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Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/5/2005 7:33:45 AM   
TMASTER


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hello, I've been out of the heli game for about 4 months now, and I'am done with micros for a while. As for flying I only can hover tail in and sideways. I also can do mild FF, with some sloppy figure 8's. I'm really thinking about going with the corona. The Trex was my other option but i think ill crash it too much and its not as large. I want a larger bird. I'm not ready for inverted so CP doesnt matter.

As for my setup i have some questions.
I have a polks seeker 6, and a GY240 gyro, CC-35 esc so far. I'm really thinking about selling the CC35 and going with a jeti esc. Ive had to many glitch problems with castle creations controlers, even using ferrite rings. But these esc's were on micros so the components were close together. I want to go brushless to start, I guess im spoiled on the power with my micro helis that are brushless.

Recomendations from Corona owners needed

1. which Jeti esc, or other?
2. What brushless motor?
3. What battery packs? 8cell or 3cell lipos?
4. Hitec HS-81 servos, or other?
5. what mods do i need right off to have a nice flying heli? flybar?
6. List of the places I can order parts and upgrades from?

I would really appreciate some help on these things if its not too much to ask
feel free to pm me or email me if needed
       Post #: 1

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/5/2005 12:51:15 PM   
gadget01



Posts: 93
Joined: 3/18/2005
From: APO, AP, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Tmaster

I'm just getting started in helis myself. My first bird is the Corona 120, from HeliHobby.com. I have it pretty much set up stock until my main rotor belt-drive conversion and titanium main rotor shaft mod arrive. The direct-drive (with gears) is too noisy for my taste and from what I've read, belt-drive is the superior way to go anyways. The spring-steel main rotor shaft bends too easily. I have slapped my Corona into the wall a couple of times and bent my shaft (insert Beavis & Butthead comment here). Now the heli vibrates like hell. My cheapo piezo gyro sucks a big steamy donkey turd because it won't keep the tail from jittering all over the place. I have noodled with the gain settings over and over and I can't make much progress, so I guess I'm gonna have to shell out the chips for a bad-boy gyro from JR or Futaba. Any recommendations on this subject would greatly be appreciated. I'm using Hitec HS81MG servos and they seem to do the job nicely.

The stock aluminum tail shaft bends pretty easily too, so I think a carbon tail shaft and belt-drive will be my next mods.

I set mine up brushless from the start, with a MultiPlex 480/4D with BL-37 ESC combo. I'm running a 3-cell 2100mAh ThunderPower LiPo which gave me 18 minutes of hover time yesterday. I am not using the BEC. I use a separate NiMh pack for the receiver/servos to help extend run-time. The manual for the M480/4D motor recommends a 2-cell LiPo, but it handles the 3-cell just fine. It's definitely warm after a run though. A heatsink will be added soon to try and extend its lifetime. One thing I hate about the controller is that when the voltage dips below the cutoff point, it cuts the motor off completely. To recover, you have to drop to idle to re-arm the motor and then power back up. This has dropped my heli to the ground a few times. Is this typical of brushless controllers or am I crazy to use this particular one?

Some websites that offer Corona upgrades:

http://ballistictechnology.com/products.html

http://www.chopper-1.org./

http://www.helihobby.com/html/corona_helicopter.html

http://roffeetvhobby.com/corona.htm


What micro helis are you flying? I'm seriously thinking about a Piccolo Pro to start doing 3D stuff and then move on to a T-Rex. Fixed pitch might be easier to set up, but it kinda sucks since you constantly have to vary the motor speed to maintain a hover, which contantly varies the tail-rotor speed, which constantly changes everything. It could be that they cancel each other out, but I don't think so.

later



_____________________________

oooh, was that supposed to happen?

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       Post #: 2

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/5/2005 3:45:29 PM   
Lifes a Drag



Posts: 941
Joined: 1/10/2003
From: Whittier, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Gadget,

Can you program your ESC for soft cutoff?

FFW.

(in reply to gadget01)
       Post #: 3

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/5/2005 4:17:04 PM   
Lifes a Drag



Posts: 941
Joined: 1/10/2003
From: Whittier, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Tmaster,

I like my Corona so much I have two! I'll prolly sell one if you or Gadget wants it as I fly a lot of gas.

I use the CC35. Works fine. Just keep it away from the motor & rx. I am using the Mega 16/15/4 in one and 16/15/3 brushless motor in the other. What battery packs? 8cell or 3cell lipos? You're choice! What do you have laying around? What's easier to get? What costs less? Are you worried about safety? You might fine a little more time and better flying characteristics with Lipos since they're lighter. In that area I suggest PolyQuest 2200-2600 3s packs. Use cell balancing plugs and charger.
itec HS-81 servos are fine! No mg for tail as metal gears & gyros sometimes hae problems. Stick with GY240 or 401's. They're great!
As for what mods do you need, I think the most important are, carbon flybar, corbon tailboom with belt drive, titanium main shaft, & JR Voyager landing gear adapted to the frame. I like the ECO-8 swashplate for the Corona as it removes slop in cyclic.

FFW.

(in reply to Lifes a Drag)
       Post #: 4

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/5/2005 7:04:46 PM   
TMASTER


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks guys, well lim kinda on a budget right now. Have you guys heard of the MTM and Aruora brushless motors? they have 400DH, 400DF, 450TH sizes. 15-20amp motors for like $45-50 new. www.justgofly.com I was thinking about using one of there motors to save some money otherwise the mega motor sounds good.

Lipos don't cost much more then the nimh packs ive seen. Nimh 3300mAh 8c pack was like $85 on helihobby, and the TP-2100 3s are only $75, polyquests 2600 packs were $87 i found for the slim version. I guess lipos are the way to go, unless there are way cheaper nicd or nmih out there, with a good capacity.

Looks like the two big upgrades are the main shaft and the belt drive, those are a lot $$$ !
I've been experimenting with drill bit main shafts from high speed steel and cobalt steel, they are the best and never bend.
But it looks like theres other components in the main shaft kit for $61. Are these needed as well?



gadget01: Don't bother with the smaller micros, go for the T-rex! It's a way better machine then any of the HB, piccolo..etc. I'd stick with your corona for FP flying, and Trex for the CP. 450XL CDE model is the new model. Parts are cheap and even the CNC parts. The Align company really did a good job on this heli.

(in reply to Lifes a Drag)
       Post #: 5

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/5/2005 9:47:52 PM   
TMASTER


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		can you adjust the pitch angle on teh Corona's blade grips?

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       Post #: 6

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 12:22:35 AM   
C62dy


 

Posts: 29
Joined: 7/27/2003
From: Enfield, CT, USA
Status: offline 		You can only change the blade grips. I believe 2, 4, and 6 are all that are offered. The most popular, and the ones that I use are 4's.

I have the hacker c40-12t w/40/3p on one and mega 15/16/3 w/cc35 esc on the other. The mega is just fine for starters and performs very well with no problems. I use 7 cell gp3300 packs.

I fly one stock, only with ve landing gear, and the other has belt tail & main, carbon boom, and 5mm ti mainshaft.

I enjoy flying them both. I will get bigger packs, and go to lipo sometime.

fly em' and have fun

Jer

(in reply to TMASTER)
       Post #: 7

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 12:50:00 AM   
gadget01



Posts: 93
Joined: 3/18/2005
From: APO, AP, USA
Status: offline 		Apparently, the MultiPlex ESC does not have a soft-cutoff setting. I'm thinking I need a different ESC. Why can't it just beep at you annoyingly when cutoff voltage is reached so you can control your landing? Don't they know that you cannot autorotate the Corona? I wish I knew this stuff when I initially went to order my parts. Where is the noob's guide to buying parts for your first electric heli? What do you need for a lipo that has the voltage balancing connector and how is that used? Is it only used for charging? Buying expensive parts that don't work for the application is really annoying. It seems like learning this stuff the hard way is a right of passage or something. Like, "oh, that sucks that you just smashed $500 in parts against the wall... sucks doesn't it? Now, here's what you SHOULD have purchased."

Oh... and why are good gyros so damned expensive??? Is having a digital servo for the tail/swashplate worth the expense? If they are, what are good digital servo choices for the Corona?

Thanks for humoring my questions.

_____________________________

oooh, was that supposed to happen?

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RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 1:18:28 AM   
TMASTER


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		How good is the main shaft upgrade kit? Will the shaft bend on a crash? THey make a 7mm kit too for a little more. The balistic place has lots of upgrades all at a hefty price!! hehe. What should my first mods be to the heli? I mean if im going to be spending $70 on a main shaft kit it better be the last one I have to buy!!!! even if i crash a lot!!!

Heres my projected setup so far:

corona 120
cc35
mega or equivilant motor
gy240
3 -HS81's
Polks seeker 6
carbon flybar
+4 angle grips
Better gear box
belt drive kit


What do you guys think about all these upgrades that are available? What is a must have? I 've so much bad luck with all my Micro heli's that I want this one to be right. I've spend 80-90% of the time working on my micro helis and trouble shooting them with little results in flying...

(in reply to gadget01)
       Post #: 9

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 1:34:36 AM   
gadget01



Posts: 93
Joined: 3/18/2005
From: APO, AP, USA
Status: offline 		The Corona comes with a pair of 4 and 6 degree blade grips. The construction manual actually says to use one 4 degree and one 6 degree.... apparently for an overall effect of 5 degrees. This seemed really odd to me, but it hovered ok that way. I later switched to 4 degrees on both and it improved hover stability since the rotor speed went up.

The main shaft kit is probably the most important upgrade IMO. The slightest tweak in the shaft (sounds like a personal problem) results in sloppy performance and wears out everything, esp swashplate bearings must faster from the added vibration. I suppose the only reason that Lite Machines even provides the spring steel shaft with the kit is because the bigger titanium shafts are quite a bit more expensive and they wanted to keep initial kit costs down. The stock shaft works fine until you crash it... then it wobbles, almost guaranteed. I tried to hammer it straight again with limited success.

Your setup list looks good to me. Apparently, metal gear servos are not good for tail use, so avoid that.

Some good setup info on the Corona I just found:

http://www.helihobby.com/html/corona_tips.html

_____________________________

oooh, was that supposed to happen?

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RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 6:16:00 AM   
Lifes a Drag



Posts: 941
Joined: 1/10/2003
From: Whittier, CA, USA
Status: offline 		The single most important upgrade to do first that I can think of would be main shaft & subrotor.

Here's some build pics to frool over.






Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize

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RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 6:22:56 AM   
TMASTER


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		nice!!!! what servos are those? And which swash is that?

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       Post #: 12

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 6:41:22 AM   
Lifes a Drag



Posts: 941
Joined: 1/10/2003
From: Whittier, CA, USA
Status: offline 		You don't want to know!

I spend way too much money on my heli stuff!!!!!

The swash is the Eco-8 $80, & the servo's are Multiplex digital Hi-Torque $100 each!

Trust me. Just start out with the titanium main shaft & sub-rotor & belt drive for the tail & you will have a great heli!!!!!!

FFW

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       Post #: 13

RE: Help me with component choices for Corona - 8/6/2005 7:03:11 AM   
TMASTER


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 8/4/2004
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		hey which