MA Stratus 'Bobby Watts Special' build videos

[Laurens]

The tail and head arec exactly the same, and the frame is almost the same. It just uses a heavier engine.

[Mercuriell]

Swash assembly and servo install posted - no great surprises here !

Swash & Servo Install 32MB wmv (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=mercuriell&filename=Stratusswash.wmv)

Next up rotor head, fan shroud and frame stiffeners!

[CatchmyCorsair]

Is it a bad idea to use a zip tie around the clunk line outlet? I keep reading Hayes line slips off but I've never heard of anyone using a zip tie. (nitro noob here)

[Mercuriell]

Is it a bad idea to use a zip tie around the clunk line outlet? I keep reading Hayes line slips off but I've never heard of anyone using a zip tie. (nitro noob here)

I can't see a problem - that's what I have ended up doing with mine !

[Mercuriell]

Posted next vid of : Fitting Fan Shroud, Stiffeners and Canopy mods (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=mercuriell&filename=Stratuscanopy.wmv) - next up will be Rotor Head and Tail Rotor

[Mercuriell]

Posted Rotor Head build (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=mercuriell&filename=Stratusrotor.wmv)- took a bit longer than anticipated - quite straightforward except inserting the inner radial bearings was a PIA :)

[Laurens]

I noticed you don't use braided sleeving John. I never did either, untill I noticed some chaffed wires on my Fury. I wouldn't take any chances if I were you.

[HFG]

Rodents are great heli builders !!

[gwk]

Rats John RATS! :)

[Laurens]

There's just a little error in your editing John, when doing the carbon flybar cage you already have the 2 balls on the flybar carrier, and after you mounted the carbon cage parts you add them in the build.

The Stratus flybar carrier is going to be the first part in my fury to stratus conversion.

[Mercuriell]

Thanks for watching the vids folks - thought I'd chuck the odd rodent in see if anyone paying attention ;)


I noticed you don't use braided sleeving John. I never did either, untill I noticed some chaffed wires on my Fury. I wouldn't take any chances if I were you.

There's just a little error in your editing John, when doing the carbon flybar cage you already have the 2 balls on the flybar carrier, and after you mounted the carbon cage parts you add them in the build. The Stratus flybar carrier is going to be the first part in my fury to stratus conversion.

Hi Laurens

Radio installation not finished yet ! - so may put braiding on the elevator servo wire - it's pretty well secured by the proprietary clips and I noticed BW doesn't (http://bobbywatts.com/images/Stratus_nocanopy_1.jpg):) - No error in the edit - I changed the orientation of the CF flybar arm mounting discs after I assembled the flybar cage and found more convenient to have both flybar securing set screws pointed upwards - put that segment in the appropriate time slot for assembly - sorry I didn't feel inclined to tear down the flybar cage just for video timeline continuity ;)

BTW - can you post a link for the Maryland fan you're getting !

[Caleb.R]

Your latest video links to the same Stratus canopy one mate.

[Mercuriell]

Your latest video links to the same Stratus canopy one mate.

Thanks mate :thumbup: - link fixed !

[Laurens]

I got it from Brent, he's advertising on RR:

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/gallery/25254/?script=Maryland_Machine

This was the easiest fan installation I've EVER had. Just heat it to 80 degrees and it slips right on.

[jared_of_atlanta]

Nora wants to ride that thing! Great video. Thanks for doing it.

[CatchmyCorsair]

John,

How long did you end up cutting your clunk line? With the OS bubbleless clunk the 75 mm worked fine. Occasionally it will get caught up in the corner when the line is sticking straight out.

I soaked my clunk line for 3 days and it expanded to 81mm. So I'm thinking the line won't expand much more than the 75mm since it won't be soaked in fuel for more than a few minutes (each flight). Now if I leave the tank full between flying days then we have a problem.

[Mercuriell]

I cut mine to 70mm to allow a bit of expansion in the Hayes clunk line

[Bobbyk]

Any more vids, John?

Thanks

Robert

[Mercuriell]

Any more vids, John?

Thanks

Robert

Here you go! Rotor Final - fixing it on heli and some notes on the swash and frame electrics:

Fixing Rotor Head on Heli and Frame Electrics (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=mercuriell&filename=Stratusfinalrotor.wmv)

Tail assembly should go up tonight :)

[Mercuriell]

Interesting comment on the problem I have with some elevator lag on the swash using the 8717 servos from q8hobbytime (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=5153) in Kuwait - will do some work with arm geometry see if I can dial it out !

while watching ur vid i have noticed somthing that cause the elevator servo no moving with the others which is that you are useing the standard servo horns which comes with the servo, which are wrong to use because you cant get a 90 deg arm along with the belcranks, you will get it from the pitch and ali but not the elev, the reson is that the pitch and the alu has the same distance from the center of the servo to the bellcrank unlike the elev, that why you can notice latency, what would i do is change the servo horn to http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=JRPA207 (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=JRPA207) have a look at the this (http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t404544p1/?highlight=stratus+8717)

[EASYKILL]

John,
I don't understand his point about equal distance between servo and belcrank centers. That should not matter, as long as you keep everything at 90 degrees speeds should be the same. 20 mm seems to be the magic # for all of them. I have been following your vids while building my Strat. Thank you so much for your time and hard work, I have not even used the CD that came with it yet!:noteworthy So I hope you get the rest of the build vids up soon (not much left). Come on man it's up to you wether or not I get to maiden it this coming weekend!!!:YeaBaby: Thanks again.
Tony

[Mercuriell]

Thanks Tony - no I don't understand it either as the double armed JR horns that came with the 8717s have a hole at 20mm - having said that I went over the bird with a Vernier and the ball to servo screw has ended up about a mm shorter :DOH- I have some Mikado servo arms - these are nice and chunky and drilled for 20mm so I'm gonna sling them on - try and get rid of all subtrim, reset endpoints then check out the mixing again.

Anyway tail rotor assembly video (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=mercuriell&filename=Stratustail.wmv)posted - sorry about the intermittent Allman Bros background music - it was getting late last night and the rat had gone to bed.

Have a week's holiday so see if I can get it all together before taking the kid off to the Gold Coast for a couple of days - definitely looking to maiden too by the w/e :)

[EASYKILL]

John,
Are you going to replace all servo arms or just elevator? Do you have a link where I could find the Mikado arms? :thumbup: My daughter keeps a rat as a pet. Must seem kinda odd to you.LOL Man those dampers were a *****. The c-clips only went flying across the garage twice(can't believe I found it both times). I noticed you mounted your BLS on the outside of the left frame, looks like BW mounts his on the inside. :thinking Any reasons or just trial and error? Loading the next video now.
Thanks
Tony

[Mercuriell]

John,
Are you going to replace all servo arms or just elevator? Do you have a link where I could find the Mikado arms? :thumbup: My daughter keeps a rat as a pet. Must seem kinda odd to you.LOL Man those dampers were a *****. The c-clips only went flying across the garage twice(can't believe I found it both times). I noticed you mounted your BLS on the outside of the left frame, looks like BW mounts his on the inside. :thinking Any reasons or just trial and error? Loading the next video now.
Thanks
Tony

Dunno yet - probably replace them all as they're good sturdy items (http://www.espritmodel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5483)Rats make great heli building companions - they just sit there quizzically watching you and love the work bench - lots of things to explore - they arent' fazed either by the occasional expletive. Funny how little girls love rats - we bought one for my 10yo son after one of the girls in his class brought one in - I resisted as long as I could but I have to admit it's a SUPERB pet. You're right about the rudder servo - I have yet to finalise position but will do that when I install the tail pushrod.

[CatchmyCorsair]

John,
Man those dampers were a *****. The c-clips only went flying across the garage twice(can't believe I found it both times).

Good! I thought maybe it was just me. :lol: I had a heckuva time getting the feathering shaft into the head with those dampers and the blasted piece of fuel tubing. :arggg:

Did you get some cir-clip pliers? Those make the clips very easy.

For anyone, is sub-trim really a bad idea? I've used it on my 450 setup but that's the extent of my assy experience. I'll go with the JR heavy duty arms if it's a problem.