130x night flyer setup? (and ideas

[PhlipSticx]

Now that the tail on my 130 is working well I think it would be a great back yard night bird.

I know it's new so there isn't much after market stuff, but do y'all think they will make night blades for it? I seen a video of "magic blades" on a 450, those would be awesome.

I'm, also thinking of using a clear canopy and painting it with fluorescent paint, using UV LED's and leaving "windows" (I'm thinking more light will get out), perhaps also using defective tape (like is on safety vest) and holographic stickers, and even standard RGB LED's

My thinking is combinding light sources, with reflective/ fluorescent materials to maximize viewable surfaces with minimal weight and power requirements.

So thoughts? Suggestions? Anyone else think the 130 would be a good night flyer?

(here's a pic of a clear canopy on my mcpx)

[kavic5150]

I think that would make a great night flyer. There might be someone here on HF that will do some DIY night blades for you. If you want to tackle the job yourself its not that difficult. For 130mm blades I'm thinking 50ma single cell lipos will not be too much weight. Let me know if you want to give it a try.

I'm not aware of any off the shelf night blades in that size.

Heres a few links just to give you some ideas:

http://rc.runryder.com/helicopter/t462633p1/

http://www.amainhobbies.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=tamiya+fluores cent+spray





The link to the thread with these pics didnt work here for some reason. Thats a before and after pic of a clear canopy done with tamiya clear blue paint. Its basically like clear lens paint for cars but much less expensive.

[jelloman]

I think your idea of reflective tape is great. Why not just apply it to the existing 130x blades especially since you will have a light source on the heli that will bounce off of the blades. Inverted could be a problem?

[PhlipSticx]

Originally Posted by kavic5150

I think that would make a great night flyer. There might be someone here on HF that will do some DIY night blades for you. If you want to tackle the job yourself its not that difficult. For 130mm blades I'm thinking 50ma single cell lipos will not be too much weight. Let me know if you want to give it a try.

I'm not aware of any off the shelf night blades in that size.

Heres a few links just to give you some ideas:

http://rc.runryder.com/helicopter/t462633p1/

http://www.amainhobbies.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=tamiya+fluores cent+spray





The link to the thread with these pics didnt work here for some reason. Thats a before and after pic of a clear canopy done with tamiya clear blue paint. Its basically like clear lens paint for cars but much less expensive.

Great info, I had actually seen the tread with the UV LED's and florescent paints which is where the idea came from, but I didn't realize (remember) he used a clear canopy.

that blue canopy is amazing, is it yours? I wonder if they make
semi transparent fluorescent paint? That maybe a better idea than "windows" , if not maybe I'll paint the "windows" with some of that (like the blue canopy)

Thanks for sharing info and sparking more thoughts

Originally Posted by jelloman

I think your idea of reflective tape is great. Why not just apply it to the existing 130x blades especially since you will have a light source on the heli that will bounce off of the blades. Inverted could be a problem?

this is my thinking also, but from all I've been reading you need (or at lest it's highly advised) to have the to of the blades lighted too, even when not inverted it seems there are many orientations where you would want to see the top of the blades.

Diy blades with LED's maybe the best solution, tho I think using it in conjunction with reflective tape would certainly be a good idea.

I've had one other thought for lighting the top of the blades, that is having the light source in the heli (like you said) and running some fiber optic wire (drilling through) so it shines light from the bottom to the to I just don't know how well the fiber optic wire would carry the light (if it would be enough)

[kavic5150]

Thats not my clear blue canopy. But I did order some of that tamiya clear blue, clear red, and clear yellow. They have blue and red in spray cans but I will have to brush on the yellow.

Hobbyking has sheets and precut blade decals of ultra thin prismatic mylar. Think hologram but without an image. Its very light weight and perfect for blades if you cut it and apply carefully.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11338

I havent tried this stuff yet but it looks interesting:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20965__Luminescent_Glow_in_the_dark_Self_Adhesiv e_Film_1200mm_x_200mm.html

I havent found holographic or prismatic whole sticker sheets that are as lightweight as the hobbyking stuff. Got some blue holographic sheets from amazon, but its much thicker and I wouldnt do a whole blade with it.

If you want to tackle DIY night blades I can link some hard to find items like switches and 3 pin strip connectors that are tiny enough for the job. I'm thinking 2 leds per blade will give you 3 flights before they start to dim with lipos this size:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7565

[PhlipSticx]

Originally Posted by kavic5150

Thats not my clear blue canopy. But I did order some of that tamiya clear blue, clear red, and clear yellow. They have blue and red in spray cans but I will have to brush on the yellow.

Hobbyking has sheets and precut blade decals of ultra thin prismatic mylar. Think hologram but without an image. Its very light weight and perfect for blades if you cut it and apply carefully.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11338

I havent tried this stuff yet but it looks interesting:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20965__Luminescent_Glow_in_the_dark_Self_Adhesiv e_Film_1200mm_x_200mm.html

I havent found holographic or prismatic whole sticker sheets that are as lightweight as the hobbyking stuff. Got some blue holographic sheets from amazon, but its much thicker and I wouldnt do a whole blade with it.

If you want to tackle DIY night blades I can link some hard to find items like switches and 3 pin strip connectors that are tiny enough for the job. I'm thinking 2 leds per blade will give you 3 flights before they start to dim with lipos this size:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7565

Thanks for all the great links already! I think I will check out that prismatic mylar.

if it isn't to much trouble any I'd love to have any links you think would be useful, I'm sorta a soldering noob but I guess there's only one way to learn (I was able to resolder one of those LED's from a night vapor, it's working! If it holds...)

[kavic5150]

For starters, regular copper tape tarnishes soon after installation. Silver both sides copper tape has gone 6 months and no tarnish yet:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-feet-1-2-Inch-SILVER-BOTH-SIDES-Copper-Foil-Tape-/350567864658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519f79 1952

You'll have to cut the copper tape thinner. I havent seen 1/8 inch tape anywhere.

Here are 3 pin strip connectors and switches:

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?lang=en&site=us&KeyWords=ED7064-ND&x=13&y=10

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/AYZ0103AGRLC/401-2014-1-ND/1640123

The socket connectors can be cut into segements of 3 and you use them both on the blades and at the end of a charge lead. They have a male pin on one end and female on the other. To make a charge lead, carefully remove 2 pins and solder a thin wire inside the female end of the pin, then reinsert into plastic.

And when you CA those switches, be careful and only apply glue to the sides since the glue will wick into the switch mechanism and lock it in place if you glue the middle.

[Timtreo]

Someone asked me about making them some 130X night blades for them. I have never made anything smaller than 450 size but I think I'm going to get a couple sets of 130X blades and give it a shot. I just ordered a ton of stuff to do a lot of night blades. I don't own a 130X to test them so if you want to try out the first pair I make for what it costs me to make them let me know. I'm also making a bunch of 450 and 500 size night blades (or any size larger) if anyone needs some. Pm me for more info. Tim

[OneFingerHank]

Here is the 1/8th tape

http://www.electronix.com/copper-tra...pe-p-5771.html

[OneFingerHank]

Here is a link to the 130X forum for DIY night blades

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread....t=night+blades