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View Full Version : Finally upgraded to HH gyro on the CP (NOT the PRO)


Anubis328
03-12-2007, 08:30 AM
This weekend, I dusted off my old Blade CP (purchased before the PRO was available), and gave it a few much needed upgrades. I got it for Christmas the year before last, and it was responsible for teaching me everything about helis (poor thing).

Anyway, the receiver antenna was cracked and wires were exposed all over the place, but that wasn't a real issue, because I had recently purchase the Spectrum DX7 for my T-Rex 450 SE (non V2), and had picked up a 6100 RX just for the Blade. Like many of you know... one of the main changes that the CP Pro offered was a seperate 3 in 1 and receiver (I had the Bell Hiller upgrade and a 1350mah 3 cell lipoly before the Pro was announced), but many of you may not know that the 4 in 1 on the CP is basically the same setup with reversed pins in the reciever and the 3 in one plugging in to the back. The receiver was going away anyway, so that was just removed and thrown to the side, to plug into the speed controller all I had to do was buy some 6 inch servo extensions, and cut the cover off of the female side to expose the pins. (Is that considered a sex change?) While I was inside the little bird, I thought I might as well throw on the E-Flite Heading Hold Gyro. What a difference!!! After completing the setup and getting the thing back in the air, I had it inverted for the first and second time within a day. (I have rolled my T-Rex, but I'm still fairly new to the inverted game.)

Other than the hardware upgrade, I also took the time to get the servos @ 90 degrees when at 0 pitch. Because this is the heli I learned on, I was just happy it could fly, and never took the time to get it set up propperly. It was really nice to see it back in the air again, even though it looks naked without the extra antenna hanging underneith. The Blade CP is one fun little heli!

On a side note... for those of you that had seen the heli with bottle rockets, the Gyro took the place of the weapon's system on the receiver, so it's back to civilian specs ;)

Stealthpilot
03-12-2007, 01:39 PM
WOW, your story is exactly like mine!! LOL. I love my 450 SE and now that Im in Iraq right now, I decided to bring along the upgraded CP. I usually fly it around after work, and REALLY miss flying my TRex! Ive wanted to put in the E-flite HH gyro, but dont have my Futaba 9C here with me. So I just deal with the stock TX for now. Just one of thoes things I guess.

Anubis328
03-12-2007, 02:32 PM
That's awesome that you were able to bring the Blade over there with you! That little thing makes me a much better pilot with the Rex. Are you in the military? (your post didn't say, and I didn't want to assume.)

Stealthpilot
03-12-2007, 03:20 PM
Yep, Im a Chinook helicopter Flight Engineer. I agree that the Blade makes you a better pilot with any other heli, LOL. I thought the TRex was a piece of cake after flying the Blade.

I was out flying traffic patterns outside my room today and one of the support maintenance guys told me there is a strong Blade following in there unit. But he never saw someone take it out like I did. I guess there all still learning hovering.

Anubis328
03-12-2007, 03:30 PM
That's awesome! I really apreciate what you guys are doing over there. I definitely recommend throwing the E-flite gyro on if you get an opportunity, it doesn't lock the tail in as solid as a T-Rex, but it's still a huge leap forward, and made me comfortable with turing the little guy over.

I'd love to check out the Chinook! Thanks again!

rsking45
03-14-2007, 07:58 AM
Anubis328,Is the set up the same on the cp as for the cpp and far as seting up the E flite head locking gyro?

Anubis328
03-14-2007, 08:30 AM
Are you talking about the radio setup or wiring? I've never used the Blade's radio before. When I first got it, I set it up on a Futaba 6EXH, and what started me on this project was installing the Spectrum 6100 to hook it up with the DX7. Setting up the gyro on the radio was the same as any other heli.

As far as wiring, the Blade CP has a 4 in 1 unit. If you open the case, it's actually a receiver and a 3 in 1, with the receiver pins reversed and the 3 in one plugging directly into the receiver board.

To get around this I bought some 6 inch servo extensions and removed the plastic around the pins to end up with two 6 inch wires coming out of the 3 in one. These wires represented the throttle and the rudder. From here on, the setup is the same as on any heli.
-plug the 3 wire lead into the rudder port on the receiver
-plug the single wire plug into the gyro port
-plug the speed controller into the throttle port

Let me know if this answers your question.

My main objective with this post was to point out that the turning a CP into a Pro only requires The Bell-Hiller, a 3 cell Lipo, and two 6 inch servo leads.

I've attached a pic to show you what it looks like.

rsking45
03-17-2007, 12:51 AM
Can you please explain more please.Which one is the rudder port?gyro port? throttle port Pics would help alot.

Thank you
Rich

Anubis328
03-19-2007, 08:01 AM
Channel 1 is Elevator
Channel 2 is Aileron (I might have one an two backwards)
Channel 3 is Throttle
Channel 4 is Rudder
Channel 5 is Gyro (not used in stock form)
Channel 6 is Pitch

The difference between the 4 in 1 and 3 in 1 plus receiver in the CP, and CP Pro is that, the CP Pro’s case is split between the receiver and the 3 in one unit. You can do the same exact thing with the CP without buying their 3 in one or a new receiver. What you have to do is disassemble the 4 in one, and you’ll find that channels 3 and 4 have the pins reversed. If you separate the boards, you can tap into the 3 in one using 6 inch servo extensions. I scrapped my receiver because I switched to a Spectrum Radio, and had to use their receiver. Using a new receive is probably the best way to go, since the stock unit has two out of the six pins going the wrong way. Spectrum’s receivers are all labeled with what plugs in where, so setting them up is real easy. I know they pushed throttle into the number one spot, but it’s not hard to follow.

Now keep in mind, if you’re not adding an external gyro, brushless motor, or changing receivers, none of this is necessary. I think it would be more difficult with a standard receiver, because Spectrum’s 6100 receiver is extremely small, and I was able to fit it in the tight space left by removing the stock unit.

Hopefully this all made sense. I’ll try to take some more pics tonight, but I have a tendency to forget these things.

Anubis328
03-23-2007, 11:05 AM
Here are the close ups of the 4 in 1 minus the receiver that I promised. The bottom plug (channel 4) is the rudder, and the top (Channel 3) is the throttle.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=18052

http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=18053

Anubis328
03-24-2007, 01:49 PM
Hey RSKing45... I'm having trouble posting the pics showing the "4 in 1" seperated from the receiver, but if you paste in that URL, it should take you to my gallery where the pictures are posted.