Hirobo Shuttle Z-TS renovation

[hedge]

Just started renovating one of these. Lots of plastic, flybar and Nitro, what's not to like :-)

[electricsceadu]

I see you have the key to a successful model on the bench
as its the zts it will be worth while to replace the bushes in the mixing arms with bearings as fitted to the zxx
it saves the slop in the control system

even with all the models I have my shuttle powered scale models always puts a smile on my face

[hedge]

Thanks for that, you had seen them and thought I should add hearings. Also this version does not have boom supports, I'll fly it like this and if it's not flyable I will get a set from the zx or the zxx. Picked up an align 750 today from a club mate so now have all the electronics I need to finish the build. It's been a while since I last flew a flybared model - bet it's twitchy as hell compared to my vortex's :-)

[electricsceadu]

you'll need loads of expo to calm it down

[hedge]

So the re-build is coming along well. Its a mish-mash of parts, some new, some slightly used and some broken. Its a surprise to find that you can still get some parts for it even though they are at a premium price.

Issues have been, bent flybar, bent feather/spindle shaft, partially rotted fuel rubber bung and damaged main blade holders. It has been crashed I wonder if they guy that gave it to me crashed it or perhaps he never got around to flying it. The engine feels new, its an Irvine 36. New bearings and very clean inside, its an abc engine - no ring - and is very tight and got good compression, so looking forward to seeing how that runs.

Its also interesting to see how many features are in todays models and those that are obsolete. This model is a 550 size and yet there are no bearings in the (FB) head links, just metal bushes. Needless to say I have replaced them all with bearings. The tail grips are just rubbish, they are in two halves and you just screw them together around the spindle shaft and a thrust bearing, nothing else! Needless to say they are sloppy. The rest seems OK, I have replaced a number of standard 3mm nuts with lock nuts, and replaced many screws -those that have not been replaced have been cleaned up.

The chap who gave it to me was quite impressed with the radio - computer controlled! Well needless to say in an entry level model of this size it was not the sort of thing I would attempt to use. So I have replaced the servos with the align set (610s, 615 and 655) I just pulled out of my 700n when I went HV. On the subject of electrics, its all going to be a tight fit as in the day you just used a 4cell RX pack, of course I want LiPo, onboard glow, regulator, Opti back up and some sort of governor.

Just waiting on some washers and spindle/feather shaft before I get to maiden it, hopefully next weekend?

Paul

[electricsceadu]

don't worry about the tail the slop will be gone once spooled up and the centrifugal forces pull on the thrust bearings
with all the abuse I've given shuttle's the tail has never been an issue (apart from slow servos and rubbish gyro's)
the futaba regulator takes up very little space
but room isn't a problem as in the past I've fitted an extra fuel tank on the radio tray when I was running an os50 in a very modified shuttle frame swinging 600 blades

[waveydavey]

Paul, I've got a drawer full of throttle jockeys of one flavour or another you're welcome to 1 if you need one, small and reliable.

Rebuild looking good, I'm toying with rebuilding a Nexus 30, my first heli and now I know what I'm doing it may be a slightly better partnership

[Mike Sanders]

I'm very impressed. I'm pretty sure that I couldn't do that.

[electricsceadu]

it sounds like a winter time challenge fro you dave
to have the nexus flying again

[waveydavey]

I bought it off Ebay, got done over, was a pile of shit. Managed to get it started and shit myself, the reason I joined a club. Might have a little look around see what I can find. Anyone got one gathering dust that needs a bit of TLC

[hedge]

On my iPhone so hard to credit but electricsceadu good to know about the tail, I also notice the tail shaft has two positions for the hub, looks like the inner position will allow more tail authority, I'll run it outer to start though.

Dave, funny thing is I've never heard of this heli before so no nostalgia :-) my first was a blade 400, might get one again ... maybe. Thanks for the offer of a throttle jockey, I do actually have one that I was planning on using for this once I know it's a runner.

when I first started helis I could not understand vintage at all as realistically they go in at some point and then it's a frustrating parts hunt, but hey we're here now so it would be rude not to fly it - wooden blades and all rotfl

[electricsceadu]

I crashed my fair share of shuttles leaning to fly but parts were plentiful then just like the align spares at the moment so it was never an issue
now parts are harder to get but an email to trevor at midland helicopters will get the parts you need

[hedge]

Well its all ready now, could not quite finish it in time for this mornings session, so maiden will be next weekend - weather permitting.

Struggled with getting the geometry to give more than +-9 degress of pitch and around 5.5-6 degrees of ail/ele. Also anyone know how to lock the flybar? My old blade you shoved a 3mm allen key through the hole and it locked it, this one I cant seem to find a suitable - easy to hand method, all my old FB levels are long gone too

I did think about sticking it in a 50/600 fuse, but seems the parts required to extend the boom are no longer available - let alone the tail blade offset kit. So might be having a re-think on that, unless I get a real stroke of inspiration?

Anyhow, once I get it flying Ill post a vid, the break-in for the engine will mean this may take a couple of weeks though.

[electricsceadu]

use a ruler and some blue tack just to hold it, it will be close enough for a shuttle
you can just get 10deg +ve pitch but you lose the -ve pitch
if I remember correctly the best I ever got was + 8.5 with - 6deg pitch
for the 600 conversion you use the sceadu boom and the falcon/gph346 drive belt, the belt can be obtained from a bearing shop so its still doable
the rudder rod just extend it with a joiner like the raptor 30/50 used
it will fit most 30/550 size fuse
and it is possible with the LHC kit (if they still have any) to turn the mechanics around in the fuse and run a wire drive to the tail (as per the LHC Bell47G)

[hedge]

...the belt can be obtained from a bearing shop so its still doable...

Great to hear, what would you ask for, I assume that asking for a falcon/gph346 belt would confuse them? I think I found the boom, just sent an email to confirm it's the right size and as you say the pushrods can be done simply enough, so it's just the belt (hopefully)