under load but importantly it just chugs happily away.

I really think this is extremely similar to a .91 nitro on 15%, considering it's lugging around an extra 500 grams or so. I have the gov set at 1870 which would be an engine rpm of 12,600. It's possible that a slightly higher headspeed on the gov would give it a little more punch because I don't know where the headspeed falls to under the load at full pitch.

Anyway, I think that's not bad at all for a stock engine that costs less than £200.00 new (not counting the pipe).

For my flying style I could get by just fine with that but as I'm spoiled to the power of electric helis, it does feel like it's right on the margin and would be nice to have a little more power. The TRM should cure that issue straight away.

For me anyway, it makes me really wonder if it's not time to retire the nitros. I still have a .50 and a .90 and haven't flown them yet this year... One thing I have always liked about nitro (besides the noise and the smoke) is that there's so little charging needed, just the RX pack and a pack for the starter, but in this case the gasser is even more convenient because I don't need the starter.

The RMJ Raptor is almost ready now, I just realised after getting it all built that a few little things needed replacing on the airframe. I ran the engine and checked to make sure the tank fittings are all sealing etc. and in the process I noticed a couple cracks in the autorotation gear (this was there already on the donor airframe I just didn't spot it before) so I have one coming in the next day or so.