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Wargamer · 08-18-2016, 07:02 PM

I'm tweaking the head on the stretched Atom that I bought used. (FBL is a mini VBar.) The ball links need to be last hole to get close to 90 degrees, but this seems to give a lot more throw than required. For example, I have to set the pitch endpoints below 80 on the tx to achieve +/- 13 degrees collective, and when I go to set the cyclic limit, I can't get to 8 degrees within the range of adjustment the VBar provides.

Is this just the Atom's geometry or am I missing something?

Ah Clem · 08-19-2016, 08:31 PM

The Atom was originally designed as a fly barred helicopter, which required long servo arms. When the fly bar less head came out, the frames were never redesigned to accommodate the shorter servo arms needed for FBL setups. It still flies well in spite of this

Wargamer · 08-20-2016, 02:26 PM

Thanks - that makes sense!

Ah Clem · 08-20-2016, 02:36 PM

My pleasure sir!

As I recall there were three versions of the Atom side frames: A G-10 version (which my original Atom is), a CF version with the same side frames as the original G-10, and a slightly later/revised version which allowed a slightly larger battery to be installed. I believe the last version came out before the FBL head did.

The 6HV did get a re-design on the frames when the flybarless version came out (it too was originally a flybarred machine). The geometry issues that would have occurred with the FBL head were corrected, and the side frames were also modified a bit to allowed more room for the batteries (for and aft).

I think that the Atom probably surprised everyone that it managed to stay on the market for as long as it did (just under eight years)-that is an unusually long product life span for a model helicopter. It is, IMHO, still competitive, from a performance standpoint, with anything its size, on the market to day.

I am really looking forward to its successor, the eXo!

hoblium · 08-23-2016, 05:15 PM

These can help too (not with the Vbar, necessarily, just alignment), if you're anal: http://www.prostarhobby.com/product-p/06-0405s.htm

I didn't really notice a difference.

08-18-2016, 07:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wargamer Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2016	Head geometry and max collective/cyclic I'm tweaking the head on the stretched Atom that I bought used. (FBL is a mini VBar.) The ball links need to be last hole to get close to 90 degrees, but this seems to give a lot more throw than required. For example, I have to set the pitch endpoints below 80 on the tx to achieve +/- 13 degrees collective, and when I go to set the cyclic limit, I can't get to 8 degrees within the range of adjustment the VBar provides. Is this just the Atom's geometry or am I missing something? __________________ Compass Atom 5.5; Oxy 2/3/4 XK K110 K120

08-19-2016, 08:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006	The Atom was originally designed as a fly barred helicopter, which required long servo arms. When the fly bar less head came out, the frames were never redesigned to accommodate the shorter servo arms needed for FBL setups. It still flies well in spite of this __________________ KBDD-Team Captain, JR DFA Team Pilot. Forza 450, Forza 600N, Forza 700, Compass 6HV-U, Warp, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50, Chronos, Velos, Steam 550 and 600, OMP M2 (and anything else I can get my hands on...).

08-20-2016, 02:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wargamer Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2016	Thanks - that makes sense! __________________ Compass Atom 5.5; Oxy 2/3/4 XK K110 K120

08-20-2016, 02:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006	My pleasure sir! As I recall there were three versions of the Atom side frames: A G-10 version (which my original Atom is), a CF version with the same side frames as the original G-10, and a slightly later/revised version which allowed a slightly larger battery to be installed. I believe the last version came out before the FBL head did. The 6HV did get a re-design on the frames when the flybarless version came out (it too was originally a flybarred machine). The geometry issues that would have occurred with the FBL head were corrected, and the side frames were also modified a bit to allowed more room for the batteries (for and aft). I think that the Atom probably surprised everyone that it managed to stay on the market for as long as it did (just under eight years)-that is an unusually long product life span for a model helicopter. It is, IMHO, still competitive, from a performance standpoint, with anything its size, on the market to day. I am really looking forward to its successor, the eXo! __________________ KBDD-Team Captain, JR DFA Team Pilot. Forza 450, Forza 600N, Forza 700, Compass 6HV-U, Warp, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50, Chronos, Velos, Steam 550 and 600, OMP M2 (and anything else I can get my hands on...).

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08-23-2016, 05:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
hoblium Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Mar 2013	These can help too (not with the Vbar, necessarily, just alignment), if you're anal: http://www.prostarhobby.com/product-p/06-0405s.htm I didn't really notice a difference.

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