If it's not too cold and the wind stays under 12mph I plan on putting the AeroStar .40 up tomorrow. That cold blooded OS .40FP, I'll have to start the plane in the house and carry it running to the field....not kidding, that engine HATES cold (LOL). I should get off my hind end and buy an electric starter for it....then I got to carry a box with a 12v battery out there...jeebus.

Jay,

Never a problem, you know that. Me too, hope Vic is right with the weather. Zero wind would be better. In any case, just use good judgement, I'd hate to see you crash a great bird like that. (Patience is a virture)

Bless ya,

Dave

LOL VIC

I hear Ya. I usually don't push things but we all know how excited you can get when you just want to go play

I agree with Dave...that's one beautiful plane...go easy.

Of coarse... if I stuff it, it sure would make a beautiful pile of balsa wood. It's E-flite's new ARF. Not much time into it, more time into cutting out the "44" and "SIXSHOOTER" than putting it together. It was not manufactured well, first run so I guess I can't blame them. I almost changed the name to "SIXPACK"

Yeah.....I'm kinda wondering if I'm gonna stuff the .40, I had to do some flight control adjusts after the last flight to zero the ailerons on the trim. I've built TWO of these things in my life. The first one I learned on. This is my second and I've had it since the early 90's. The weird part is...the second one has exactly the same characteristics as the first. I don't know if its how I built it, or the design but if the ailerons are physically zero on the wing...it rolls right. The bad part is...I checked everything and it's square and true. The first one did exactly the same thing. Might be a lateral balance thing...never checked that on either plane. Got to say that for a trainer...easy to fly, easy to fix if you stuff it. The fuse is 90% micro-ply. Wing is a little more complicated though and joined with spruce spars and fiberglass cloth. It's a flying TANK.

You might have it on the lat balance. Another thing is putting wash-out in the wing tips, this might help equalize the wing. If all else fails, put some heat on the left wing and twist the leading edge down a bit and off-set the roll.

Another thing I thought of... if you put it into a climb over 45 degrees does it want to yaw right? If it does trim the rudder.

Just trying to brain storm with ya

It's just one of those things (LOL). It flies fine but no mechanical zero on the ailerons. I'll mess with it when it's better outside. Wind isn't bad...but it's snowing pretty decient and I'm not going out in it unless I have to.

the wind has me grounded today, guess it's a sign to watch the NFL playoff games!

oh yeah and get some stuff done around the house

I'm with Jeremy, watching the Indy Colts playin'. We're winning right now, 7 to zip. Snowing here too. Got the batteries on charge for later. Doubt if I'll do anything around the house though.
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One outside flight today....wind isn't real bad but the ole hands got cold quick so I quit before the battery did. If the wind drops to zero...I'll go back out. Winds upstairs about 8-10mph, maybe 4-6mph at ground level which wasn't terrible. Some of the gusts were a little un-nerving though when the heli ballooned from 6ft to about 30ft in a few seconds. No planks today...just to cold to stand in the field for 20-25 minuets of flight (I have a large capacity fuel tank in the AeroStar.40). It's about 2-1/2 times bigger than the tank that come with it so I could extend actual flight time to 30 minuets...it worked.

Checkin' In:

Well, the Colts lost, 28 to 24, was a tuff game. Just spent about 1/2 hour or so on the HBK2 doing some PM. Off to the flying arena.

I couldn't believe the Colts lost that one, if my son had shook my hand he would have had $5. Just didn't go their way, kinda like the weather today. I did have a lot of progress on a super lite 3D of my own design. I glued the whole fuse together and now I'm working on the wing. It's nothing special, just something to keep my hands busy. I'll post some pics as it starts to come together.

God Bless Ya'll,

Jay

Yeah....would like pics very much. Been having main drive gear and pinion problems....think I got that whipped. Running 10T and I HATE it...needs to be 11T. Another problem (Arrow can relate to this). The DX6 TX battery leaves a little to be desired (LMAO). After about 3-5 flights...shes down. I found 8 Ni-Cd brand new with a Tamya connector on it but wrong configuration. I just spent the better part of 3 hours building another TX battery for the DX6. Happy to say....."works good, I hope it lasts a long time". I have no idea the mAh of these batteries, but they powered an R/C tank I no longer have, and they NEVER saw a lot of use. HOPEFULLY...they will last longer than the stock TX batteries. I now have both sets on chargers. Each battery has a male futaba plug, the TX has a female Futaba plug for compatability and I can change TX batteries in seconds. I even did it tonight...leave the TX running and forget about it until the alarm goes off (I do that a lot for some reason). NOW...I have a backup TX battery. If I fly all 4 of my packs through the heli.... the TX battery is done for a couple hours. Hopefully...this will solve the TX battery problem to a degree. Having the EP Glider and two heli's on one radio can be taxing on the TX battery.

Checkin In:

TIP of the DAY:

Haven't done this in along time, you guys are getting to smart for me. That's what this thread is for, to inform everyone of there experiences and pass them on.

Anyway, you know those tiny little nuts that are on the bottom of the blade grips, for installing blades. And what a pain they can be, getting them in there and falling out before you can get the screw in.

Well, my cure for that is to CA them ba$tards in there. Just a drop in the grip and put the nut in. Let it cure overnight.

Pics don't show me putting the CA in the grip, but all you smart guys know what I mean.

Dave

Jay,

It was heart breaking for me that the Colts lost, been following them for many, many years. Like Vic, said, get some pictures to us on the Super Lite 3D. I hear ya on keeping the hands busy, I'm like that too, don't know when to put it down. Hardly ever watch TV, usually it sucks anyway. Don't watch the News on TV or read the paper.. Tooooo, much negitive crap.

(I think pictures should be mandatory)

Jay, God Bless ya
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Man 1200 miles from home, left the wet, windy and snowy weather to sunny and warm 72 degree flying weather. Just got back from L.A for a few days, and it was around 77 degrees ! Now I see how Jeremy gets more flying time in living in Northridge...! Not fair... Lol.. Kelly loves the sun to. I think I'am staying for a few months. Spent the day getting the birds and batts ready for some flight. Haven't flown anything for 10 days ! Hope I didn't get to rusty with the sticks... Now maybe I can fly without my thumbs being frozen...! I'll be thinkin' of you guys while I'am sippin' margaritas and enjoying some good flying weather. With the exception of Lookyj of course, this is his territory and lucky to have a warm place to fly...! It is January right ?! Cause it feels like July weather in Washington. Excited to get serious now for some stick time. It took me forever to catch-up on the posts... Lol..

Take care gents,


-- Jeff

Choppers - ha!! Bought a day late on the tip. Gonna do it tomorrow. I was changing out the motor on the HBKII and took the blades off to make it easier. Just like the CP Pro, I had one nut that was constantly loose and the other was tight. Well this time the tight one fell out when I wasn't looking and when I got it all back together I couldn't find it - grounded by a nut. Then I remembered the other post about forgetting all that I had ordered and I was lucky enough to find the spare hardware kit I had ordered quite a while back. Found a nut and am back in the air. I will glue that sucker in next time I strip it down. TX.

January 15th Exciting day ! my TWO training machines have now been put together
and serious HELI training will begin, given time, weather, Guru availability and all the
other variables the regulate my busy life.
Here is a picture of the Raptor and the TREX that just arrived from Cali, from the tender
mercies of LOOKYJ.

I have hopped the RAPTOR for a couple of minutes. I find that it's Do-Able, albeit QUITE
different from the small electrics. Have no idea yet what the TREX is about, but will begin
to transfer the PROGRAMMING received from Jeremy.

What a DAY !

LOOKYJ look for your EMAIL

RICK

p.s. it's been DEAD CALM all week, temp in the 60s and mid 70s, great weather, but right now
a wet front is going through and we will have RAIN almost through the week-end. Hope to fly
the RAPTOR on the week-end and will take the CAMCORDER to register that.

Had a few minutes to hover the Trex today... Noticed a little tail bob going on. Never had that happen yet. On the 14th run with the battery so far since I have had it ready for flight a month or so ago. Anyone know on a tail belt heli what can cause the bobbing action ? To loose of a belt maybe ? Can't remember what few things can contribute to this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated... It was windy when I was hovering it outside, more than what I should be flying in, but after work I had the bug to burn a pack and couldn't resist. Hovered the CPP also, and the darn wind just about took it away ! Hit idle up and gained control however. Still a lot of fun but I think I'll wait next time for a calmer day.

-- Jeff

Rick,

So glad you're having such a wonderful day. Great Pictures of your helis. You lucky dog you, perfect weather for the weekend. Here in Indianapolis, Saturday night it'll be about Zero degrees.

Gotta break out the Long Johns, I have to work this Saturday. [sm=cry_smile.gif][sm=cry_smile.gif]

Take care and have fun,

Dave
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J-MICHAEL,

Belt tension normally won't cause tail bobin', however, it can if the tail boom is bent. (Caused by the belt slapping the boom inside, usually you can't even hear it, been down that road.)

Normally, tail bob comes from a bent spindle/feathering shaft or blade grips to tight, or needing of a dash of lubrication. DON'T forget to do preventive maintenace on your heli, if you don't it can get ya, everytime.

OH, if your tracking or blade balance is WAY-WAY out of wack, it can cause some weird phenomenons. That's for starters, I'm sure it's in the rotor head some where. Make sure all the linkages in the head are secured and one hasn't popped off un-noticed.

Dave
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Cltmte,

I have to HA!! ya back. Many months ago, I was changing blades on my HBK2, and the tiny little nut fell in the Brushless motor. I couldn't see the nut, I couldn't shake it out. I ended up, tossing it in the garbage and getting another motor. Since, that mishap, I always put a couple hunks of masking tape over the openings in the motor. Oh, BTW, it's a 3800kv brushless with ports on top of the motor. CA'ing those tiny little nuts in place, just makes maintenance and changing blades a dream. [8D]

Hmm, that could have been a TIP of the DAY: [sm=75_75.gif]

See the pictures..

Dave
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Dave--

Thanks for the info. It just threw me off, as the Trex never has been in a crash yet (Knock on wood...lol..!) And the last 12 flights in Washington were solid with no bobbing. I'll experiment tommorow if time permits and see what becomes of it. I'am wondering if the intense wind was somehow slowing the head speed down and causing the bobbing action. But unlikely in my mind as I'am guessing the Trex should be able to slice through with no problems. I should have tried idle up to see if the head speed changed anything, but didn't cross my mind. Did a search on the Trex forum and came up with what you just provided me, and having a low head speed with to much pitch. But again, nothing has changed since its last flights and never had the bobbing action. Hmmmm, the joys of troubleshooting... Always keeps the mind thinking... And I love it...Lol.. All the reasons why I quit the RC-Cars, and moved to the Heli's. The challenge I yearn for. [8D]

Glad to see everyone's doing good. Got to go eat some dinner... Been a long day at work.

Take care Chief,


-- Jeff