Radio Control Helicopters 2010/07

July 2010 105
HI EVERYONE! Thanks for visiting the rotary-wing department of
MA. Here is where you can get your monthly fix for RC helicopters.
Whether you are new to these machines or a seasoned veteran, there is
a lot of good material for you here.
Bobby Watts is here in my virtual studio, and he is going to shower
us with some high-tech “heli-speak.” Bobby is one of the world’s top 3-
D pilots and an experienced helicopter designer. It’s a real treat to hear
from him. He travels around the world to do flying demonstrations and
workshops. I thank Bobby for helping our readers by sharing his
knowledge.
He just informed me that he and his good friend, Bert Kammerer,
have produced a video series dedicated to helping RC helicopter pilots.
It’s called SmackTalk RC, and it covers everything from maintenance
to 3-D flying, so check it out. I watched the videos, and they are
entertaining and extremely informative.
The nice thing is that both Bobby and Bert know what they are
talking about. Sometimes when you rely on other sources, such as
Internet forums, you can end up with bad advice. I appreciate these
experts taking on this
project.
Now I’ll throw a
few questions to
Bobby starting at the
beginning: the
building stage.
MF: What are some
Bobby Watts and SmackTalk RC
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Helicopters Mark Fadely
Also included in this column:
• Put the IRCHA Jamboree on
your calendar!
Bobby Watts exits the flightline after a thrilling flight. Fans love
his smackdown 3-D style. He and Bert Kammerer have designed a
Web site to help others learn their techniques.
Bobby puts this 90-size prototype machine through the paces at
the 2009 IRCHA Jamboree. He flew it to a couple of podium
finishes at the Extreme Flight Championships.
L-R: Ray Stacy, Kyle Stacy, Steven Boyajian, Jeff Green, Bobby
Watts, and Beresford Davis show the crowd the prototype Fury 55
in a three-way demo. Beresford works closely with Bobby in
product development.
This was the scene at the Heli Wholesaler pits during demos at
last year’s IRCHA event. Bobby and Bert spend a lot of time
helping other pilots with repairs and setups.
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doesn’t seem right, call or e-mail the manufacturer of the helicopter and
make sure you are building the model correctly.
MF: The pros’ helicopters always seem to be so smooth and vibration
free. How do they do that?
BW:Well, to be honest, I think that is one of the reasons they are pros!
If your machine is not running right, or it rolls crooked, or constantly
falls apart, you are not going to get very far. Having a properly running
machine is well over half of the battle in this sport.
Always make sure all of the rotating shafts—the main shaft, spindle
shaft, tail shaft, etc.—are straight, which will help eliminate any sort of
vibrations.
For nitro helicopters, it should also be noted that a smooth-running
engine is extremely critical in getting a machine dialed in correctly. If
the motor is running roughly, it will be very apparent in the air, as bolts
start to come loose, the gyro starts drifting, etc.
MF: Is there any routine maintenance that you do or do you just wait
for something to break?
BW: I think it’s very important to always maintain your helicopter and
keep it as tight as possible. Depending on the machine’s parts quality
and design, this may be simply changing ball links every once in
awhile, or it could be something as crucial as changing a clutch every
month so it doesn’t break.
Usually for me, I change ball links (both the metal balls and the
plastic links) when they start to get sloppy, change fuel tubing if it
becomes chafed or worn out, and just generally try to keep an eye out
for any slop. If a part begins to get sloppy, change it out!
MF: What tools are the best to use?
BW: The most important tools to have when working with RC helis are
106 MODEL AVIATION
Bert (L) calls for Bobby during his Freestyle routine at the 2009
Extreme Flight Championships. The model is a 90-size prototype
that the Miniature Aircraft team is developing.
The Fury 55 is a new 3-D 50-size helicopter from Miniature
Aircraft USA. Bobby spent several years perfecting the design and
claims that it is the ultimate midsize machine.
of the more important aspects to keep in mind when building a
helicopter? Tell us what things to look out for, be careful with, and all
that.
BW: There are a few things that are absolutely critical when building a
new helicopter. The first is to remember the Loctite! Any time there is
a bolt going into another metal part, always use blue Loctite.
If I know that a certain bolt or part is prone to coming loose—a ball
linkage or a setscrew, for example—I always use green Loctite on
these, which is a bit stronger. Another thing to remember is to use CA
[super glue] on any bolt that screws into a plastic part.
It is also important to make sure that all of the wires are routed
cleanly on the model, where they will not get chafed or cut by any
component on the helicopter.
Lastly, make sure you are following the manual! If something
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good hex wrenches. If you are constantly
trying to use the little L wrenches, this
becomes old very quickly.
I use either the Mavrikk wrenches
[available from Heli Wholesaler] or the Thorp
yellow-handled wrenches. These both seem to
hold up to the job! Now that I think about it,
the Mavrikk 2.0mm wrench I won at a fun-fly
in 2004 is the exact same one I use today. I’m
pretty impressed!
You also need to have a good set of balllink
pliers, side cutters, needle-nose pliers, and
some good screwdrivers.
Lastly, I am a huge fan of having a tool bag
instead of lugging a big field box around
everywhere. Lowe’s has a great bag that
comes in a set of two for like $10—well worth
the money!
MF: Do you modify anything on your
helicopter right out of the box?
BW: Once again, this depends on the
helicopter. Since I have the opportunity to
work with Miniature Aircraft so closely,
usually by the time we’re done with it, it needs
no modifications and 99% of that machine I
fly is stock.
With other helicopters, they may have a
different feel in the air, or certain parts may be
prone to coming loose. Once I’ve had a
machine for a few months, I usually know
what to look out for. For the most part,
everything I fly is completely stock, unless we
are testing something new.
MF: What things should I look for after crash
damage? Is hidden damage common?
BW: It is important to make sure that you
check all of the rotating shafts. If they are bent,
it’s time for a new one! Sometimes a shaft that
pilots will overlook in a crash is the starter
shaft. Sometimes they can get slightly bent in
a crash and can lead to vibrations.
108 MODEL AVIATION
Another is the tail hub, if you hit the tail
during the crash and break tail blades; it’s
probably a good idea to check that.
Lastly, if you are really moving fast and
you hit the ground while the engine is still
running, it may be a good idea to check the
crankshaft in the engine, for nitro guys. I
have seen some nasty high-impact crashes
that bend the engine cranks, which is not
fun!
MF: I hear of pilots changing bearings,
pistons, and liners in their nitro helicopters.
How often do you do that?
BW: I generally change rear bearings, at the
very least, every eight months or so. If a
competition is coming up, I will change them
beforehand, just so I know everything is
running smoothly.
If you start to hear a raspy noise during an
idle, it’s time for a new one. A good rule of
thumb for the front bearing is to replace it one
time for every two or three rear bearing
changes. Obviously, if it feels “notchy,”
replace it immediately.
For the piston ring, a black-colored ring
means that it is still in good shape. As soon as
it turns silver, it is worn out and needs to be
replaced.
For the engine liner, as long it does not
have vertical scoring or scratches, it is okay.
As soon as it has these scratches inside, it
means the engine has gotten too hot, due to a
lean run, and it needs to be replaced.
That is a lot of great stuff, Bobby. We are
out of space for this month’s column. If you
pilots out there are serious about your
helicopters and want to get advice from the
best in the business, check out Bobby and
Bert’s SmackTalk RC.
Make plans to attend the IRCHA
(International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association) Jamboree fun-fly August 11-15.
You can talk to the Bobby and Bert in person
there.
The event is held at the AMA’s National
Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana. Enjoy some
summertime flying, and I will be back next
month. MA
Sources:
SmackTalk RC
(866) 459-7990
www.smacktalkrc.com
Loctite
www.loctite.com
Heli Wholesaler
(877) 454-9757
www.heliwholesaler.com
Miniature Aircraft USA
(406) 245-4883
www.miniatureaircraftusa.com
International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association
www.ircha.org
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