First proper Heli At Last!!!

[wazzer]

Hi Guys

I have been reading and posting on this Forum for a while and have now finally got my self a proper Heli!!

For the last 18months on and off I have been using my Reflex simulator and have learn't some of the basics of hovering etc. I can hover pretty confidently although my nose in isn't very good at the moment. I can also loop and roll and do stall turns. (not very tidy I might add but getting better all the time)

In the last few months i have been flying a Lama V3 and have enjoyed it and used it to learn to improve my nose in hovering, but i am fast getting bored of its basic flying abilities.

However.

Just recently I have been very fortunate to be given a fully operational Zoom/ Shogun 400 with many upgrades including the Belt driven tail.

I know the 400 size Heli's are not the best thing to learn with but beggers cant be choosers and i am very greatful. I have bought a DX7 and AR6200 but not yet installed or set up.

The Heli has a brushless motor carbon blades GY401 and 1800 Flight Powers.

OK

What i would like to know is how to tame the little fella!

Currently it is set up for a head speed close to 3000RPM and I sh*t
myself on spool up!. (Using previous owners TX)

What i would like to know is what is the best way to bring the head speed down to a sensible level for learning and what sort of Pitch and Throttle curves should i be using for a newbie in my new DX7.

I am just about to fit a set of training gear to help prevent tip overs

Any advice to get me in the air sensibly would be most appreciated.

Sorry for the long post

Many Thanks for your time

Ben

[marktigere1]

Hi Ben

I don't know the little beast myself but with my Trex I fitted small flybar weights and used about 30% Expo on the Aileron and Elevator (swash plate) until I was comfortable with it.

I soon started taking the Expo off as it does make the swash a little wooly;)

I also initally used a training undercarriage for setup but soon took this off as it made the bird too cumbersome. (Made from 4 dog squeaky balls and some thin garden stakes.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Mark

[warboysastro]

If you have a computer radio, simply set up linear curves (actually a straight(ish!) line) to start with.

Reduce revs, and increase pitch. Play with it until it'll hover at mid stick, or maybe just a fraction more.

Don't worry about idle up's just yet. Also, set it up so minimum blade pitch is no less than -1deg at bottom stick.

I have a blinged Zoom 400 with Sonix head, belt drive tail, carbon frames etc. (see signature!) and it flies really well.

Cheers - Rob

[wazzer]

Hi Guys

I am just about to install a RX for my DX7 once that is done and the training gear on i will give her a try.

Rob when you say linear curves do you mean 0,25,50,75,100 for both pitch and Throttle??

I was going to start with about 40,50, 60, 70, 80 Pitch and the same for throttle.

Does this sound feasible?

Thanks for any pointers

Ben

[warboysastro]

I wouldn't start your throttle curve at 40 or you'll never be able to stop the blades turning. As soon as the ESC arms itself it'll spin up even at minimum stick.

Maybe 0-40-60-80-100 for throttle and something like 40 55 70 85 100 for pitch?

The only real way is to suck it and see, and see what head speed you have and where your throttle stick is when its hovering.

Good luck! Let us know how you go.

Cheers - Rob

[Merlins51]

One way of slowing the head-speed down is to put a different pinion on the motor with a lower tooth-count. The advantage of that is that you can run the motor at high revs (which counter-intuitively is actually more efficient and better for your ESC than running it at low speed).
There are a couple of calculators on the internet where you can type in your battery specs, your motor and your pinion and main gear toothing and it gives the headspeed.


[url]http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/gallery/32055/hdspeed.html[/url]

[url]http://www.readyheli.com/Online_Headspeed_Calculator_s/81.htm[/url]

[wazzer]

OK thanks guys

Good point on the throttle curve!

I thought it may not be the best way to lower the head speed with the throttle curve will look into a smaller pinion.

Will slowing the head speed make much of a difference to flight times?
I will be running 3cell Flight power Evo 20 1800's

Along with my training gear i was going to fit some weights to the flybar as this should also help tame the little beast.
What size do you think i should start with and do they need to be fitted as far out on the flybar as possible?

Right its back home this weekend (i work away from home)
Will pack all my heli bits and see what we can do next week!!

Many thanks for the help guys
Ben

[wazzer]

OK so its been a while (worked away from home more than anticipated) but i have finally got her all set up and training gear attached.

After a very wobbly flight full of bad vibes and no tail control with heavy training gear i have finally got her sorted.

So last night after about 4 packs (five total flights) I managed my first stable smooth hover!!!

Wow it was soo exciting!

I even managed to fly some basic forward backward and side ways hovering manuvures stopping where i wanted.

I was so chuffed, the heli flew real nice and smooth and very stable, the previous owner had never seen it so stable so i must have nailed the setup.

I was so pleased it was easier than on the sim!

Thanks for all the input guys now its time get some more packs and get some more Air Time!!

Cheers

Ben

[marktigere1]

Well done Ben.

[Jamez]

yeah it does feel good to fly properly for the first time, watch them packs though, don't over discharge them.

[marktigere1]

Also, watch out for anyone approaching 1000 posts offering advice.

They know nothing!!

[Jamez]

Ha, cheeeck,

[marktigere1]

Well stop posting then.

[wazzer]

Well its been a while since i posted so i thought i better update you guys.

My little Shogun and me have come along quite a way since my last post.

I have been getting on really well with hover training, hovering from left to right front to back and spot landing. Hovering at 45 degrees left and right not quite side on yet.

Had about 10-15 flights then crashed!!

She just got away from me going towards a gate and i bottled it,just hit throttle hold and let her go in on her side.

Luckily not much damage. blades main shaft, feathering shaft and tail box.

She has since bee rebuilt into a very nicely made Titanium frame.

Had a nightmare with the elevator linkage fouling the tail belt and getting hardly any elevator movement. Im not too surprised i had problems as the conversion has been made from all sorts of parts from different kits, but i got it solved in the end.
It was a bit drastic but i eventually cut the elevator rocker in half!!
So now i only have the elevator connected to the swash on the front ball only, this way i have no belt fouling problems and plenty of movement.
The swash is still held in place with very little slop, less in fact than with the original plastic elevator rocker.

If you look at the first pic you can just about see the cut down elevator rocker.

I have also added a fiberglass canopy from a HDX300 that fits quite well just need to lift the nose a bit more, and for 7quid it was a bargain!!

I have got her flying very nicely again and have Just had my first flight without the training Gear!!!!

Wow she flys so much better without the training gear on! and i thought she was nice to begin with!

Really need to start pushing myself into basic slow circuits.

need to get my home PC fixed (motherboard died) and then i can start using the Sim a bit more.

I have attached some pics

Let me know what you think

Cheers all.

Ben