I have a Raptor 30, version I that has actually seen light under the skids awhile back. The stock engine (Thunder Tiger 36), was very tricky to get dialed in, so my heli mentor, Lynn installed a new OS 32 SX heli engine. The cheap gyro wasn't cutting it either, so a Futaba GY 401 was purchased.
As you can tell from my other RC links, I'm pretty much an e-flyer now, and my heli tastes are moving in that direction as well. An e-heli that's getting a lot of attention is the Lite Machines Corona. According to the info on the Ezone Forums, this helicopter is an ideal first heli as it is very tough and there are tons of upgrades becoming available. I have the servos, GY401 gyro, receiver, Mega 16/15/3 (3turn) brushless motor and a Castle Creations ESC waiting for the Corona kit. My friend John, and I are going to do identical heli builds and plan to either use a carbon fiber crutch or the upcoming aluminium crutch from Lite Machines.
The Corona build begins!..1/3/2004
I was bored Friday night and decided to start the Corona build on the aluminium crutch, with the parts I had on hand. I still don't have the actual Corona, but I have something that vaguely resembles a heli. Here's my progress as of 1/4/2004:
Update: January 31st 2004
I ordered my Corona kit from Roffee TV on 1/30/2004 so
I'm a big step closer to having the Corona in the air. The following day, I met up with one of my flying buddies, Lynn, to fly his Corona and my Slow Stick.
He allowed me to fly it and I went into a decent hover right off the bat! I have a fair amount of Real Flight G2 sim time, and some bouncing around with a Raptor, about 3 years ago, and that was it. He also demonstrated how tough it was by deliberately crashing it, and back flying in 15 seconds! (I have video proof of this).
Lynn's Corona in action.
Update: February 4th 2004
My new Corona arrived!! It was like Christmas, because my CF fin set from www.choppahedz.com arrived, along with my PJS1000 motor from Hobby Lobby. Looks like the build will begin tonight if I get home at a decent hour....
All my new Corona Stuff....
Update: February 5th 2004
The build continued on 2/5/4 as I started the rotor head, installed the JR gear with tiewraps and installed the main shaft. I think LMH must have seperated every single part that they could, almost to the atomic level!! You really learn every part on this heli by the time you finish it, which I guess is a good thing..
The build so far, Rotor head is 80% built. (not pictured).
Update: February 8th 2004
On Sunday, I continued assembling the Corona and it's starting to look like a helicopter. I swapped the two cyclic servos for HS85MG's to enhance durability.
Coming along....
Update: February 9th 2004
On Monday, I continued assembling the Corona and it's coming along nicely. I have to get the ball joints loosened up and the servo linkages connected. I snipped the battery clamps off of the JR gear and tiewrapped velcro straps to the underside. The battery received some velcro as well and it now mounts very firmly and in balance.
Battery mounted and rotor head almost done....
Update: February 17th 2004
I purchased ball links and metal pin clevises needed to upgrade the cheap nylon links from LMH. I also splurged on a CF rod for the tail rotor pitch. I need to attach the tail fin, finish balancing the rotors and tighten everything up. Lynn will help me on the final part of this journey, as I bow to his heli "guruness"
CF TR control rod and servo linkages installed....
Update: November 24th 2004
I finally flew it!!!!! Here's my post on the Ezone Heli Forum:
I'm so jazzed! I bought a Corona kit back in Jan '04 from Roffe, an alu crutch from LMH and proceeded to assemble it early on in the year. Well, along the way, it got put on the shelf as I moved on to less intimidating projects. Fortunately I had the G2 sim and I played with the helis a lot during the year.
Anyway, to cut to the chase, I got out my 95% completed Corona tonite and proceeded to get all of the equipment, manuals (heli/radio/gyro) together to take up to the LHS on Friday. I put in the last remaining bolt, hooked up the servos to work with a JR 8103 radio and was going to put it all up. I thought I would spool it up to see if everything was lined up right and the gear mesh was set ok. While the rotor was spinning up I thought to myself that it might actually fly! I had to reverse the left/right cyclic servo, then I went back to the patio and the darn thing took off, no tail wag at all. I did nothing to the gyro, except plug it in. It actually hovered for about 30sec-1min when the batt died. I threw in 2450mah and impatiently went back outside. I hovered the whole pack, keeping the heli in a tight spot between the house and two trees!
I couldn't believe how controllable it was. All I flew before that, was my Hummingbird (a squirrel!) a bit of hovering on my gen 1 Raptor (big motor problems back then) and the sim. I literally flew in the dark with no training gear! I have to say that the sim and to a lesser degree , the HB, conditioned my reflexes to enjoy a small measure of success tonight.
I guess I'm almost a RC heli pilot!
My son took this picture on Thanksgiving Day, on it's 3rd battery pack after the maiden. Even with my limited heli flying experience and strong wind gusts, the Corona was very controllable. I can't recommend this heli more highly!
I continued to fly in very high winds over the Thanksgiving weekend, which lead to a tipover resulting in a broken tailrotor gear case, as well as a ruined boom from a blade strike. I replaced the parts the following day ($18 total) and made a training stand, as well as a boom protector from silicon exhaust tubing. I later solved a sporadic glitch problem with a Berg 5DSP receiver. The heli is gradually being enhanced with improvements that bring value relating to durability and performance areas.
Here's a shot of some night flying in my back yard.
I recently installed the Chopper1 (link below) Ti tailboom, boom clamp and Delrin tailrotor gearbox, further enhancing durability.
Chopper1 boom clamp/gyro mount.
The Chopper1 Delrin tailrotor gearbox (Above, drop in replacement for the breakage prone stock unit).
Right side of my Corona (above) with the Berg 5DSP receiver. Highly recommended for glitch free operation!
Left side of my Corona (above) with labels.
I'm using a number of chargers at home and I travel with a pair of chargers. I have found that the Hobbico MarkII chargers to be a great value, as each unit will charge up to 2 batteries simultaneously. They will charge NIMH,Nicad and Lipo up to 2amps (LIPO max = 1amp). I paid $55 each for my two. Here's my portable setup that I use at hotels or out of the car.
Here's my Blade heli, almost finished.
This heli has the following:
Ballistic Technology Blade carbon fiber crutch, dual belt drives,7mm Ti mainshaft and feathering plate. (link below).
Chopper1 Ti boom,Delrin TR gearbox (for belt drive), aluminium rotor head and boom clamp (link below).
Berg 5DSP receiver.
Castle Creation Phoenix 35 speed controller.
Mega 16/15/3 brushless motor with Hacker B40 heatsink.
Two Hitec HS85MG servos for cyclic and a HS81 servo for the tail rotor.
CORONA UPDATE: July 2005
More and more upgrades are becoming available every month for the Corona. I have added enough upgrades now, that it really isn't a Corona anymore. I just installed the Chopper-1.org 3/8" thick Delrin crutch.
It is stiffer and quieter and looks more stealth. I now have the Chopper 1 boom, boom clamp, TR gearbox and crutch. The heli is flying great!
I added the Align TREX heli canopy from www.allerc.com to jazz it up a bit.
Ballistic Technology Blade:
This heli is now complete, but has been shelved until the BT collective pitch head becomes available. At that time, it will be converted to a cp machine.
There is a vast selection of micro helicopters available which are great for indoor and calm outdoor days. They are definitely harder to fly as I had a difficult time with the Hummingbird V2 below.
I wanted a small , inexpensive, RTF heli for indoors and to take with me on my travels. After a lot of research, I settled on the Century Hummingbird, Version II. It comes 95% assembled, 100% parts are supplied. (radio,servos, gyro, speed controls, and prebuilt canopy). It appears to be very durable and simple.
Here's mine , minus the flybar...don't ask!
I purchased the Hirobo XRB SR contra-rotating heli in Dec 2004. These are selling like hotcakes! RC'ers are discovering how stable and maneuverable they are. I literally opened the box, popped some nicad batteries (8) in the transmitter (supplied), charged the lipo battery (supplied) and flew! I did forward/sideways flight,hovers, spot landings and pirouettes by my second flight. Here are some pix taken when I got it. I have a duffle bag that will be used to let me take it with me in my travels.
Check out the flight report of the XRB on the Ezone, there are videos as well...
