REVIEWS + EVENTS + TECH www.modelheliworld.com July 2015
NEX E6-550 FRP Bodyset Streamline your JR NEX E6
Outwards and Upwards Heim electric conversion and preparing mechanics for a fuselage
F3N UK League
What is it and an overview of the 2014 competitions
VARIO LAMA T-REX 700 ● FROM THE GROUND UP ● USA HELI SCENE ● SCALE BY SCALE
770953 788072
REGULARS...
9
BUILT FOR SMACK-DOWN 3D WITH A HV POWER SYSTEM, IT’S AN ADVANCED PILOT’S GRAB-N-GO DREAM MACHINE
07>
BLADE 360 CFX
Issue 301
US
£4.50•
Change your T-Rex into a nice SA315B Lama
THE BEST IN R/C HELICOPTERS Cover_MHWJUL15.indd 1
19/5/15 15:34:21
July 2015 Issue: 301
Cover
REGULARS 8 Collectively Speaking Editorial Musings by Jon Tanner
10 What’s On Dates for your diary
Vario Lama T-Rex 700
12 Sales Pitch
Change your T-Rex 700 into a nice scale SA315B Lama
New Items by Richard Morris
16 From the Ground Up
Spring Charmouth starts off the flying season by Richard Morris
56 Scale by Scale
Anti-collision lights for small helicopters using cheap components by Gunther Winkle
60 USA Heli Scene
FEATURES 20 Review Blade 360 CFX
Built for smack-down 3D with a high-voltage power system, it’s an advanced pilot’s grab-n-go dream machine by Kevin Targett
26 Technical My Models and Me
An eclectic mix including a tale of woe by James Wang
A tale of a shorter lived Alouette 3 and a slightly longer lived Blackhawk… by Peter Wales
67 Readers Write
32 Technical Outwards and Upwards
by Richard Morris
68 Idling Up
Progressing to hovering exercises by Duncan Osbourn
72 Classified Adverts
Heim electric conversion and preparing the mechanics for the fuselage by Ed Darter
Change your T-Rex 700 into a nice scale SA315B Lama by Jon Tanner
73 Shopper’s Directory
46 Event F3N UK League
74 In the Next Issue
46
32
38 Review Vario Lama T-Rex 700
Good Buys!
Shops in your area
26
What is it, what are the objectives and an overview of the 2014 competitions by Kevin Targett
50 Review NEX E6-550 FRP Bodyset
60
Streamline your NEX E6 by Fred Annecke
4
Contents_MHWJUL15.indd 4
19/5/15 17:37:40
Horizon FP(Ruthless)_MHWJUL15.indd 5
20/5/15 09:20:55
words/PICTURES: James Wang
USA HELI SCENE An eclectic mix including a tale of woe
The flying monster truck flown at the last IRCHA Jamboree is a Traxxas 1/10th scale monster truck zip tied to a Synergy E5 600 class electric helicopter. The heli is 9 pounds with a 12S LiPo and the truck is 11 pounds
The monster truck is a capable all terrain vehicle
U
sually, I attend the annual IRCHA Jamboree in the US to watch the latest trend in R/C helicopters and catch up with friends. The actions are dominated by intense 3D flying and in the last two years, the Speed Cup challenge has also taken on some following. However, there was one unusual flying vehicle that really caught my attention at the last Jamboree. It was a Synergy E5 electric helicopter mated with a Traxxis 1/10th scale monster off-road truck. It looked totally bizarre, like Predator mated with Alien but this contraption flew brilliantly. I was amazed! Mike DiPalo was the pilot of the helicopter and Robert Monke was at the control of the truck. The monster truck was strapped to the Synergy E5 helicopter by a gazillion zip ties; even Mike and Robert said they are amazed with how strong the zip ties are. The 600 class Synergy E5 weights 9 pounds by itself, and the monster truck is just over 10 pounds, together the total take-off weight is over 20 pounds. Even at this unusually
It can lift off instantly with amazing power reserve heavy weight, Mike was able to do Funnels, slow Piro flips and other gentle 3D routines. I would have never imagined that it would be possible to Piro flip a 600 class electric helicopter that weighs 20 pounds. Mike did an incredible job flying it. Once the hybrid ‘vehicle’ touched down, Robert drove it around like an off-road truck. The audience were truly entertained! The Synergy E5 was stock and it used Synergy 605 mm length Rail carbon main rotor blades, a Pulse 12S LiPo battery, a KDE motor, a Castle Creations 120 amp Edge HV ESC, and an iKON flybarless controller. The model was doing at least 2Gs during aerobatics, hence the main rotor was experiencing at least 40 pounds of loading. This just shows how incredibly strong modern R/C helicopters are. One of my friends once put a G recording device in his model and he says during extreme 3D flying, the top pilots are pulling over + and -6 Gs on the model helicopters. On full size helicopters we usually design the combat helicopters to handle only +3G to -2G.
The audience was surprised with how well this ‘vehicle’ flew
60
USA Heli_MHWJUL15.indd 60
19/5/15 16:38:05
USA HELI SCENE
It moves very fast and Mike was performing Funnels and Piro Flips, why can’t we have a full size vehicle like this to beat all the city traffic?
The hybrid comes in for a hot landing; the independent suspension on the monster truck must give some good shock absorption capability
The monster truck itself is powered by its brushless motor and battery it can taxi from the pits to the runway and then spool up and lift off
The balloon tyres must provide good shock absorption
Pilot Mike on the right and driver Robert on the left 61
USA Heli_MHWJUL15.indd 61
19/5/15 16:38:33