Vic ~

Yeah thanks for the tips... I really only know what I experience, so I read what ya wrote over and over ! I can see I need to work on them landings... Lol.. I'am glad I got this foamy for learning, I don't want to learn on the Funtana X since it's a balsa jobber, and I don't have the time right now on mono-kote repairs and such...

Anyway, good plane for $229.00 at the LHS RTF... Has the same esc as the Blade 400 25a E-Flite... And a brushless 400 size motor with heatsink. I'am very tempted to put this Castle Creations 45 amper I have here in it, and just order another one for the Funtana...I wanna chop some funky air, and I bet that CC 45 will be the ticket... I need to get an AR6100 or AR6200 for it so I can bind it to my DX-7. I'd feel better...Lol.. That will be fun trying to figure out programming for a plane...

Anyway, go get cha' one and be young again ol' timer...!! It makes for good carrier landings up here on top of the little plateau...

Have a good one,


~ Jeff

When you're ready to put the plane in the DX7, let me know and I'll help you (it's pretty much a no-brainer), you be amazed how easy it is to program a plane in it. I did notice your landing area is "confined", maybe you ought to run some silicon tubing across the flight deck and put a tail hook on that thing (LMAO).

Remember the spider thing? The spider I caught and killed is a "Brown Recluse". They can even defeat a black widow. In addition to that, their bite if left untreated causes the flesh to rot beginning where the bite was at, medical attention and anti-biotics are required. They are a NASTY little spider with a nasty attitude. These nastly little creatures are prominate in the central and south central US but are migrating NORTH as the climate changes and we stay warmer longer. What makes them dangerous besides the nasty venom is the fact they are a "house spider". DEATH TO THE BROWN RECLUSE!!!

Jeff, very nice flying! You did 2 #d maneuvers already on the maiden flight! You had her in a nice hover there twice and you made the slow pass at a high angle of attack, ( harrier ). That was awesome man, congrats on the successful maiden. Keep it up

Vic, a Brown Recluse? I didn't even know we had those here. I'm going to see what they look like and check tonight if they're hanging out on my house. I get the worse spiders all over the side of my house at night. I spray the front but I leave the back because of the dogs.

That Decathlon is one sweet looking machine, Jim[8D] Man... smoke and all. I'd love to have a smoker sometime but right now it's a electric and seeing smoke is a bad sign[X(] I've been off and on work for a good month and a half so it gives me plenty of time to get out and fly. Yesterday I worked for 2 hours, went flying for 2 hours, and back to work in the afternoon to coat more drywall. Next week it's back to work full time though, steel stud framing.

I got an email showing my servos, extensions, and XPD-8 will be here today. It's Christmas again

God Bless Y'all,

Jay

Jay...Brown Recluse is listed at the Michigan DNR website. In the case of small children and short haired animals...it's bite can be fatal in a short time....little ba$tards. I've bombed twice for a total of 6 canisters and this thing still showed up. Wheeeeeeeeee........rotten little spiders that don't like to die (LOL).

Thanks guys.....Hey Vic...We have those in Washington State also, but not in great numbers. When I was about 18 (20 years ago) my grandpa got bit by the brown recluse, and he was terribly sick. Luckily for him he came out of it o.k. I've never seen any however, but then again really haven't paid attention to what they look like. So I did have to go back and study yer picture...Lol.. My philosophy is just kill em' all.

Off work early today...Suppose to be 105 degrees. My esc's hate it !

Take care all,


~ Jeff

The only good spiders are the DEAD ones. 105deg eh.....we'll be lucky if we break 75 today. Just rode the moped downtown for automotive pinstripe tape (2 miles). Got a little chilled doing 35mph.

Jay, for your funky servo, do you have a servo tester? Little pot. that you wire in it let's you go through the servos movement independently. I think I payed $5 for mine. Handy for set up as well, you can ceter the servo without setting up any radio gear.

Good to see everyone is frisky as ever.

Tim

Ray 'ere,
I played with the 400 for a while last eve after talking to you.
I don't think the chirping sound may be electrical although I have been known to be rong.
The chirp is accompanied by a clockwise twitch of the tail so I'm thinking it is mechanical.
I disconnected the servo push rods and moved the swash up and down and noticed a bit of a hangup and after a close look I think the washout base is trying to bind as it gets to the point where the slot fully covers the guide pins.
I know it's a lousy description but long and short of it is I believe the washout slide pins may be out of kilter.
When I built the Rex, during the setup process I was advised to minimize the clearance between top of the washout slider and the base of the head hub assembly at full upward travel of the swashplate.
The setup of the 400 presents a clearance of just over a millimeter and I'm thinkin' that may be excessive....whatcha think...?
Anyway, I'm doing further dismembering this eve. Sure would like to find a decent CNC hub and washout system to replace the stock plastic items.
She's still a good bird and too young to be retired so I'm going to fix her up.
I'll keep you posted.
Oh, one more thing....:
Some time ago did I see a mention of a helicopter where one could set up the tail rotor drive completely before installing it into the body or was I dreaming...?
Ray

He's right Jay (LMAO)....but I don't have one either.

Hey Tim
Where did you get your servo tester? Sounds really good. Ron

I'm flying a stock Blade CP with the original radio. I have recently replaced the main shaft and the spline, blades are balanced and tracking perfectly, servo movement looks good. But since I have changed those parts instead of lifting of the ground she'll just tilt off to the right side. After the first time it did this I put some left trim in (not a lot), spun the blades up and she tilted to the left side! I have checked the servo movement with the motor disconnected and I'm getting the proper pitch and paddle movement.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

It really sounds like a bad servo, and I know you checked that...wish I could help, but I can't fix what I can't see.

Here's a link to the servo tester widget. I do not think I paid $12 for it, but I also think that it is not overpriced. http://www.hobby-wing.com/e-sky-serv...-ek2-0907.html

Ron, did you see the SSX? I will try for finished pic's tonight.

I'm at final radio set for the SSX, theoretically a 30 minute operation. Pic's to follow.

Tim

That was the first thing that came to my mind when I read that was a bad servo. I would re-check em, even brace the heli and trying the test under load also... Also back to the beginning, just make sure your swash is level, and no binding anywhere. Make sure your Bell Mixer Arm screws aren't in to tight. I like to use Tri-Flow and lubricate all moving parts, even some gun oil works great also.

But anyway, it sure sounds like a bad servo.... Be cautious as they will fool ya some times !

Good luck, keep us informed... Any pics or vid of your prob would help tremendously...


~ Jeff

Binding crossed my mind, but servo probs are pretty elusive...especially if he's running the S-75's. Those are digital, and weak...go bad quickly. NOW....a bad motor drawing from the 4-1 even though it looks and sounds OK is possible too, be it tail motor or main motor being bad, it can overdraw and cause servo probs, even burning a digital servo up. Had to put my Blade CP thinking cap on for a minuet.

Was the new shaft the exact replacement and not any longer? I'm thinking sticky swash as well. Do what Jeff says and hold it down and spool her up and see what kind of load it has and watch the servos. The Blade skids aren't held on very securely so protect your eyes with a set of safety glasses, I HIGHLY recommend that. One oops and you could be hurt pretty bad even by these small heli's[]

What was the reason for the change out, I'm assuming crash?

I hope you find the problem.

God Bless!

Jay

"What was the reason for the change out, I'm assuming crash? "


hey....I didn't tell him to do it (LOL). Good info though....you gotta watch 'er close to catch the problem, but above all BE SAFE.

LMAO Jeff, that video of that seagull stealing a bag of chips is absolutely hilarious!

Just checking in with the cpp click & decided to share a funny flight report. I haven't flown my cpp in several months, and decided to take it out front today. Everything was going fine until I brought her in to a low hover over the lawn to try and trim a few pieces of crabgrass that were sticking up 2' high. After the blades striked the first piece of grass, i was caught off guard when she yawed 90degrees and started to wobble badly. Before I could recover, she wandered down into the dense stuff and the crabgrass basically sucked in to the ground ike a shopvac picking up lint. The site was ugly; there was tangled grass wrapped around both rotors and grass stains all over the blades; kind of like my weed wacker looks some times. Anyhow, I spent the past 1/2 hour R&Ring the main gear and blades and the finishing pre-flight tests.

It was hard to believe this happened, since I have cut regular grass (kentucky blue, fescue??? ) with the blades many times before without problems. I checked out those long peices of crabgrass in my lawn and was sort of surprised to find they are very stiff and strong... like a McDonalds straw! LOL, I really need to find some time to mow the lawn.

The lesson here is: don't let your small heli battle with crabgrass; the crabgrass will always win.

kev

Tim ~

Yeah thanks for the website for the servo tester. I bookmarked it with the other thousand or so...Lol.. I liked the digital one for 15.00...


Kev ~

Funny you tell that story about the blade cutting the grass...Lol.. I've never done it with my CPP, but with my Trex I have, hovering down to the tall grass that's dead and thin and wisping the top's. Currently, I'am just down south from you by Pismo beach area. Lots of dead grass for cutting around here !


Here's something that could be more common than one thinks....! (Pic below)

LOL....nice landing with the plane. I got a hard tall weed that has blueish flowers....gotta watch those things. They'll knock chunks out of the tail rotor, and they will bring you down if you get into them. Even mowing...they still stand right back up after you're done although a little shredded here and there, and I got new blades on my mower.

That was me ray........... I have a Century Swift 16. The tail section is removable by only taking out 4 bolts and disconnecting the gyro wire from the RX. It will not fly with the tail removed........... not that I have tried it but maybe soon.Finless has an excellent setup vid on it and it really was quite fun to discover the innovations the different manufacturers have. For a .30 size heli it really has its own set of issues............crash would have a blast with this one trying to dial it in. I have so far just hovered it and watched it glitch regardless of FM TX/RX or 2.4GhZ so have set it up on a shelf and left it be. I am guessing the UBEC and the motor or ESC are not playing nice together so will be deciding if maybe a seperate RX battery and farther placement away from noise (aka Mars radio signals) will fix it or if I need to install all the new bearings i bought for it.
The sound it makes when lifting off are just short of the real thing............ If i could ever get it to behave it will be a major sphincter tightening ride! On that i will keep you guys posted as winter settles in. Falltime is catchup time for all the jobs I promised to do in the spring.......hours are long and pay is short but it is honest and dirty work.........heh.

Vic, the Corsair is built and ready to maiden........ I am nervous but eager!
Dave......... Jacki says Hi and she is actually smiling again!

Jeff.......... yer one of the busiest guys I have ever met....... Look me up when ya come back up this way, I have a flying field that will astound you!

Hey Tim......... that SSX looks just evil........and totally fun. Did you squash the bug?

To all: it was all about the Blade CP but has grown into the Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.............. anything!


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Of all the things I ever lost....................................... I miss my mind the most!

Yeah it's crazy....They should be making our flybar's & spindles outta that stuff... I guess it would be odd to see a guy cutting his grass with a chain-saw but...................

Arrow ~

Good to hear from ya... If you would, try and get a vid of your maiden. I'am curious on those Corsairs and want to see what it's all about. Good luck with her, and you know you'll be fine.....

Take care,

~ Jeff

I retired #1 Corsair. I've incorporated improvements needed as I progress on #2 Corsair build....started that tonight. You guys are gonna be AMAZED with the EXI-450 I'm getting ready to complete as a Navy TH-57...it's gonna look REAL. I should have it finished today or Sunday...it's been a LONG build and a REAL PITA...pics to follow when completed.

Ya know gentlemen,
I forgot to say thank you for all the well wishes and concern during our recent bout with the "gallbladderitis" and the subsequent hospital journey. Even though during that time i was totally exhausted and not quite with the world I still would visit this thread and it really brought a good feeling to my soul to see that even though miles seperate us all the friendships and togetherness are right here. You all could be my next door neighbors or family!
I told Jacki about all the posts during her time at the hospital (she got tired of my heli and plane ramblings) and she too was very touched by your thoughts and sentiments. For that my friends............. I say Thenk You all!
As jay would say: god Bless!


Tracy aka ArrowNaughtic


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Of all the things I ever lost....................................... I miss my mind the most!