Went manual flybarless

[catfight]

I did it!

Removed the 120 grams of miscellaneous flybar gear - I was amazed how much junk there was up there in the head.. Using AP2000i for mixer (using it for AP before) without any settings changes except adding 6 deg of positive phasing. I have only hovered and mild figure eights (so far today anyway using training gear ) but it was windy and kind of exciting :0) This will put the fun back into flying I can see already :0) No gyros (except tail). Hardware was simple - cut off arms on washout base (the part that went to the hiller mixer), drilled and tapped 3 mm hole and inserted bolt to convert washout base to swash driver, inverted blade holders for leading edge control (used raptor rods for reach from swash to blade grips), Added 60 % expo for ail/ele, and thats it!

Blades are Mavrikk "Patriot 600mm".

[Bobbyk]

Can we see some pics

Thanks

Robert

[catfight]

Robert,

Since the site change I don't know how to upload to pages (without gallery). Can you teach me how?

Thanks,

[catfight]

I figured it out :0) Nevermind about photo stuff.

Noticed headspeed increase (have not measured with eagletree yet). GOing out to fly.

[catfight]

I am beginning to experiment with weighting the blades (safely of course). After setting up expo (lots of it) I am now trying tape weight of various amounts. Today used 1 7/8" wide tape, 4 1/2 turns 6" center of tape to end of blade and tape weighs 7 grams. Will try other turn counts this week. So far the 7 gms. per blade makes it somewhat better controlable but will have to try in wind conditions also :0)

Does anyone have experience with weighted blades and/or have any links to info I might peruse?

[tungym]

I saw your setup still have the 2 pins on the washout. Does it needed to be removed to adjust the correct phase angle?

[catfight]

tungym,

The washout is inverted and the long arms cut off. Then drilled and tapped for grub screw. It is only to act as swash driver.What pins are you talking about?

[Wbird]

tungym,

The washout is inverted and the long arms cut off. Then drilled and tapped for grub screw. It is only to act as swash driver.What pins are you talking about?

I believe the pins menstioned are the ones that come out of the bottom of the head block and drive the slide block. Do you find that there is any interactions when flying with it locked in that position. I have been thinking of trying the same thing. Which Raptor rods were you using. I have ordered the 60 size set. I hope this is the right ones. How is the flight? Is it worth trying? Does the wind affect it much?

[catfight]

wbird,

The pins do not interfere with any head motion - the driver is pinned to the main shaft. The rod kit I used was for a raptor but I don't know which one - sorry! I have not flown much lately - been traveling over the holidays but when I did fly it was somewhat exciting :0) Will be experimenting with blades more - myabe some v-blades or radix to see how it goes without tape on blades.

[Wbird]

You don't have to rotate the swash driver to adjust phasing? Might have something to do with the exciting flights. If not then great, makes things a lot simpler.

Looking forward to updates.

[catfight]

The Ap2000i is used for the phasing adjust- but it only required about 6 degrees. I think the exciting flights are because it has been changed to leading edge control. Lots of expo to compensate - it is flyable even without weights thou - maybe with some air time I'll get used to it. Try it out and see :0)

[Wazzer]

Cat fight

Why was it necessary to change to leading edge control?

Was it just to make the connecting rods line up properly?

Cheers

Ben

[catfight]

Ben,

I think it reduces the amount of movement required to control the blades and also to line up rods. I'm not an expert :0)