Radio Control: Helicopters
SINCE MY LAST column, I have been doing a lot of testing of the tail-rotor mix for the Super-Baby. Along with my efforts, I have had the help of some interested parties so the testing has been done from several points of view and on several types of helicopters. This mix, properly set up, will work all the way from idle to full collective and is totally linear. The first thing to do is to determine the value of your tail-rotor servo pot. You can do this by asking the manufacturer or by measuring it with an ohm meter. While the servo is open, solder a wire to each terminal on the pot-red and black for the outer ones and white for the center. Run these to a female plug and then take the male side of the plug and make wire ends to match the other plug. These ends should be about 5 inches long.
Radio Control: Helicopters
HELI-BABY Tail-Rotor-Drive Mod: When the Heli-Baby was first developed, the trail-rotor drive was accomplished through a V-belt drive that did not require much tension. However, in use this belt proved to be inadequate and was changed to the flat belt, which required a substantial tension. This tension caused a great deal of wear to the tail-rotor shaft running in needle bearings. It also caused wear to the clutch-gear shaft and clutch-needle bearing. The 1976 series Heli-Baby has an improved clutch bearing and has tail-rotor ball bearings that greatly improve the wear factor. However, the clutch-gear shaft is still supported by one ball bearing, and belt tension produces considerable drag that robs power to the head. I have made several suggestions to the powers that be to correct this problem with nothing being done, so I decided to do it myself!
Radio Control: Helicopters
EVEN THOUGH the helicopter rules have been voted in and will be in the 1978-79 Rule Book printing, the event itself will not be part of the regular Nationals until later. Because of this and the fact that a large portion of RC helicopter activity is in the eastern part of the country, it has been decided to hold the 1977 Helicopter Nationals in South Bend, Indiana, on June 10, 11 and 12. They will be held for those three days at the Tri-Valley RC field, 14154 Cleveland Road, South Bend, Indiana. The events will be Novice, Intermediate, Expert, and Scale with awards through three places plus Best Scratch-Built helicopter. The reason for adding the third day is that we are expecting a large entry, and it will permit us to run it at a more leisurely pace.
Radio Control: Helicopters
FANTASTIC NEW HELICOPTER: On November 19-20 I had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Dieter Schluter and his charming wife, Heidi, here in Winter Park, Florida. He brought with him his new helicopter, called the Heli-Boy. I seldom use very exciting language in this column to describe a new product, however, seldom does such an exciting new product come along. The Heli-Boy is the most fantastic helicopter that I have ever seen! If you could take all of the good points of all the helicopters presently on the market anywhere in the world, and put them altogether in one machine, you still would not come close to the simplicity, the low maintenance, the stability, and the maneuverability of the Heli-Boy! First of all, it is a bolt-together design, ala the Heli-Baby. It is 60 powered and weighs only 8 1/2 pounds; it has collective-control pitch with tail-rotor mix. It has positive gear-driven tail rotor, rigid head with Hiller and Bell control. Schluter prefers to call this "Beller" control. It uses symmetrical blades, and is flown on a maximum of 2 degrees positive pitch. Main rotor speed is 1550 rpm, and constant. The engine is geared so that, at full head speed, the engine is turning a little over 12,000 rpm. Consequently, a massive power reserve is present with really good fuel economy.
Radio Control: Helicopters
YOU MAN'S HEAD MODS. Due to the fact that I'm thinking of too many things at one time, I made a mistake in the mix measurements on the Youman's Head Mods article. They should be as follows: From the center of the pivot to the center of the inner ball is 5/16 in. From the center of the first ball to the center of the outer ball is 5/8 in. Bill has just now changed that on his to 1/2-in. between the inner and outer ball centers. This gives a greater amount of collective and a quicker cyclic response. If your flying skill is not too great as yet, I would go by the first measurements, and when your skill improves, you can change to the latter. I hope that my good did not confuse you too much. Sorry!
