Anyone tried the Shuttle Plus? I've been thinking about purchasing another heli... particularly a low cost one... just for hovering and general flying practice. I had been looking at the Hawk Sport, but noticed that I can get the Shuttle Plus for about $10 more (by the time I add the bearing upgrade kit to the Hawk). I've looked for some detailed info on the Shuttle Plus, but can't find much... like is it a complete ball bearing kit? Or would it need BB upgrades as well?

Your comments are appreciated.

Thanks,
-Barry

I just got done building one. I can't speak for the Hawk, because I've never owned nor flown one. But I have owned many shuttles. The Plus would need bearing upgrades. I hope test fly it this weekend and will let you know how it goes.

HeliRod,

I am abot to get the Shuttle Plus and the Ball Bearing 'upgrade'. Since I am importing it all from the US, could you tell me what is the part number for the BB upgrade? Is there a one package for all or do I need several part numbers?

Thanks

BTW Could someone post some Shuttle Plus closeups? or tell me wher they are available?

I had an email conversation with one of the guys at Altech... he said that there's not actually a "Hirobo" BB upgrade kit, but that he "thinks" that Boca Bearings (www.bocabearings.com) has a kit available. I never checked with Boca, but it might be worth an email to them to see...

Hope this helps...
-Barry

I just put mine together tonight. I can tell you I SOLD my Hawk sport for this.
Only thing I didn't care for were the z-bends on some of the links.
I think with some monkeying I can make them all go away. I got the important one swapped out tonight and that was on the collective.
Now I just need to work on some standoffs for the aileron servo to get one on the elevator. I also have to get a longer ball stud and threaded rod to make the throttle linkage.
As for BB I really didn't see any that it needed. All of the importand high revolution parts are ball raced.
The rest just are not that big of a deal to me.
I will let you know a flight comparison after tomrrow if the weather is good.
I don't expect any "bad" things to say about it.

Don't get me started on that Hawk.

I put mine together in Dec. for latter use as a scale project. The heli is very smooth with out bearing upgrades so you can always do it latter if you feel the need for it. For basic hovering and flying you will not be able to tell the difference. The only places that I see it needing bearing upgrades would be the washout arms and mixing arms if you decide to push the heli in to more aerobatics. I also did not like the z bends and will change them out to ball links one day when I have time. Also remember to lubricate the start shaft when assembling, I forgot to do it on mine at first and it made an awful sound.

Thank you all for for your suggestions, you don't know how valuable they are for a newbe (or maybe tou do).

I checked out the BocaBearings page and found some BB kits for most Heli sets. The actual link is

http://www.bocabearings.com/heli_kits.cfm

When someone has some pictures closese ups of the construction please let me know?

Peter

Komis

Construction on the Shuttle plus is very straight forward and easy since each part is done step by step. The parts are in seperate bags for each step on the way so you do not have to go digging for parts. Just pay close attention to the little hint boxes on each page and do not forget blue loctite on the bolts where needed on the instructions. Also be careful when you assemble the first part - the elevator assembly, the plastic is kinda weak and I accidently cracked it trying to get the rod pushed in.

This may sound like an odd question but is useful for me when trying to ship the Kit to Poland.

Could someone post the dimensions (w x h x d) and wight of the box that the Shuttle Plus came in? I think the wieght is on the Hirobo site but NOT the dimensions of the box.

All I can say is WOW!
This little heli can perform! I enjoyed flying it today as much as my bigger ships. In fact I was able to do a much smoother roll with this heli than my Sceadu 50.
I am very impressed with the flying of this ship. ROCK solid in a hover and very nimble in flight.
I am using a set of Sceadu paddles with it. Lead weights only. I would recommend them to anyone that is past the hovering stage on this helicopter.
As for dimensions. The box is about 36 inches long, 8 inches wide and about 6 inches tall.
It will ship overseas pretty easy as Hirobo makes the kits fit in boxes that are easily shipped to anywhere by considering these dimensions before the package it.

FWIW here is my setup
Shuttle plus
GY401/9253
OS 32 on 30% fuel
Hitec 605BB servos all 4
Stock blades both main and tail
Sceadu paddles with lead weights only
Sceadu tail servo mount and carbon pushrod
Pitch range is +9/-9 and throttle is maxed at 90 with 10% mix

I have a Shuttle Plus and a Hawk IV. There is no doubt that the Hawk is a more modern design. The basic Shuttle dates back to 1985. Of course, it has been upgraded and updated since then.

When you set them side by side, the Hawk LOOKS more stout. The Hawk also flies like a bigger heli. But when I bring them both to the field, I prefer to fly the Shuttle Plus. It just "feels" better to me. I also think the Shuttle is a little more crash-resistant. It also has a lower parts count. I had a boom strike after an autoration with both helis. These were minor. Basically, a blade nicked the tail boom. In both cases I was able to continue flying. But when I landed, there was damage. Here's what I had to replace:

Hawk IV:

Blades
Main Shaft
Spindle
Tail Boom
Tail Rotor Drive Wire
Landing Gear
Horizontal Fin
Two pushrods
Three ball links

Shuttle Plus:
Blades
Spindle
Main Shaft
Tail Boom

You tell me which you'd rather crash? The Shuttle went in HARD another time and cost less than $60 to fix (not counting blades - I use FinKey FRP blades).

Just finished assembling a shuttle plus, as yet not flown...

However, I have immediately upgraded to the quick uk linkage kit (replaces all the rods with nice stainless items, new SS balls, and no z bend rods) and also the quick uk carbon rod tail....

The rest will be gradually changed as and when it breaks/wears...

The oilite bushes are fine except that some of them bind to the screws if they are tightened down fully... If they are screwed to plastic, dont fully tighten, or if screwed to metal add thread lock (as shown) and dont fully tighten but wait for the threadlock to fully cure before flying...

Overall the quality of the plastic and fit is good, once together its a nice sturdy heli... little bit of slop in the washout, but nothing major and will be cured once the parts are gradually replaced with CNC quick UK parts....

I reckon its gonna be an awesome kit when upgraded (and considering its a lot cheaper outlay than a raptor which requires almost the same spend on CNC parts in the long run) should be a great little fun machine....


Is it just me or is this page http://www.quickuk.co.uk/acatalog/Pr...Shuttle_1.html a bit too much like helicopter pornography

Hi all,

I myself am just starting with helis, but I chose a sceadu, my buddy got the Plus.

Heh, I enjoy the Plus more. Less fear of hitting ground...

My photos can be seen at advancehobby.cjb.net

Flew my Plus today for the first time, and it was excellent...

Had to retighten the radius arm, and I am still not happy with it, think I will change it for the quick version...

I had already fitted the NHP carbon tail pushrod and NHP carbon 3d fins...

It flew very nicely and was very stable, and far less intimidating than my X-Cell...

I can see me spending quite a bit on this little heli, and getting it decked out with some nice CNC parts and carbon fibre...

Next change will be the swashplate, the stock one is a little too sloppy for me, then the tail pitch plate and arm... prolly change the balls and rods for the stainless steel ones, as the alloy balls do wear quite quickly IME with cars...

Overall very happy for a £175 kit its a joy...

Just started assembly sunday, finished up thru assembling the tailrotor assy. I'm upgrading as I go, I have a smashed ZXX to salvage from... so far I've only added 3 set of bearings.
But I put in a lot of aluminum rotorhead parts
Funny, none of the upgrade parts broke.
The Plus was over a $100 less than the parts total to rebuild the ZXX. Figure that one out, Although I must admit prices have dropped in the 2 years that wreckage has sat in the box.
Anyone want a mainshaft with a 40 degree bend at the point it exits the top bearing? Ya, It hit hard...
I was thinking of usin it for a boomerang but It's too heavy

One note, take notice of how pieces go together before you add screws/bolts. I had to take the lower servo tray back out to put the fuel tank in... Same step, no note about the order to assemble them in. I started at top left of picture and worked across & down. Just backwards.
<then again, Japanese reads right to left.....Hmmmmm>

Maenwhile, it's really nasty weather here, so I have time.
Ramjet

I just finished up my shuttle plus and plan on adjusting the tracking tonight. One thing I didn't like about the kit is that the tail rotor pushrod is a little tight and doesn't want to center all the time. Think I will change it out for a boom mounted tail servo tray with a better pushrod.

Widgeo, I'd think a lot about a tail mounted servo before doing it. Shuttles are tail heavy to start with unless you mount a Godzilla sized battery right on the front of the tray.
Even then you sacrifice performance due to the added weight.
I would remove the rod and make sure there are no bends in it, then re-install it carefully. Any bend in the rod when hanging by one end outside the bird will result in a stiff control. Also, note the offset needed at the tail end. I try to gradually rotate consecutive pushrod holders so I dont need a big bend back there. Take your time, it can be done.
I've got my Plus / ZXX built thru installation of the engine now, Pressing on as time allows.
The Plus is an easy build after all the rebuilds I've done on the ZXX. It'd being upgraded beyond ZXX as I go and will inherit the Jet Ranger body in my Avatar

For newbies reading this - Do NOT make upgrades on the Plus until you can hover confidently, you will just break them.

Save the money and buy an RC Simulator, one you can control with your radio is best. And Run it Every day ! Stick time is precious.

Ramjet

I have a tail mounted servo, and it hasn't made the tail heavy situation any worse...

Perhaps coz I have a 1400mah Sub-C battery up front..

I am gradually upgrading some of the sloppy bits, added a quick swash and radius arm/washout driver (had to grind down the radius arm pin as it was too long, foulded the swash at full pitch)

Also added the swash anti-rotation arm....

Had to change a lot of trims after that, it was soo much more precise to fly...

My Plus was a little tail heavy with the boom mount servo as well. To fix it, I built a lite ply platform that I bolted to the radio tray using existing holes. This moved the 2000mAh NiCad as forward as I could get it (it actually touches the inside of the canopy in the nose). I also moved the gyro to another platform I built in front of the aileron servo. I also replaced the horizontal fin (damaged in a crash) with a lightweight one. The balance is now perfect.

For those of you who are doing forward flight, there are a couple of upgrades you should consider. The first is the flybar see saw. The plastic wears quickly causing slop that makes the heli very pitchy in FFF. I replaced mine with the aluminum Hirobo G-Parts upgrade (from Ricks'), but Quick also makes one that is a little cheaper. That upgrade solved the pitchiness.

The other is a radius arm for the swashplate. Mine is also a Hirobo part, but again Quick also makes one. It prevents the swashplate from twisting as it goes up and down. It makes a noticeable difference in stability.

LOL..Just as I was reading your post RamJet my servo mount/pushord order was delivered to my office. Guess I will make use of all that fishing weight I have.