T E A M
For all those who are current Lama V4 owners considering a brushless outdoor upgrade or those who want to fly outdoors on a beginner heli, this is my build for the brushless lama with the parts list included. Please note that i continually modded my RTF Lama V4 kit instead of buying all the parts. But it is definitely cheaper to just buy everything in the parts list given below.
Lama V4 build from scratch:
Parts list:
1. From RotorHobby (in SGD)
a. Lama V4 fuselage $14.30
b. Lama V4 Landing Skids $4.10
c. Lama V4 Frame Kit $5.50
d. Plastic Blade Grips $4.60
e. Collar Set $4.60
f. Battery Holder Set $3.70
g. Servo Control Rod $2.10
h. 2mm x 1000mm Piano Wire $2.20
i. 4 x 2.5 x 1000mm Carbon Tube $4.20
j. 1.5 x 1000mm Carbon rod $1.50
2. From RCEHobby (in SGD)
a. Xtreme Gear for Inner Shaft $5.60
b. Xtreme Gear for Outer Shaft $3.60
c. Xtreme Lower and Upper Blades $3.50 x 2
d. Xtreme Metal Central Hub $9.10
e. Xtreme Metal Bearing Housing $8.30
f. Ball Link Set for Flybar $3.60
3. From Hobby King (in USD)
a. Turnigy 1800A Servo x 2 $3.95 x 2 or $8.99 for 3
b. C10 Micro Brushless Outrunner 2900KV x 2 $8.99 x 2
c. Hobby King 2.4GHz 6CH Tx & Rx $24.99
d. Hobby King SS Series 8-10A ESC $6.15 x 2
e. Hobby King 401B AVCS Digital Head Lock Gyro $13.99
f. Hobby King 2.4GHz 6CH Tx USB Cable $2.89
g. Zippy Flightmax 2S1P 1000mAh 15C $4.95
4. From MiracleMart (in USD)
a. Xtreme Metal Swashplate $15.80
b. Xtreme Metal Central Holder $14.40
c. 4 x 8 x 3 Ball Bearings $3.70
d. Lama V4 Screw Set $2.40
e. Canopy Shoring $1.40
f. Xtreme Extended Inner Shaft V2 (+12mm) $11.80
Total Spent: USD$135.59, SGD$84.00
Shipping Costs: USD$13.41 from HK. Below USD$10.00 from MiracleMart
Total in SGD including Shipping: Around $300
Prices provided above are from the cheapest sources of all the sources I know of. From experience, shipping the Xtreme Swashplate from MiracleMart is required as the original Esky part is too binding and can result in unwanted TBE. I have used both Swashplates before and this is what I experienced.
In this Brushless Lama V4, a V-tail mixer is not used. Mixing is done using the HK transmitter. It may not be the best choice but it does reduce the number of wires stuffed into the Lama V4. I have also encountered ESC arming problems when using the Turnigy V-tail mixer so I have opted to use the transmitter for mixing instead of a separate module.
Mod to fit larger batteries:
Credit card mod must be done to fit the Flightmax battery. This is done by cutting the battery tabs off the original battery holder and then drilling 4 holes in a phone card to fit the 4 screws. Velcro can then be used to hold the battery in place during flight.
Mod to eliminate blade strike:
Carbon tube of 4mm x 2.5mm x 1000mm is bought at S$ 4.20 at RotorHobby. The length required for the outer shaft is 121mm. Use a hacksaw and saw at 122mm as ends of the shaft must be filed to near horizontal condition. This must be done till the lower gear is in near horizontal condition when spinning (Extremely Important). Meshing is optimum when the lower gear spins in a single plane. The lower gear must not touch the pinion for the upper gear. This can result in TBE or a stripped lower gear. You may have to try filing a few times to get it right. ¼ turn of the screw upon meeting resistance for the collar and central holder screws. Carbon outer shaft must be drilled at the area for the Xtreme gear screws. I use a 0.9mm drill bit. This ensures the carbon outer shaft turns with the gear. The carbon shaft may crack if screws are too tight. This is extremely important to take note of. The inner shaft is made using 2mm piano wire. This requires a bolt cutter, hacksaw will not work. Cut exactly at the 145mm mark. There’s no need for flat ends. This can be filed to create a depression similar to standard shafts for more grip for the screws. The depression is not required for normal function. These 2 mods ensure that blade strike is eliminated.
Carbon Flybar Mod:
1.5mm carbon rod is used. Carbon rods are cut to 95mm, slotted into the central hub with the use of 5min epoxy. Left to cure for 10mins or so. Ball link set is placed in. Stock flybar weights are epoxied to the carbon rod with the furthest end of the flybar weight being at the 85mm mark from the centre of the flybar. Stock flybar weights include the rubber portion and weighs 2.4g. Other types of weights like wheel collars can be used.
Mod for C10 Brushless Motors:
Shaft has to be changed into a longer shaft. 2mm piano wire may be used. This also means that the original inner shaft that came with the RTF kit may be cut and be used as the motor shaft. The shaft is cut to the appropriate length using a bolt cutter. The sharp ends are then sanded with a dremel. After fitting in the shaft, the pinion is put in place and loctite is applied. The screw holes in the motor frame also need to be drilled (enlarged slightly) to accommodate the slight difference in screw holes between the motor and the frame. You can get the 8T 180 motor pinion from MiracleMart as well. They sell it at USD $3.90 for 5 pinions.
The above setup allows for outdoor flight in light wind conditions with extremely good performance.
Lama V4 build from scratch:
Parts list:
1. From RotorHobby (in SGD)
a. Lama V4 fuselage $14.30
b. Lama V4 Landing Skids $4.10
c. Lama V4 Frame Kit $5.50
d. Plastic Blade Grips $4.60
e. Collar Set $4.60
f. Battery Holder Set $3.70
g. Servo Control Rod $2.10
h. 2mm x 1000mm Piano Wire $2.20
i. 4 x 2.5 x 1000mm Carbon Tube $4.20
j. 1.5 x 1000mm Carbon rod $1.50
2. From RCEHobby (in SGD)
a. Xtreme Gear for Inner Shaft $5.60
b. Xtreme Gear for Outer Shaft $3.60
c. Xtreme Lower and Upper Blades $3.50 x 2
d. Xtreme Metal Central Hub $9.10
e. Xtreme Metal Bearing Housing $8.30
f. Ball Link Set for Flybar $3.60
3. From Hobby King (in USD)
a. Turnigy 1800A Servo x 2 $3.95 x 2 or $8.99 for 3
b. C10 Micro Brushless Outrunner 2900KV x 2 $8.99 x 2
c. Hobby King 2.4GHz 6CH Tx & Rx $24.99
d. Hobby King SS Series 8-10A ESC $6.15 x 2
e. Hobby King 401B AVCS Digital Head Lock Gyro $13.99
f. Hobby King 2.4GHz 6CH Tx USB Cable $2.89
g. Zippy Flightmax 2S1P 1000mAh 15C $4.95
4. From MiracleMart (in USD)
a. Xtreme Metal Swashplate $15.80
b. Xtreme Metal Central Holder $14.40
c. 4 x 8 x 3 Ball Bearings $3.70
d. Lama V4 Screw Set $2.40
e. Canopy Shoring $1.40
f. Xtreme Extended Inner Shaft V2 (+12mm) $11.80
Total Spent: USD$135.59, SGD$84.00
Shipping Costs: USD$13.41 from HK. Below USD$10.00 from MiracleMart
Total in SGD including Shipping: Around $300
Prices provided above are from the cheapest sources of all the sources I know of. From experience, shipping the Xtreme Swashplate from MiracleMart is required as the original Esky part is too binding and can result in unwanted TBE. I have used both Swashplates before and this is what I experienced.
In this Brushless Lama V4, a V-tail mixer is not used. Mixing is done using the HK transmitter. It may not be the best choice but it does reduce the number of wires stuffed into the Lama V4. I have also encountered ESC arming problems when using the Turnigy V-tail mixer so I have opted to use the transmitter for mixing instead of a separate module.
Mod to fit larger batteries:
Credit card mod must be done to fit the Flightmax battery. This is done by cutting the battery tabs off the original battery holder and then drilling 4 holes in a phone card to fit the 4 screws. Velcro can then be used to hold the battery in place during flight.
Mod to eliminate blade strike:
Carbon tube of 4mm x 2.5mm x 1000mm is bought at S$ 4.20 at RotorHobby. The length required for the outer shaft is 121mm. Use a hacksaw and saw at 122mm as ends of the shaft must be filed to near horizontal condition. This must be done till the lower gear is in near horizontal condition when spinning (Extremely Important). Meshing is optimum when the lower gear spins in a single plane. The lower gear must not touch the pinion for the upper gear. This can result in TBE or a stripped lower gear. You may have to try filing a few times to get it right. ¼ turn of the screw upon meeting resistance for the collar and central holder screws. Carbon outer shaft must be drilled at the area for the Xtreme gear screws. I use a 0.9mm drill bit. This ensures the carbon outer shaft turns with the gear. The carbon shaft may crack if screws are too tight. This is extremely important to take note of. The inner shaft is made using 2mm piano wire. This requires a bolt cutter, hacksaw will not work. Cut exactly at the 145mm mark. There’s no need for flat ends. This can be filed to create a depression similar to standard shafts for more grip for the screws. The depression is not required for normal function. These 2 mods ensure that blade strike is eliminated.
Carbon Flybar Mod:
1.5mm carbon rod is used. Carbon rods are cut to 95mm, slotted into the central hub with the use of 5min epoxy. Left to cure for 10mins or so. Ball link set is placed in. Stock flybar weights are epoxied to the carbon rod with the furthest end of the flybar weight being at the 85mm mark from the centre of the flybar. Stock flybar weights include the rubber portion and weighs 2.4g. Other types of weights like wheel collars can be used.
Mod for C10 Brushless Motors:
Shaft has to be changed into a longer shaft. 2mm piano wire may be used. This also means that the original inner shaft that came with the RTF kit may be cut and be used as the motor shaft. The shaft is cut to the appropriate length using a bolt cutter. The sharp ends are then sanded with a dremel. After fitting in the shaft, the pinion is put in place and loctite is applied. The screw holes in the motor frame also need to be drilled (enlarged slightly) to accommodate the slight difference in screw holes between the motor and the frame. You can get the 8T 180 motor pinion from MiracleMart as well. They sell it at USD $3.90 for 5 pinions.
The above setup allows for outdoor flight in light wind conditions with extremely good performance.
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