Winter and BeastX

Stumblebee · 11-06-2011, 07:50 AM

This will be my first winter flying with a BeastX/550e machine. Are there any concerns or cautions I should be aware of using BeastX in the cold?

Bob O · 11-06-2011, 09:55 AM

How cold do you want to go? I flew the other day in 40*F with no problems. There are factory videos of guys flying the MB in the snow with no problems.

If you're using super rigid tape right now, you might consider softer tape for below freezing temps.

Good luck.

Here's one of the factory videos, Nigel Brown at 21*F

scott s · 11-06-2011, 10:20 AM

aluminum booms will shrink and give you more problems than the beastx will. It was developed in cold weather and hence the soft original mounting tape that does not work in warm weather or at all HA!

egicar · 11-06-2011, 10:23 AM

V3 manual, pag. 7:

Radio controlled (R/C) models consist of several electrical components. It is therefore necessary to protect the model from moisture and other foreign subtances. If the model is exposed to moisture this may lead to a malfunction which may cause damage to the model or a crash. Never fly in the rain or extremely high humidity.

Do not expose the MICROBEAST-System to extreme variations in temperature. Before powering up the system, wait (for) some time so that the electronics can acclimatize and any accumulated condensation is able to evaporate.

That's all

sunnyville · 11-15-2011, 01:28 PM

quick question: Why would I use softer tape/pad in the cold? It is below freezing here and recently had a tipover on spoolup (After numerous successful flights). Are there more vibes when it's colder?

desertstalker · 11-15-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnyville

quick question: Why would I use softer tape/pad in the cold? It is below freezing here and recently had a tipover on spoolup (After numerous successful flights). Are there more vibes when it's colder?

No but the tape will be harder so will not absorb the vibes as well.

skyhigh · 11-15-2011, 05:46 PM

The grease in the servos becoming more solid from the cold temperatures I've heard can be a big source of problems.

ragtop01 · 11-15-2011, 11:36 PM

i pulled my 600efl out of the warm car, slapped a battery and flew in 20deg. no problems it didint seem to need to acclimate.

joliecoeur13 · 11-18-2011, 02:19 PM

flew my LOGO 400 and 500 was -5 Celsius no prob now that I have TX mitts I plan on flying on sunny days up to -5-10

sunnyville · 11-18-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragtop01

i pulled my 600efl out of the warm car, slapped a battery and flew in 20deg. no problems it didint seem to need to acclimate.

If you have the time, you should let your heli sit for a few minutes before you fly so the gyro sensors can acclimatize. Otherwhise you might experience drift.

SKYQUEST · 11-19-2011, 09:58 AM

I'm told that 40 degrees F and below makes the ball links stiff (shrink-age!) I wouldnt recommend flying if all the links (or any) are stiff.
The plastic must shrink faster than the metal balls or something but, they do INDEED get stiff at 30F I can say 1st hand.
Maybe bring the warm heli out of the warm car but, it's going to cool off real quick and the ball links will get stiff during flight if you do that.
Sucks...(the cold weather that is!)

Bob O · 11-19-2011, 10:14 AM

Yes, I can verify this. My slightly worn/loose links at 80*F this summer had shrunk to a perfect fit at 40*F this fall. Some other links that were a perfectly smooth fit had shrunk to a snug fit.

Two winters ago I had a crash with my 450Pro after trying to fly unkowingly with tight ball links. My links were perfectly sized for room temperature, and I set the heli in the garage outside for about 10 minutes to let the gyro acclimate. Needless to say, the ball links shrunk and tightened up so much that I had extremely poor cyclic response.

All I was going to do was hover straight out my driveway and back over the snow to get some cool footage, but I couldn't even hold the heli in a hover. The cyclic response was so bad that no matter what I did with the stick, the heli would lag behind the controls, resulting in over-controlling.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad with a FBL heli, but I'll never fly in the cold with tight links again.

desertstalker · 11-19-2011, 08:23 PM

So make a new set of links, let em sit outside in typical temps then ream them out to the right size while cold (leave the reamer out too so it shrinks to match the balls.

then you can swap em out for winter.

Cant say I have tested this, not enough temp variation around here...

11-06-2011, 07:50 AM	#1
Stumblebee Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Port Coquitlam, CANADA	Winter and BeastX This will be my first winter flying with a BeastX/550e machine. Are there any concerns or cautions I should be aware of using BeastX in the cold? __________________ MQX Quad,Align 550E/NazaH/GPS,Align450 Pro/CPII, Flame Wheel F450 Quad NazaM/GPS/GoPro2 Never lend money. It causes amnesia.

11-06-2011, 09:55 AM	#2
Bob O HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Negaunee, Michigan	How cold do you want to go? I flew the other day in 40F with no problems. There are factory videos of guys flying the MB in the snow with no problems. If you're using super rigid tape right now, you might consider softer tape for below freezing temps. Good luck. Here's one of the factory videos, Nigel Brown at 21F __________________ Warp 360 Spartan Vortex VX1

11-06-2011, 10:23 AM	#4
egicar Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Italy	V3 manual, pag. 7: Radio controlled (R/C) models consist of several electrical components. It is therefore necessary to protect the model from moisture and other foreign subtances. If the model is exposed to moisture this may lead to a malfunction which may cause damage to the model or a crash. Never fly in the rain or extremely high humidity. Do not expose the MICROBEAST-System to extreme variations in temperature. Before powering up the system, wait (for) some time so that the electronics can acclimatize and any accumulated condensation is able to evaporate. That's all __________________ GAUI addict: EP100 PRO, EP100 V1, EP200 V2 BeastX/satellite, EP255 BeastX/satellite. Now, TREX 250 SE BeastX/satellite as well.

11-15-2011, 05:46 PM	#7
skyhigh Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: California	The grease in the servos becoming more solid from the cold temperatures I've heard can be a big source of problems. __________________ Hitec Aurora 9 ∙ Futaba 10CHP ∙ Walkera Lama 2 ∙ T-Rex 250 + 250 SE ∙ 2x T-Rex 500 ESP 3GX ∙ 450 Tarot ZYX ∙ 2x Dynam EZ Hawk ∙ Dynam Meteor ∙ Skywalker ∙ Logo 600 V-Bar ∙ Logo 500 SE 3GX ∙ Mini Popwing ∙ Popwing ∙ Y-UFO

11-18-2011, 02:19 PM	#9
joliecoeur13 Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: FERNIE CANADA	flew my LOGO 400 and 500 was -5 Celsius no prob now that I have TX mitts I plan on flying on sunny days up to -5-10 __________________ E7 - MSH Brain- HW 120HV- BLS 451-693's Protos 500 stretch- Robird31- JR3400- BLS251-470's Building- DIABOLO - Brain - MKS servos

11-06-2011, 10:20 AM	#3
scott s Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: malabar fl	aluminum booms will shrink and give you more problems than the beastx will. It was developed in cold weather and hence the soft original mounting tape that does not work in warm weather or at all HA!

11-15-2011, 01:28 PM	#5
sunnyville Registered Users Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austria	quick question: Why would I use softer tape/pad in the cold? It is below freezing here and recently had a tipover on spoolup (After numerous successful flights). Are there more vibes when it's colder?

11-15-2011, 11:36 PM	#8
ragtop01 Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: ut	i pulled my 600efl out of the warm car, slapped a battery and flew in 20deg. no problems it didint seem to need to acclimate.

11-19-2011, 09:58 AM	#11
SKYQUEST Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: US, Elmwood Park, NJ	I'm told that 40 degrees F and below makes the ball links stiff (shrink-age!) I wouldnt recommend flying if all the links (or any) are stiff. The plastic must shrink faster than the metal balls or something but, they do INDEED get stiff at 30F I can say 1st hand. Maybe bring the warm heli out of the warm car but, it's going to cool off real quick and the ball links will get stiff during flight if you do that. Sucks...(the cold weather that is!)

11-19-2011, 10:14 AM	#12
Bob O HF Support My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Negaunee, Michigan	Yes, I can verify this. My slightly worn/loose links at 80F this summer had shrunk to a perfect fit at 40F this fall. Some other links that were a perfectly smooth fit had shrunk to a snug fit. Two winters ago I had a crash with my 450Pro after trying to fly unkowingly with tight ball links. My links were perfectly sized for room temperature, and I set the heli in the garage outside for about 10 minutes to let the gyro acclimate. Needless to say, the ball links shrunk and tightened up so much that I had extremely poor cyclic response. All I was going to do was hover straight out my driveway and back over the snow to get some cool footage, but I couldn't even hold the heli in a hover. The cyclic response was so bad that no matter what I did with the stick, the heli would lag behind the controls, resulting in over-controlling. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad with a FBL heli, but I'll never fly in the cold with tight links again. __________________ Warp 360 Spartan Vortex VX1

11-19-2011, 08:23 PM	#13
desertstalker Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Australia	So make a new set of links, let em sit outside in typical temps then ream them out to the right size while cold (leave the reamer out too so it shrinks to match the balls. then you can swap em out for winter. Cant say I have tested this, not enough temp variation around here... __________________ -DX8 -MSH MiniProtos Stretched, SK720, DS95/DS95i, Hyp 4S 25C 2500mAh -MSH Protos Stretched, Brain, Hyp DS16/BLS251, 6S 3000mAh

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