Piccolo question  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       

All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> Piccolo question
Page: [1] 2   next >   >>  

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Piccolo question - 12/1/2003 7:41:06 PM   
Hornet 51


 

Posts: 33
Joined: 12/1/2003
From: Florence, SC, USA
Status: offline 		I am thinking about getting the fun version. My question is can I upgrade it so it will have collective pitch? And what is the difference between the fun and eco versions?
       Post #: 1

RE: Piccolo question - 12/1/2003 11:50:50 PM   
VinceHerman



Posts: 2284
Joined: 9/5/2002
From: Wadsworth, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Yes, the Fun can be upgraded to the CP version. Start with a Fun and a few minor upgrades. Learn to hover, learn nose in, learn to fly circuits. Doing this with the more robust FP setup is less frustrating and cheaper to maintain.
Then upgrade to CP.

Fun has plastic bushings, steel main shaft, steel tail shaft and a foam canopy.
Eco has bearings, CF shafts and a vac-form canopy.

I recommend getting the Fun, with bearings and an aluminum hub.
I HIGHLY recommend Lithium Polymer batteries over nicad or nimh.
I also recommend seperates over the piccoboard.

Learn everything Piccolo. Read the Welcome post on the Ikarus board. Read (re-read and read again) Paul's site.

< Message edited by VinceHerman -- 12/1/2003 6:52:12 PM >

(in reply to Hornet 51)
       Post #: 2

RE: Piccolo question - 12/2/2003 8:33:22 PM   
Razmo



Posts: 174
Joined: 10/27/2003
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Would you reccomend going "seperates" over the the piccoboard pro?

(in reply to VinceHerman)
       Post #: 3

RE: Piccolo question - 12/2/2003 9:49:50 PM   
Hornet 51


 

Posts: 33
Joined: 12/1/2003
From: Florence, SC, USA
Status: offline 		I am going to get the piccoboard, because if you get one of the accessory combos for it the whole thin including the heli is $250. Does anybody think I need the headinglock module too?

(in reply to Razmo)
       Post #: 4

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 1:05:00 AM   
Hornet 51


 

Posts: 33
Joined: 12/1/2003
From: Florence, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Also, since it is fixed pitch, Can I just use my r/c airplane transmitter without changing anything?

(in reply to Hornet 51)
       Post #: 5

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 1:19:23 AM   
tomflier



Posts: 141
Joined: 3/27/2003
From: Tulsa, OK,
Status: offline 		You will need a helicopter radio if you want to go seperates(I highly recomend) or at least a really good HH.

If you just want to use your airplane radio you will need to use a mixer such as the picoboard.

cheers
tomflier

(in reply to Hornet 51)
       Post #: 6

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 1:40:44 AM   
VinceHerman



Posts: 2284
Joined: 9/5/2002
From: Wadsworth, OH, USA
Status: offline 		You can fly a FP heli with a non-heli, 4 channel transmitter.
You will need to use some kind of onboard mixing. Either the Piccoboard or a HH gyro.

If you know that you will be going CP, considder getting a decent heli capable transmitter with 5 point mixing.
The Futaba 9CH in a transmitter only package is around $280.

Buy and fly the FP model on whatever transmitter you have now. Once you have conquered the hover, you will know if the bug bite is permanent enough to consider the additional purchase of a better transmitter. You can likely sell your current transmitter online.

(in reply to Hornet 51)
       Post #: 7

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 1:45:28 AM   
tomflier



Posts: 141
Joined: 3/27/2003
From: Tulsa, OK,
Status: offline 		The 9C is an excellent radio...You might want to just start out on that and not wast money on any other transmitter.

This would be the last one you need because it does pretty much everything.

9C =

tomflier

(in reply to VinceHerman)
       Post #: 8

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 3:00:58 AM   
Hornet 51


 

Posts: 33
Joined: 12/1/2003
From: Florence, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Do you think I should get the headinglock module?

(in reply to tomflier)
       Post #: 9

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 3:12:27 AM   
Hornet 51


 

Posts: 33
Joined: 12/1/2003
From: Florence, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Is this an alumin hub like you were talking about, Vince?

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize

(in reply to VinceHerman)
       Post #: 10

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 11:06:57 AM   
VinceHerman



Posts: 2284
Joined: 9/5/2002
From: Wadsworth, OH, USA
Status: offline 		That aluminum hub should do the trick. Which supplier is that picture from?

Here are the two configurations that I think work out best for the Piccolo starting point

#1
Pic Fun - bearings - aluminum hub - CNC Anti Rotation Link
2 cell LiPo pack(s) and charger
CSM HLG200 HH Gyro
2 ESC (gws100 and gws50 OR 2x Pixie7P)

#2
Pic Fun - bearings - aluminum hub - CNC Anti Rotation Link
3 cell LiPo pack(s) and charger
Futaba gy240 HH Gyro
gws100 or pixie7P main ESC
schulze slim 105he tail ESC

Both of these configurations can let you swap out the main ESC and main motor for a brushless motor and controller. I used an Astro 010 (10T) and phoenix 10. Makes for a light, powerful heli. even on 2 cell LiPo power. I am never in a position where more throttle does not give me an instanteneous jump upward. (or sideways into the house) (or sideways into the tree) (or the fence) (or me) (gosh I wish I could fly better!) :-)

(in reply to Hornet 51)
       Post #: 11

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 3:55:19 PM   
Razmo



Posts: 174
Joined: 10/27/2003
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Vince,

Have you any experience with the Piccoboard pro? Do you feel going seperates is ultimate route? I'm not talking about money savings at this point. I mean functionality.

Nick

< Message edited by Razmo -- 12/3/2003 3:55:31 PM >

(in reply to VinceHerman)
       Post #: 12

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 5:15:00 PM   
VinceHerman



Posts: 2284
Joined: 9/5/2002
From: Wadsworth, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Razmo,
Brother #2 used a Piccoboard until the magic smoke escaped. I do not know which version of the board it was. I do know that the most experienced, knowledgable piccolo people alive report that the Piccoboard does not behave as a true head hold gyro. It is close. It does the job. But seperates with a true head hold gyro will perform that task better.

Brother #2 is still early in his use of the hlg200 gyro, so it is early for me to be able to make comparisons. I did use his hlg200 in my picc before putting it in his (the advantage of being the one to order the parts!). It behaved for me axactly as it should. The tail stayed where it was, through different throttle and cyclic inputs. Very similar to the Futaba gy240, but a lot lighter.

Yes, I believe that seperates is the best way to go functionality wise. I also feel it is the best way to go cost wise. Why replace all 3 components if only 1 is broken?

(in reply to Razmo)
       Post #: 13

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 5:44:44 PM   
Razmo



Posts: 174
Joined: 10/27/2003
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Status: offline

Thanks Vince

I was reading thru my Dec issue of Model Helicopter World last night. I guess CSM has a new nifty tiny piezo HH gyro available.

< Message edited by Razmo -- 12/3/2003 5:47:12 PM >

(in reply to VinceHerman)
       Post #: 14

RE: Piccolo question - 12/3/2003 5:53:34 PM   
Razmo