New XCell Gas Model

[Festus1567]

What root/grip size for the mains on this one? 14/5

[carey shurley]

yes, 5mm bolt is standard. The standard head is the same one available on the Fury Extreme

[big dee]

cool :glasses2:

[Festus1567]

Carey,

Are 710's/105's not ideal with the Tempest head?

[carey shurley]

Hey Festus

sure you can use the 710's with the tempest head, but you'll have to use slightly lower collective pitch maximums. The tempest head is about 30mm wider than the extreme head (blade bolt to blade bolt), so 700mm blades effectively become 715mm blades. The 710's would effectively be 725mm blades (relative to the extreme head).

I've flown 725mm blades on the old xcell gas and it makes the model groove very well in FFF however at collective extremes, its easier to bog the motor. It also slows down the cyclic response because of the increased rotor span.

[3DWannaBe]

The motor in the Spectra in the demos at the Jamboree had modified timing and compression ratio.


Tell us more please carey

who is building them, just the same old same old hansen

[carey shurley]

its possible they may be available through MA at a future date. Not a hanson mod.

[bigrcr]

Actually the motor has had compression, and porting work completed. Timing changes have not been done, except for a small increase in intake port timing. The piston is lightened as well as having being modified. It operates more smoothly than the stock motor, at a much higher RPM and at only a small increase in heat.

The Spectra-G flies with very nearly the same performance using the stock motor, I fly it with a stock motor as well. The modified motor just has better attributes and handles it better. It has a better (wider band)power curve and flows through extreme maneuvers better.

Billme, I did pull the motor out of a Zenoah box and it does have all Zenoah parts! I just did not tell you where the motor came from when I pulled it from the box. :mrgreen:

Now the cats out :wink: :shhhh

Later,

[Tom Fiddler]

Billme, I did pull the motor out of a Zenoah box and it does have all Zenoah parts! I just did not tell you where the motor came from when I pulled it from the box.


John I don't think Bill will buy that!!!
But what do I know I fly E-Heli's :D

[Yellow Spectra]

Carey,

Any firm release/ship date for the Spectra G available yet from MA? Any information or rather ETA will ease the pain of waiting :D

Thanks,

--Phil

[carey shurley]

sorry I can't provide a solid date. The hurricanes delayed everything by several weeks and there is still one part that has not arrived. I don't think it will be much longer.

[Festus1567]

Carey

Any thoughts on the Spectra as a camera ship?

[carey shurley]

sure, if you notice the pictures on our website, one of the configurations is called the "extended flight config". This allows you to put a large tank in the front and the rear tank behind the motor to significantly extend the flight time. Use of the airframe for carrying payloads was really the driver for including that config.

I would recommend that you special order it with a lower gear ratio, you aren't going to need the high-rpm performance so ask for a 6:42 setup.

the ready to fly spectra can weigh between 1 and 1.5 lbs less than the gas graphite (depending on how you've configured each) and it has more power than the old G23 motor so carrying a normal camera package should be no problem.

I'd suggest one of the skid mounted packages that are available.

feel free to ask more questions!

[Busta Rapta]

I'd buy one in a flash if I thought I could stomach the crash costs. :cry:

A couple of the guys I fly with have Extremes and Tempests and don't mind $500 to $700 crashes but I would be way too nervous!!

Looks nice. I hope to see one on the street someday.

[Festus1567]

Looks like we are getting close.

What head are you guys going with? I think I'm going to go with the Tempest head.

I've also decided on the forward facing build-up. The Hatori HT941 will be my muffler of choice. The rearward design causes the muffler to stick very far out from the engine, major damage likely in a simple crash.

Carey, Can you tell me how much canopy modification/grinding is required for the forward facing build-up?

[bigrcr]

Actually the Hatori muffler is a survivor. I have run it on my SE gas model and the Spectra-G. There have been a few major crashes (mostly on the SE) and the Hatori has not been even dented so far (lucky???? :dontknow).

I am running the Extreme head for now and it works great for 3-D, as this first edition of the Spectra-G is a 3-D model.

The Spectra-G model crashes very well. The damage so far has only been to the landing gear, tail boom and shafts. I have incurred no damage at all within the frames. The frame layout is VERY stout and there has been no cracking nor fatigue. Most impressive!

Later,

[big dee]

hi Carey
have you got a date yet matey .hows those fan shrouds going
kind regards Darrel :glasses

[carey shurley]

Hey, no still no date. Fan shrouds are not here. However the delays are being put to good use. Tim is busy adding things to the kit.

It will also include a custom made rf shield for spark plug wires. John G did some testing where it helped him with an RF problem he was having (see posts elsewhere here), and its been tested successfully by numerous folks. Its not anything that you won't have seen before, pretty common to big gasoline airplanes but never before has something like it been included in a heli kit.

Tim's also working on an optional custom made air cleaner thats much lighter than the typical add on and includes an engraved graphite banner plate.

This will be the most complete gas kit on the market today. Those new to gas helicopters won't have to do a lot of research and shop for special gizmos to make it work......just follow the instructions. Those who are familiar with gas helicopters will be impressed with all the ideas that have been incorporated right into the kit.

[whirlyspud]

I have a question for you Carey. :D I have read somewhere that you can either use a miniture wand type starter, or an optional pull start. Can you give a little more information on the pull start option? What is needed? Does ma sell it? I do not want to buy another starter combo just for this machine.

Thanks,
Mike

[carey shurley]

All of the Zenoah helicopter motors come with a pull starter. The Spectra kit will come with everything you need to either hard mount it, or make it removable after starting the motor.

The G231 and G26 are pretty easy to start with a wand starter, so I don't ever use a pull starter anymore, but if you want to, everything you need to use it comes with the kit

[Yellow Spectra]

I see that Time Schoonard has posted some Spectra G accessories on the MA website including a modified Engine. Aside from the engine, will I need to purchase the RF shielding accessories? If it will prevent a crash from interference, I am definitely getting it so let me know your opinion, Carey. And also, will the modified engine give me more power and maneuverbility perfomring aerobatics? Thanks!

--Phil

[carey shurley]

The model will fly just fine with the standard motor and ignition system. Models have been flying with the stock ignition system for years. The shielding accessories are intended as additional insurance as they will eliminate any RF noise that it may emit. If you have any experience with 1/4 or 1/3 scale airplanes with large gas motors, most of them have used shielded plug wires and resistor caps for some time.

What this really buys you is an inexpensive additional level of protection because it eliminates what is a known source of potential interference. Although the ignition system has not typically caused any problems because the receivers are able to filter it out, it is definitely generating RF. If for some reason there is some other source of RF, like a loose muffler or other metal/metal contact, it will more likely overwhelm the receiver if its also contending with the ignition noise.

John Garst has a post elsewhere that describes his testing and how these accessories worked for him.

I have not personally flown one of these TRM motors yet, however John Garst has quite a bit of time on one and also has posts here that describe his experience with it. He's quite impressed so you can take that as a recommendation.

[Yellow Spectra]

Thanks, Carey. Thanks for replying and for being very informative. I am new to gas helicopters and actually R/C helicopters so I really appreciate everyone's expertise.

--Phil

[Yellow Spectra]

Carey,

Do we need this part if we get the Spectra G kit? Is it included in the kit and if so, this must be for other gas models?

Part Number: 123-75
Open Tail Box Kit (3D).

Part Number: 123-74
Open Tail Box Kit (FAI).


Thanks again,

--Phil

[DavidH]

The new open tail box will come in the Spectra kits.
The reason MA advertises two different part numbers for the open tail box.
The tail box will come pre assembled
123-74 FAI ( right side tail rotor)
123-75 3D ( Left side tail rotor)

I believe the left side will be what comes in the Spectra kits.

David