Razor #46 finally in the air!

[Willy J]

Well here is Razor #46 finally up in the air! :D :D It’s just a quick hover in the driveway but the rush of a new Heli is all there. This heli is VERY stable! In no wind it will hover hands off for what seems like forever without any corrections. I hovered around for about 10 minutes right as I hit the 75% mark with my FP 4350’s. The belt systems are super quiet and must be pretty efficient judging by my 1st flight runtime. I need to tidy up the wiring after a few flights but I couldn't wait any longer, I had the week off and was determined to get this machine in the air before I have to get back to work! :arggg:

Here’s my setup:

Actro 24-4
FP 4350’s (That I scored from Will here a few months back, thanks Will!!)
CC HV 85 ESC, high gov mode setup according to Clintstone’s post, Works Great!
Approx. 1890 rpm HS for first flight
Pitch + - 10 degrees
JR 8311 cyclic servos
JR 649S rx
Futaba 601 - 9251
Mah’s 600 mains
Mah’s 95 tails
Stock Razor paddles
3300 mah No-BS 4 cell rx pack (heavy but works well and I already had it laying around)
Also have the Watt’s Up meter installed temporarily until I get some runtime feedback.

Temps here in Illinois are in the high teens or low 20’s right now with snow here and there so my flying is very limited but you can bet every chance I can get out this heli will be in the air. I think my ION is getting jealous since the new guy is getting all of the attention right now!

Also another shameless plug here, I MUST say thanks to the Ole' Lady for letting me spend half of my week off tweaking this new heli and getting it into the air! I think she may have just a hint of excitement for me as I had here looking out the window taching the head speed for me and it was her idea! She's a keeper!! :wink:

Well gotta go, the packs are charged again, the temp outside just hit 23 degrees and the sun is shining. Looks like a good time so sneak back out and do some flying!

Bill W.

[buster1]

cool, keep on posting some feedback.

[Willy J]

Well I did manage to get in another flight today, flight #2. I flew 8 minuntes of easy circuits a few quick climbouts, some fast piro's and some more trim hovering. The 4350 packs took back only 2436 mah.

I have the tail belt tensioner placed according to the settings listed in the Razor assy. manual which seemed pretty tight during the initial build. However after flying around for 3-4 minutes with temps in the 20's the aluminum boom shrinks a bit and the tail belt will loose a bit of tension and slap itself inside the boom during hard rudder use. Reminds me of my Raptor 30 many years ago and more recently my T-rex SE. They both came with aluminum booms and they both lost a little belt tension when it gets really cold due to the boom getting shorter in the cold temps. Probably won't hurt anything and I could just tighten up the tension a bit and likley have no problems. Just as a side note I solved the problem on the T-Rex by adding a CF boom as the CF booms are hardly affected by the extreme cold. I changed it on the Rexy because if I ran the tighter belt to fly outside then the belt was to tight when I flew it indoors. But the reality is I probably shouldn't be flying the Razor indoors now should I!??? :) I'll try a little more belt tension tommorrow and see how it goes.

Anyway, sort of babbling on here but though it was worth mentioning. Still tweaking the Razor and it certainly flys as good as my Ion-X does right now. It's a keeper!

I added a few side shots of the bird in the gallery, I'll post more pics as time allows.

Bill W.

[OICU812]

Looking good Bill, in regards to the boom comment, why not just cut down a Min Air CF boom from a Stratus or Ion etc...? I am almost 99+% sure they are same OD. :wink:

[misskimo]

hey , yeh , my crashed booms from my Ions and my fury work good if they break off at the boom brace , thats whats on mine

[Willy J]

Thanks guys,yeah if the problem persists I'll probably pick up a CF boom and try it out. Gonna try a bit tighter tension sometime today If I can get out before the snow starts flying again this afternoon.

Bill W.

[buster1]

Bill, I thought the Razor comes with a CF tail-boom - I guess not,
Anyway, how are you liking the Razor? I am finally getting mine this week, can't wait to build it,
Thanks,
Jeff

[Willy J]

They come with an aluminum boom, probably to help keep the cost down. I have always liked the CF booms even if they do cost more to replace. I did tighten up the tail belt tension another hole and it is doing better. I'm sure in the warmer temperatures belt tension once broke in won't be a problem. So far I'm really liking this heli! I have to admit that in the beggining I was skeptical of the whole new layout design and even after building it I was still unsure. I think I am just so used to the typical layout like the Ion and the Razor was so different but still I just HAD to try one as soon as it came out! After getting to know it a little more and flying it I can't help but look at it and think that it really is a pretty darn good design and it flys just as well as it looks. It "Has a place for everything and everything in it's place"! I am by no means an athority on heli design or a great flyer but one thing is for sure everyone will have their own opinion on anything new and different but from what I can see so far MA has a winner with this one. Just my 2 cents worth though.

[buster1]

Bill, what is your take on the Razor in comparison to the ION-X - its probably too soon, but would good to hear your thoughts,
Jef

[Willy J]

Jeff, I'm not really an athourity on the Ion by any means, I've only been flying one since about august of this past year. But, I think the Razor flys very similar but it is lighter and more responsive. It's tottaly different but still flys like my other MA heli's. I know that' not saying much but then again, maybe it is!?? Sorry I couldn't be of more help here, maybe someone else with more experience with both heli's could chime in here and offer more info.

Bill W.