As promised, pic of the purpose of the bicycle tube. Covers the canopy edge, holding the canopy to the boom (see manual page 79).

 

Electronics pretty much done now, so damn tight, no room anywhere! I hate using hot-glue, but easiest way to get her done at the moment...

Retractable mechanism fitted to heli so I don't have to redo wiring later, but have the fixed skids fitted until the heli is flying well, then will fit the retractable skid plates.

 

Well, with flying north for work tomorrow morning, it was a mad rush to get this bloody thing ready for at least a hover!
The last couple hours I have learn't about RC-Pro-Plus connectors, soldered them to batteries, made up ESC leads, made up charge leads and charged batteries.
Then spooled up on bench, vibes at 100 max in bank 1 (bank 2 @ 36, bank 3 @ 90).

Then I skipped any swash or head setup, and took her across the road to the small park (maybe 50m diameter surrounded by trees)....

It was 6pm and a bit bloody dark! But I can't let that stop me, being so close to finishing!
I still have the canopy decals to apply when I get back, touch up a few things, and Soko the head.

Non eventful, tail wagging, but not much time to tune, plus I got interrupted by dog walkers.
Felt good, she is pretty quiet, now that I have the taste I'll be pining the next couple of weeks to come back, tune it, and crank it hard!

 

Long n sleek, befitting of a speed queen... very nice. Somehow the decals on the boom make me think of a wasp! Please fill us in on ur setup when u got the time. Plan to push some serious watts when u get back, have a safe trip.

 

Current setup.
Style: Big Air
Motor: Xnova XTS 4535-460 (not the initial intention, need closer to 500kv and up)
ESC: Kontronik Kosmik 200HV (may switch to the "cool" version later)
Cyclic: Futaba BLS 172sv
Tail: Futaba BLS 276sv
FBL: Vbar Neo Vlink
Buffer: Optiguard UltraGuard 430
Battery: Gens Ace 7s 4400mAH (14s)

Testing blades: DH711 mains and Rotortech 115 tails.
Intended blades: Rail 716 or xBlades 713s with Rotortech 95 for speed, or Rotortech 760 with 120 for proposed 3D heli (the TDR2 is capable of swinging 800mm blades).

Future motor: Scorpion 4535-550 Masterpiece/PAW hybrid for speed, may try the new Xnova speed coming later 2016, or get a Scorpion4535/Pyro850 rewound. If I turn soft, and go for light 3D I'll throw in my Dekker Rewound pyro800...
These motor specs may likely change over the coming years, as this heli gets market penetration and we collectively learn what works best (in search of the perfect speed setup for example). If I ever learn to 3D well, then this would still make a great smack heli

If Kontronik ever release a 16s speedy I'll be chucking in 16s lipos with a Scorpion PAW 4535-450

 

Alrighty! Back south, where the weather is cool and it rains occasionally, the people are friendly and I can get actual service in a shop!
Away from the heat and dust of the north, away from big iron ore companies that make billions of dollars each year while still employing thousands of the laziest "asleep at the wheel" people ever, and where yeast infections aren't limited to back-street knock shops! LOL!

Back a day and straight back into the TDR2!

Have bought a scorpion 4530 shaft, and fitted it to the 4535 motor that I originally wanted to use. The shaft circlip groove is now inside the stator bearing, allowing the pinion to get close enough to the stator. This should provide a solution that doesn't require machining of the 4535 shaft.
I will leave the Xnova in the TDR2 for a few flights just to get used to it, and to dabble in a bit of 3D, then will chuck in this motor for speed time!






Also did some more soldering, with my second pair of new Gens Ace 7s packs. So far very happy with the RcProPlus S7 connectors. Then chucked them on the charger for a few cycles.

 

great connectors!

 

Today was the day to put on the canopy decals - and it turned out to be the PITA task that I remember from doing the decals on my Banshee and old TDR. I'm pretty average at decals the first time round with a new heli, will have to get another canopy one day and use this one as my beater...






I then charged up batteries and went to the park to tune her in. Got thru the first pack, working on the tail stop settings, was getting there. Chucked on the 2nd pack, and all went south... The bloody neo has an IMU sensor failure..... Seems to be a common thing with the recent batches of Neo's, now I gotta pull the bloody thing out and send it to Germany
Lucky I have a spare older blue Neo on the shelf, but hell I just want to get it dialed and flying!

 

epic looking heli mate, a thing of beauty,
blows about the neo
Simon

 

Cheers Simon
Got the blue neo installed and setup file copied in, ready for tomorrow!
Will try to get someone to film, if I can get someone out with me

 

Looking forward to it, it is beautiful... looking forward to some graceful big air fun
Simon

 

Lol ease up with the request - don't think I've ever been graceful in my entire life!

And no I've never shacked up with a girl called Grace...

 

All the best with the maiden.

 

Yes @Beaver they are an exceptional helicopter. You should see how they fly in person. They fly and track incredibly precise and are very responsive as well. Its possible to set them up for incredible speed or hard smak. The helicopter will do both very very well. I would love to just smak one around - I think they would make an incredible smak machine but I could not afford the aftermath after a crash.

 

Black canopy looks stunning.

 

Still tuning, haven't taken her to a big enough field yet to stretch her legs....

 

Mental!

 

Hah I'd be happy with a field half the size of that

 

Big enough fields, but people on the surrounding fields, playgrounds, housing and a stadium... Not a comfortable enough situation for speed flight

 

With most of the fleet, yes they are positioned in order of preference (but which way L to R or R to L... )