Mini T Fist Flights

[OHIOBOWHUNTER]

MAN this thing is a blast !:YeaBaby: after a bad experience owning a blade cp I didn't expect much:( now if I had some decent swash servos , I cannibalized a foamy and used the s3114 's and they suck !:mad: any recommendations for new servos ? thanks :noteworthy

[N11634]

You won't regret the servo pack from JR. 3 DS285's and a 3400G. Fantastic combo and a direct bolt-on into the servo mounts with no modifications or shimming.

[mkoutnik]

I use the DS285's too. They're excellent!

[cmb2003svt]

I used the DS285's that came with my DX7 and i am using a 3400g for the tail. They are great confidence for a noob. I had to dial in some expo since they were a little too quick for me.

[mkoutnik]

I completely agree...I use 25% expo (100% dual rate) on the aileron and elevator channels.

[3D Dave]

Hey guys.

I'm a complete noob to heli's and the DX7.

How EXACTLY do I dial in expo on this setup?

The person that set my heli up just changed the values at the screen that shows:

[SWASH MIX] in the upper left hand corner and the lower right was:

-> AILE + 46%
ELEV + 46%
PIT - 64%

He was playing with the AILE and ELEV going from 43-58% and letting me fly the heli to see how it felt. He was supposedly adjusting the swash expo (sensitivity) for me since I'm a new heli pilot. Not sure what PIT was for either.

From what I can see in the DX7 instruction manual however, this screen is actually the SWASHPLATE MIXING screen. The screen that actually appears to show you elevator & aileron expo (and seems to be the one that needs to be changed) appears to be:
---------------------------------
[D/R & EXP]

>AILE

EXP LIN

D/R 100%
----------------------------------

with an output line graph on the right side. It seems to me all he did was adjust the amount of "throw" in the swash, not the sensitivity.

Please clarify WHERE & HOW I actually adjust the expo (sensitivity) for the swashplate and what does it show, where to confirm my settings/changes?

This whole menu system on the DX7 is VERY complex & confusing and the manual seems to lack the fine details.

Thanks for any help you can give me on this. A STEP-BY-STEP would be GREATLY appreciated.

Dave D.

[Aox]

It's late, and i'm a little intoxicated, so a step by step isn't going to happen, but here's info :D

He was kind of adding "expo" but not really. He was just limiting how far the swash would tilt, which makes the stick less sensitive, yes, but also limits the throws like you guessed. The PIT setting is for how much PITCH travel the collective has. Stock head with that setting probably gives +- 11/12 if set up correctly. I have all my percentages still at 60 and don't have any problems.

The DR and EXP screen you're referring to is the correct screen. You want to change that expo from lin for linear, so be some positive percentage. Do it on aileron and elevator. I hear people use 15 - 25 to start with, but I prefer no expo.

That's it. Nothing else to it. Can you get into the menus and everything? Seems you're almost there.

DX7 menu isn't really that complicated once you learn it. Seemed like greek to me when I bought mine, but it's a piece of cake now.

Good luck!

-Aox

[3D Dave]

Thanks Aox.

I know now that's the right screen but I'm afraid to change something I shouldn't by accident and then have a crash just besause I'm not 100% clear on the menu adjustments. Since you fly with no expo and I seem to be progressing at hovering without it then I'll leave it as is for now.

Thanks again.

Dave D.

[ghtracey]

Thanks Aox.

I know now that's the right screen but I'm afraid to change something I shouldn't by accident and then have a crash just besause I'm not 100% clear on the menu adjustments. Since you fly with no expo and I seem to be progressing at hovering without it then I'll leave it as is for now.

Thanks again.

Dave D.

Don't be afraid of changing it, you can always put it back. It will make your life easier to have expo turned on. It will make the heli a little less responsive around center stick, allowing you to fly smoother. Expo doesn't change the amount of travel available or anything. It really is a good thing when you are learning, and even after that.

[3D Dave]

Thanks ghtracey.

The heli actually already feels like there's less response around center stick so I don't think I want to make it more. Just trying to hover for now. I had a litte "accident" last night. Thought I'd try bringing it around from tail in to nose in. BAD IDEA!!! I tipped it from about 18 inches off the ground. Cracked a main blade, snapped the landing skid base and both base mounts on the frame. The frame mounts are now drying from a good dose of J-B Weld and I'm picking up new skids tomorrow at the LHS. Only thing is I have to install and fly the Align blades I bought as spares. I hear they "might" be 1-2 degrees +/- from what the OEM woodies are and I'll have to adjust the radio trims to account for that.

We'll see.

I felt a little better though when my teacher said I improved quite a bit since the last week.

Dave D.

Motto of the day... DON'T RUSH YOURSELF TOO FAST WHEN LEARNING!!!

[ghtracey]

Yeah nose-in can be a bugger. Only on the sim for me as of now. Flying towards myself nose-in is fine (plank experience), but the hover still gets me. Slow piros too for some reason. The weather is finally starting to warm up here in the great white north, so I may actually get some more stick time in. Glad to hear you're progressing along good, and your accident was only minor.

Had the same type of accident as you, except mine was doing a slow 360... it wandered a little close to the bush and I corrected wrong, set it down in the snow with minor damage... mixing arm, fly bar, and one boom support, a bit of hanger rash on one blade (Titan 50). All in all, getting that first crash out of the way and having it be a minor one was relieving. :P