Laurens
11-29-2006, 07:53 AM
It has been 3 weeks ago since I bought this little heli. Because I have some time left I decided to do a little review just like I did on the Spirit Li. I bought this heli for next years Dutch 3D contest, so I'll be outfitting it with reliable stuff:
Swash: 9252
Throttle: GV1 and 9253
Tail: 601 and 9251
I used V's for initial testing but I dented them on a stupid mistake... So from now on I'll use the blades supplied in the kit.
The kit comes in ARF form, and all you've got to do is install the engine, tailboom, electronics and linkages to the swash. Off course I also checked all screws on loctite and tightness if they were screwed into plastic.
CAUTION!
Some parts only require 1 screw to be secured to the rest. But Kyosho has made more then one hole, so one screw is "missing". For peace of mind I used a second screw on the flybar stops and in the gear train.
Instructions say to install the engine first:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/104ed18cd91d41c73bbfe6da466ac8af.jpg
I loctited the bearings into the clutch house. It took me some time to find out the thread in the clutch itself was counterclockwise :arggg:
Take a hex driver, insert it into the 2 holes for the fan, and use loads of loctite to glue the clutch to the crankshaft. This will ensure that the fan won't unscrew when starting.
Here's how it looks like when its finished:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/15b412a4602e3dcf46660216e5926cad.jpg
BUILDING TIP (dunno if Bob has posted this yet...)
Use the plastic cases where your servo's come in to put in little bolts and other small things.
And this is how it looks like when you installed the engine:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/523d21a1bdbdbde7729302f813c10ab9.jpg
It took me some time to figure out the GV1 sensor installation. Also I took my time to install the remote glow in this frame:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/915dd8ac0f8ed47a096841732cfa2fce.jpg
The tailboom installation is pretty straightforward. I didn't secure the servo mount untill I did the servo programming. Set the linkage at 90 degrees, turn on the Tx and Rx, and then secure the servo mount for a perfect geometry.
I painted the canopy using tamiya paint. Some people painted this canopy too, but I forgot the adhesion promotor. After only 3 flights the paint is already cracking off :? :
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/85a678237ecac3747d015dd1a8be16a4.jpg
The first tests on the engine didn't go well. Even after double checking the throttle linkage I still got a hotstart... Also the fan unscrewed because I didn't use the method I described here.
The second test was far better. When hovering I can fly for about 5-10 seconds before I have to touch the sticks again.
Third time didn't go as planned... After the second test I did some carefull cleaning and examination and I found one link to be loose. I unscrewed every linkage I made and reloctited it, and secured it with extra 24 hours epoxy on the screw. However I failed to put on the aileron servo wheel at 90 degrees this time, surprising me at take off. This was my first take off on asphalt, and also my last one. I was able to recover from the quick aileron roll to the left, but after landing and spooling down I put the stick back at center for a split second. Even with -8 degrees collective the heli still rolled to the left. A quick correction prevented worse. The damage was a pair of V's... and a bladegrip. The chip out of the V's at the tip don't look that bad, but I'm still thinking about if I'll use them again or not.
All thats left is a little modifying of the heli. I planned some upgrades for the near future:
Uniflow setup
OMI fuel magnet
Radixx 95mm tails.
CY ATG to replace the GV1
Eventually a Hatori 540 (Did I mention the stock muffler is great?)
Duralite regulator
Loads of Wildcat 30%
So far I'm really happy with it.
Swash: 9252
Throttle: GV1 and 9253
Tail: 601 and 9251
I used V's for initial testing but I dented them on a stupid mistake... So from now on I'll use the blades supplied in the kit.
The kit comes in ARF form, and all you've got to do is install the engine, tailboom, electronics and linkages to the swash. Off course I also checked all screws on loctite and tightness if they were screwed into plastic.
CAUTION!
Some parts only require 1 screw to be secured to the rest. But Kyosho has made more then one hole, so one screw is "missing". For peace of mind I used a second screw on the flybar stops and in the gear train.
Instructions say to install the engine first:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/104ed18cd91d41c73bbfe6da466ac8af.jpg
I loctited the bearings into the clutch house. It took me some time to find out the thread in the clutch itself was counterclockwise :arggg:
Take a hex driver, insert it into the 2 holes for the fan, and use loads of loctite to glue the clutch to the crankshaft. This will ensure that the fan won't unscrew when starting.
Here's how it looks like when its finished:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/15b412a4602e3dcf46660216e5926cad.jpg
BUILDING TIP (dunno if Bob has posted this yet...)
Use the plastic cases where your servo's come in to put in little bolts and other small things.
And this is how it looks like when you installed the engine:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/523d21a1bdbdbde7729302f813c10ab9.jpg
It took me some time to figure out the GV1 sensor installation. Also I took my time to install the remote glow in this frame:
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/915dd8ac0f8ed47a096841732cfa2fce.jpg
The tailboom installation is pretty straightforward. I didn't secure the servo mount untill I did the servo programming. Set the linkage at 90 degrees, turn on the Tx and Rx, and then secure the servo mount for a perfect geometry.
I painted the canopy using tamiya paint. Some people painted this canopy too, but I forgot the adhesion promotor. After only 3 flights the paint is already cracking off :? :
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/85a678237ecac3747d015dd1a8be16a4.jpg
The first tests on the engine didn't go well. Even after double checking the throttle linkage I still got a hotstart... Also the fan unscrewed because I didn't use the method I described here.
The second test was far better. When hovering I can fly for about 5-10 seconds before I have to touch the sticks again.
Third time didn't go as planned... After the second test I did some carefull cleaning and examination and I found one link to be loose. I unscrewed every linkage I made and reloctited it, and secured it with extra 24 hours epoxy on the screw. However I failed to put on the aileron servo wheel at 90 degrees this time, surprising me at take off. This was my first take off on asphalt, and also my last one. I was able to recover from the quick aileron roll to the left, but after landing and spooling down I put the stick back at center for a split second. Even with -8 degrees collective the heli still rolled to the left. A quick correction prevented worse. The damage was a pair of V's... and a bladegrip. The chip out of the V's at the tip don't look that bad, but I'm still thinking about if I'll use them again or not.
All thats left is a little modifying of the heli. I planned some upgrades for the near future:
Uniflow setup
OMI fuel magnet
Radixx 95mm tails.
CY ATG to replace the GV1
Eventually a Hatori 540 (Did I mention the stock muffler is great?)
Duralite regulator
Loads of Wildcat 30%
So far I'm really happy with it.