Axe CP separations and setup journal

[MiniBichus]

Here are my radio settings.

[D/R & EXP]
--POS 0 for all three-- (I am not using POS 1)
*RUDD
-EXP = -10%
-D/R = 125%
*ELEV
-EXP = -20%
-D/R = 100%
*AILE
-EXP = -20%
-D/R = 100%

[AUTO D/R EXP]
*ALL SET TO INH

[REVERSING SW]
*ALL CHANNELS NORMAL EXCEPT PITCH (CHANNEL #6)

[SUB TRIM]
*ALL SET TO ZERO

[TRAVEL ADJUST]
*ALL SET TO 100% EXCEPT FOR...
*THRO H = 125%, L = 125%
*RUDD H = 125%, L = 125%

[SWASH MIX]
*3 SERVOS @ 120degrees
*AILE = -60%
*ELEV = -60%
*PIT = -35%
*EXP = ACT

[THRO HOLD]
*HOLD POS. = -20.0%
*SW: RUDD D/R

[THRO CURVE]
----
*NORM ( I only use this mode to get off the ground, then I switch to idle up 1)
*L = 0.0
*1 = 55.5%
*2 = 60.0%
*3 = 65.0%
*H = 82.0%
*EXP = ON
----
*ST-1 ( This is the mode that I fly with.)
*L = 0.0
*1 = 77.0%
*2 = 80.0%
*3 = INH
*H = 100.0%
*EXP = ON
----
*ST-2 ( I've only switched to this mode once, to make sure it works.)
*ALL POINTS SET TO 100.0%
*EXP = OFF

[PITCH CURVE]
---
*NORM
*L = 43.0%
*1 = INH
*2 = 64.0%
*3 = INH
*H = 86.0%
*EXP = ON
---
*ST-1
*L = 26.0%
*1 = INH
*2 = 64.0%
*3 = INH
*H = 93.0%
*EXP = ON
---
*ST-2
*L = 5.0%
*1 = INH
*2 = 50.0%
*3 = INH
*H = 95.0%
*EXP = OFF
---
*HOLD
*L = 0.0%
*1 = INH
*2 = 50.0%
*3 = INH
*H = 100.0%
*EXP = OFF

[REVO MIX]
*ALL SET TO 0%

[PROG.MIX1] <--- This mix is what simulates the belt.
* THRO --> GEAR
* RATE = +40%, 0%
* SW = ON
* OFFSET = -125

[PROG.MIX2] <--- Increases turning speed while in stunt mode 1 and 2 when the rudder is moved.
* RUDD --> GEAR
* RATE = +20%, -20%
* SW = F-S12
* OFFSET = 0

[PROG.MIX3] <--- This mix increases the tail rotor speed by another 25% when in stunt mode 2. (for 3D)
* THRO --> GEAR
* RATE = +25%, 0%
* SW = F-S2
* OFFSET = 0

[TIMER]
*MODEL 1 = STOP-W

Let me know what you guys think.

Cheers.

MB.

[markind]

So how come nobody else has included their radio setups (I'm looking at you, MB, Mark and Ed...)?

-Ray

Because mine are still a Work In Progress. I will take these notes from MiniBichus and continue tweaking, but my setup will end up a bit different due to Park 370 and ? tooth pinion. Similar already, so I won't be re-inventing any wheels.

In other news:

I hovered around a bit in the clubhouse last night. I tried stabbing and counter-stabbing at the cyclic input to see the response. Sluggish. Yes I can see that you stab at the flybar, and must wait for that force to be applied to the blades. I reduced my EXP in the ELEV and AILE to make it a little more agile, but I am anxious to try the Bell Hiller mod and try the improved performance.

Hovering was great though, with the new plastic blades. I upped the headspeed too and enjoyed the increased stability. The Belt Tail was rock solid, and only did what I wanted. No drift at all! Its acting like a Heading Hold gyro but its 'only' a Gy240 Rate Gyro.

I had little trouble landing on the 2' x 2' coffee tables around the clubhouse. funnnn,.., :smokin:

The real good news is after the 5 min hover, the motor was not scorching hot. Pretty hot, but not blazing. And the TP1320 pack was just mildly warm and after cooling showed 11.4V. Very good, and means I can probably up the Timer a bit. 5 min is about all my nerves can handle tho...

While the motor was cooling I spun up the ol' Blade CX2 and puttered around, and practiced the Nose In Hover with it. Great training bird. My son is beginning to master hovering it, but it will be a long time before he can handle a CP bird. heh He prefers RC drift cars anyway... :roll:

[Edwinssiv]

My Settings;
Spektrum DX6i
D/R&Expo - I have no idea what this does...so clue me in please
AILE 1 100% INH
ELEV 0 100% INH
RUDD 0 100%

TRAVEL ADJUSTS ARE ALL AT 100%
GYRO
Running the KeyTech Gyro
Rate is at 69% on both Normal and Idle up

THROTTLE CURVE
Running Park 400 with 14th pinion
Norm
Pos1 0%
Pos2 60%
Pos3 80%
Pos4 90%
Pos5 100%
Idle Up
Pos1 100%
Pos2 95%
Pos3 90%
Pos4 95%
Pos5 100%

PITCH CURVE
Normal
Pos1 40% with -2degrees pitch
Pos2 45%
Pos3 50% with 0degrees pitch
Pos4 75%
Pos5 100% with 11 degrees pitch
Stunt is linear 0-100 with -11degrees at 0

Swash Mix
AILE -90%
ELE -90%
Pitch +90%

[MiniBichus]

D/R stands for dual rate
and expo is how much stick travel is needed to move around the center.

More + positive expo means the center will be less sensitive and more - negative expo means that movements around the center will be more responsive.

D/R (dual/rate) is how much travel the servo will have from the end point menu. So if you endpoints are -100 and 100, a D/R of 100% means that the movement of the servo will go from -100 to 100, 50% D/R means that it will only move from -50 to 50 and so on. This is very useful if your servo has uneven movement on both sides so you can ajdust the travel limit with just one number (and not have to change the end points)

I am not sure how you set up your swash mechanically but those eCCPM mixes look a little high to me. Are your servos binding?

Cheers.

[Edwinssiv]

Thanks a lot Mini, I love learning!
No Mini they are not binding...I set up based on the Finless videos and used that as a guide. I moved the swash mix down until they stopped buzzing. I have the MicroHeli CNC head on it...when it was flying...it worked great.
I have not sat down to see what is up with the Axe...it will probably wait until this weekend....I am really trying to talk the wife into letting me get another Heli...;)

[markind]

I am really trying to talk the wife into letting me get another Heli...;)

Hmmm I am getting the wife to get me this for my upcoming bday:

http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/ProductGallery.aspx?ProdID=EFL4550


Vega$ NE1? :YeaBaby:

[Edwinssiv]

I saw that in the catalog I just got from Horizon Hobby...to bad I am not a plane guy...I like the looks of this plane...may have to get into them so I can buy this one :)

[MiniBichus]

Are you using the Helimax servos? That might explain why the higher CCPM mix on yours (I am using Hitec HS-65HB)

Planes? No rotary? c'mon man... you won't be wrecking that many times anymore... not fun!!! :D :tongue

If you convince the wife, I'd say put the RCT-450 in the to-look list, Skyshark or Diablo, either one works, (silver or red). Excellent quality, and its fully compatible with TREX parts which most LHS carry and I think it is a lot more bang for the buck. I love mine.

Cheers.

MB.

[JEB123]

Hmmm I am getting the wife to get me this for my upcoming bday:

http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/ProductGallery.aspx?ProdID=EFL4550


Vega$ NE1? :YeaBaby:

Sweeeeet looking plank! I would love one, but I have a .61 size nitro buzzard sitting in my room and a smaller brushed electric but I never fly them anymore cause the only airfield is about 25 miles from my house. Used to go every weekend and spend 8 or 10 hours there on Saturdays! Might get a small foamie to fool around nearby, but the helis can fly almost anywhere, that's why I like'em! If you do get it, get ready to spend some$$ on batteries (two 3200's min.) and two 60A ESC's! I'd go for a nice single motor myself. Here's the one I'm thinking about, check out the video.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTEU9&P=0 :thumbup:

[Edwinssiv]

I know Mini...I love the Sky-Shark! Very Nice looking helis!
I have been eying the Gazaur Mars though for a long time....it is so hard...
I am also thinking of the CopterX SE V2 or Dragonus Elite...
Or going real cheap with the EXI 450 and putting in a scorpion -6 & ESC in it.......so hard to decide.

[Edwinssiv]

So...you are not going to believe this one...
I decided I was going to take my wife out for a late lunch and a movie today...I had been on line this morning showing her some of the helis I was thinking of getting and all the costs involved...
So any way we go out and I wanted to go by the LHS to pick up some servos for my Axe and a ball link (http://www.rcuniverse.com/buynow/keywordclick.cfm?bid_id=5237) I needed for my BH...so Deb, my wife starts talking to one of the employees about the different sizes and styles they have of Trex's...and I get my parts and I walk back over to where she is talking...she says to me "So when you called the Copter X and the EXI clones they are copying the Trex....right?" I say yes...they are copying the first and basically the best out there. All of the sudden she says "Well you should get this one then and not worry about the others" I was a little shocked at that moment and speechless...I was like yea right honey...let's get my parts and go and I will get something less expensive...she was like no...if this is what you want why not get what you really want...She said build it the way you want...now folks...I was floored by this...usually she is very good with our money and she does an amazing job keeping me reined in most of the time...but she let me go wild...
So I am the proud new owner of a Trex 450SE v2 with the Align motor and ESC (http://www.rcuniverse.com/buynow/keywordclick.cfm?bid_id=5300), Thunder power 2070mah 25C and Flight Power 2070mah 25C batteries (http://www.rcuniverse.com/buynow/keywordclick.cfm?bid_id=5285), Hitech HS65MG servos for the cyclic, Futaba 401 Gyro (http://www.rcuniverse.com/buynow/keywordclick.cfm?bid_id=5302) with the Futaba 9257 servo on the tail... http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s2.gif http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s2.gif http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s2.gif http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s2.gif http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s2.gif http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s2.gif
So guess what I am doing this long weekend? http://image2-0.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/image/s4.gif
Deb wants to take pictures as I build for the family to see so I will share them with all of you as well...Hopefully I will be up and flying by Monday...

[markind]

So I am the proud new owner of a Trex 450SE v2 ...

:clappp :banana :cheers

Dang dawg!! You'll love it. You'll go through the Finless Bob videos for hours and hours - if you want your Gy401 setup just right. Take your time installing the HS-65MGs. Bob covers what you need to do to get the ball links directly lined up.

If you do it right and take your time - you shouldn't be ready by Monday if you are building from the scratch kit.

Don't rush it! There's a million details... A lot of them critical! :wow2:

[JEB123]

Awesome dude! Welcome to the club! I just did my first flight this morning on the black TRex! One of my online buddies flexbs, you guys have probably seen him on here, came by and checked out my radio setup. I put the blades on and took her outside. I had set up my radio like his, but we didn't consider the power difference of my Scorpion motor and had the normal throttle curve set up to jump from 0 at point 1 to 70% at point 2. Holy crap. I just eased up the collective and this thing jumped, I slammed the gimbal down, and it went on it's side and folded the blades, no damage at all. Whew! Scared the crap out of me. I changed the second TC point to 50% and lifted off. OMG. What a responsive smooth killer machine. Even in a 5mph wind I could easily hold a hover. After flying the Axe CP, the difference is day and night. You're gonna love this thing!!!!! Now to drop the mechanics in my scale Hughes and start building my silver one! Congratulations!!!! :YeaBaby::YeaBaby::YeaBaby:

[Ray K.]

Another TRex convert!!!! YAY!!!

Like everyone else said, you're going to love it. And I'm totally backing up Mark on this one, too- DO NOT RUSH THE BUILD!!! Take your time! It'll be totally worth it, I promise! Now if I can just convince my old lady to let me get into that Pantera (or maybe Vibe 50) sometime this Summer.... you're a very lucky man!

Gonna go fly tomorrow! The weather is supposed to be pretty good. I wanted to fly today, but it was a little too windy during the brief window of opportunity that I had today. No plans for tomorrow, so pray to the wind gods for me! If all goes well, I should be able to spend ALL DAY at the field... I'm hoping for 7 or 8 flights. I intend on attempting my first-ever Cuban 8 and 540° stall turns with the 'Rex.... wish me luck! Maybe even a Death Spiral if I'm feeling froggy...

-Ray

[Edwinssiv]

Actually with all the experience I have had tearing down and setting up the Axe and my Black Hawk 450...the build is going well...The frame was already partially together, I just had to put the two halves together and lock tite all the factory screws, so that is all finished. Head and servos are in place...ESC is soldered and ready, I have to solder the motor next and drop that in...so I should be flying tomorrow...I love setting up the electronics...and I have watched the Finless videos numerous times already for my other helis! Priceless info!!!!

I have to tell you all, that I put CF blades, fly bar paddles and tail rotor on my Black Hawk along with my Futaba 9256 and the difference in tail authority is amazing! I have the same set up for the TRex. With the CF the head speed is faster giving it much better cyclic reponse...I did not believe that the digital tail servo would make so much of a difference. Boy was I wrong!

[Edwinssiv]

It is official....The Rex is flying! :YeaBaby: :YeaBaby: :YeaBaby:
And flying great I might add...I can go hands off for 2 seconds no problem! :banana
I finished the final set up and just test hovered it for a few minutes. What an awesome machine!!!!!!! I have to program the ESC and then I am ready to go.
The power is amazing out of the 430XL. :noteworthy
I love the how this bird handles! Very, very nice.
I want to thank all of you guys for the help in learning how to work on and understanding the basics plus set ups with this thread...you guys rock...so I have to hold off a little...but I will get the Axe up and running very soon!

[markind]

Yep I was glued to my new 'Rex for several weeks but then came back to the Axe. I want to have two smooth running helis in the bag. Congrats on the new bird!

[Edwinssiv]

Here is a little slide show on the build of the Trex...pictures were my wife's idea...not mine...so I figured I better have some fun with it....
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/Edwinssiv/Trex%20Build/th_de979572.jpg (http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/Edwinssiv/Trex%20Build/?action=view&current=de979572.pbr)

I hope this works for you all....

[JEB123]

Wow! Awesome! Congratulations. Now you know how I felt on Saturday morning! I thoroughly enjoyed the slide show, excellent job! We're officially TRexer's! Now back to my Axe and sim for practice.. I'd hate to lose my orientation and whack my Rex!

[Ray K.]

That's awesome, Ed!!!

Gotta say that you've got bigger cojones than I do, man! That's a pretty small area to hover a 'Rex! When I got my 'Rex up for her first test hover, I was in an area maybe 6 times bigger than what it looks like you have, and I was still terrified of hitting stuff- namely the ceiling! I can only imagine what that must have sounded like in there! In my shoebox of an apartment, I spooled up the 'Rex once without any blades on it, and the neighbors still came running upstairs to see what the ruckus was. Congratulations!

Well, I didn't get to fly today. Not only was it super-windy out (steady 20 mph with 30 mph gusts), but when I finally said "screw it!" and went out to the field in hopes that wind would relax around dusk, there was no one there! The gate was locked and everything! Unbelievable! I finally get a day off, and it all falls apart. Bummer. Got some good time in on the sim, though, and was able to make some good progress with orientation stuff. I've got all upright orientations down cold now, but it's the "dynamic" orientation stuff that still trips me up a little.... bad things tend to happen when I get the tail involved. However, today I pulled a pretty cool orientation stunt- I did a forward upright loop, kicked the tail out 90° on the final 1/8th of the loop and continued on into a sideways loop. From there, I continued through the same way doing a backwards and another sideways loop. Not only did I not wander off course too far, but my loops were all about the same size. Progress is being made! Hopefully I'll be able to turn this into pirouetting loops before too long. Good stuff! It's that whole stirring-the-cyclic in perfect unison with the piro rate thing that's going to be my next huge challenge.

With all this time on the sim, I'm very eager to get the ACP out and see what it can really do. I know it can do clean circuits, and I've flipped it a couple times, but much like the rest of you guys, I still find myself flying it all the time. It's just that the area that I have readily available to me to fly any time I want isn't very big- so small, in fact, that I can't even really open up the Axe and fly it full speed. I feel like I'm becoming too much of a sim jockey, and I really want to see if the ol' FrankenAxe can roll and boogie as well as I can get it to do on the sim.

But anyway... now that we're all flying "real" helicopters, what do you all think will become of our Axes? I don't know about you guys, but I have no intention of allowing mine to become a hangar queen. Like I stated before, I don't think I'm going to put any more money into modifying it, but I will certainly keep it in tip-top condition and flight-ready. Hopefully I'm pretty much done crashing it all the time, so maintenance should should be about the only cost associated with it now. If it weren't for the fear of periodically cooking my tail motors and the inevitable crash that follows, I'd fly it all the time. I'm still having a hard time justifying the cost of doing the belt tail... only because there's all kinds of other stuff that I'll want to do along with it. I dunno....

Later, gentlemen....

-Ray

[Edwinssiv]

Bummer Ray...
The area I fly in the house is actually pretty big....about 15 X 20 so I have some room...I had my throttle curve set fairly tame and the Align ESC has a soft start mode so I knew I would not be going into the ceiling.

The winds died down for me a little...so I had to take the new heli out for a test flight....damn what a nice stable heli the Trex is, even with 10 mph winds. I flew a bunch of circuits and just got use to it and checked out my settings...I took my Black Hawk out as well just to compare and with the Carbon Fiber Blades it does much better in the breeze with the higher head speed. So I flew two packs in the Trex and two on the Black Hawk...but I did set the black Hawk down hard...it was getting dark, got harder to see it and I brought her down too quick and tipped her over on landing...messed up my CF blades and bent the feathering shaft....no biggie I guess. But I should not have pushed it...but I was dying to fly! :oops:

As to the GSoFA and it's lowly cousin who is still in pieces at the moment...My wife said if I get them flying and sell them off, I can get the Gazaur Mars 480 which is the next heli I really want. So it is decision time on the Axe...I am not sure if I really want to sell it off or not....but boy I would love to get the Mars 480, such a cool looking heli. I need to get new servos for the Axe any way so I have time to decide...after all the work that has went into the Axe, I have a hard time imagining it not being around...so I will keep you all posted as to what I decide.

[MiniBichus]

Wow, nice man. Congrats on the Rex. I went with the RCT450 Skyshark instead, both are great machines. I had to decomission the Axe this weekend b/c at the end of the day it is my friend's chopper and I think its time to give it back, specially now that I have the 450. So I took it apart this weekend and I plan on buying all of the stuff that I broke on the process before I give it back to him, probably sometime this week. I sure miss the Axe and if the heli would've been mine I probably would've kept it one piece but....
The good thing is that I have all the electronics/servos/rx/gyro for another 450 helicopter, but perhaps I'll get a belt driven 300 size heli, which will be really nice, we'll see how it pans out.

Cheers.

MB.

[Edwinssiv]

I do love the looks of the RCT 450's...they are nice looking helis...but they wife gave me the go ahead while we were at the LHS...so I jumped on it before she changed her mind:rolling

I have been thinking about selling the Axes today...man that is a tough decision...but to have the Gazaur Mars 480...I may just have to sell them...the stock one I really don't mind selling as it was set up for my wife and she has not wanted to go beyond her little CX2...but the GSoFA is hard to imagine selling...

[JEB123]

Don't! Hey see if you guys can figure out my Axe question I posted about reversed collective.

[JEB123]

Sorry, it's here:

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=76368