The Alchemist on 6/2/2010 at 09:52

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So recently my dad got himself into a new hobby, RC helicopters. He's a child at heart, always will be. He once got into the super fast motorized RC race cars/trucks but that never really tickled my pickle. Now he's into RC helicopters and this perked my interest. So, when he bought himself an expensive (the total kit is probably like 1.5k) 3D carbon fiber monstrosity of a helicopter, he handed me down his Axe CPv3. They look like (http://www.helimax-rc.com/gallery/hmxe06-gallery-b-2.jpg) this.

After trying several times to get it going, I gave up because I kept breaking the linkage by hitting something. First of all, he gave it to me with a mechanical issue with the rear rotor, which caused the thing to not stabilize (even with my input) in one direction, and if you can't keep the things pointing away from you at least while you're learning, pivoting is impossible, since it's relative to the direction it's facing.

I really enjoyed the concept though, so I went back to the hobby shop to get a coaxial heli. Coaxial heli's look like (http://www.chiefaircraft.com/Models/Helicopters/E-flite/Images/EFL_H2200Lg.jpg) this.

They have dual rotors that rotate in opposite direction giving them incredible stability. I was demonstrated one at the hobby shop. You can basically let go of the controls and the gyros will keep it stable and in flight, even if you swat at it. The problem is they are very slow and lack maneuverability. It's no fun. I was convinced to get one of these: (http://www.bigginhillmodels.co.uk/cdata/29526/img/29526_2026738.jpg) Blade mSR

It's a light weight, 7.5" version of the Axe CPv style heli. I found the size comical and it just seemed like a silly mantoy but after having taken it home and successfully learned to fly it, I am officially hooked. Tomorrow, I'm taking it to a friends house (he is obsessed with robotics and can help me rebuild the broken Axe CPv) so I can show it to him and hopefully get him into the hobby as well. After that we'll try fixing the Axe CPv I broke after a nasty crash and try my hand at flying it again now that I've gotten the hang of flying the smaller version.

It's the same concept really, the smaller version is probably even less stable considering its weight any small breeze makes it go nuts. But its size also means it flies easily in any small room. The beauty of the Blade mSR is that it's so damn lightweight that if you lose control you just shut off the throttle and the fall is never hard enough to break the plastic. And I guess also because it's so lightweight, the throttle needed to make it take flight isnt fast enough to break the linkages that make up the rotor system.

I've crashed my mSR from 20 feet and nothing happened. I've crashed it at least 7 times since I got it and not one single piece has broken or has the performance suffered.

The two crashes sustained to the Axe CPv have required maintenance and replacement of parts. :(

Anyway, I'm rambling about this just to see if any other TTLG'ers share this interest and have any advice. There's something incredibly satisfying and also in a way relaxing about successfully flying around my little mSR. I can't wait to try the CPv once my friend and I put it back together and tune it.

Anyone else here keen on RC aircraft?

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs292.ash1/21950_707836283438_18705319_40210932_593922_n.jpg

Adding a long sentence to see if it fixes the narrow structure of my posts that I seem to be getting for no apparent reason. If this fixes it I'm either subconsciously hitting enter at the end of the input box or there's a bug for Chrome. It worked? Bug? The fuck.

Ok, the "fix" went away. Either a Chrome bug or a vb4 bug.

The Alchemist on 6/2/2010 at 11:27

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Mol only said that because I supplied racy picks of the fiancee on IRC. You're all a bunch of self interested wankers.

henke on 6/2/2010 at 12:51

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I read up a bit on the Blade mSR after Wired Magazine featured them in their Xmas-wishlist. Looks like they actually handle well, don't break easy and are relatively cheap(about 130 euros). Thinking about getting one. :D

And of course their small size would enable me to fly with it indoors, which should be helpful in avoiding the ridicule of my neighbours. :sly:

demagogue on 6/2/2010 at 15:28

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It's cool when you get two of them and can be a little competitive, like setting up obstacle races, or flag-football style matches where you attach a little pole and have to touch or pull a tag off the other copter or something like that (depending on how big you want the target, how skilled you feel, and how durable the copter).

On the topic of rc planes, I really like this guy's vlog: (http://www.youtube.com/user/RCSuperPowers)
These guys know how to have fun with rc planes.

Ulukai on 6/2/2010 at 16:55

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Coincidentally my Dad casually mentioned that he nearly bought himself an RC Helicopter for Christmas, but then didn't. It's his birthday this month so I was toying (no pun intended) with the idea of buying him a (http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/bladz-3d-helicopter/index.html) Bladez, but are they really that fragile, Alch?

As he's never flown one before I'm guessing it's going to do more crashing than flying.

Also, haha, "DO NOT FLY THIS ANYWHERE NEAR OTHER PEOPLE, PETS OR ANYTHING YOU DON'T WANT TRASHED."



That reminded me of (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2084973582041454459#) this (Some poor bloke crashing his gas turbine powered B-52), but with a happier ending.