Posts: 253
Joined: 10/31/2007 From: North Platte,
NE, USA Status: offline
Hey miracle machine maniacs, It's certainly a better day here today. Lots of sunshine and it's warming up fast. Good ol' Nebraska. The weather is always a surprise. It's said that the weather here is why Nebr. has a large number of people that live beyond the average age limits. Makes them so darn tough they live long. Good news for an old ft like me.
Had a stressfuld day yesterday and I was an old grouch. Today I started the day with talking to my Cajun Beauty for 1/2 hour (always puts me in a good mood), a pot of coffee and working on my T Rex. After talking with Donica and hearing about what she is dealing with in the aftermath of the viscious weather they had there I realized my day hadn't gone so bad. She is cheerful as usual and made me that way. As I've said before, her attitude is amazing and she is my best half. She says to say "hidee ho" to all of you. She's gonna be very busy for a few days and will be back on the forum asap.
Things went very well working on the T Rex this morning and I'm feeling good about that bird this time. I think with some of the changes I've learned from all of you it's going to be a lot sweeter this time. I have all the servos mounted on the inside of the frame this time and when I tested them with the rotor head installed I could tell that everything was a lot more positive and smoother. There is absolutely minimal drag on the swashplate now and I can tell by the sound of the servos they are working a lot less to make their sweeps. Just this one small change is going to make the bird more responsive, drain the battery slower and the servos will last longer. I removed the rx from the bottom front tray and reinstalled it inside the rear of the mainframe. I've noticed a lot of the expert flyers putiing it there and I'm going to try that this time. I like the way that allows routing the wires. It's a lot neater looking. Do any of you use the gyro mounts they are selling now? Are they worth the time and money?
Oh yeah-something I have meant to mention about lubrication. I use a fine powdered graphite on the mainshaft where the swashplate moves on it, on the dampers and just a dab on the maingear, tail gear and even a little on the ball links. It's a dry lubricant so it doesn't collect dirt or moisture, is anti static, nonabrasive and cleans off with a dry rag. Before I put it on my mainshaft I could raise the swash plate up on it with everything disconnected from it and it would just stick where I let go of it. After using the graphite it would fall down the shaft when I let go of it. This graphite is used a lot by the mechanics that work on my black beauty and highly recommended. They use a type that is mixed with a small amount of dry teflon. I'll find out where it's available and let you know. I have several small tubes of it that they have given me and I'll search for the company's web site.
Manuel-welcome to the forum (family). You've found a bunch of smart, good people here and they will get you flying. The T Rex is a sweet bird and you're in for some fun. If I know these people they'll have you enjoying working on it as much as flying it. By the way, your english is real good. I admire anyone that can master more than one language. I regret that I never took the time to learn the Hispanic languages. I enjoy listening to someone speak them and they are beautiful and fascinating. My lady friend is of the Chocktaw Creole heritage. Her mother is full blooded Chocktaw and speaks their native language. It too is fascinating and beautiful. Much more so that plain old American english. Feel free to have some fun on here too. We like to joke around some.
Helismith-no apology necessary. I was just being an old grump yesterday. I understand how things can overwhelm one at work and I'm sure Niki is handling it all as best she can. I promise to regain my paitience and things will work out (Donicas orders-she told me to be nice to y'all or there'll be some timeouts ). I appreciate all your help on this. I owe ya two steaks now.
Gonna spend the afternoon working on my 64 Ford truck I'm slowly turning into a streetrod. I've been ignoring it lately and need to make some progress there too. That's like the helis. The word work is just a reference. It's actually fun as heck. I get to fire up the welder today and start boxing in the frame. I love to weld.
Remember-heads up, tails back, batteries full and from there the skies are yours.
< Message edited by flyachopper1 -- 5/3/2008 7:41:05 PM >
_____________________________
A helicopter is 40,000 loose parts flying in formation, beating the air into submission and scaring the ground away.
Posts: 253
Joined: 10/31/2007 From: North Platte,
NE, USA Status: offline
Helismith-There's no photo on that page about your nitro.
Niki called today and we made the deal on the radio. It should be on it's way to me Monday. Hope to have it by thursday. She's a cool lady. She was tickled to find out that Donica has her own heli. Thanks again Mike.
Spent the day out at the huge railroad yard here doing flyovers of the different parts of the yards with railroad executives from the Union Pacifics home office (Omaha) on board. I guess they wanted to survey their kingdom. I made four trips around the yards with three of them on board each trip. Seems kind of extravagant but who am I to care. They pay real well and I got to fly. They called at the last minute today so I didn't get to work on the truck either. Workin' sure gets in the way of my social life.
I didn't do a darn thing to any of the little helis today. By the time I got home I was ready to kick back with a Whopper and a coupla beers. Tonight I'm gonna watch a movie and hit the sack early.
Talked with Donica a little while ago on the phone and she says to say "hi ya". She's very tired tonight from all the chaos at the hospital and has gone to bed. She livened up a bit when I told her that her radio was on it's way.
See ya in the sky.
< Message edited by flyachopper1 -- 5/4/2008 5:55:23 AM >
_____________________________
A helicopter is 40,000 loose parts flying in formation, beating the air into submission and scaring the ground away.
Posts: 677
Joined: 11/1/2007 From: St Clair Shores, MI, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: flyachopper1
Flyinghigh-the 13 tooth should be ok with that motor for light 3D. Take it slow and don't try to burn a hole in the air. A 12 tooth would give you a little less head speed but slightly more torque. I'm using the 430L with the 13 tooth in my Raptor.
Had to edit this-I got the torque and headspeed backwards
Posts: 253
Joined: 10/31/2007 From: North Platte,
NE, USA Status: offline
Hey gyro gurus, Well now, it sounds like there is some nice flying weather all over the continent today. It's perfect here. 74 degrees, calm and my Raptor is all rebuilt and perfect. I took it out this morning and ran out four packs. Ooh-yah, felt good to have one of the little birds off the ground finally. No crashes, not even any close calls. I didn't do anything radical today. a few inverted hovers, but mostly a shakedown to get the feel of the changes I made this time. That persnickety little bird is flying better than ever. My T Rex is still on the bench but getting closer. I'm planning to get more done on it tonight and tomorrow. I have to go out and fly more railroad execs around today for awhile. They want to fly along the UP main lines west to observe some rework going on after a big derailment just inside the Wyoming border. That'll be more fun that flying circles over the yards here like yesterday. Can't complain though. I'm hearing from the railroad more and more and they have a lot of money to toss my way.
Okay there Patch-I'm jealous now. Some good flying there. A little hairy a few times in that wind though. That's the kind of conditions I was trying to fly my Raptor in the last time I fed it a dirt snack. I'm like you though. I'll keep trying until I can fly it in the wind too. Dang it anyway, gotta satisfy this addiction. If it crashes I'll just fix it again.
Time to go to ?work? for the railroad. Have a good day of flying and whatever else the nice weather makes you want to do.
_____________________________
A helicopter is 40,000 loose parts flying in formation, beating the air into submission and scaring the ground away.
Posts: 1522
Joined: 1/25/2007 From: Canyon Country, CA, USA Status: offline
Jay,
I think what you said was reasonable and not grumpy thanks for being cool about it. Yes Nikki is awesome I try not to drive her crazy by calling her too much. Yeah the mods took my photos down because I had HeliHobby on there too big. I edited them I am waiting to get them approved. I will work on the webpage a little and throw them on there.
Flyinghigh nice flying in that kind of wind. Way to save it and carry on a conversation.
I have a lot of stuff I am working on right now not a lot of time to chat.
Posts: 677
Joined: 11/1/2007 From: St Clair Shores, MI, USA Status: offline
HeliSmith and chopper 1,thanks for the replys and help with my pinion gear ect...When you guys/gals going to post some vids?I would really love to see everyones videos .
Posts: 1522
Joined: 1/25/2007 From: Canyon Country, CA, USA Status: offline
I need a decent camera. I will try to get some video next weekend of the Trex 600NSP I was just working through the break in and stuff so didn't even bring out the cheesy camera.
Posts: 253
Joined: 10/31/2007 From: North Platte,
NE, USA Status: offline
Hey you bunch of heads uppers, I've been getting questions on some other forums about how the controls in my black beauty compare to r/c helis and I though maybe you guys would like to see the comparisons. I love talking about this stuff and it might get to be long winded. I hope I don't wear out your paitience here.
When I first got my black beauty it had the standard controls. Pedals for the antitorque (rudder), a stick in the center of the pilots position for cyclic, a stick to the left for collective with a twist control for throttle. When I upgraded it was all changed to fly by wire with a computerized electro mechanical system (kinda like a giant servo set up but hydraulic instead of gear driven). Now there is a small joystick in front of the pilot for cyclic, two small joysticks on a center console on the right of the pilot for collective and throttle. The antitorque (rudder) control is mixed in the electro mechanical system when inputs are received from the cyclic control. This automatically allows for smooth turns with the tail following the nose around instead of the heli just pivoting around. The antitorque can be input separately if necessary by inputting from a thumb control on top of the joystick. This is used when one wants to pivot the heli without forward or backward movement. I use this a lot when landing and panning for video. There is a "trigger" on the front of the center joystick for trimming cyclic. Each pull on it trims the cyclic a tiny amount. Holding in the trigger centers the cyclic. Most of the time I have the throttle set on auto and it automatically maintains the rpms through the electro mechanical system. Unlike the r/c helis that use different rotor speeds for climbing, descending, and changing speed a real heli maintains a constant rotor speed and more or less power from the engine is applied by the electro mechanical system to maintain that rpm according to the pitch and cyclic inputs. Through my research on the new r/c nitros I'm learning that this is very similar to what the govenors on the nitro r/c's do. When they get these advanced enough they will relieve the pilot of needing to worry about the throttle and let him/her concentrate on the other controls better.
Here's a little something from rotorcraft dynamics that you can apply to your R/C birds. On any rotor system there is a delay between the point in rotation where a change in pitch is introduced by the flight controls and the point where the desired change is manifest in the rotor blade's flight. Sometimes termed gyroscopic precession but more appropriately referred to as phase lag, this delay is generally close to ninety degrees of rotor rotation. The delay is caused by the time it takes for the blade to change its flapping angle after the change in lift. Not a lot and hardly noticeable but if considered can prepare one for recovering from a bad situation quicker. You can see this effect when you roll your heli into inverted flight. If you observe carefully you will notice a minute delay in response between the input on the stick and the heli actually reacting. This will be even more noticeable when overshooting in a roll and the heli wants to keep rolling past inverted. Basically this doubles the phase lag as it occurs in the original input to roll and the reverse input to stop the roll. Almost like a rubbery feel in the controls. It's normal though and cannot be adjusted out. It's a law of physics and we're stuck with it.
I have been asked a hundred times if I have ever inverted my black beauty. I hope the FAA doesn't read this forum. I have done that twice and only over open country and close enough to an ambulance service. It's one of those things that you want to do somewhere along the way and I did. Scared the s..t out of me and the heli didn't like it either. Orientation takes all you've got doing that. I now know what fighter pilots have that is special and why not everyone can be one. I have only ever done a 360 degree loop once. Again over open country and at high altitude. Had my older brother (an airplane pilot) was with me that day and he bet me dinner I couldn't do it. Scared the s..t out of both of us. I don't think I'll be doing those again anytime soon.
Whoa-gonna stop here,Ok? Like I said, I love talking about this stuff. I've done this with Donica a few times and she gives me that deer in the headlights look. I got the "hands on hips and frown" when I told her about the aerobatics.
Only 528 more lessons and you guys can test for your solo flight .
Now that I've drained the LiPo in my head I need to sleep. Gotta fly more power lines tomorrow and best be alert.
Remember, in this crowd when someone calls you an air head it's a compliment.
_____________________________
A helicopter is 40,000 loose parts flying in formation, beating the air into submission and scaring the ground away.
Posts: 1522
Joined: 1/25/2007 From: Canyon Country, CA, USA Status: offline
Jay,
First if you can see the delay in my 450 at 3200RPM you are way better than I! That is good information all the same as I am commonly setting up lower head speed birds for HeliHobby.
Second thanks very much for the run down on the real heli that was cool stuff.
Third anytime you are doing stuff that you feel the need to be close to a medical response you can pretty much count on that being a very bad decission.
Posts: 253
Joined: 10/31/2007 From: North Platte,
NE, USA Status: offline
Helismith, Once you are so familiar with your heli that most of your inputs are muscle memory you may or may not start noticing the minute delays. If not, it's not vital to flying the little helis. I don't run the headspeeds you do either (yet). Maybe I just think I notice the delays because I do when flying the black beauty and I'm expecting it. More feeling them than seeing them and it's different when your butt is attatched to the machine. You tend to notice more then. This is something that is taught in rotorcraft training so that when you do notice it doesn't freak you out and cause a bad reaction. May be useless info for r/c flyers but it's just a point of interest I thought some might like to know. I have an analytical mind and have a need to know the physics of my machines.
The 'ambulance' part was a joke. And, I have a machine that is capable of doing what I did. Like most anyone else, if you have a hot rod you tend to "get on it" occasionally. Kinda like doing a wheelie on your Harley or trying to fly your r/c in too much wind. You know it's not something you do if it endangers anyone else but you sneak one or two in when you're out for a ride and no one is looking. Where I did those manuevers was over flat open ground and didn't endanger anyone but myself. The 360 loop isn't a very dangerous manuever, just thrilling. Besides, no adventure is boring. I know you only mean to promote safety and I admire that. Let me state here that no one should ever endanger others flying any kind of aircraft, r/c or 'full scale'. I would never do anything like that with Donica or other passengers on board. The case with my brother was an agreement between us and he isn't new to aerobatics. He has thrilled me several times in his plane. We share these things and know the risks. Mike, I really do admire your concern and thank you for it.
Got a call from Mick at USHobby today and we straightened out the order on the aluminum cases. He wasn't aware that the shipping people only sent one and I should have my second case in a week or so. Nice guy, cares about heli flyers and I will be buying from him again. He stocks all the Copter X stuff and will be my source for Donicas parts.
It's now 12 noon, the wind has stopped, it's approaching 72 degrees and it's time to go grab a lunch and head out to fly the Raptor. Taking it out to my sisters place in the country today to 'show it off' to her and her husband. I know I'll get an invite to stay for dinner and I can't pass up my sister's cookin'.
Here's a video that's fun to watch. Those Red Bull pilots are the best in the world and do some amazing things. Their helis are the best available too and run tons more power than mine does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGu45s1_QPU
Se ya later aviators.
< Message edited by flyachopper1 -- 5/5/2008 7:22:34 PM >
_____________________________
A helicopter is 40,000 loose parts flying in formation, beating the air into submission and scaring the ground away.
I am so happy with this heli but my tail did turn on me inflgiht Saturday. It piro'd fast out of control so I hit thold and did a great auto right up until about 2' off the ground then it just plopped down on the skids. I broke a skid, boom, flybar and front torque gear. Not a scratch on the rest of the heli thankfully.
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All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> T-Rex heli >> RE: Official T-rex 450 XL SE Thread 
RE: Offi... - 
). I appreciate all your help on this. I owe ya two steaks now. 
. 
Yeah the mods took my photos down because I had HeliHobby on there too big. I edited them I am waiting to get them approved. I will work on the webpage a little and throw them on there. 
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