New Life in Fixed Pitch Piccolo

[steve_JH]

I purchased a fixed pitch Piccolo Fun in 98 that turned out to be a non flyer due to the weight of the NiMh battery pack and erratic hovering when it did manage to get off the ground.

I recently discovered a web site by Paul Geolz who had some brilliant ideas on how to make the FP Piccolo more flyable. ([URL]http://www.pgoelz.com/piccolo_faq.html#122[/URL])

After buying a 2 cell 800 mAh LiPo I used some of his mods that included cutting down the blades and using a bit of metal to strengthen the rotor head and securing the swashplate using a ball bearing, bit of rubber tubing and biro spring. (Pic Attached)

The Piccolo now sits in a rock solid hover with plenty of power for circuits, and all for under £10.

[Smoothound]

I have an FP Piccolo rotting in my loft.

It's on 3 cells, Hornet blades, brushless motor, full CF frame and was flying fine on a really crappy old pack until the gyro died and I've not bothered to sort it yet ;)

[Pipistrelli]

I have several Hummingbirds & GWS Dragonfly's that are descendants of the Piccolo. I find them very rugged, they often smash into the wall in the gym and crash to the floor, but all I need to do is reattach the rotor head, straighten any twisted links and away you go, they do fly very, very well. I also run the GWS050 DD motor to give extra tail authority!

Cambs flyer tried mine and could fly it before he could handle his Trex in the good old days! (last year)! LOL

[cambs flyer]

[quote=Pipistrelli;178167]I have several Hummingbirds & GWS Dragonfly's that are descendants of the Piccolo. I find them very rugged, they often smash into the wall in the gym and crash to the floor, but all I need to do is reattach the rotor head, starighten any twisted links and away you go, they do fly very, very well. I also run the GWS050 DD motor to give extra tail authority!

Cambs flyer tried mine and could fly it before he could handle his Trex in the good old days! (last year)! LOL[/quote]

Hey Mike that was this year mate around Feb if I remember correctly, as I'd only had Phoenix since last christmas, just shout I'm always up fly a whizz about, oh BTW the Balance board arrived today, and the 5S is all charged up for it's first flight on the 500. :cheers2:

[Smoothound]

Here's mine :hat:

I pulled it down today, fixed the gyro and it flies just on the weak pack I have. It just needs a clean and some lube now :ack2:

[murph]

What mods have you done to be able to use the speccy rx?? I have a Twister fp upstairs that I fitted up with HB King 2 skids, and used the Super Motor and Speed Controller from the King for more power, to get over the weight.
I just need to sort out the tail issue now, ie separate gyro or a 2/3 in 1??
Any tips?

[steve_JH]

Nice looking piccolo...a bit more work to do on mine!

[Smoothound]

Mine is running on separate components! Nothing Ikarus left apart from the head and canopy ;)

[Pipistrelli]

[quote=murph;178188]What mods have you done to be able to use the speccy rx?? I have a Twister fp upstairs that I fitted up with HB King 2 skids, and used the Super Motor and Speed Controller from the King for more power, to get over the weight.
I just need to sort out the tail issue now, ie separate gyro or a 2/3 in 1??
Any tips?[/quote]

Murph,

I use the Hummingbird 2-in-1 Mixer Board, which mixes the main and tail motors, plugged into an AR6100 with seperate century micro gyro. I run mine on 3 cells with a performance motor and high head speed FP blades. Running a seperate gyro makes a better heli IMHO.

I'll try and add some piccies if you think it will be worthwhile?

[Smoothound]

Mine is using the following:

Astro 020 brushless motor(It's been a long time motor number could be wrong)
Castle Creations Phoenix 10 Cut Down Main ESC
ICS 50 Tail ESC
Spektrum 6100 Rx
CSM 200 gyro de boxed(was from before the shrink wrapped version)
IPS Direct Drive tail motor with 3x3 prop
3 cell lipo batteries

Hornet Carbon Fibre blades
Modified AR link
Ally swash(forgotten who its made by)
Ally Head
Titanium main shaft
Carbon Frame (forgotten who its made by)
Piccolo Fun canopy painted badly :D

Not sure how much of this stuff is still available now. Much was originally distributed by a company called eFlight

[murph]

"I'll try and add some piccies if you think it will be worthwhile?"

That would be great Pip if you could, cheers :)

[Kwickkwack]

Recently scrapped a Picolo Pro I had, have most of the electrics, I will dig out and list if anyone wants to find a home for them, (small consideration would be appreciated)

Edit
Going to be away for a couple of days, so if interested PM me and I will sort out over the weekend