A Main Hobbies Frenzy V2-2011/12

With a little—okay, a lot—of practice, hovering low and
inverted is no more challenging than flying upright,
especially with a helicopter as stable and smooth as the
Frenzy 50.
There are many ways to hop-up the Frenzy. The
lightweight fiberglass canopy shown is a Canomod
product, specially made for A Main Hobbies as one
of three available color options.
62 MODEL AVIATION
Below: The stock Frenzy
paddles are lightweight, have a
thin airfoil, and are generously
sized to provide stability and
aggressive input control. The
stainless steel flybar is 4mm in
diameter.
OT LONG AGO, I wasn’t what
you’d call a “helicopter person.”
For most of the last 20 years, my
car was filled with fixed-wing
glow- and electric-powered models
on a normal flying day. But since the small
electric coaxial helicopters came out, my
curiosity about the air-beaters has grown
steadily. After getting my first one, I kept at
it and honestly, I think that little heli helped
with my ability to fly airplanes—lots of leftthumb
practice.
Then bravery got the better of me and I
invested in an electric 450-class helicopter.
That required a large leap in my ability.
Collective-pitch helicopters are more
sensitive to pilot input, but can be flown
outdoors and can perform forward flight.
Once I became good at hovering in the
backyard, that machine found its way into
the car between the fuselage and wings.
Although it crashed a few times, the
helicopter could be put back together as
good as new, as long as I was careful and
didn’t skimp on cheap parts. Helicopters can
be flown much like airplanes, and doing so
at the club field kept my airplane pals happy
because I’d follow the same pattern as the
other aircraft. My left thumb got much
practice mixing tail-rotor control into the
turns and managing the collective (that’s the
throttle stick on airplanes).
Helicopters need plenty of maintenance,
and I think that taking good care of my
helicopters made me want to take better care
of my airplanes. It got me thinking that
maybe a bigger helicopter would increase
my abilities as an RC pilot.
Roughly a year ago, I bought the JS
Models TZ V2 .50 Frenzy helicopter from A
Main Hobbies. My business with A Main
Hobbies has been satisfying. Ordering
online is a breeze; I always have a wish list
going. A Main Hobbies has many products
in stock and ships fast.
The Frenzy is a lot of helicopter for the
money, and everything I needed to get the
helicopter flying was available in one order
from A Main Hobbies. All of the stock parts
are available for the helicopter, and there are
even some replacement parts made from
metal instead of plastic that harden the heli
and improve its looks and performance.
The Frenzy 50 is a glow-powered
machine that requires a .50-class helicopter
engine, muffler, 600mm main blades, gyro,
and above-standard-grade servos to work the
cyclic controls, throttle, and tail rotor.
Although the Frenzy is available at a great
price—hundreds less than many other kits
Right: The Frenzy’s head mechanics is a hybrid of plastic and aluminum
components, fully ball-bearing supported and interlinked with snap-lock
fitting ball-link points. The 140° mixing option is a smooth upgrade.
The GY701 gyro from Futaba is
available with an integrated
governor. It works with
amazing speed and the unit’s
efficiency makes installation
and setup simple.
Right: The forward radio/
accessory module is well
thought out with room for
required components and
Velcro strap slots to hold
everything down tightly.
The Frenzy is pretty and
clean before the first run. A
nice touch for the price is
the painted white fiberglass
canopy with black painted
window.
available—that’s not an excuse to skimp on
accessory equipment. I’ve learned through
my 450-size machine that lousy radio and
power systems make even the best
helicopter fly poorly.
My experience with O.S. engines in
airplanes made my engine choice for a
helicopter easy. I went with the 50SX-H
engine instead of the newer 55-size
helicopter engine that O.S. now offers
because the advertised weight of the Frenzy
and because my flying style didn’t dictate
an ultimate power requirement—or
expense. To get every bit of power out of
the reliable 50-size engine, I selected a
muffler from Hatori USA (available from
A Main Hobbies).
The Futaba 10C FASST radio system
that I’ve used for aircraft works well for
helicopters. This choice would keep me
from having to learn a different radio
system, plus bringing only one transmitter
to the field for airplanes and helicopters
makes sense. I like to keep things simple
(and yes, I understand the irony of being
attracted to complex machines such as
helicopters).
Keeping things simple is a challenge
with a helicopter, but I tried anyway in the
interest of weight savings and reduced
failure points by making a list of needs.
I wanted to go with a lithium battery for
radio power (I don’t use batteries with nickel
chemistry any more), but I didn’t want to
worry about a voltage regulator. I needed a
great gyro, and considered adding a throttle
governor down the road. There are many
gadgets and accessories you can add; some
are worthwhile, others not so much
depending on your needs and skill level.
Left: SwitchGlo makes a simplified
momentary PushGlo glow-plug
ignition system that works off of the
receiver battery running the servos.
Photos by the author
December 2011 63
One hop-up is the all-metal tail case
available at A Main Hobbies. It doesn’t
include instructions, so careful
assembly is required. The all-flat
frame stock is 2.5mm G10 material.
Left: Note the antenna placement of
the Futaba FASST receiver for
optimal diversity. The GY701
programming module is used to
tune the parameters of the gyro and
governor. Power is a Hobbico
LiFeSource 2100 mAh battery.
Below: KBDD Tony Whiteside
Extreme tail blades and paddles
increased the performance of the
Frenzy even further. There’s enough
fuel for the O.S. 50SX-H engine to fly
for 8 minutes.
+ • Excellent power-to-weight ratio
• Superb smooth flight capability
• Smart control system layout and
equipment mounting options
• Fiberglass canopy
• Practically an ARF—builds fast
• A Main Hobbies provides
unbelievable service and support
• Easy-to-follow instructions with
helpful addendums
• Balance of head and tail crucial
• Provided canopy decals don’t
stick well
• Preassembled components need
thread-lock compound
• Metal upgrades highly
recommended for hard 3-D flying
Type: 50-class RC helicopter kit
Skill level: Intermediate builder and pilot
Rotor diameter: 53 inches
Weight: 7.28 pounds
Length: 49.1 inches
Height: 14 inches
Width: 9.1 inches
Engine: .50-.60 cu. in.
Gear ratio: 8.5:1 main, 4.56:1 tail
Construction: G10 frame,
aluminum/plastic mechanics
Control system: 120°-140° indirect
CCPM mechanics
Drive system: Belt tail-rotor drive
Main rotor blades: 600mm to 620mm
with 12/4mm root (required)
Tail boom: Narrow-wall aluminum tube
Tail rotor blades: 84mm to 95mm
(84mm included)
Canopy: Fiberglass canopy with basic
finish
Landing gear: Four-piece nylon struts
with aluminum skids
Fuel tank: 450cc (approximately) plastic
Product number: JSS-TZ50V2
Price: $149.99
Engine: O.S. Engines 50SX-H
Muffler: Hatori SAB-55
Fuel: Rapicon Max Power RC
Helicopter Fuel 30%
Main blades: Radix 600mm highperformance
premium carbon fiber
Tail blades and paddles: KBDD
Tony Whiteside Extreme Edition
Radio system: Futaba 10C FASST
transmitter, R6008HS eight-channel
2.4GHz FASST receiver
Servos: Three Hitec HS-6975HB
cyclic, 2 HS-7966HB throttle/tail
rotor
Battery: LiFeSource LiFe 6.6V
2100mAh 10C receiver battery
Gyro/governor: Futaba GY701 gyro
with governor
Accessories: PushGlo onboard
glow-plug igniter
Modifications: 140° mixing (arms and
pushrods), metal tail-rotor case
Ready-to-fly weight: 7.15 pounds
Flight duration: 6 to 9 minutes
Hobbico’s LifeSource batteries have a
nominal voltage of 6.6 volts, and they’re
supplied with three output leads for
redundancy and multiple supply options.
Here was one battery that provided multiple
needs. Excellent!
The Futaba GY701 is a multitasking
accessory as well. Not only is it a state-ofthe-
art gyro, but it can also be used as a
throttle governor with the add-on of a hall
sensor. One accessory, two tasks—now
we’re cooking. Bonus: the GY701 also can
operate on the voltage straight from the LiFe
pack.
Hitec offers a wide range of servos that
work well in my airplanes. I’m fond of the
durability and precision of Karbonite gears.
I compared the specifications of the highestrated
helicopter servos and matched them
with what I could find from Hitec. I quickly
found matching—or better—servos under
the Hitec label; nearly all of the Hitec servos
can operate at 6.0 volts or higher. The
Futaba eight-channel FASST receiver can
operate at 6.6 volts, too.
So there I was, keeping things simple,
but still finding everything I needed to fully
trick out the Frenzy—time to open the kit
and get building.
The Frenzy is a modern helicopter with
mechanics that are similar to more
expensive machines. Its design is
comparable—albeit larger—to the 450-size
machine on which I learned, so none of that
practice was wasted! The head and tail
mechanics are nearly identical in look and
function, plus the swash mixing was
cyclic/collective pitch mixing (CCPM), as
with every popular helicopter. To me, the
Frenzy didn’t look like a complicated
project at all.
The helicopter is shipped mostly
assembled. The composite frame is complete
with its combination of plastic and metal
bearing blocks installed and the efficient
accessory tray hanging out the front. The
metal/plastic hybrid head mechanics are
completely assembled with the main mast,
and the tail rotor is fully assembled with the
drive belt installed and triple ball-bearing
blade grips attached.
The instructions include full assembly
procedures and exploded views as if
building the machine from a totally
disassembled kit—really detailed. The
English translations are rough in some areas,
but the steps and data turned out to be
accurate.
Although the major assemblies appeared
tight, inspection of random hardware proved
that thread-lock compound wasn’t always
present, but the torque needed to remove the
metric socket-head hardware was
significant.
Instead of the servos directly linking to
the swashplate and tail rotor as on my 450-
class helicopter, indirect ball-bearingsupported
bellcranks interconnected
between the mechanics and the servo for
extra support and reduced load to the servos
themselves. The push-pull linkage of the
cyclic controls is ideal for precision and
load-bearing assurance.
Geometry is important with helicopter
mechanics. It’s why the Frenzy has multiple
linkage connection options on the head
mechanics; a pilot can tune the mechanics to
suit a certain flying style. I didn’t like that
the push-pull bellcranks on the Frenzy have
27.5mm ball-link spacing because it doesn’t
match the standard 25mm or 30mm spaced
ball-link mounting hole choices of the Hitec
servo wheel. As it turned out, using the
mismatched spacing didn’t produce any
significant binding or interference; however,
I know that on professional-grade machines,
the spacing is matched.
The Frenzy is quick to build, even taking
the time to inspect the hardware for
tightness. In two evenings the helicopter was
framed with the engine installed. I’m
impressed with the frame engineering. A
large bottom plate made of 2.5mm G10
composite (just like the frame material)
bolted to the bottom of the frame adds an
enormous amount of twist resistance. Both
the landing gear and engine block tie into
this part making the stressors and support
components work in unison.
The four landing-gear posts are flexible;
replaceable points are easily serviced if a
hard landing occurs (or you practice
autorotations as hard as I do). A lot of highend
helicopter designs require expensive and
extensive component replacement when an
issue as simple as a hard landing occurs. The
Frenzy only needs a $5 bag of landing-gear
brackets.
The servos should be installed starting
from the bottom otherwise getting the
2.5mm stop-nuts to thread on is difficult. The
power switch should be installed in the
factory-made opening in that sequence as
well, and mounted with rubber grommets to
isolate the switch from vibration. Pay careful
attention to the direction of the servos to
ensure that the factory-assembled pushrods
will fit; follow the manual and you’ll be fine.
The servos are located so that the wire leads
are easily within reach of the forward
accessory tray.
Every pushrod is supplied finished, which
is great because there are many, but they’re
bundled and labeled for easy reference and
quick installation. The links are an accurate fit
on the balls and require a firm press to attach.
Routing and bundling the wires was
simple; there are lots of strapping points on
the accessory tray. I treated myself to a
PushGlo from the company that makes the
SwitchGlo onboard glow plug igniter. It
operates from a spare lead off the LiFe pack,
or from a spare receiver port. Push the button
and glow heat is applied for 5 seconds—
plenty of time to start the great-running O.S.
engine.
The Futaba GY701 gyro and governor
turned out to be a great investment. Simple to
program, it has options for multiple flying
styles, and advanced features to fine-tune the
operation. The data screen is easy to read,
even in direct sunlight. The Quick Start Guide
instructions had me flying in no time and the
detailed booklet is even more enlightening.
In fact, my confidence in the gyro
operation had me quickly back to the A Main
Hobbies website to order the governor
option. Because the gyro and governor work
through the same unit, throttle response to
tail-rotor demand is almost predictive.
My Frenzy weighs slightly less than
specified. Had I opted for separate
accessories—bigger engine, heavier muffler,
and adding a regulator—the machine would
have been heavier.
The included fiberglass canopy dressed
up brightly with the included V2 graphics,
although I wish the adhesive on the graphics
was a little more aggressive—I doubt that
they’ll stay looking good for long because
engine exhaust quickly settled in the seams.
First flights with the Frenzy were spent
with the engine running rich. I run Rapicon
fuel, which is very reasonably priced and
popular where I fly. I tended to the tail-rotor
trim and gain response during the initial
flights.
To this day, I’m happy with the GY701
hold of the tail; however, I can’t say that I
like how the tail bounces at the stops. Gain
adjustments could not eliminate the bounce
and I explored every option within the
GY701’s parameters.
I understand that there is a firmware
update for the GY701 that can be accessed
with the use and purchase of the Futaba
CIU-2 PC Interface (FUTM0951). Maybe
I’ll invest in a programmer and chase the
problem down.
I chased the tail enough to get response
and achieve pirouette rates better than I
needed in order to fly. Cyclic and pitch
response required little adjustment, which
pleased me. The CG is spot-on over the main
shaft. This means that I should expect neutral
flip and roll response—maybe it will even be
axial. A forward CG would offer more
stability for forward flight, and an aft CG
would make the helicopter more pitch
sensitive—hey, that’s just like an airplane!
A CG on the main mast means that the
swashplate stays perpendicular to the main
mast. A tilted or trimmed swashplate will
inhibit the helicopter from performing square
maneuvers and cause a variable-change rate
across the pitch range. In other words, the
helicopter won’t ever feel in trim, and loops,
rolls or any combination thereof will look
“funny.”
My Frenzy flips and rolls smoothly with
little need for correction—or only needs
correction because of my sloppy input! It’s
difficult to describe what a pleasure it is to fly
the Frenzy. My experience was with smaller
machines; the Frenzy is a Giant Scale
experience by comparison!
As is true with airplanes, bigger
helicopters fly better. They seem to react more
smoothly, and respond instantly to my every
command, although doing so over a larger
area. The perception gives me the time I need
to think and appreciate my input along with
the helicopter’s flight path. I’m able to correct
my mistakes rather than recover from them.
Flying the Frenzy allows me to breathe during
the flight; before I held my breath.
I can actually practice autorotations with
the Frenzy—a skill that was not long ago
merely a dream to ponder. I’ve bent the flybar
with a few hard landings, but haven’t broken
the gear or struck the boom.
There was a shake in the tail that required
chasing. I replaced the tail blades with KBDD
Tony Whiteside Extreme Edition blades. They
helped and their green color helps visually
with the machine, but the shake still persisted.
That led me to balance the tail-rotor assembly
and look again at the balance of the head.
The shake crumpled away slowly, but still
wasn’t totally gone. There is a boom support
brace available that might help. It will tie
together the boom supports at midspan,
dampening the frame vibration traveling down
the boom. Another thought is to relocate the
frame mounting points of the boom supports
from the fuel tank stays to a point lower and
forward on the frame, perhaps on the rear gear
strut hard point.
I’ve had lots of fun flying the Frenzy. The
O.S. 50 and Hatori combination offers plenty
of power. Aside from my tinkering, it has
been a trouble-free helicopter to fly. I
explored different mixing, both with that
already provided in the head mechanics and
with accessories available separately such as
the 140° swashplate mixing.
The 140° mixing improved the helicopter
the most. Besides the longer swashplate
arms, you will want to purchase the new
servo pushrod kit specifically for 140°
mixing; the stock arms are too long. At the
stops, I noticed that it’s possible for the 110-
inch/ounce torque Hitec servos to slightly
leverage a bend in the plastic swashplate. I’ll
be ordering the all-metal swashplate from A
Main Hobbies soon because my aerobatics
skills are getting daring and I don’t want the
swashplate to fail.
The KBDD Tony Whiteside paddles and
blades smoothed and improved the Frenzy’s
capabilities. Unfortunately, the included
dampeners in the KBDD kit won’t fit the
aircraft—they’re too small and the Frenzy’s
spindle is only 5mm.
I’ve changed the look of my Frenzy with
a painted canopy from A Main Hobbies. Did
that ever make the helicopter pop!
Even old airplane pilots can get a kick
out of flashy helicopters. As I mentioned
before, my helicopter experience has made
me a better airplane pilot, and the challenge
has helped me not only appreciate the hobby
more, but also have more fun. MA
—Roth Heyes
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
JS Models/A Main Hobbies
(800) 705-2215
www.amainhobbies.com
Sources:
Futaba RC
(800) 637-7660
www.futaba-rc.com
Hitec RCD
(858) 748-6948
www.hitecrcd.com
O.S. Engines
(217) 398-8970
www.osengines.com
Hatori USA
(716) 297-3295
www.hatoriusa.com
SwitchGlo
(818) 709-0268
www.switchglo.com
LifeSource Batteries
(800) 637-7660
www.lifesourcebatteries.com
Rapicon Fuel
[email protected]
www.rapiconfuels.co.uk
Radix Blades
(979) 779-2172
www.curtisyoungblood.com

With a little—okay, a lot—of practice, hovering low and
inverted is no more challenging than flying upright,
especially with a helicopter as stable and smooth as the
Frenzy 50.
There are many ways to hop-up the Frenzy. The
lightweight fiberglass canopy shown is a Canomod
product, specially made for A Main Hobbies as one
of three available color options.
62 MODEL AVIATION
Below: The stock Frenzy
paddles are lightweight, have a
thin airfoil, and are generously
sized to provide stability and
aggressive input control. The
stainless steel flybar is 4mm in
diameter.
OT LONG AGO, I wasn’t what
you’d call a “helicopter person.”
For most of the last 20 years, my
car was filled with fixed-wing
glow- and electric-powered models
on a normal flying day. But since the small
electric coaxial helicopters came out, my
curiosity about the air-beaters has grown
steadily. After getting my first one, I kept at
it and honestly, I think that little heli helped
with my ability to fly airplanes—lots of leftthumb
practice.
Then bravery got the better of me and I
invested in an electric 450-class helicopter.
That required a large leap in my ability.
Collective-pitch helicopters are more
sensitive to pilot input, but can be flown
outdoors and can perform forward flight.
Once I became good at hovering in the
backyard, that machine found its way into
the car between the fuselage and wings.
Although it crashed a few times, the
helicopter could be put back together as
good as new, as long as I was careful and
didn’t skimp on cheap parts. Helicopters can
be flown much like airplanes, and doing so
at the club field kept my airplane pals happy
because I’d follow the same pattern as the
other aircraft. My left thumb got much
practice mixing tail-rotor control into the
turns and managing the collective (that’s the
throttle stick on airplanes).
Helicopters need plenty of maintenance,
and I think that taking good care of my
helicopters made me want to take better care
of my airplanes. It got me thinking that
maybe a bigger helicopter would increase
my abilities as an RC pilot.
Roughly a year ago, I bought the JS
Models TZ V2 .50 Frenzy helicopter from A
Main Hobbies. My business with A Main
Hobbies has been satisfying. Ordering
online is a breeze; I always have a wish list
going. A Main Hobbies has many products
in stock and ships fast.
The Frenzy is a lot of helicopter for the
money, and everything I needed to get the
helicopter flying was available in one order
from A Main Hobbies. All of the stock parts
are available for the helicopter, and there are
even some replacement parts made from
metal instead of plastic that harden the heli
and improve its looks and performance.
The Frenzy 50 is a glow-powered
machine that requires a .50-class helicopter
engine, muffler, 600mm main blades, gyro,
and above-standard-grade servos to work the
cyclic controls, throttle, and tail rotor.
Although the Frenzy is available at a great
price—hundreds less than many other kits
Right: The Frenzy’s head mechanics is a hybrid of plastic and aluminum
components, fully ball-bearing supported and interlinked with snap-lock
fitting ball-link points. The 140° mixing option is a smooth upgrade.
The GY701 gyro from Futaba is
available with an integrated
governor. It works with
amazing speed and the unit’s
efficiency makes installation
and setup simple.
Right: The forward radio/
accessory module is well
thought out with room for
required components and
Velcro strap slots to hold
everything down tightly.
The Frenzy is pretty and
clean before the first run. A
nice touch for the price is
the painted white fiberglass
canopy with black painted
window.
available—that’s not an excuse to skimp on
accessory equipment. I’ve learned through
my 450-size machine that lousy radio and
power systems make even the best
helicopter fly poorly.
My experience with O.S. engines in
airplanes made my engine choice for a
helicopter easy. I went with the 50SX-H
engine instead of the newer 55-size
helicopter engine that O.S. now offers
because the advertised weight of the Frenzy
and because my flying style didn’t dictate
an ultimate power requirement—or
expense. To get every bit of power out of
the reliable 50-size engine, I selected a
muffler from Hatori USA (available from
A Main Hobbies).
The Futaba 10C FASST radio system
that I’ve used for aircraft works well for
helicopters. This choice would keep me
from having to learn a different radio
system, plus bringing only one transmitter
to the field for airplanes and helicopters
makes sense. I like to keep things simple
(and yes, I understand the irony of being
attracted to complex machines such as
helicopters).
Keeping things simple is a challenge
with a helicopter, but I tried anyway in the
interest of weight savings and reduced
failure points by making a list of needs.
I wanted to go with a lithium battery for
radio power (I don’t use batteries with nickel
chemistry any more), but I didn’t want to
worry about a voltage regulator. I needed a
great gyro, and considered adding a throttle
governor down the road. There are many
gadgets and accessories you can add; some
are worthwhile, others not so much
depending on your needs and skill level.
Left: SwitchGlo makes a simplified
momentary PushGlo glow-plug
ignition system that works off of the
receiver battery running the servos.
Photos by the author
December 2011 63
One hop-up is the all-metal tail case
available at A Main Hobbies. It doesn’t
include instructions, so careful
assembly is required. The all-flat
frame stock is 2.5mm G10 material.
Left: Note the antenna placement of
the Futaba FASST receiver for
optimal diversity. The GY701
programming module is used to
tune the parameters of the gyro and
governor. Power is a Hobbico
LiFeSource 2100 mAh battery.
Below: KBDD Tony Whiteside
Extreme tail blades and paddles
increased the performance of the
Frenzy even further. There’s enough
fuel for the O.S. 50SX-H engine to fly
for 8 minutes.
+ • Excellent power-to-weight ratio
• Superb smooth flight capability
• Smart control system layout and
equipment mounting options
• Fiberglass canopy
• Practically an ARF—builds fast
• A Main Hobbies provides
unbelievable service and support
• Easy-to-follow instructions with
helpful addendums
• Balance of head and tail crucial
• Provided canopy decals don’t
stick well
• Preassembled components need
thread-lock compound
• Metal upgrades highly
recommended for hard 3-D flying
Type: 50-class RC helicopter kit
Skill level: Intermediate builder and pilot
Rotor diameter: 53 inches
Weight: 7.28 pounds
Length: 49.1 inches
Height: 14 inches
Width: 9.1 inches
Engine: .50-.60 cu. in.
Gear ratio: 8.5:1 main, 4.56:1 tail
Construction: G10 frame,
aluminum/plastic mechanics
Control system: 120°-140° indirect
CCPM mechanics
Drive system: Belt tail-rotor drive
Main rotor blades: 600mm to 620mm
with 12/4mm root (required)
Tail boom: Narrow-wall aluminum tube
Tail rotor blades: 84mm to 95mm
(84mm included)
Canopy: Fiberglass canopy with basic
finish
Landing gear: Four-piece nylon struts
with aluminum skids
Fuel tank: 450cc (approximately) plastic
Product number: JSS-TZ50V2
Price: $149.99
Engine: O.S. Engines 50SX-H
Muffler: Hatori SAB-55
Fuel: Rapicon Max Power RC
Helicopter Fuel 30%
Main blades: Radix 600mm highperformance
premium carbon fiber
Tail blades and paddles: KBDD
Tony Whiteside Extreme Edition
Radio system: Futaba 10C FASST
transmitter, R6008HS eight-channel
2.4GHz FASST receiver
Servos: Three Hitec HS-6975HB
cyclic, 2 HS-7966HB throttle/tail
rotor
Battery: LiFeSource LiFe 6.6V
2100mAh 10C receiver battery
Gyro/governor: Futaba GY701 gyro
with governor
Accessories: PushGlo onboard
glow-plug igniter
Modifications: 140° mixing (arms and
pushrods), metal tail-rotor case
Ready-to-fly weight: 7.15 pounds
Flight duration: 6 to 9 minutes
Hobbico’s LifeSource batteries have a
nominal voltage of 6.6 volts, and they’re
supplied with three output leads for
redundancy and multiple supply options.
Here was one battery that provided multiple
needs. Excellent!
The Futaba GY701 is a multitasking
accessory as well. Not only is it a state-ofthe-
art gyro, but it can also be used as a
throttle governor with the add-on of a hall
sensor. One accessory, two tasks—now
we’re cooking. Bonus: the GY701 also can
operate on the voltage straight from the LiFe
pack.
Hitec offers a wide range of servos that
work well in my airplanes. I’m fond of the
durability and precision of Karbonite gears.
I compared the specifications of the highestrated
helicopter servos and matched them
with what I could find from Hitec. I quickly
found matching—or better—servos under
the Hitec label; nearly all of the Hitec servos
can operate at 6.0 volts or higher. The
Futaba eight-channel FASST receiver can
operate at 6.6 volts, too.
So there I was, keeping things simple,
but still finding everything I needed to fully
trick out the Frenzy—time to open the kit
and get building.
The Frenzy is a modern helicopter with
mechanics that are similar to more
expensive machines. Its design is
comparable—albeit larger—to the 450-size
machine on which I learned, so none of that
practice was wasted! The head and tail
mechanics are nearly identical in look and
function, plus the swash mixing was
cyclic/collective pitch mixing (CCPM), as
with every popular helicopter. To me, the
Frenzy didn’t look like a complicated
project at all.
The helicopter is shipped mostly
assembled. The composite frame is complete
with its combination of plastic and metal
bearing blocks installed and the efficient
accessory tray hanging out the front. The
metal/plastic hybrid head mechanics are
completely assembled with the main mast,
and the tail rotor is fully assembled with the
drive belt installed and triple ball-bearing
blade grips attached.
The instructions include full assembly
procedures and exploded views as if
building the machine from a totally
disassembled kit—really detailed. The
English translations are rough in some areas,
but the steps and data turned out to be
accurate.
Although the major assemblies appeared
tight, inspection of random hardware proved
that thread-lock compound wasn’t always
present, but the torque needed to remove the
metric socket-head hardware was
significant.
Instead of the servos directly linking to
the swashplate and tail rotor as on my 450-
class helicopter, indirect ball-bearingsupported
bellcranks interconnected
between the mechanics and the servo for
extra support and reduced load to the servos
themselves. The push-pull linkage of the
cyclic controls is ideal for precision and
load-bearing assurance.
Geometry is important with helicopter
mechanics. It’s why the Frenzy has multiple
linkage connection options on the head
mechanics; a pilot can tune the mechanics to
suit a certain flying style. I didn’t like that
the push-pull bellcranks on the Frenzy have
27.5mm ball-link spacing because it doesn’t
match the standard 25mm or 30mm spaced
ball-link mounting hole choices of the Hitec
servo wheel. As it turned out, using the
mismatched spacing didn’t produce any
significant binding or interference; however,
I know that on professional-grade machines,
the spacing is matched.
The Frenzy is quick to build, even taking
the time to inspect the hardware for
tightness. In two evenings the helicopter was
framed with the engine installed. I’m
impressed with the frame engineering. A
large bottom plate made of 2.5mm G10
composite (just like the frame material)
bolted to the bottom of the frame adds an
enormous amount of twist resistance. Both
the landing gear and engine block tie into
this part making the stressors and support
components work in unison.
The four landing-gear posts are flexible;
replaceable points are easily serviced if a
hard landing occurs (or you practice
autorotations as hard as I do). A lot of highend
helicopter designs require expensive and
extensive component replacement when an
issue as simple as a hard landing occurs. The
Frenzy only needs a $5 bag of landing-gear
brackets.
The servos should be installed starting
from the bottom otherwise getting the
2.5mm stop-nuts to thread on is difficult. The
power switch should be installed in the
factory-made opening in that sequence as
well, and mounted with rubber grommets to
isolate the switch from vibration. Pay careful
attention to the direction of the servos to
ensure that the factory-assembled pushrods
will fit; follow the manual and you’ll be fine.
The servos are located so that the wire leads
are easily within reach of the forward
accessory tray.
Every pushrod is supplied finished, which
is great because there are many, but they’re
bundled and labeled for easy reference and
quick installation. The links are an accurate fit
on the balls and require a firm press to attach.
Routing and bundling the wires was
simple; there are lots of strapping points on
the accessory tray. I treated myself to a
PushGlo from the company that makes the
SwitchGlo onboard glow plug igniter. It
operates from a spare lead off the LiFe pack,
or from a spare receiver port. Push the button
and glow heat is applied for 5 seconds—
plenty of time to start the great-running O.S.
engine.
The Futaba GY701 gyro and governor
turned out to be a great investment. Simple to
program, it has options for multiple flying
styles, and advanced features to fine-tune the
operation. The data screen is easy to read,
even in direct sunlight. The Quick Start Guide
instructions had me flying in no time and the
detailed booklet is even more enlightening.
In fact, my confidence in the gyro
operation had me quickly back to the A Main
Hobbies website to order the governor
option. Because the gyro and governor work
through the same unit, throttle response to
tail-rotor demand is almost predictive.
My Frenzy weighs slightly less than
specified. Had I opted for separate
accessories—bigger engine, heavier muffler,
and adding a regulator—the machine would
have been heavier.
The included fiberglass canopy dressed
up brightly with the included V2 graphics,
although I wish the adhesive on the graphics
was a little more aggressive—I doubt that
they’ll stay looking good for long because
engine exhaust quickly settled in the seams.
First flights with the Frenzy were spent
with the engine running rich. I run Rapicon
fuel, which is very reasonably priced and
popular where I fly. I tended to the tail-rotor
trim and gain response during the initial
flights.
To this day, I’m happy with the GY701
hold of the tail; however, I can’t say that I
like how the tail bounces at the stops. Gain
adjustments could not eliminate the bounce
and I explored every option within the
GY701’s parameters.
I understand that there is a firmware
update for the GY701 that can be accessed
with the use and purchase of the Futaba
CIU-2 PC Interface (FUTM0951). Maybe
I’ll invest in a programmer and chase the
problem down.
I chased the tail enough to get response
and achieve pirouette rates better than I
needed in order to fly. Cyclic and pitch
response required little adjustment, which
pleased me. The CG is spot-on over the main
shaft. This means that I should expect neutral
flip and roll response—maybe it will even be
axial. A forward CG would offer more
stability for forward flight, and an aft CG
would make the helicopter more pitch
sensitive—hey, that’s just like an airplane!
A CG on the main mast means that the
swashplate stays perpendicular to the main
mast. A tilted or trimmed swashplate will
inhibit the helicopter from performing square
maneuvers and cause a variable-change rate
across the pitch range. In other words, the
helicopter won’t ever feel in trim, and loops,
rolls or any combination thereof will look
“funny.”
My Frenzy flips and rolls smoothly with
little need for correction—or only needs
correction because of my sloppy input! It’s
difficult to describe what a pleasure it is to fly
the Frenzy. My experience was with smaller
machines; the Frenzy is a Giant Scale
experience by comparison!
As is true with airplanes, bigger
helicopters fly better. They seem to react more
smoothly, and respond instantly to my every
command, although doing so over a larger
area. The perception gives me the time I need
to think and appreciate my input along with
the helicopter’s flight path. I’m able to correct
my mistakes rather than recover from them.
Flying the Frenzy allows me to breathe during
the flight; before I held my breath.
I can actually practice autorotations with
the Frenzy—a skill that was not long ago
merely a dream to ponder. I’ve bent the flybar
with a few hard landings, but haven’t broken
the gear or struck the boom.
There was a shake in the tail that required
chasing. I replaced the tail blades with KBDD
Tony Whiteside Extreme Edition blades. They
helped and their green color helps visually
with the machine, but the shake still persisted.
That led me to balance the tail-rotor assembly
and look again at the balance of the head.
The shake crumpled away slowly, but still
wasn’t totally gone. There is a boom support
brace available that might help. It will tie
together the boom supports at midspan,
dampening the frame vibration traveling down
the boom. Another thought is to relocate the
frame mounting points of the boom supports
from the fuel tank stays to a point lower and
forward on the frame, perhaps on the rear gear
strut hard point.
I’ve had lots of fun flying the Frenzy. The
O.S. 50 and Hatori combination offers plenty
of power. Aside from my tinkering, it has
been a trouble-free helicopter to fly. I
explored different mixing, both with that
already provided in the head mechanics and
with accessories available separately such as
the 140° swashplate mixing.
The 140° mixing improved the helicopter
the most. Besides the longer swashplate
arms, you will want to purchase the new
servo pushrod kit specifically for 140°
mixing; the stock arms are too long. At the
stops, I noticed that it’s possible for the 110-
inch/ounce torque Hitec servos to slightly
leverage a bend in the plastic swashplate. I’ll
be ordering the all-metal swashplate from A
Main Hobbies soon because my aerobatics
skills are getting daring and I don’t want the
swashplate to fail.
The KBDD Tony Whiteside paddles and
blades smoothed and improved the Frenzy’s
capabilities. Unfortunately, the included
dampeners in the KBDD kit won’t fit the
aircraft—they’re too small and the Frenzy’s
spindle is only 5mm.
I’ve changed the look of my Frenzy with
a painted canopy from A Main Hobbies. Did
that ever make the helicopter pop!
Even old airplane pilots can get a kick
out of flashy helicopters. As I mentioned
before, my helicopter experience has made
me a better airplane pilot, and the challenge
has helped me not only appreciate the hobby
more, but also have more fun. MA
—Roth Heyes
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
JS Models/A Main Hobbies
(800) 705-2215
www.amainhobbies.com
Sources:
Futaba RC
(800) 637-7660
www.futaba-rc.com
Hitec RCD
(858) 748-6948
www.hitecrcd.com
O.S. Engines
(217) 398-8970
www.osengines.com
Hatori USA
(716) 297-3295
www.hatoriusa.com
SwitchGlo
(818) 709-0268
www.switchglo.com
LifeSource Batteries
(800) 637-7660
www.lifesourcebatteries.com
Rapicon Fuel
[email protected]
www.rapiconfuels.co.uk
Radix Blades
(979) 779-2172
www.curtisyoungblood.com

With a little—okay, a lot—of practice, hovering low and
inverted is no more challenging than flying upright,
especially with a helicopter as stable and smooth as the
Frenzy 50.
There are many ways to hop-up the Frenzy. The
lightweight fiberglass canopy shown is a Canomod
product, specially made for A Main Hobbies as one
of three available color options.
62 MODEL AVIATION
Below: The stock Frenzy
paddles are lightweight, have a
thin airfoil, and are generously
sized to provide stability and
aggressive input control. The
stainless steel flybar is 4mm in
diameter.
OT LONG AGO, I wasn’t what
you’d call a “helicopter person.”
For most of the last 20 years, my
car was filled with fixed-wing
glow- and electric-powered models
on a normal flying day. But since the small
electric coaxial helicopters came out, my
curiosity about the air-beaters has grown
steadily. After getting my first one, I kept at
it and honestly, I think that little heli helped
with my ability to fly airplanes—lots of leftthumb
practice.
Then bravery got the better of me and I
invested in an electric 450-class helicopter.
That required a large leap in my ability.
Collective-pitch helicopters are more
sensitive to pilot input, but can be flown
outdoors and can perform forward flight.
Once I became good at hovering in the
backyard, that machine found its way into
the car between the fuselage and wings.
Although it crashed a few times, the
helicopter could be put back together as
good as new, as long as I was careful and
didn’t skimp on cheap parts. Helicopters can
be flown much like airplanes, and doing so
at the club field kept my airplane pals happy
because I’d follow the same pattern as the
other aircraft. My left thumb got much
practice mixing tail-rotor control into the
turns and managing the collective (that’s the
throttle stick on airplanes).
Helicopters need plenty of maintenance,
and I think that taking good care of my
helicopters made me want to take better care
of my airplanes. It got me thinking that
maybe a bigger helicopter would increase
my abilities as an RC pilot.
Roughly a year ago, I bought the JS
Models TZ V2 .50 Frenzy helicopter from A
Main Hobbies. My business with A Main
Hobbies has been satisfying. Ordering
online is a breeze; I always have a wish list
going. A Main Hobbies has many products
in stock and ships fast.
The Frenzy is a lot of helicopter for the
money, and everything I needed to get the
helicopter flying was available in one order
from A Main Hobbies. All of the stock parts
are available for the helicopter, and there are
even some replacement parts made from
metal instead of plastic that harden the heli
and improve its looks and performance.
The Frenzy 50 is a glow-powered
machine that requires a .50-class helicopter
engine, muffler, 600mm main blades, gyro,
and above-standard-grade servos to work the
cyclic controls, throttle, and tail rotor.
Although the Frenzy is available at a great
price—hundreds less than many other kits
Right: The Frenzy’s head mechanics is a hybrid of plastic and aluminum
components, fully ball-bearing supported and interlinked with snap-lock
fitting ball-link points. The 140° mixing option is a smooth upgrade.
The GY701 gyro from Futaba is
available with an integrated
governor. It works with
amazing speed and the unit’s
efficiency makes installation
and setup simple.
Right: The forward radio/
accessory module is well
thought out with room for
required components and
Velcro strap slots to hold
everything down tightly.
The Frenzy is pretty and
clean before the first run. A
nice touch for the price is
the painted white fiberglass
canopy with black painted
window.
available—that’s not an excuse to skimp on
accessory equipment. I’ve learned through
my 450-size machine that lousy radio and
power systems make even the best
helicopter fly poorly.
My experience with O.S. engines in
airplanes made my engine choice for a
helicopter easy. I went with the 50SX-H
engine instead of the newer 55-size
helicopter engine that O.S. now offers
because the advertised weight of the Frenzy
and because my flying style didn’t dictate
an ultimate power requirement—or
expense. To get every bit of power out of
the reliable 50-size engine, I selected a
muffler from Hatori USA (available from
A Main Hobbies).
The Futaba 10C FASST radio system
that I’ve used for aircraft works well for
helicopters. This choice would keep me
from having to learn a different radio
system, plus bringing only one transmitter
to the field for airplanes and helicopters
makes sense. I like to keep things simple
(and yes, I understand the irony of being
attracted to complex machines such as
helicopters).
Keeping things simple is a challenge
with a helicopter, but I tried anyway in the
interest of weight savings and reduced
failure points by making a list of needs.
I wanted to go with a lithium battery for
radio power (I don’t use batteries with nickel
chemistry any more), but I didn’t want to
worry about a voltage regulator. I needed a
great gyro, and considered adding a throttle
governor down the road. There are many
gadgets and accessories you can add; some
are worthwhile, others not so much
depending on your needs and skill level.
Left: SwitchGlo makes a simplified
momentary PushGlo glow-plug
ignition system that works off of the
receiver battery running the servos.
Photos by the author
December 2011 63
One hop-up is the all-metal tail case
available at A Main Hobbies. It doesn’t
include instructions, so careful
assembly is required. The all-flat
frame stock is 2.5mm G10 material.
Left: Note the antenna placement of
the Futaba FASST receiver for
optimal diversity. The GY701
programming module is used to
tune the parameters of the gyro and
governor. Power is a Hobbico
LiFeSource 2100 mAh battery.
Below: KBDD Tony Whiteside
Extreme tail blades and paddles
increased the performance of the
Frenzy even further. There’s enough
fuel for the O.S. 50SX-H engine to fly
for 8 minutes.
+ • Excellent power-to-weight ratio
• Superb smooth flight capability
• Smart control system layout and
equipment mounting options
• Fiberglass canopy
• Practically an ARF—builds fast
• A Main Hobbies provides
unbelievable service and support
• Easy-to-follow instructions with
helpful addendums
• Balance of head and tail crucial
• Provided canopy decals don’t
stick well
• Preassembled components need
thread-lock compound
• Metal upgrades highly
recommended for hard 3-D flying
Type: 50-class RC helicopter kit
Skill level: Intermediate builder and pilot
Rotor diameter: 53 inches
Weight: 7.28 pounds
Length: 49.1 inches
Height: 14 inches
Width: 9.1 inches
Engine: .50-.60 cu. in.
Gear ratio: 8.5:1 main, 4.56:1 tail
Construction: G10 frame,
aluminum/plastic mechanics
Control system: 120°-140° indirect
CCPM mechanics
Drive system: Belt tail-rotor drive
Main rotor blades: 600mm to 620mm
with 12/4mm root (required)
Tail boom: Narrow-wall aluminum tube
Tail rotor blades: 84mm to 95mm
(84mm included)
Canopy: Fiberglass canopy with basic
finish
Landing gear: Four-piece nylon struts
with aluminum skids
Fuel tank: 450cc (approximately) plastic
Product number: JSS-TZ50V2
Price: $149.99
Engine: O.S. Engines 50SX-H
Muffler: Hatori SAB-55
Fuel: Rapicon Max Power RC
Helicopter Fuel 30%
Main blades: Radix 600mm highperformance
premium carbon fiber
Tail blades and paddles: KBDD
Tony Whiteside Extreme Edition
Radio system: Futaba 10C FASST
transmitter, R6008HS eight-channel
2.4GHz FASST receiver
Servos: Three Hitec HS-6975HB
cyclic, 2 HS-7966HB throttle/tail
rotor
Battery: LiFeSource LiFe 6.6V
2100mAh 10C receiver battery
Gyro/governor: Futaba GY701 gyro
with governor
Accessories: PushGlo onboard
glow-plug igniter
Modifications: 140° mixing (arms and
pushrods), metal tail-rotor case
Ready-to-fly weight: 7.15 pounds
Flight duration: 6 to 9 minutes
Hobbico’s LifeSource batteries have a
nominal voltage of 6.6 volts, and they’re
supplied with three output leads for
redundancy and multiple supply options.
Here was one battery that provided multiple
needs. Excellent!
The Futaba GY701 is a multitasking
accessory as well. Not only is it a state-ofthe-
art gyro, but it can also be used as a
throttle governor with the add-on of a hall
sensor. One accessory, two tasks—now
we’re cooking. Bonus: the GY701 also can
operate on the voltage straight from the LiFe
pack.
Hitec offers a wide range of servos that
work well in my airplanes. I’m fond of the
durability and precision of Karbonite gears.
I compared the specifications of the highestrated
helicopter servos and matched them
with what I could find from Hitec. I quickly
found matching—or better—servos under
the Hitec label; nearly all of the Hitec servos
can operate at 6.0 volts or higher. The
Futaba eight-channel FASST receiver can
operate at 6.6 volts, too.
So there I was, keeping things simple,
but still finding everything I needed to fully
trick out the Frenzy—time to open the kit
and get building.
The Frenzy is a modern helicopter with
mechanics that are similar to more
expensive machines. Its design is
comparable—albeit larger—to the 450-size
machine on which I learned, so none of that
practice was wasted! The head and tail
mechanics are nearly identical in look and
function, plus the swash mixing was
cyclic/collective pitch mixing (CCPM), as
with every popular helicopter. To me, the
Frenzy didn’t look like a complicated
project at all.
The helicopter is shipped mostly
assembled. The composite frame is complete
with its combination of plastic and metal
bearing blocks installed and the efficient
accessory tray hanging out the front. The
metal/plastic hybrid head mechanics are
completely assembled with the main mast,
and the tail rotor is fully assembled with the
drive belt installed and triple ball-bearing
blade grips attached.
The instructions include full assembly
procedures and exploded views as if
building the machine from a totally
disassembled kit—really detailed. The
English translations are rough in some areas,
but the steps and data turned out to be
accurate.
Although the major assemblies appeared
tight, inspection of random hardware proved
that thread-lock compound wasn’t always
present, but the torque needed to remove the
metric socket-head hardware was
significant.
Instead of the servos directly linking to
the swashplate and tail rotor as on my 450-
class helicopter, indirect ball-bearingsupported
bellcranks interconnected
between the mechanics and the servo for
extra support and reduced load to the servos
themselves. The push-pull linkage of the
cyclic controls is ideal for precision and
load-bearing assurance.
Geometry is important with helicopter
mechanics. It’s why the Frenzy has multiple
linkage connection options on the head
mechanics; a pilot can tune the mechanics to
suit a certain flying style. I didn’t like that
the push-pull bellcranks on the Frenzy have
27.5mm ball-link spacing because it doesn’t
match the standard 25mm or 30mm spaced
ball-link mounting hole choices of the Hitec
servo wheel. As it turned out, using the
mismatched spacing didn’t produce any
significant binding or interference; however,
I know that on professional-grade machines,
the spacing is matched.
The Frenzy is quick to build, even taking
the time to inspect the hardware for
tightness. In two evenings the helicopter was
framed with the engine installed. I’m
impressed with the frame engineering. A
large bottom plate made of 2.5mm G10
composite (just like the frame material)
bolted to the bottom of the frame adds an
enormous amount of twist resistance. Both
the landing gear and engine block tie into
this part making the stressors and support
components work in unison.
The four landing-gear posts are flexible;
replaceable points are easily serviced if a
hard landing occurs (or you practice
autorotations as hard as I do). A lot of highend
helicopter designs require expensive and
extensive component replacement when an
issue as simple as a hard landing occurs. The
Frenzy only needs a $5 bag of landing-gear
brackets.
The servos should be installed starting
from the bottom otherwise getting the
2.5mm stop-nuts to thread on is difficult. The
power switch should be installed in the
factory-made opening in that sequence as
well, and mounted with rubber grommets to
isolate the switch from vibration. Pay careful
attention to the direction of the servos to
ensure that the factory-assembled pushrods
will fit; follow the manual and you’ll be fine.
The servos are located so that the wire leads
are easily within reach of the forward
accessory tray.
Every pushrod is supplied finished, which
is great because there are many, but they’re
bundled and labeled for easy reference and
quick installation. The links are an accurate fit
on the balls and require a firm press to attach.
Routing and bundling the wires was
simple; there are lots of strapping points on
the accessory tray. I treated myself to a
PushGlo from the company that makes the
SwitchGlo onboard glow plug igniter. It
operates from a spare lead off the LiFe pack,
or from a spare receiver port. Push the button
and glow heat is applied for 5 seconds—
plenty of time to start the great-running O.S.
engine.
The Futaba GY701 gyro and governor
turned out to be a great investment. Simple to
program, it has options for multiple flying
styles, and advanced features to fine-tune the
operation. The data screen is easy to read,
even in direct sunlight. The Quick Start Guide
instructions had me flying in no time and the
detailed booklet is even more enlightening.
In fact, my confidence in the gyro
operation had me quickly back to the A Main
Hobbies website to order the governor
option. Because the gyro and governor work
through the same unit, throttle response to
tail-rotor demand is almost predictive.
My Frenzy weighs slightly less than
specified. Had I opted for separate
accessories—bigger engine, heavier muffler,
and adding a regulator—the machine would
have been heavier.
The included fiberglass canopy dressed
up brightly with the included V2 graphics,
although I wish the adhesive on the graphics
was a little more aggressive—I doubt that
they’ll stay looking good for long because
engine exhaust quickly settled in the seams.
First flights with the Frenzy were spent
with the engine running rich. I run Rapicon
fuel, which is very reasonably priced and
popular where I fly. I tended to the tail-rotor
trim and gain response during the initial
flights.
To this day, I’m happy with the GY701
hold of the tail; however, I can’t say that I
like how the tail bounces at the stops. Gain
adjustments could not eliminate the bounce
and I explored every option within the
GY701’s parameters.
I understand that there is a firmware
update for the GY701 that can be accessed
with the use and purchase of the Futaba
CIU-2 PC Interface (FUTM0951). Maybe
I’ll invest in a programmer and chase the
problem down.
I chased the tail enough to get response
and achieve pirouette rates better than I
needed in order to fly. Cyclic and pitch
response required little adjustment, which
pleased me. The CG is spot-on over the main
shaft. This means that I should expect neutral
flip and roll response—maybe it will even be
axial. A forward CG would offer more
stability for forward flight, and an aft CG
would make the helicopter more pitch
sensitive—hey, that’s just like an airplane!
A CG on the main mast means that the
swashplate stays perpendicular to the main
mast. A tilted or trimmed swashplate will
inhibit the helicopter from performing square
maneuvers and cause a variable-change rate
across the pitch range. In other words, the
helicopter won’t ever feel in trim, and loops,
rolls or any combination thereof will look
“funny.”
My Frenzy flips and rolls smoothly with
little need for correction—or only needs
correction because of my sloppy input! It’s
difficult to describe what a pleasure it is to fly
the Frenzy. My experience was with smaller
machines; the Frenzy is a Giant Scale
experience by comparison!
As is true with airplanes, bigger
helicopters fly better. They seem to react more
smoothly, and respond instantly to my every
command, although doing so over a larger
area. The perception gives me the time I need
to think and appreciate my input along with
the helicopter’s flight path. I’m able to correct
my mistakes rather than recover from them.
Flying the Frenzy allows me to breathe during
the flight; before I held my breath.
I can actually practice autorotations with
the Frenzy—a skill that was not long ago
merely a dream to ponder. I’ve bent the flybar
with a few hard landings, but haven’t broken
the gear or struck the boom.
There was a shake in the tail that required
chasing. I replaced the tail blades with KBDD
Tony Whiteside Extreme Edition blades. They
helped and their green color helps visually
with the machine, but the shake still persisted.
That led me to balance the tail-rotor assembly
and look again at the balance of the head.
The shake crumpled away slowly, but still
wasn’t totally gone. There is a boom support
brace available that might help. It will tie
together the boom supports at midspan,
dampening the frame vibration traveling down
the boom. Another thought is to relocate the
frame mounting points of the boom supports
from the fuel tank stays to a point lower and
forward on the frame, perhaps on the rear gear
strut hard point.
I’ve had lots of fun flying the Frenzy. The
O.S. 50 and Hatori combination offers plenty
of power. Aside from my tinkering, it has
been a trouble-free helicopter to fly. I
explored different mixing, both with that
already provided in the head mechanics and
with accessories available separately such as
the 140° swashplate mixing.
The 140° mixing improved the helicopter
the most. Besides the longer swashplate
arms, you will want to purchase the new
servo pushrod kit specifically for 140°
mixing; the stock arms are too long. At the
stops, I noticed that it’s possible for the 110-
inch/ounce torque Hitec servos to slightly
leverage a bend in the plastic swashplate. I’ll
be ordering the all-metal swashplate from A
Main Hobbies soon because my aerobatics
skills are getting daring and I don’t want the
swashplate to fail.
The KBDD Tony Whiteside paddles and
blades smoothed and improved the Frenzy’s
capabilities. Unfortunately, the included
dampeners in the KBDD kit won’t fit the
aircraft—they’re too small and the Frenzy’s
spindle is only 5mm.
I’ve changed the look of my Frenzy with
a painted canopy from A Main Hobbies. Did
that ever make the helicopter pop!
Even old airplane pilots can get a kick
out of flashy helicopters. As I mentioned
before, my helicopter experience has made
me a better airplane pilot, and the challenge
has helped me not only appreciate the hobby
more, but also have more fun. MA
—Roth Heyes
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
JS Models/A Main Hobbies
(800) 705-2215
www.amainhobbies.com
Sources:
Futaba RC
(800) 637-7660
www.futaba-rc.com
Hitec RCD
(858) 748-6948
www.hitecrcd.com
O.S. Engines
(217) 398-8970
www.osengines.com
Hatori USA
(716) 297-3295
www.hatoriusa.com
SwitchGlo
(818) 709-0268
www.switchglo.com
LifeSource Batteries
(800) 637-7660
www.lifesourcebatteries.com
Rapicon Fuel
[email protected]
www.rapiconfuels.co.uk
Radix Blades
(979) 779-2172
www.curtisyoungblood.com