LivingRoomPilot
Posts: 3
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: , TX, USA
Status: offline
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I've had my HeliMax Rotofly for over a year (got it January 2005). I've had several problems with it. It looks like a lot of people are having the same problems. Here's my experiences:
1. Skidding to the left - Mine does this too. Adjusting the trim will not fix it. I fly indoors, in my carpeted 20x18 living room. I always fly with the training gear attached. I place a 1.5" thick, 3-ring binder notebook on the floor and set the heli on it, so the heli is leaning to the right. The right-side feet are actually on the carpet. Then I throttle up and take off. Using the notebook solves the left skid problem for me.
2. Circular Wobble - Setting your flybar paddles so they are level is the best thing you can do. Make sure the paddles are firmly attached, or they will fly off the bar and hit the wall! Even with good paddle adjustment, the wobble is still going to happen. You've gotta watch the heli and try to counteract it with the cyclic stick. You have to fly this thing - it will not fly hands-off!
3. Those Pesky Bearings - No telling how many rotor head bearings are lost in my back yard. I tried some "Super Glue" from Ace Hardware. There is nothing good to say about Super Glue - it will not stick to anything but your fingers! Now, I use epoxy from Ace Hardware. This epoxy needs 24 hours to reach full strength. It will hold the bearings on for several crashes, but eventually they will come off. I'm going to try the suggestion about using small screws to hold 'em on.
4. Those pesky tail motors - Most of my tail motors have lasted for several flights, but even with the heat sink, they will fail. This is the only part I have had to replace due to failure. All the other parts I broke were my fault. All I can do is keep several motors on hand in case I need one. When I screw the new tail motor on, I always have to add a shim to make the gears mesh properly. I make my shims out of the fake credit cards I am always getting with those "pre-approved" credit card offers.
5. It flies backwards! The RotoFly really wants to fly backwards. I think the tail motor heatsink is part of the problem. I have taped a quarter to the bottom of the canopy to try and correct the balance problem. Still, I have to give forward stick all the time or it will land on its tail.
My overall impression:
This was my first RC flying model. I can fly it pretty well now. You do NOT need airplane experience to get a fixed-pitch heli off the ground. The HeliMax RotoFly seems pretty tough - I've taken into walls and furniture countless times. The rotor blades don't break - they just fold back. But I have broken a couple of rotor heads. (Mostly, I just buy new rotor heads because I need the bearings.)
The RotoFly is too unstable to be a good indoor copter, and too light to be a good outdoor copter. Still, I've used it both indoors and out and it's fun.
I'd like to get a good indoor copter with counter-rotating blades. I was thinking of the HorseFly, but I'm seeing a lot of flames about it. I'd also like to get a collective pitch model for outdoors. Here, I've been thinking about the NightRanger 3D.
Anyway, that's my experience so far with the RotoFly.
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RE: Helimax Rotofly Problems - 
