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After a short period away from the hobby, (approximately 20 years), I decided to re-kindle my interest in this fascinating hobby by looking for a quick, (and somewhat 'cheap and cheerful'), return by looking for something that will allow me to fly as quickly as possible.
I decided that 'electric flight' would probably be the most favourable route and so I undertook some research, (on both this particular site as well as many other areas), and I subsequently purchased a second hand 'Cypher 3D' electric helicopter, (despite the fact that I have a brand new TRex 450 that I purchased about 10 years ago which is still awaiting its first flight)!
I suspect that I didn't make much of a saving on my purchase but I achieved my goal of attaining a complete set up for a modest outlay, (Helicopter, Motor, Servos, Gyro, ESC, Transmitter and Receiver), and was therefore ready to go.The advert stated 'never crashed - only hovered' but I stripped the helicopter right down to its component parts and rebuilt her, (I would still have rebuilt it even if I had not noticed that the Fly-bar was bent and the landing skids broken)!
Cutting a long story short I rebuilt the model, (fortunately it came with a multitude of spares - including a couple of Fly-bars), set up all of the midpoint servo settings, (see-saws horizontal, swash plate level in both planes, etc), and I then tentatively set up the Motor position and Tail Belt tension, (from memory of previous models - as no manuals were supplied with the model and when I did locate, and download them, there were no set up specifications anyway)!
I then ventured to the garden in order to undertake some preliminary testing, (dynamic rotor balance, tail rotor efficiency, etc), whilst it was safely tethered to the garden table and, (once I had made a slight adjustment to the pitch setting on one rotor blade - to get them rotating in the same plane), I was ready for the first ground tests!
When I was last flying, (some considerable time ago), Computer radios were an exception and not the norm, (I still have my trusty JR XP642), so 'electronic' mixing, throttle and pitch curves were a bit of a 'dark art'), and this was another reason why I chose the Cypher 3D package as it also included the Spektrum DX6i, (I realise that this is directly placed at the very 'cheap' end of the list of available radio sets today), and I was amazed at how the radios have developed during the past few years, (2.4Ghz, dual receivers and frequency synthesising - no more crystals!).
I received no manual for the radio so I had to make another visit to the Interweb in order to download the manual and I also stripped the Transmitter and cleaned that too, (designing my own 'retrofit' modification to the select/thumbwheel switch which tends to be very fragile)!!
Initially I set up very linear 'curves' just to see how the Helicopter behaved, (0, 25, 50, 75 & 100%), for both throttle and pitch, (with a collective range of +/- 8 degrees), and, (once I had increased the throttle/collective sufficiently to create positive lift the Cypher was very 'lively' with a very 'skittish' flight pattern and I also had reservations about the Gyro performance, (Futaba GY401), as the tail would jerk occasionally.
After a few more flights, (making further adjustments to the 'curve' settings, (currently flying with throttle at 0, 45, 75, 90 & 95% and pitch at 0, 40, 65, 85 & 85%), the flight is far more stable, (I have also used the dual rate function on both elevator and aileron - 45%/100%), but I am still very wary of the tail as it still jerks, occasionally, resulting in a quick change of all other settings!
I have checked the tail rotor, all fittings, the servo and the tail belt but there are no clues as to what is causing the problem and I still suspect the Gyro as the 'delay' pot has no 'end stop' and I suspect that the previous owner may have been a little 'heavy handed' when adjusting it, (there is a possibility that it is moving during flight - thus upsetting the initial Gyro settings)!
Regardless of the tail issues I am very pleased with my purchase and I will now attempt to get the TRex set up, (it is fully equipped - including Gyro), so that I can compare the two together - thus identifying the cause of my jittery tail!Although no expert by any means I have been fortunate to own a number of Helicopters, (during the late 80's and early 90's), and I have fond memories of the Micromold Lark, the Schulter Heliboy, a scale Graupner Bell 212, two Kalt Cyclones, (great machines), a 'Gas Baron', (an extremely viscous machine), a Kyosho Concept 30, (it sits on the fridge awaiting its first flight), the Trex 450 and my 'cute' Cypher 3D.Apologies for the incessant ramblings!
Martin.
I decided that 'electric flight' would probably be the most favourable route and so I undertook some research, (on both this particular site as well as many other areas), and I subsequently purchased a second hand 'Cypher 3D' electric helicopter, (despite the fact that I have a brand new TRex 450 that I purchased about 10 years ago which is still awaiting its first flight)!
I suspect that I didn't make much of a saving on my purchase but I achieved my goal of attaining a complete set up for a modest outlay, (Helicopter, Motor, Servos, Gyro, ESC, Transmitter and Receiver), and was therefore ready to go.The advert stated 'never crashed - only hovered' but I stripped the helicopter right down to its component parts and rebuilt her, (I would still have rebuilt it even if I had not noticed that the Fly-bar was bent and the landing skids broken)!
Cutting a long story short I rebuilt the model, (fortunately it came with a multitude of spares - including a couple of Fly-bars), set up all of the midpoint servo settings, (see-saws horizontal, swash plate level in both planes, etc), and I then tentatively set up the Motor position and Tail Belt tension, (from memory of previous models - as no manuals were supplied with the model and when I did locate, and download them, there were no set up specifications anyway)!
I then ventured to the garden in order to undertake some preliminary testing, (dynamic rotor balance, tail rotor efficiency, etc), whilst it was safely tethered to the garden table and, (once I had made a slight adjustment to the pitch setting on one rotor blade - to get them rotating in the same plane), I was ready for the first ground tests!
When I was last flying, (some considerable time ago), Computer radios were an exception and not the norm, (I still have my trusty JR XP642), so 'electronic' mixing, throttle and pitch curves were a bit of a 'dark art'), and this was another reason why I chose the Cypher 3D package as it also included the Spektrum DX6i, (I realise that this is directly placed at the very 'cheap' end of the list of available radio sets today), and I was amazed at how the radios have developed during the past few years, (2.4Ghz, dual receivers and frequency synthesising - no more crystals!).
I received no manual for the radio so I had to make another visit to the Interweb in order to download the manual and I also stripped the Transmitter and cleaned that too, (designing my own 'retrofit' modification to the select/thumbwheel switch which tends to be very fragile)!!
Initially I set up very linear 'curves' just to see how the Helicopter behaved, (0, 25, 50, 75 & 100%), for both throttle and pitch, (with a collective range of +/- 8 degrees), and, (once I had increased the throttle/collective sufficiently to create positive lift the Cypher was very 'lively' with a very 'skittish' flight pattern and I also had reservations about the Gyro performance, (Futaba GY401), as the tail would jerk occasionally.
After a few more flights, (making further adjustments to the 'curve' settings, (currently flying with throttle at 0, 45, 75, 90 & 95% and pitch at 0, 40, 65, 85 & 85%), the flight is far more stable, (I have also used the dual rate function on both elevator and aileron - 45%/100%), but I am still very wary of the tail as it still jerks, occasionally, resulting in a quick change of all other settings!
I have checked the tail rotor, all fittings, the servo and the tail belt but there are no clues as to what is causing the problem and I still suspect the Gyro as the 'delay' pot has no 'end stop' and I suspect that the previous owner may have been a little 'heavy handed' when adjusting it, (there is a possibility that it is moving during flight - thus upsetting the initial Gyro settings)!
Regardless of the tail issues I am very pleased with my purchase and I will now attempt to get the TRex set up, (it is fully equipped - including Gyro), so that I can compare the two together - thus identifying the cause of my jittery tail!Although no expert by any means I have been fortunate to own a number of Helicopters, (during the late 80's and early 90's), and I have fond memories of the Micromold Lark, the Schulter Heliboy, a scale Graupner Bell 212, two Kalt Cyclones, (great machines), a 'Gas Baron', (an extremely viscous machine), a Kyosho Concept 30, (it sits on the fridge awaiting its first flight), the Trex 450 and my 'cute' Cypher 3D.Apologies for the incessant ramblings!
Martin.
and a platinum star 
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