Rediscovering the TDR

[trillian]

Just thinking out loud, but maybe some of you have had a similar evolution.

So, I have had a TDR since about 2014. And then with other helis coming along, and dividing my attention, the TDR got flown less.

But when I was flying it a lot, I was running it at fairly low headspeeds, like around 1300, liking that whole LHS thing.

The TDSF kinda shook up all of that LHS thinking, because it is, by far, the ultimate LHS machine and probably always will be.

I then started to re-think some of my other 700s, as they no longer had to try to fill the light LHS role.

I haven't been flying the TDR for a couple years now, and started to look around at some newer 700s out now. And then I thought, actually, I could get the TDR going again. Imagine for a moment that it had not existed and was a new model, I know I would be drawn to it.

Has anyone else had similar thoughts? Or had a TDR before, drifted away and came back to it, or discovered it for the first time only recently. I think maybe I've taken it for granted.

[Vinger]

Still one of the designs that is so simple but it just works. You can even change it to a 7S setup and enjoy her even more.

[helicraze]

I fly my tdr often, its my favorite helicopter, ive done thousands of flights on tdr

[trillian]

Originally Posted by helicraze

I fly my tdr often, its my favorite helicopter, ive done thousands of flights on tdr

Yeah, there was a time when it was my main heli, and then over time, as other helis came along, it got side-lined.

But now I am going to gift it with a new carbon canopy and maybe new servos, etc. and appreciate it once again :-)

[rcbirt]

What motor KV would you run on a TDR 7S setup?

[Vinger]

Originally Posted by rcbirt

What motor KV would you run on a TDR 7S setup?

The standard 12S setup is normally a 500 to 520KV motor and for 7S you can use a 700 size motor of a KV rating between 750 to 850. I fly mine with the standard 520KV motor but at lower rpm obviously as it is so much lighter and you can still get 1200 to 1400 rpm from it.

Teaches you collective management quickly.

[rcbirt]

Thanks for the info

[trillian]

My TDR has an early Christmas present :-) Just arrived today, a carbon canopy from CR-Modeltechnik.

I have not yet decided on all the graphics. I know I want a very bright orange windscreen, so waiting on some vinyl sheet for that, hopefully the colour I want.

[Rob43]

Wow, Trillian! That is fantastic! It's heli-porn

I was thinking about Chuck's question....there are a few options out there for this.

Egodrift has a few winds intended for the TDF. Also, Scorpion is now marketing a HKII 4225-810 for such appliacations. A 7S setup for a light bird like a TDF would not need to necessarily be a 700-size stator to do the job. 4025's often meet the need well. I flew my Piuma 700 with Xnova 4025-830 for a season, and was never of the feeling it was lacking power. Quite the contrary! And, it even ran cool doing it.

I believe the TDF has a special pinion, so the shaft isn't exactly typical, but I would think could be adapted from other motors.

[jiminator]

Funny i have been thinking about doing some updating to my TDR as well. Haven't flown it but once this year so kind of rediscovered it . So much other stuff happening these last two years that heli stuff is sitting in the background. Nice carbon canopy Trillian

[trillian]

I have done some decals in a scheme inspired by the TDR2. It looks very classy indeed :-) No decent sunlight here at the moment, so not ideal of taking pics.

[gordoni]

Originally Posted by trillian

I have done some decals in a scheme inspired by the TDR2. It looks very classy indeed :-) No decent sunlight here at the moment, so not ideal of taking pics.

Well that couldnt've turned out much better could it! Wow!

[trillian]

Thanks! Only once it was finished I thought, the top yellow stripe could be a bit thinner and could curve a bit more. But, it's close enough for jazz :-)

It took me a while to find the right shade of red-orange or orange-red for the windscreen, and this is more red than orange, but it really pops out there against the black.

[belgoheli]

Hi Trillian,

Why didn't you order the carbon skids from CR ? They look great !
I have those on all my TDR's.
After my latest crash a couple of weeks ago I've also installed a carbon heck boom which had laying around for a couple of years.
I had also ordered the V2 of the original TDR blades from CR

Just a thought..

Belgo

[trillian]

I do have the carbon skids, just not installed at the moment (although, the ones I have are the same height as the stock skids and I might get the low profile ones). Also, not visible in the pic, I have the 3mm one-piece frames.

[Magnumeng]

Like you all… I have had my TDR since 2012 and have flown it as my only heli for close to 6 years. So it has a good number of flights on her. Started flying on 12s, moved to 6s, then to 8s, and finally settled in at 7s. Only major part that is not original to the first flight is the FBL controller. Same ESC, servos, motor and even upper frames(I have been lucky)

I try to keep 3 crash kits in stock due to how slow the postal system has been the past years. I would not sell this bird for any amount. She just flies and flies

[trillian]

Last year I bought two crashed ones for parts. Both were minor crashes but the owners didn't want them anymore. One had a crunched skid and slight damage to the right lower frames but the tail was fine, the other had gone in on the tail so the frames were fine. So between them I have a good supply of spares :-)

I am debated whether to try a BeastX now, as I've had a BeastX pro HD for ages and every time I think about trying it, I get lazy and just use a Spirit or a Spartan.

[Magnumeng]

If you have never used a BeastX before…. Try it out… more so the setup procedure and helping others… and then you can actually compare it to the other brand FBL systems you fly

[wstuart]

I'm thinking of selling out of my TDR stuff.

I've got a TDR 800 that I've been babying - flying on 8s and 10s.

I've also got a 2nd spare airframe and a bunch of parts. I could sell the whole lot for $700 shipped

[jakeg1999]

PM'd ya!

Originally Posted by wstuart

I'm thinking of selling out of my TDR stuff.

I've got a TDR 800 that I've been babying - flying on 8s and 10s.

I've also got a 2nd spare airframe and a bunch of parts. I could sell the whole lot for $700 shipped