Shape S8 maiden

[trillian]

I finally got the Shape airborn today. Took me a while to find a bag big enough to carry it. I am pleased to say both the heli and the bag worked perfectly.

It required no adjustments whatsoever, not even tail gain, it flies perfectly without having to touch any FBL settings. I'm using a Spartan VX1, just did the usual setup and it's bang on the money.

I actually expected it to look bigger and maybe feel different. It does look big on the ground but basically my first impression is that it flies very much like my low -ish headspeed 700s. The tall profile makes it very visible even far away, so maybe I was flying it higher and farther as a result.

I had Zeal 800s on it this time but I have the X807s and I'll put those on next time out.

So far so good, everything is running cool and very smooth :-) And I'm flying it on the same packs I fly in my 700s, cheap 4000mah off-brand, some very old Turnigy 5000s, some Opti 5000s. The battery layout will even allow my lightest 4000mah packs (Zippy Compacts) to fit and still get a good C of G. (pictured with my Beam E4 SE)

[DCflyer]

Grats dude. The frame on that thing is enormous. Very unique layout. I wish they had gone with a thicker boom on it but still looks good. I’ve never seen one in person but have always been a fan of these machines.

[trillian]

Yeah, a few months ago when it started to warm up here and I got my enthusiasm for helis back, I wanted something new and I began browsing around and by accident ran across the Shape website. Even though it came out (I think) around the beginning of 2015 / end of 2014, I had never seen it before and it really caught my eye.

The boom is bigger than the Aligns or the Logo 800 but maybe a bit smaller than the HD Cell 750. But I like the way the tail pushrod runs inside the boom.

The frame layout is a very different approach to the more conventional designs you usually see. I like the battery arrangement because it's easy changing packs between flights and allows all sizes and shapes.

One thing I would do differently if I was designing it is that I would simplify it to a direct-to-swash setup for less parts and links etc. But it all works really well.

[mb-1953]

Nice job, I enjoy mine but had the tail drive gears strip. The tolerance is very small between working or stripping. I had to use 2 shims.

[trillian]

Originally Posted by mb-1953

Nice job, I enjoy mine but had the tail drive gears strip. The tolerance is very small between working or stripping. I had to use 2 shims.

Are you talking about the gears at the rear in the tail case / tail shaft? Or the gears in front with the crown gear?

I had heard the crown gear mesh has be to be just right and if it's too tight the crown gear can overheat.

[mb-1953]

crown gear can either melt or strip if mesh isn't just right

[trillian]

Originally Posted by mb-1953

crown gear can either melt or strip if mesh isn't just right

OK, cool. That is something I had heard about. I forgot how many shims I have but I think it's just right. I checked the gear periodically in my first couple flights and it was always cold, it runs totally smooth with just a tiny bit of backlash.

I'm also flying at very moderate headspeeds and I don't do a lot of piro moves or aggressive tail stops etc.