RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics  
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: td5281
  Printable Version
       



All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> E-Flite Helicopters >> RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics
Page: <<   < prev  4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 11 12 13   next >   >>  

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/11/2008 12:54:54 PM   
shufflez



Posts: 458
Joined: 8/18/2007
From: Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
Status: offline 		So, a little less conversation, a bit more action ;

After announcing it several times before, here is (finally!) my first HDX450v3 single rotor video. It was the second flight after several set-up/configuration spool-ups only! I've added some comments to myself so you'll know what i was doing/thinking .
It's filmed with my photocamera, hence the quality. I'll be editting the video from my proper camera soon.

Here goes nothing : http://www.youtube.com/ShufflezNL.

Edit: Some pictures:
Pic1; Holiday survival pack
Pic2; Grass cutters (from take-off and landing)
Pic3; In flight
Pic4; Heading towards pool (didnt dare going over the water )
Pic5; Getting some altitude
Pic6; Tropical trees in Southern France!

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


< Message edited by shufflez -- 1/11/2008 4:38:56 PM >

_____________________________

Be like a CX2 blade; flexible as wax, sharp as a razorblade.

(in reply to xyster101)
       Post #: 126

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/11/2008 5:36:43 PM   
shufflez



Posts: 458
Joined: 8/18/2007
From: Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
Status: offline 		Some links for you guys (Scale Edge! and maybe helps Solo overcome single rotor issues? );

Dual Rotor T-Rex (TwinRex) - Dev. page
Dual Rotor T-Rex documentation
Dual Rotor Control Unit manual

Two scale T-Rex fuselages

2-Blades Flybarless T-Rex 450
Dr. Tungym's flybarless mod
Tri-blade rotorhead (no flybar!)

CSM Flybarless T-Rex 600
Flybarless T-Rex 600

_____________________________

Be like a CX2 blade; flexible as wax, sharp as a razorblade.

(in reply to shufflez)
       Post #: 127

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/11/2008 7:31:14 PM   
Wolfpackin


 

Posts: 968
Joined: 6/4/2007
From: Avon, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Ahhh, so that's what Amsterdam is like...looks like California.

(in reply to shufflez)
       Post #: 128

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/11/2008 8:46:43 PM   
BryFlyGuy67



Posts: 1507
Joined: 8/27/2007
From: Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Cool pix! I'll have to watch the video when I get home.

Man, having that gyro on top scares me, though... Any way to mount it underneath?

_____________________________

Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price. -Amelia Earhart
2 CX2s, Walkera 4, TREX SE V

(in reply to Wolfpackin)
       Post #: 129

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/11/2008 10:37:33 PM   
xyster101


 

Posts: 749
Joined: 8/7/2007
From: Marysville, OH, USA
Status: offline 		That twin rotor jobbie is SWEET!! I do not quite understand how they get it to turn left and right. Does each rotor angle in the opposite direction? For example to turn right the front rotor tilts right and the rear tilts left?
Can you get blade strike with this set up? I know the blades do flex, but how far?

(in reply to BryFlyGuy67)
       Post #: 130

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/11/2008 11:59:33 PM   
shufflez



Posts: 458
Joined: 8/18/2007
From: Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
Status: offline 		Wolfpacking; That's actually in southern France . Pretty close to Cannes, Marseille, Nice, that area. Amsterdam around this time a year is cold (around freezing, but no snow and ice ), drippy, rainy, windy and grey... If Amsterdam was like this and i had such garden, view and pool i would never have to go on holiday!

Bry; Thanks for the compliment! It might seem scary indeed, but haven't yet found a way to properly mount it on a flat surface underneath the tailboom. Gyro has an alloy-casing too And i'm not yet flying that aggresive to have the blades flex that far (flying carbon now). With the plastic blades (the stickers to cover the wholes were wrong way around) i'd probably have way more flexing going on and really have reason to be scared? Have to redo tailsetup soon anyway, due to the big *ss tailservo the CG is pretty far back. Although i don't have to trim it that much. I'll take a pic of the balance. Do you have some close-ups on how you've mounted your gyro and tailservo?

xyster; Here's a video: http://www.tech-mp2.com/Twinn_Rexx/TW-1_LQ.wmv. They have a special controller (TH-2 i believe) to combine and extract the TX-signals for the rotorheads. If you mean yaw, the pivot-point is around it's CG, which should be/is in the middle of both rotors. I would have guessed they rotate it the same as the CX2 does, but that's not possible as it's direct drive for both heads. So indeed, it probably moves due to opposite rotor action (which will clarify the pivot point). Blades striking eachother would seem hard cause probably when you set it up, you probably configure the front to be somewhat 'vertical' and rear to be kinda 'horizontal' and again since it's direct drive, both rotorheads always (should) have the same speed, thus blades always have some degrees (depending on setup) of clearance from eachother. (Blades probably only flex up-down). Hitting the frame is probably a possibilty, as is hitting the tailboom with a single rotor, but only with too much collective and way flexible blades.

Edit: I see they have some pictures where both heads/rotors are parallel, so i guess that would cause blade-clack havok Nothing like we CX2 fliers have ever experienced before Or maybe someone can explain us why it wouldnt .

Edit 2: Here's a thread from one of the builders: http://www.thetrexforums.com/index.php?topic=1465

< Message edited by shufflez -- 1/12/2008 12:43:48 AM >

_____________________________

Be like a CX2 blade; flexible as wax, sharp as a razorblade.

(in reply to Wolfpackin)
       Post #: 131

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/12/2008 12:33:39 AM   
soloboss


 

Posts: 1637
Joined: 9/17/2006
From: Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Status: offline 		Good video - and we even got a peek at what the real Shufflez looks like. A bonus!
Part way through the video I wasn't sure whether or not you were moving the heli around so we would know that we were watching a movie, then the heli moved off stage left and you commented "Get back here" and then I knew. I appreciate knowing that even the larger helis are really good - but not perfect. I need an occasional reality check.

So I'm jealous again. Great Heli, great Tx (seems to be no worse for the wear), nice place in Southern France. Not a bad deal at all. Glad you had a good holiday break with a little flight time. Your winter weather is too much like mine for me to get really excited about Amsterdam in the winter.

I'm finally making headway with the Falcon. I suppose that I could do a better job with a more sophisticated machine. Actually if I had any one of the several advantages of your heli I suspect that I would do better. If I never had to break directional concentration to correct the tail, that would be an advantage. If the heli would hold altitude without constant nurturing, if the stability was more constant with rotorwash present - heck, it's no wonder those of us with fp helis are growing our skills despite the frustration. It is all about stick time so matter what we work with. It's just sooooo good to finally feel like someone besides Michael is gaining from my adventure.

_____________________________

Soloboss
If everyone''s thinking alike, then somebody isn''t thinking. George Patton

(in reply to shufflez)
       Post #: 132

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/12/2008 1:05:12 AM   
shufflez



Posts: 458
Joined: 8/18/2007
From: Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
Status: offline 		Hahaha, i wouldn't know if i'd call that a bonus, but i'll take it as a compliment! (Have short hair again, if your interested ).
The HDX flies amazing, it's really stable. As you've said several times before, most of the time it's the pilot messing up. The 'get back here' part was where i lost focus for just a split-second and then it drifted of in the last input direction (of course) . The heli is almost perfect for me, indeed really good, it's the pilot in me that needs to get to that same level too!

Jealousy is sometimes a good thing, it keeps you going further right? I'm jealous of your (previous) motorbikes in a 'I gotta get me one of those!' manor too! Maybe with patience and time it'll come. Time will tell and we all need to have a goal/target. (I think you'd have a wonderful time riding around in France btw. You'll find roads an American (no offense) would never have thought off ). Winter in Amsterdam can be beautiful, but 80% of the time it's *ish*...

Good to hear you're making progress on the Falcon! So all the time in redoing setup, checking and double checking, replacing servo('s?) etc is starting to pay off?! Can you replace the gyro on your Falcon for a 'better' one, lets say a head-holding one? (BTW, i wasn't flying in heading hold, it's the mostly the setup and partly me keeping it tail-in. As i said, need to rework the tail and gyro setup for HH to work better) Mine has some (albeit really slight) altitude holding issues as well, but i've yet to figure out if that's my jittery left thumb working on the tail or it's something else. Or maybe it's just part of the deal . (My CX2 will never hold altitude well either)

It saved me lots of aggrevation flying in an area (the outdoors video) where rotorwash was 'nullified'. I've flown in the same location as the first video last week and the wash from the tables, walls and cabinets made it a whole different flying experience. It keeps amazing me how much wind/wash is generated! You'll probably fly the Falcon like a pro if you fly in an indoor sports area or so! At least you're probably going to have a way better starting point than i did switching to CP . And it seems you have the ability to sit down, be patient, think things over, re-work, reconfigure, set-up, check and check again... Which i'm lacking quite a bit . Let's call that 'YUI' = Young Urban Ignorance/Impatience .

_____________________________

Be like a CX2 blade; flexible as wax, sharp as a razorblade.

(in reply to soloboss)
       Post #: 133

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/12/2008 2:19:41 AM   
RMG2


 

Posts: 667
Joined: 8/13/2004
From: Private, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Soloboss, thank you for this thread. I am right behind where you are with progression to the next level. I have learned more from you and your post then any other during my short time in this new hobby. I'm following right along with your threads and putting valuable information to memory for my jump to a single rotor.

Keep posting with regard to your learning the single rotor as your threads are helping a good many of us beginners.

(in reply to shufflez)
       Post #: 134

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/12/2008 2:46:06 AM   
soloboss


 

Posts: 1637
Joined: 9/17/2006
From: Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Status: offline 		Shufflez,
Even with the known stability issues of a fixed pitch machine, I believe like you that it's the pilot providing the most variable performance. As I work on the sim I'm finding that my training if teaching me one particular fundamental movement. I used to fly with my thumbs on the tops of the control sticks. I've learned that thumbs do not move in a straight line. Thus, when I need to correct the tail my left thumb also moves a bit forward or back. That's why the heli gains or looses altitude when I correct the tail. And the tail looses registration when I change altitude. Of course my right thumb does the same. I find that by hooking a finger around the stick with my thumb on top, I gain some control improvement. As a test of my suspected movement, I went into the calibration section of the sim. If I had the movement that I need, I would be able to work each of the four cursors in a linear movement without disturbing the other axis of that stick. Just as I suspected. Every movement comes with a little bit of movement in the other axis. I'll try a lanyard on the Tx next. Perhaps I am loosing control due to my need to hold the Tx as I fly.

HH gyro: I believe that the change can be done. If I could recoup the improvements to my Falcon when I sell it I'd make improvements. Perhaps if I could turn this into a super trainer it would have increased market value. As things are now, I need to improve my stupid human dynamics and save for the next heli. I do like the size of the HBK2. That heli also comes in a Carbon version with CF airframe and full alloy, brushless upgrade. The price goes up about $150 over the HBK2 brushless. I suppose that's not a bad deal, but I have not heard that the upgrade really adds a lot to the package. Well it certainly adds a load of cool factor. And just the alloy upgrade costs about $150 so the carbon airframe is free. Oddly, the Carbon version weighs an additional 30g, or perhaps that's the move to a 1500 mah pack.

As it stands now, with all that I have learned on this thread over the past weeks, I'lls stay with the Falcon 40 a while longer unless Stump3r wins the lottery. Then I get a new Trex with a DX7 from his winnings. . I really don't see a need to trash a higher grade heli. I'll just keep working with this. My next task is to remove weight by fitting Blade CP landing gear. Then I'll trim blades for >rotor speed and use the stock Blade CP 9.6v packs for added horsepower. I'm sure there is potential in these FP helis, just as I found potential in the CX that reached far beyond the design envelope. There's nothing like a long cold winter and a little cabin fever to bring out the best in a designer. And a friend has a new micro CNC that he wants to try out, so I'm going to develop a blade stiffener for the Falcon.

It's getting late again. Where does the time go?
Keep us posted as your learn the HDX.
Mark (aka - Soloboss)

_____________________________

Soloboss
If everyone''s thinking alike, then somebody isn''t thinking. George Patton

(in reply to shufflez)
       Post #: 135

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/12/2008 2:52:58 AM   
soloboss


 

Posts: 1637
Joined: 9/17/2006
From: Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Status: offline 		RMG2,
This thread has turned out to be a goldmine! I started a word document that I just save on my desktop. As I find each post with really good information, I copy it and paste it into the document. I'm getting a lot of good setup information. Most of it is "stolen" but some of it is my own personal take on what works for me.
As I did with the CX setup paper, I'll just keep collecting information and experimenting and posting the results.

This forum continues to be the best I've ever seen. Thanks to all of you 'wise guys'.

We are all Teachers.
We area all Students.
We are the Collective.
You will be assimilated.

Soloboss

_____________________________

Soloboss
If everyone''s thinking alike, then somebody isn''t thinking. George Patton

(in reply to RMG2)
       Post #: 136

RE: Struggling with Single Rotor basics - 1/12/2008 3:15:02 AM