Radio control helicopters

[wingnut]

Hi, does any one on this forum in the S.Yorks area fly radio control helicopters, i have just bought one off fleabay and wondered if any kind soul could give it the once over for me, just to make sure its safe, i am trying to find a local model flying club in this area but having no luck at the moment, any info greatly appreciated.

[Hunter]

I hope you are prepared to a learn a new skill that takes 7+months to learn and 5+ years to master

 

Good luck, youl enjoy it

[pin]

What type is it (nitro / electric / small / large) etc? (link?)

 

If it's one of these small 300g or less electric jobs (under a ton new) then as long as there's nobody else in the room go for it.

 

If it's large (30 size nitro or equiv or one of the larger 400 motor sized electrics) you'll hurt someone, probably yourself, unless you learn how first

 

Get hold of an RC simulator for your PC, put the hele in the cupboard for a few months and you'll save yourself hundreds and hundreds of pounds

 

If it's small and electric and you have to try it before you know what you are doing then clear a big space and have a go..

 

Exact controls will vary but the left stick moved up generally gives you more head speed and more pitch (if it's collective pitch). Moved side to side that controls the tail rotor (or if it's not got one it will slow down one of the rotors to do the same thing) - this makes the tail turn in the direction you push the stick if you look at the heli from the back.

 

The right stick up and down pushes the nose down and pulls it up for forwards and backwards (if you are looking at it from the back) Side to side that gives you roll right / left (used for turning).

 

Get a training undercarriage for it as it's bumpy when you start. Start with the heli pointing away from you, stand behind it.

 

Begin by spinning up the blades and getting used to the entirely left stick control of keeping the tail where it is. More RPM = more torque from the rota so you'll need more left stick (side to side). Which way depends on which way the blades spin and how many there are.

 

Once you are used to that, practice getting it light on it's skids, don't take off just yet, but feel how it reacts. Once you start doing this you'll need to use the right stick to keep it in the same place. Use the right stick in the opposite direction to the thing it's doing (assuming it's still facing away from you) - if it turns round dump it, you'll need a bit more before you can do nose in.

 

Once you are used to that summon up the bravery and go for a little hop, keep it small. Keep doing this until you get to about a good foot and a half without it spinning out of control. Helicopters are hard to control when they are flying in their own downwash, the effect of the air slamming into the ground and causing vortices - as soon as you are able you'll increase this height (what you need to get to depends on where you are flying and the heli, but most small electric ones work better at about 2-3 feet or more.

 

Once you have done some hops, try to make the hops longer. Just a little bit at a time.

 

Keep your correction inputs small, if it wanders forward then pull back a little on the right stick and then cancel the correction, otherwise it will keep moving back.

 

When you are first starting out you'll suffer from "PIO" Pilot Induced Oscillations, where it wanders forward, you over correct and it shoots back, you over correct and it zooms forward, etc. If this is happening keep your corrections small and remember to anticipate taking them off. You need to have taken the correction off before it gets to where you want it to stop

 

 

Flying heli's is hard, try these basic things first, feel free to PM me for more tips

Edited April 29, 2008 by pin

[pin]

Have a look at http://www.bmfa.org/clubs/clist.php

 

Bash in South Yorkshire, there's loads of clubs there.

[wingnut]

Thanks for the info and tips guys.

 

the Helicopter is a KYOSHO NEXUS 30, it has supposedly been set up by a "professional model helicopter pilot" it came complete with all items needed to fly it, new carbon blades & tail rotor blades, 6 channel futaba transmitter, fuel, 2 starters, battery for the starter, + large flight box, the only thing i think is missing is some form of charger for the nicads in the nose section.

 

I am going to try and get in touch with the model flying club situated near doncaster as a few people there fly heli's.

 

 

Is it worth buying a smaller electric one to practice on or would that be a waste of time, money, and effort, i am certainly going to see if i can find a simulator and practice on that. like you say it could save hundreds of pounds.!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Once again thanks for your help

[broken man]

my advice.....take Pin's advice....he da man

[Supersonic]

Get one with the most powerful engine you can find and strap a 12g semi-auto underneath and take on the pigeons in their own territory.

 

[pin]

With that fella you'll need it checking over by someone competent at a club, you should find one with that link.

 

I'd check the condition of the receiver batteries (in the nose), if they are cheap or old or don't hold a good charge you'll save buying a new heli for a few quid

 

If it were me I'd have it properly checked over and test flown, trimmed and tracked if required by an experienced pilot. If he/she doesn't securely peg it down (or fit running in paddles) and do a power on range test don't let him/her fly it and find another club!

 

Do you know how old the fuel is? (old fuel takes on moisture and makes it ****)

 

Third item down this page http://www.modelhelicopters.co.uk/acatalog...ainingAids.html

 

Get one, it will save you at least a couple of sets of blades, tail rotors, skids, flybars and paddles and possibly a boom or two (as well as other bits) (add those up and the U/C looks very cheap!)

 

One last thing, if it's not had them get the plastic ball joints replaced with metal ones, trust me!

 

 

Oh, and for the small electric heli question. Jury is out, I think they are a lot harder to fly than larger beasts but the counter rotating blade jobs can be made very stable with care. Personally I'd get hold of "Reflex XTR" and a lead for your TX (I assume it's an FF6 or something?).

 

Sims are not perfect but that one kicks **** for helis and you'll learn much faster, and on your own transmitter

Edited April 29, 2008 by pin

[wingnut]

Just checked the Tx it is a Futaba Challenger FP.T5NH ?, more buttons , dials, levers and reverse servo switches, Th rates than i have ever seen, i can only see one plug in point on the Tx, i can't tell if this for a buddy box system, or for a charger for nicads, this has normal duracell batteries at the moment, just checked the fuel, it is brand new and never been opened.

 

thanks again Andy

[pin]

That radio doesn't have a buddy box connection, it's also very old. 4 Chan with a switched 5th channel.

 

NEVER use dry cells in an RC unit, they can't provide the power you need and will die far too quickly. Much better to use a pack of high capacity Nicads - if it doesn't have a connection for one in the battery box you can wire one up easily with a soldering iron, you'll pick the appropriate lead up for a quid or so at a hobby shop.

 

If it works and the range is good there's no reason to change it, but you can pick up a nice 6ch current futaba radio for about £40 which will have a buddy box connection.

 

With the radio being that old, I'd get the receiver checked too - if its of the same age as the radio it will be a single conversion unit and I would advise changing it for a better dual conversion unit (better interference protection) - if you can afford it get a radio that does PCM and a PCM receiver (these have a failsafe and much better interference protection). (better still 2.4GHz but that's yet more cash!)

 

Welcome to the money pit my friend

Edited April 29, 2008 by pin

[staglioni]

i got a simulator off flebay cant leave it alone allways too windy to fly my electric one.

sim only cost 20 quid fron japan and ya get planes and loads a models.

worth looking at

[pin]

The cheapy sims are good too.

 

If you want a real bargain, get one of these :-

 

 

Esky Llama II

 

If you get the right package you can pick them up with a 6ch radio and the simulator disk in there for about £60

 

They really are good fun, I fly mine out of my hand in the office, annoy people and then land it back in my hand

[wingnut]

Thanks for the info, i have just been looking at a similar system on fleabay, i am going to send some e-mails to the seller and see if i can get some further info, what seemed a cheap deal on this out fit looks like it will be costing me a few more quid than i anticipated.

 

Oh well its only money i suppose,

 

even if i spent another £100 quid on it, it would still be cheaper than buying one of the small electric ones, and i would much rather be safe than sorry,

 

Thanks for the info

[pin]

I've owned and flown most small electric heli's so feel free to get a view from someone who knows..

 

There is some great stuff out there, but with the influx of cheap Chinese copies there are ones to avoid, too

[pin]

Thanks for the info, i have just been looking at a similar system on fleabay, i am going to send some e-mails to the seller and see if i can get some further info, what seemed a cheap deal on this out fit looks like it will be costing me a few more quid than i anticipated.

 

If its all sound it will fly just fine like it is. You don't have to spend anything, if someone holding a BMFA "B" or "E" ticket checks it out and gives it a test fly with a thumbs up - your laughing.

 

Mind you, you'll soon want faster / larger / noisier / 3D - if you get bitten you'll never have any money

Edited April 29, 2008 by pin

[taz24]

Hi, does any one on this forum in the S.Yorks area fly radio control helicopters, i have just bought one off fleabay and wondered if any kind soul could give it the once over for me, just to make sure its safe, i am trying to find a local model flying club in this area but having no luck at the moment, any info greatly appreciated.

 

 

Hi Wing.

 

There is a club at Carcroft that own and fly from a field

just off the A19 out of Askern Nr Bentley, About 14 mile

from Bawtry (30 min drive).

 

The big model shop on Copley rd Doncaster fly from there

and I often see them flying alsorts at the weekend.

 

Cheers taz.

[JJaxeman]

I also fly a little Heli on the electric side though a ESky Honey Bee King 2 great little unit 6 channel and good fun to fly but I do have previous knowledge of RC Flight which is a help. Best join a club and learn or do it or the expensive way and teach your self LOL LOL, And buy many spare rotor blades/tail rotors as you can afford as you will need them cuts down on the flight down timeafter a crash . But above all have fun with it I know I do

[pin]

I can feel a dogfight at bisley coming on

[JJaxeman]

What you giving up on the scooters then

[wingnut]

Hi, does any one on this forum in the S.Yorks area fly radio control helicopters, i have just bought one off fleabay and wondered if any kind soul could give it the once over for me, just to make sure its safe, i am trying to find a local model flying club in this area but having no luck at the moment, any info greatly appreciated.

 

 

There is a club at Carcroft that own and fly from a field

just off the A19 out of Askern Nr Bentley, About 14 mile

from Bawtry (30 min drive).

 

The big model shop on Copley rd Doncaster fly from there

and I often see them flying alsorts at the weekend.

 

Cheers taz.

 

Thanks for that Taz, i will wander over there this weekend and see if i can get any further info

[wingnut]

Get one with the most powerful engine you can find and strap a 12g semi-auto underneath and take on the pigeons in their own territory.

 

 

 

Now theres a thought !!!!

[pin]

Like this

?

 

[wingnut]

Oh my god, i f ihadn't of seen that i would not have believed it.

 

What on earth would they use that thing for.

[garyb]

Dogfight?

 

I take it shotguns will be involved in this ?

[pin]

Come up with the £100 and you can shoot it, if you can catch it