When to try Scale?

[Walkera Down]

When are you ready to try scale? I have a Raptor 50 Titan and want to get the MD530 (which they tell me is designed to fit "right on"). How do you "tune down" a 3D machine?

Thanks,
Harold.

[AaronS]

You can start flying scale helis as soon as you can fly comfortably and land gently. If you have confidence in your skills, even if you only know the basics, you are ready.
Setting up a helicopter for scale flight is most similar to setting up a model for a beginner. You probably don't want to use a 3D flight curve, something in the ballpark of -5/+10 for the pitch range is suitable, but you may choose to use a little extra, say 12 degrees if you want to do aggressive climb-outs or similar. You should use reduced rates for cyclic, and you may like flying in rate mode (non-heading hold) so the tail follows through in turns. I prefer to fly in heading hold and point the tail myself, but flying in rate mode is kinda fun on a scale heli. If you plan to auto it, you probably want as much positive pitch as you can get for your hold curve (12-14 degrees). Maybe we can get Dr. Tim to chime in here for more insight. :p

[Walkera Down]

Thanks, Aaron.

How about it Doc?

Has anyone had any experience with the MD530 body for the Raptor 50 - like how well does it fit?

Harold.

[Dr.Tim]

The thing with scale that most people miss is you want the helicopter to fly as smooth as posible. Adding flybar weights help but look like poo! Try some Heavy blades ... My 670mm OF blades are 250 gr. on the Puma. I guess the big thing is to set up the Helicopter to fit your flying style but try to make it as smooth as posible. 3D curves are Out of the Question .. try FAI setup for the hovering manuvers but use them for the whole flight not just Hover. The other thing is Practice!!! Heavy Helicopters fly differently and require more focus on approaches and slow figure of eights ... Fly SLOW !! People will notice how nice and scale it looks if everything is SLOW!!! Harder than it sounds!! :)

Dr.Tim

[Walkera Down]

Thanks Doc and Aaron. Since I really have no interest in attempting 3D, how do I go about slowing a Raptor 50 Titan and learning from that? Won't it be easier to learn to fly on a slower machine anyway? The training gear looks like "poo" too so a little more "poo" doesn't both me. My blade length is 620mm - I don't think I can extend it much more without wapping a tail blade. How much weight for the flybar and where would be most effective? Any suggestions, what to get, and where can I get it, and anything else helpful would be greatly appreciated by this old man. I have built models since I was a kid and would rather be doing something in scale than 3D.

Doc, would you rather go e-mail with this rather than tie up the forum? Somebody else might be interested in this, however.

My e-mail is haroldrudloph@Prodigy.net.

Thanks much,
Harold.

[Dr.Tim]

Best thing you can do with that machine is add Flybar weights and practice. You can play around a bit with expo but, the flybar weights will calm the helicopter down enough to fly in a scale manner.

Dr.Tim

[GMONEY]

CAn you guys make a suggestion for a good first Scale helo? Something that wont win any awards but get some stick time on a bird that is slower and heavier than what we fly on a daily basis? With the availiblity of all the Glass bodies and already painted bodies I am suprised we dont see more of them.

Thanks
GMONEY

[Dr.Tim]

The Problem is the Prepainted Arfs cost from $650 and Up for a 30 size!! IF you can find them ... Most companies are concentrating on 60 size and up ... www.Starwoodmodels.com has an All balsa Cobra for the Logo 10 and simular size mechanics for around $250 ... Or a 50 Size Apache (Works with the rapter) for around the same price ... Take a look they are quite Nice! Here is the link! http://www.starwoodmodels.com/products/ap/
Dr.Tim

[cxdogfly1000]

do mace scale model trex 450 size or mini titian or do make scale model 600 trex thanks any thing say if is scal size t rex link web page plz
:) :)