Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review.  
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    • All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Kyosho Helicopters >> Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review.
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    Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 8/29/2003 11:18:21 PM   
    optech



    Posts: 266
    Joined: 1/26/2002
    From: Yuma, AZ, USA
    Status: offline     		Ian,
    Thanks man! This is the only reason I've been holding off buy a Caliber. I just did not want to go back to a 30 ship.

    Looks like my credit card is going to get a workout in the next few days!

    Mike

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 26

    Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 8/30/2003 11:45:26 PM   
    Tongie


     

    Posts: 66
    Joined: 6/21/2003
    From: Manchester,
    Status: offline     		Update:

    I have now installed my conversion kit with an OS 50 and Hatori tuned pipe and header. It went together well, the only problems are what Vortexgen reported (fan screws and exhaust outlet) although I did have allot of trouble getting the clutch shaft off the old engine. I decided to put 50 sized carbon tail blades and make a carbon push rod which really does lock the tail.

    First few tanks were running in, next few had me gobsmacked. The Caliber was built for this and it is absolutely awesome. There is so much more power it's brilliant. Like vortexgen I had to add expo to slow the cyclic down, the climb rate has to be seen to be believed.

    This conversion kit is a must have for any serious flyer, get reaching for those wallets! Thanks to Vortexgen for locating the mod and testing it all out.

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 27

    Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 8/31/2003 12:13:36 AM   
    WillMac795


     

    Posts: 77
    Joined: 10/27/2002
    From: Scotland,
    Status: offline     		How would you say it compared to the R50?

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 28

    Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 8/31/2003 12:34:12 AM   
    Tongie


     

    Posts: 66
    Joined: 6/21/2003
    From: Manchester,
    Status: offline     		Never seen one fly but heard that they are ballistic also. If you have not got a caliber already the R50 is a cheaper option and the parts will be more readily available.

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 29

    Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 8/31/2003 1:20:40 AM   
    WillMac795


     

    Posts: 77
    Joined: 10/27/2002
    From: Scotland,
    Status: offline     		I've got a C30 just now and would get the 50 conversion kit if I could but I really need a new Tx. I think now that a 50 conversion kit is available, the C30 can really compete with the Raptor.

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 30

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/10/2003 1:15:58 AM   
    optech



    Posts: 266
    Joined: 1/26/2002
    From: Yuma, AZ, USA
    Status: offline     		Tongie,

    Its great to hear about how your 50 ship flies. I have my Caliber now and am awaiting the conversion kit. It will probably be here tomorrow.

    I've got another question for you. What mods did you do to your kit other than the conversion kit??? I understand Vortexgen's reasoning behind the the mods he did but I'm wondering how much of it is overkill so I wanted the opinion of someone else who has done the mod.

    For me, Yes.... the links and rods have to go and the swashplate and blade grips look suspicious. Bracing the servo tray is something I will do but it would probably fly without it right away. Metal mixing and bell crank arms might look nice but the Raptor .50 flies with more flimsy looking versions.

    Anyway, just wondering how yours is set-up.

    Thanks,
    Mike

    (in reply to Tongie)
           Post #: 31

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/10/2003 7:36:09 AM   
    Tongie


     

    Posts: 66
    Joined: 6/21/2003
    From: Manchester,
    Status: offline     		Hi Mike,

    I should have ground the engine shaft shorter like Vortexgen did but I did not do it in the end as I appeared to have a good thread on them. The reality was that I did have a good thread but the buggers sheared off (both of them!) leaving part of the screws still in. Make sure that you do this mod, I have 2 more clutch shafts in the post and I am certainly going to cut the engine shaft this time and use longer screws.

    Thanks for you detailed response to my swashplate interaction problem, I will have a good play with this over the weekend.

    As for mods:

    Blade grips - Yes, those blades seem allot larger than std

    Alloy fan - Maybe, I run 15% nitro as its expensive for 30% in the UK so better for
    cooling.

    Mixer arms - No, look nice but don't add anything really

    Swash - Not for the 50 upgrade but a definite improvement in control response

    Other things that you need:

    Header tank - The OS 50 is thirsty

    Tuned pipe - Really gets that OS on song Mine is an Hatori one and I had to move the
    canopy mount up to fit the header pipe.

    Governor - essential as when I ran it without one it was pulling 11 degrees of positive pitch and it was still overreving whilst climbing! This is one powerful beast that needs taming with a Governor or you will be messing around with the throttle/pitch curves for ages. I use 1500 rpm in Norm, 1700 in Idle up 1 and 1750 in idle up 2

    Carbon push rod - Made one of these as was not getting enough tail authority and also went for Raptor 50 carbon tail blades.


    Seems allot but it's worth it! Keep up all posted on your experiences.

    Cheers

    Ian

    (in reply to optech)
           Post #: 32

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/11/2003 1:33:03 AM   
    optech



    Posts: 266
    Joined: 1/26/2002
    From: Yuma, AZ, USA
    Status: offline     		Hello Ian,

    After thinking this over I decided to order the following;

    Correct Clutch bell- Actually I'd ordered it along with the coversion kit as I didn't like the idea of a plastic one on a .50. I forgot to mention it in my previous post.

    Quick UK- Blade grips (of course).

    Quick UK- Cooling fan. I'd heard guys say that the plastic stock one loses blades with 30 engines. I'm not going to chance it on a .50.

    Quick Uk- Mixing Arms and feathering spindle. Like you feel, not needed but they'll look nice and as long as I was paying shipping from the UK, I might as well make it worth my while. I like the idea of the stronger spindle. Probably not needed but it was cheap.

    Quick UK- 2.3mm linkage rods. I'm going to use Min Air ball links so I figured the lengths out on a piece of paper using the stock rods then ordered the appropriate length UK rod packages. The stock stuff is really kinda scary.

    Chris Kelle- Blue Carbon radio tray brace. Its really cool looking but can only be used with the CCPM set-up. This guy is small time and cuts them out at home (I think) but the part is excellent, works, and is only $15 shipped.

    In the future I'll get the swashplate but I think I'll be okay without it for now. I'll also get the Kyosho upgrade aluminum radio tray braces to compliment the CK brace now that Tower will be carrying it. Not a high priority though.

    Engine wise;
    I just got the new Curtis Youngblood 50 size Muscle Pipe II (high ratio).

    Already have a Quick UK- header tank.

    Govenor- Next paycheck!

    Good call on the tail pushrod and blades. I didn't think about them. I'll have to look around here and see what I can come up with or just use the stock stuff for a while.

    Have fun,
    Mike

    < Message edited by optech -- 9/12/2003 10:19:55 AM >

    (in reply to Tongie)
           Post #: 33

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/24/2003 10:30:22 PM   
    Tongie


     

    Posts: 66
    Joined: 6/21/2003
    From: Manchester,
    Status: offline     		I have put some more pictures of the finished conversion kit on my website if anyone is interested it's www.modelhelis.com .

    It's my first attempt at a site and I know it's crap but it's got some good pics on it.

    Cheers

    Ian

    PS Vortexgen, hope you don't mind but I nicked one of your pics as I forgot to take a picture of the kit before I fitted it.

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 34

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/25/2003 6:54:19 AM   
    optech



    Posts: 266
    Joined: 1/26/2002
    From: Yuma, AZ, USA
    Status: offline     		Ian,

    Here's a pic of my Caliber.

    I don't know if you get over to RunRyder but I uploaded more picks of my conversion to my gallery there.

    http://runryder.com/gallery/00171/

    I've only flown about 1/2 of a gallon through it so far. The engine would not tune out properly and was losing power so I thought I had lost the rear bearing. Upon inspection it looks like I ingested something substantial. The piston/cylinder/ring are complete waste. I should have the parts in by Friday so maybe I'll get some more flights in this weekend.

    Cheers,
    Mike

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    < Message edited by optech -- 9/25/2003 6:55:50 AM >

    (in reply to Tongie)
           Post #: 35

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/28/2003 1:36:29 AM   
    corn_tortilla


     

    Posts: 11
    Joined: 9/10/2003
    From: round rock, TX, USA
    Status: offline     		I'm curious as to why everyone put the 50 in it... If the 50 still overpowers the caliber when at +10 degree pitch, why don't you buy a .46. It's cheaper, you may not need a governor and your less likely to waste horsepower correct???

    OS32 = 1.1HP ~$139
    OS46 = 1.8HP ~$119
    OS50 = 2.2HP ~$189

    Just curious?

    (in reply to optech)
           Post #: 36

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/28/2003 6:57:17 AM   
    Vortexgen


     

    Posts: 397
    Joined: 3/12/2003
    From: Fortitude Valley, AUSTRALIA
    Status: offline     		i want sheer brute raw power. 46 was never an option for me, didnt they (46) have heaps of problems so OS put out the 50 SHX?

    why is the 46 cheaper than even the 32?

    my only decision was TT or OS. Id rather have the power there when required, thats the whole reason for the conversion kit.

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 37

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 9/28/2003 8:49:43 AM   
    Tongie


     

    Posts: 66
    Joined: 6/21/2003
    From: Manchester,
    Status: offline     		In the Uk the price difference is only £20 so I went for the more powerful 50. I was running a Webra 35 competition which is supposed to pump out close to 1.5hp so I did not want to spend all that money on marginally improving the power even though I have to admit it felt far from 1.5hp at times.

    I would think that its best to have too much power and not overwork the engine rather than not have enough? Isn't that why the 60 sized helis are moving towards 90 engines? I am sure if you ran one of these without a governor then you would find it hard to balance the power and pitch.

    I guess its down to personal preference and how much you want to spend at the end of the day. I am sure that the 46 would be a vast improvement from a 32 and perhaps would give slightly longer flight times. Perhaps one of you guys will try a 46, the only benchmark I had was Vortexgen and I am glad I went for the 50, I am certainly not going to be in need of any more power!

    Cheers

    Ian

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 38

    RE: Caliber 30. 46-50 Engine conversion review. - 10/5/2003 7:06:07 PM   
    Sacha


     

    Posts: 7
    Joined: 10/5/2003
    From: BRUSSELSBRABANT, BELGIUM
    Status: offline     		Hello,

    First, Sorry for my "bad" english.....

    I'm owner of a Caliber 30 with OS32. I'd like to upgrade it to be able to install a OS46.

    Maybe in few mounth, I'll install a OS52 4 stroke........wich is now in my nexus 30.


    Where can I buy the engine holder (I don't known the exact term) and also the tail tube and transmission......

    I live in Belgium (Europe).

    Thanks a lot for your help!


    Alex

    (in reply to Vortexgen)
           Post #: 39 <