Electric heli for beginner

[969]

Hi, I am new member to this forum and have been reading about micro heli for sometime now. Thinking of buying a micro heli, e.g. FEDA, Mini Dragonfly, Humming Bird, etc., have no knowledge at all on heli but not new to RC, I do fly RC gliders and some electric planes. Read many of the threads but still not sure which is the better one.
Are they the same ? what do I need, e.g. which is the most appropriate gyro (brand & model), speed controller, etc....

What I have now :
1) JR PCM 9X radio.
2) 6 ch micro rxer.
3) Some GWS speed controllers (can't remember which models, but no problem buying again if need to)

Thanks in advance

[Brandon Chng]

hey there! welcome to helis. the feda, dragonfly, and the hummingbird are actually the same model, just in different packaging and marketed under different names. i would recommend the feda, as it is cheaper than the hummingbird. the kit should include motor and mixer(this does the revo mixing and is the speed controller for the tail and main rotors). since you have the radio and micro Rx, all else you'll need are two micro servos and a micro gyro and you're flying.

[HZM]

Hi 969 Welcome onboard.

Yeah FEDA= MINI DRAGONFLY=HB

All are almost indentical. I would suggest you go for FEDA mini dragonfly from SHS if you wanna keep cost down. They comes w mixer board, so you will need a gyro, 2 servo and a rx.

If you had some extra cash, go separate from start, they will make your learning curve easier and give your motor longer lifespan be it tail or main.

Non HH gyro - RC mart from SHS. Will need mixing on radio if you go separate. Plug and play if you using the original mixer board that comes w the kit

Good HH gyro - Futaba GY240 / CSM 200.... the later is diff to get it locally.....probably just stick to the Futaba which is an excellent performer.

Cool

[loyn]

Daddy Mike any chance to have a spare heli for sale ..... aaaa....but not the one you......have hard landed last funfly My friend...the father and son team 's friend is interested in picking up this hobby.

[969]

First post and I got the title wrong, man... see what alcohol can do to a person.

Thanks guys for the information, will drop by the hobby shops once time permits.

HZM, don't quite understand what you mean when you mentioned "go separate". What mixing/s are required on the radio if using non HH gyro ?

Where do you guys fly your electric heli ? If I get one can you guys help me out ? Would really appreciate that.

[Brandon Chng]

hey 969...~

here's the meaning of some of the stuff.

revo-mixing:the tail and the main motor are so called "mixed". this is so that, as the main motor spools up and generates torque, the tail motor would also spool up to add thrust. the gyro also helps this further by keeping the tail stationary.

a heading-hold gyro does not need this feature as it would always hold the heading.

the feda board contains two speed controllers(which are used to alter the motor speeds when you apply throttle or rudder), and a revo mixing, so that you can use a normal gyro, thus there is no need to have revo mixing on the transmitter.

what mike means when he says to go seperates, means to do away with the feda board, and replace it with seperate speed controllers. so in a seperate setup, you'll have two seperate ESCs, and a gyro. a heading hold gyro can only be used in a seperate setup, not with the feda board. as such, unless you're using a heading hold gyro, you will need to have revo-mixing on the seperate setup(without HH gyro) by using the transmitter. seperates are more expensive and complicated, but the motors can last longer, and you can use a heading hold gyro. eventually, it seems most hard-core micro flyers go this route.

for a beginner, i would recommend the feda board. this is cheap(quite) and simple.

the micro flyers here typically fly at the carpark across lavender mrt, or at the aussie international school. i'm sure they would be glad to help you out. i received much help from them when i started out too.

[969]

Hi Brandon, Thanks a million, that is really comprehensive. I got a better picture now. As of now I am looking at going separate with Humming Bird, Futaba GY-240 gyro, the remaining items will be from my existing stocks. Will keep in touch once I get the heli.
Once again thank you all.

[HeliCockters]

Hi heli lovers, I am a new user here, just register. Would like to ask the expert here which shops do your recommand for buying stuff for Micro Elect Heli. (Cheapest)

Currently i own a Mini Dragon fly, still learning how to hover the heli. crash quite alot of time and broke the landing gear, sianZZ!!

[Brandon Chng]

cheapest is to substitute with other stuff like bicycle spokes. but for other stuff, got shs jethobby and champion....

[969]

Bought the Humming Bird and Futaba GY240 as planned, using existing 2 x GWS ICS-100, 4ch rxer and JR PCM 9X radio. Set up as separate configuration, no mixer board (am I right ?). Connections are as follow :
Ch1 to Throttle(Main rotor) via ESC
Ch2 Roll
Ch3 Pitch
Ch4 to gyro input, gyro output to Tail motor
Setup gryo according to instructions but mounted it very near to main motor (any interference problem ?)
Did not use revo mix in transmitter, the GY240 is suppose to handle this since it is Heading Hold (correct ???)
Problem : Heli still spin. Even after setting all the 7 points in the radio program mixer close to -100
Gyro switched to AVCS "ON" but don't seems to be doing the automatic compensation. No different even when switched off the AVCS.
Questions :
Any other setting/s in the radio need to be done ?
Any other thing/s need to be done on the gyro. Isn't it suppose to do the compensation automatically since it is a Heading Hold gyro ?
What else did I missed out ?

Deseparately need help.

[Han]

Hi 969

Check yout gyro, is it on reverse? Switch the switch next to AVS and give it a try.

[Han]

What 7 point did you set? I did not have to do any mixing and I have a smilar set up as yours.

[BonJour Brat]

Hmm.. how bout checking ur rx connection, btw which rx u using? quite rare to see throttle on ch 1 ya

[Han]

bon,

JR has this weird set up where the channels are differnt from others.

[Super-Hornet]

Hi all

It is not rare... GWS GWT-4A uses channel 1 as throttle in Mode 1.

969... I suspect your gyro normal/reverse directions is wrong. Where did u put it and how is the "Futaba" label facing to? Or those wires coming out from Gyro is going towards chassis or away?

Your TX must disabled Revo Mixing. I do not have those computerized TX so I not sure but I do heard/read that u need to switch to Airplane mode.

Super-Hornet