SMaric

Have just had this prototype Aluminium Rotor Head made up

What i need to know now is

Is there enough interest out there to make it worth my while having a production batch made up

Let me know what you think

biggerswede

Looks neat.
The funny thing is that the one i milled out myself a week ago looks quite similar.
Is yours sandwiched from 2 or 3 layers or why the 2 screws? As I have a small milling machine I was able to cut mine out from a single block of aluminum, except of course for the pins holding the ball bearings.
Managed to reduce mine to 5.5 grams. Original was something like 2.8 grams.
Haven´t tried to fly it yet. Still waiting for spares. Haven´t even learned to hover yet. Just crashing into livingroom furniture[]
Looks like you have very small blade grip area outside of the blade fastener screws?

biggerswede

Sorry, I might be overly critical and this may be wrong but I never trusted aluminum as a bearing material. Fearing that the constantly moving flybar would eat the aluminum I put brass bushings in the flybar bearings.

justin_92_92

My Feedback: (2)

how much $$$$$$$

SMaric

the head is made from 2 parts - because of the spindle req'd for the bearing

So the STEEL spindle is sandwiched between the top 7 bottom halves (& so the need for the 2 machine screws)

Like you - i am also still learning to hover
having broken several of the pastic parts - I decided to see what could be done in metal

I think blade grip area is actually slightly larger than the original plastic part due to the half-circle shape

Haven't got small enough scale to weigh it - but it probably comes in at about the same as yours

SMaric

That all depends on the quantity I make

I need to see if there is enough interest to justify a production run

Fasa

My Feedback: (5)

sorry to ninja this post guys but i am about 95% sure i want an aerohawk. got a few questions for you owners..

You say you crash a lot, where are you getting the parts and hoe long do they take to come?
I don't want to take a test flight and crash becuase its not trimmed out perfectly and then be grounded waiting for parts till i can fly again.[]

Crashing into furniture? So, if i am gonna crash, go for the couch? will there ever be a chance i will crash and NOT break anything?

How do you like it overall? Crashing has to be fun sometimes too. Are you haveing fun learning? did you use G2?

I can fly with 0 problems on G2. I have been flying Sim only(for helis) for 2 years now. I'm not worried about flying for the first time. I'm worried about being grounded due to a crash from trying to trim, it while flying.

Thanks in advance!

Fasa

SMaric

Don't worry too much about crashing - the Aerohawk (& probably most of the other equivalent helis) seem to be pretty sturdy

Yes you will break some bits

Tail rotor blade
Main Rotor blade
Rotr Head part # 29 (NOT too often)
Tail Skid/support (especially if you fly backwards into the carpet)
Main Landing Skid supports
Main shaft (original is Carbon fibre - replace with steel version)
Tail Motor (burns out fairly regularly)


There are quite a few Hobby shops that stock spares - prices can vary, just do a bit of searching you'll soon find a list

Damned if I can get a stable hover (yet) but yes I'm having fun trying
I really need to get to a bigger space than my living room to practice

SMaric

For info

this item weighs 11g

NOTE that includes the 2 bearings (Aerohawk part # 26)

skateboardjunky

You will break the aerohawk!, i would buy a crask kit right off the bat, its like $20.
I have broken numerous parts and spent on upgrades, the swash plate/ball is a must upgrade.

lineman55

Hey Fasa,
I have an Aerohawk and when I bought it I also picked up what I predicted to be the most common items that I would break.Hobbylobby had all my parts.
Rotorhead 3 ea (a must!)
Main blades 2 pr or Like90 blades(much better then stock)
Tail blades 2 ea
Flybar w/paddles 1
Main rotor gear 1

also went to my LHS and picked up some varying carbon fiber rods/tubes for future mods
for LiPo battery holder and skid repairs.
Here is my chopper now.

lineman55

I am interested in a few.
Willing to test one.
Let me know
[email protected]
[8D]
Cheers

Fasa

My Feedback: (5)

Thats great! i'm so excited!

Where did you get that canopy? I love that canopy look, its my favorite.

Fasa

lineman55

Go here to check out the canopies!

Enjoy!
http://www.fxaeromodels.com/[8D]

Fasa

My Feedback: (5)

cool but there is nothing there for aerohawks.[&o]

there is one that looks similar to yours but nothing on that site references an aerohawk. Is there a way to tell what fits what heli?

Fasa

lineman55

They are not Microheli specific.
They will fit most microheli's with very light cutting if needed.
My Hughes body cost $12.00 and came in molded white already glued together.
I painted it and made my holes for the side carbon rod to support it.
Thats it!
Its a lot better then that stock Aerohawk canopy!

jackclarke

Great job on the alum rotor head! Sign me up of interested buyers. In a recent posting there was some discussion about Aerohawk stability and hovering and furniture crashing. It was under the heading of "aerohawk-how much play should i have in my connecting rods?" It might also be of interest to you in some hovering tips.

Keep us advised of your progress -

Jack

cforcht

My Feedback: (46)

hey guys how much does the aerohawk sell for?

Beowoulf

I think I'd like one of those alum. parts too!

Total newb. here. I went out and bought an Aerohawk thinking I would fly it right out of the box. After a few attempts, abraisons to both arms, broken reading glasses, a broken main rotor blade, and a review of the internet, I now realize there is a LOT more to this than I ever imagined! God, there is a lot to learn....

I live in the Montreal area and am looking for a LHS that carries Aerohawk .... none so far.

So many questions.... sigh.... Anyone feeling the need to make up for past sins in his life by being a mentor?

Skateboardjunky states: " the swash plate/ball is a must upgrade" ... uhmmm... what is a swash plate/ball and where do I get one?

Looking forward to all the good things I sure will happen to me as a result of being a part of this group!

Til next time....

SMaric

Ball in Swash available from http://www.ddd.communitech.net/helis...helisearch.htm ($11.00 shipped)

This replaces (from the Aerohawk Assembly Diagram) Parts 4, 18 & 19 with a better version
ie one that has Ball shaped collar that allows the swash plate to swivel much better than the original parts

have just got mine - fitted it in less than 5 minutes
(shipped day after purchase - NO PROBLEMS, great service)

Haven't been able to test-fly it yet as I burnt out the Main Motor FET on the mixer board the other night

So now I'm waiting for some parts to arrive



As to the aluminium Rotor head - Keep on eye on these threads
I'll post updates ASAP

mdclarkson

Would also be intrested in the Alu head. Please keep us updated.

Hangerbearing

Hey Stefan,

Thanx for the Gd note. I hope I've not let anyone down.

Jem

SMaric

Available shortly

please check this
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248708

DCRC

Mark,

Is the steel main shaft you are talking about, the extra one that comes with the heli ??

SMaric

Mine didn't come with a spare main shaft
So if yours did - lucky you

My original shaft was Carbon Fibre
lots of thumping the heli down (while trying to hover) eventually split the shaft

Anyhow if yours didn't & you're looking at a replacement - see if you can get the Steel shaft with 'e-Ring'
If you look at the parts list there are
19244 - main shaft
&
19245 - main shaft with cutting groove ---- THIS is the one you want

If you fit this you can throw away the plastic tubing &/or shaft collar (you may have bought) as the e-Ring keeps the shaft in place