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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 9, 2011 23:01:15 GMT
I still haven't bitten (unusual for me)..... £60 seems not too much but I don't want to throw £60 down the pan.... £60 is £60.... Are we trying too hard (maybe) to impress with size here? I am more of an indoor flyer and much prefer the smaller 'copters over the LARGE (fly them on a calm day) type things. It would be pretty much £60 down the pan, my end, Ian as I can count the number of totally calm days here on one finger..... totally impractible for my requirements..... I told Sam about this one (when I was in town today) and his goal is to go SMALLER.... he likened it to a bluebottle that kept flying into a window and an Albatross that will only crash ONCE I tend to agree.... "Bigger" means more destruction on impact and "BIGGER" is limited (to a degree) to outdoor weather conditions.... your little "indoor" sparrow is going to survive a lot more "hits" than your full on Albatross There's just something about this helicopter (and the low price that has prevented me hitting the BIN button..... I think I'll stick with the tried and tested "indoors" helicopters for the time being Have fun man
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Post by toad on Nov 10, 2011 13:37:10 GMT
I don't think it's a matter of trying to impress with size here Mike. It's just with outdoor helicopters, especially the coaxials, in anything other than dead calm conditions, bigger = better.
I must admit I'm happy with indoor helicopters but being able to fly a helicopter in an open field has been somthing I've wanted to do since childhood but it was always exclusively the realm of rich kids none of whom I went to school with.
These cheap coaxials bring that into the realms of possibility for not much outlay. Heck I spent £192 on my AKG K701s. The T34 helicopter I may get for outside is a little over £40 and is designed to be reasonably robust for the noob flyer.
I'm also interested to try some video footage with my little spy cam attached to a helicopter. That's something you can't do with an small indoor helicopter and let's face it who want's to see the inside of your home when you can have birds eye views of your house or town etc.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2011 17:57:48 GMT
That's how I feel about the money Ian. Those headphones equals three Sky Taxis!!
Now I've had a chance to fly it ........
Feckin' WOW!!!!!!
I changed the battery to a Honey Bee 25C 1300 MaH one, so there's a little more poke there and actually, I think it balances better.
The difference to the trim was amazing. Before it was pushed quite far left and now it's in the centre and the heli is keeping straight.
Pushed the chairs back, made room and thought I'd give it a solid go. It's all in the mind - the noise of the engine and blades is BIG but if you have the bottle and give it some, she lifts like a dream and hovers. You still have to hold it in place but it is really stable and looks so friggin' good in the air.
I reckon this will be a safer bet outside. It's heavier and stable as hell once you get it out of its own wash. It feels like a big heli. Bigger in fact than the Honey bee because it has a full body. It just behaves better.
I held it at head height in my front room and it's just exhilarating. It's a fabulous heli. Better than I first thought.
It looks impressive, flies nicely and lands like a dream. It comes down like a real helicopter with none of that ghastly spinning. I guess its weight keeps it in check.
It's a big fat weighty fly and not your sports machine, but this is a bundle of real fun. I must admit, I am getting fonder of it all the time.
Buzzflyer do some superb batteries which work a treat in this heli since the standard battery is 15C and the Buzzflyer is 25C. Makes a difference.
This machine is just fun. Good level of challenge/nerve but once you've found the lift off point and learn the amount of power it needs - beautiful.
Fast becoming my favourite heli for outdoor I think. I can also hover it indoors but carefully because she's a big Bertha.
This machine is a bargain. Pictures (still for the moment) soon.
Ian
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2011 18:59:05 GMT
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Post by toad on Nov 10, 2011 20:21:02 GMT
Blimey it does look big compared to your other helicopters.
How long does the 25C battery last Ian?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2011 21:05:21 GMT
Not sure yet, Ian. Because I'm working on take offs/landings and hovers, I'm not flying for extended periods yet. Also, the battery is new and hasn't formed properly.
They reckon 12 minutes which probably means 8.
The scale doesn't come across in the pics. However, the 120 sr is about a foot long and the little helis about 7 inches.
The Sky Taxi is just under two feet and is a fat one too with that body.
It flies really well. The hover is pretty good, but you have to get up to just under head height really to lose the wash from the blades. It's a helluva draft as well!!
You get a real buzz from it when it lifts.
I found the trim a bit fluid with the original battery, but it seems better with a more powerful one and just starts to drift towards the end of the charge. Easy to reset if you're confident enough to move your hand while it's flying!!
The biggest danger is the top blades hitting the bottom. That's a common thing with big coaxials, so you make sure that you start it up slowly and build the revs so that the blades stretch out evenly as it builds. Then a final burst takes it off the ground. Mind you, it needs a burst because it's a big thing to get into the air. Once in the air, it sits really nicely. The extra weight stabilises it. In fact, it's way less twitch than everything else that I have.
Ian
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 11, 2011 10:33:26 GMT
You're a real bugger Ian! your write up prompted me to buy the Sky Wolf www.anticsonline.co.uk/1311_1_10726.html I think it's exactly the same helicopter as the Air Taxi except for the paint job.... holy crap man, I've got to start downsizing as there are transmitters all over the place! I'm definitely going to keep the blades and the Nine Eagles V2 but the rest of it can go. The Honey Bee CP3 will be kept too.... that leaves the 3 channel ones, I think I'll move them on to a new home. Was in seeing Sam yesterday and he reckons it's not necessary to trim the Nine Eagles V2..... he adjusts at the links so they pretty much fly stable and then just has to give them a "slight" bit of trim from the controller.... that one of yours is WELL out, you have to crank the trim way over to the right with it... I adjusted the links and it's perfect now, shall I send it back? The more I play with the V2 the more I am liking it (especially on the shorter swash balls) you can send it full speed toward a wall and then perform a banked turn and miss the wall by an inch!! I'm gaining confidence with it and can actually control it now (now that the links have been adjusted).... my god, they are fast arent they? Perfect size for indoors and a lot more exhilarating than the MCX / MCX2 (which are great 'copters for showing off when people are around).... I also like the sound of the V2, it's quite the devil when you crank it up a notch!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2011 11:15:59 GMT
No, Mike. You have it. I found it too jittery with the remote that comes with it and I have the MSR and soon the MSR x in any case, which I personally prefer.
The Taxi and Wolf are big beggers!! Heavy and slow compared to the Honey Bee but more fun in that they are in fact easily controlled and very impressive in the air.
You will probably need spare blades. They have a tendecy to 'clatter', which is a common thing with big coaxials. Spares came with the Sky Taxi, but I'm not sure about the Wolf.
The Honey Bee battery is better in it as well. The one that Buzzflyer do is great.
Battery fitting is a bit tight. I have to use a mini screw driver to get the compartment catch to open.
Make sure you're in a big room though, Mike. It will wander more than the MCX2. One inch on the MCX2 = about 6 inches on the Taxi. Ie if it wanders one inch on the MCX2, then the Taxi will go further.
Although it's big and heavy, if you just 'touch' the forward control, it really goes!! It does behave like a big heli for sure and is nothing like as twitchy as the minis.
It's really a fun machine and £50 for that lot is a really good buy. You'd pay near £15 for a battery and £25 for a remote.
Ian
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 11, 2011 12:17:23 GMT
No, Mike. You have it. I found it too jittery with the remote that comes with it and I have the MSR and soon the MSR x in any case, which I personally prefer. The Taxi and Wolf are big beggers!! Heavy and slow compared to the Honey Bee but more fun in that they are in fact easily controlled and very impressive in the air. You will probably need spare blades. They have a tendecy to 'clatter', which is a common thing with big coaxials. Spares came with the Sky Taxi, but I'm not sure about the Wolf. The Honey Bee battery is better in it as well. The one that Buzzflyer do is great. Battery fitting is a bit tight. I have to use a mini screw driver to get the compartment catch to open. Make sure you're in a big room though, Mike. It will wander more than the MCX2. One inch on the MCX2 = about 6 inches on the Taxi. Ie if it wanders one inch on the MCX2, then the Taxi will go further. Although it's big and heavy, if you just 'touch' the forward control, it really goes!! It does behave like a big heli for sure and is nothing like as twitchy as the minis. It's really a fun machine and £50 for that lot is a really good buy. You'd pay near £15 for a battery and £25 for a remote. Ian Sam was having a look at the sky taxi and reckons it would be a good idea to extend the main shaft... that would give you more space between the blades AND it would fly better.... I'll find out to do it from him and try it on the Wolf. Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 11, 2011 13:11:26 GMT
The V2 is a bit of a headcase but it's really fun controlling her... the control arms on yours were just off the map Ian It's a totally better flight with them adjusted correctly... just took a small vid:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2011 14:35:45 GMT
Yes, that's what they do with the Esky Big Lama. The blade slap will be a problem.
You have to just straighten the blades and start her up slowly, or else they will hit each other.
Once it's spinning, it's fine, you can go for it!!
It's a nice size to work on actually as well. Extending the spindle is a great idea. It would lessen the possiblity.
The Buzzflyer battery seems better than the Asmann for some reason. It gives a full 12 minutes and the trimming goes right to the centre. The standard battery seems to make the trim veer off a bit. I have no idea why!! The battery isn't fully formed and I am actually getting 12 so that's not bad for a big heli.
The V2 is flying well, Mike. It does shift doesn't it? Maybe mine wasn't set up right. I could fly it fine, but it I found it very twitchy in comparison to what I'm used to. You haven't done the landning gear yet then?
Ian
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 11, 2011 23:45:56 GMT
Yes. have to tone it down a lot to "fit" into a narrow camera lens....It goes like a ROCKET offscreen I am really looking forward to the Ansmann thing.... it will be easy to capture onscreen
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 11, 2011 23:54:07 GMT
YES! I found it jittery too... it was jittery because it was off the globe.... the control rods were aligned by a drunk Chinese gent....it is now "stable"...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 8:09:21 GMT
You have fun with it, Mike. I have enough here!!
Be careful with the Sky Wolf if you video. It'll wander much more than the MCX2 and performance nerves could put it into the wall!!!!
Mind you, it's so big, it won't shoot off like the little ones do.
Ian
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 12, 2011 9:34:21 GMT
You have fun with it, Mike. I have enough here!! Be careful with the Sky Wolf if you video. It'll wander much more than the MCX2 and performance nerves could put it into the wall!!!! Mind you, it's so big, it won't shoot off like the little ones do. Ian I'm gonna stop buying these Ian... it's getting silly now! One GOOD helicopter is all that is really needed... if the sky wolf is that helicopter then I will keep it and maybe the MCX.... one big, one small... more than enough for any one man
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 9:58:47 GMT
Famous last words ....... I just have an example of each: Mcx2 - one for outside since it's more likely to get blown down. Mcx2 - for indoors and practising moves!! Msr (soon to be x) Single blade indoors for stick work and control. 120 sr - outdoors eventually. Sky Taxi - Coaxial for outdoors/long distance. If I get confident enough, another big un, single blade for outdoors but I'll wait until I have control of the Taxi at long distance. I may get an mCPx to work at collective pitch indoors as well!! I'll see. Each one for a different purpose. I must admit, I would like a medium sized coaxial just for fun indoors. I'm trying to vary the types more than just get helis!! I also wish I'd kept one of the Bladez because they were pretty good. Trouble is, the whole thing is based around progression and then new ideas like flybarless etc, so it is market driven as well. Ian
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 11:53:30 GMT
I'm just about to upload a video of a quick hover in the house!! It was just a straight up/down and a hold in the middle. Because of furniture, I have to be very careful and wash back is a problem, but at least you'll now see it flying in relation to quite a big room. The wash back causes it to be a bit jumpy but I'm not taking risks with something this size in front of a camera.
I took it outside this morning - beautiful. Went up like a dream and I was hovering happily. However, I am nervous of small gusts of wind which affect what it does, so it was just a quick hover and down again.
This heli is serious fun!!
Mike, when you get yours, tighten the blades down a bit. So they're not flopping too much. I tightened them right down and then backed of an eighth of a turn so that there is a little friction. They still spin out and it does this:
a) It flies better imo. (Smoother) b) No blade slap. c) No faffing to straighten the blades before the next flight, with them flopping around and looking like they could hit each other. d) Get some spare blades. Won't be long before they hit each other!!
Mike, is there any way to rub plastic down in order to smooth minor chips out? I used some Displex on my blades and it took out a lot of the minor blemishes and taking out a bit more would take out small blade chips, which I think are inevitable with the Sky Taxi if the blades are set too loose so they flap around too much. At least then, I have minor chipped blades to use as replacements while I wait for new ones to arrive!!
The Buzzflyer battery is definitely superior to the Anamann one. It has more poke in it and the heli feels more stable as a result. They are 1300 Mah as well. Even bigger in Mah but same size would be nice. The battery compartment on the Sky Taxi is one size and locked down, so the battery has to be under the size of the compartment. The Buzzflyer one is actually a better fit and slightly less tight than the standard one as well. The catch is naff so I use a mini screwdriver and poke it down into the catch to open it. You'll see why when you see it, Mike. It has angled plastic underneath which pushes the battery back onto a little platform and the wires poke out through gaps on the front left and right. It's a bit tight but the screwdriver opens it a lot easier than using your fingers to push the catch.
Video will arrive soon ......... (gulp)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 12:43:12 GMT
I made a quick video, but because I can't get far enough back, I had to try and hold the Taxi in front of the lens. I wasn't sure how far up I could go before I went out of shot, so it stayed in its own wash all of the time. It settles at about six feet. Once up, it stays still but I didn't think it would stay in shot. It's so damned big. It really makes your room feel small and my room actually isn't that small either!! The noise and wind rush doesn't come across on the video but the paper on the floor behind the heli is flapping about all of the time, so that gives you an idea of the amount of air that this thing pushes!! Sorry about the mess. I've been faffing around all morning and didn't bother to tidy up!! Much easier outside in fact. Less wash from the walls.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 18:03:18 GMT
It looked like it was shuddering Ian, does that calm down once out of its own wash?
It certainly looks BIIIIIIG.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 18:48:05 GMT
It looked like it was shuddering Ian, does that calm down once out of its own wash? It certainly looks BIIIIIIG. Yes, once you go further up, it settles down. It needs to be about 6 feet up really. The wash is enormous. In fact, a room is too restricted for something that size. Also, I have furniture all around it which creates problems since over the settee, it's in effect only 2 - 4 feet off the ground once the washback hits it. It came off the ground a lot easier outside, but I am worried about breezes taking control. On the video, at one point it suddenly rises and then falls back again. That's not me doing it on the control, that's the wahsback making a big cushion of air under it so it rises and then suddenly, when it's up, the wash has dissipated so it falls again. I'm basically just trying to hold it in its own wind!! I daren't go too high because it'll float over the furniture and there's no quick landing so at the moment, I'm getting it to head hieght, hovering turning to the side and landing. I've kept it in the air for over five minutes but need to go higher. With little helis, the wash goes about 1 - 2 feet up. With big 'uns, 3 times that to be honest. They're large scale and so need height. It's a bit like a real helicopter being planted between two cliffs (or three - chair, settee, wall) and trying to take off smoothly. Difficult if the cliffs are close by. You'd have to be very careful and that's what I'm doing. So far, no whams but had some blade clatter which can be a pain. I'm waiting for a perfectly still early morning or late afternoon; then I'll go for it.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 13, 2011 19:11:56 GMT
Blimey Ian, it does look rather large Is she quite nippy when she's going forward? Is it agile or would it just plough into a wall like a sack of uncontrolable spuds... in the video it looks like there are about 70 people on board and it's too heavy to really get up in the air! Is that a goldfish in the bowl next to the radiator? Jesus man, you'll boil it alive that close to the radiator PLUS that is a very small bowl for a fish.... couldn't you buy it a larger bowl and also get a partner for it? It must be shitting itself looking out of the bowl and seeing that thing hovering about.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 20:21:30 GMT
;D Two goldfish are in there. They look bigger than they are and that's the only pet my daughter is allowed!!! Also, I had to shift it to make room. I wasn't giving it too much throttle, Mike because at low altitude, it's unpredictable and the backwash has a habit of lifting it and then going so it suddenly drops again once it gets a bit higher. Normally, I'd give more throttle once it is at the top, but I didn't think I could keep it in the frame to be honest so I let it drop back again. I'm being very cautious with the throttle or it'll take the ceiling out. That's why it's bumping around. The draft from it would dry your hair!! Once up at 6 feet, it stays if you raise the throttle slightly. It's pretty agile on forward flight which also makes me nervous indoors. Imagine looking at an MCX2 maginfied - that's what it feels like. It does feel heavy but once in the air, it moves. Mind you, it does feel like a whale up there. Actually, it has changed how I see the 120 SR which feels tiny in flight by comparison. It's a blunderbus to be sure. I let it down a bit quick on the video. I didn't want to crash at sea and have to rescue the goldfish. It's controllable indoors but at head height and even then, there's a blow back from the walls. A bit like flying in a storm. The battery makes a lot of difference as well. The 25C is much more powerful and it feels more stable with it. If you push it forward, it would be at the other end of the room in a second. Because it's so big, it covers a lot of ground. In that room, there's only 4 or 5 heli lengths each way so that's like flying the MCX2 in a 2-3 foot square which is also enclosed!! The ceiling is 5 heli lengths up and the settee/me/the wall are all dangerously close. It reminds me of when you flew the MCX2 in the loo. In fact, working out the space now - 2 heli lengths forward to the settee, 2 right to a chair, 1 - 2 left to the wall and about 3 behind to me and the patio door. So not a lot of room. That equates to flying the MCX in a room with 1 foot in front, 2 foot behind and 7 -12 inches to the left wall and 14 inches to the chair on the right. See what I mean about relative size? If the MCX moves 1 inch, that equates to 3 inches on the Taxi. 3 times the motion, so the room becomes, in effect, 3 times smaller with the Taxi flying in it. It stops conversations dead!! It's a real 'fun' heli' but I do think a crash would leave you with a pile of rubble because of its weight. Mind you, I felt the same about the Honey Bee. (I got that up indoors as well!!) When yours arrives, Mike - tiny steps. It's too big to take risks.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 14, 2011 22:15:24 GMT
Mister Skywolf arrived this afternoon... very well packed and protected from any postal dings. Certainly NOT a child's toy and quite a lump of stuff for the money. I was a bit shocked when I saw the "actual" size of it.... yeh, 570mm is 570mm on a tape measure but, IRL, that is quite a size! Not my idea of an "indoor" helicopter (unless you live in a baroque castle type joint)... it is way too big for the average living room. An ideal outdoor helicopter but only of you live in an area that is devoid of wind / breezes and gusts. I had a good look at it before I fired it up and if you DO happen to shag anything internally (a burnt out servo for example) it will require a total strip down each time.... the drive gear will have to be dropped out of the canopy as opposed to the canopy "popping off"..... Blade replacement apart, this is a full stripdown job if you want to get under the hood. She only arrived at 4pm so I decided to "go for it" and do a genuine "maiden flight" vid.... it's a SHORT vid for the simple reason I didn't feel comfortable flying it and decided to land, before it took out a wall or ornament , it's going crazy tunes to the left (even with the trim fully right) so will need a stripdown to adjust the servo arms slightly. She's very smooth sounding and the only blade clatter I experienced was due to me not revving her up fast enough... I see what you mean Ian, it's a confidence thing... just give her full whack and get her airborne, then either run like fekk or do your best to control her Since the "maiden flight" short vid I have managed to snap off that thin bit on the tail (better off without it too, it's just there for show)... the dummy tail rotor can also go I think (that cannot be good for stability) and the "wheels" are totally unnecessary eye candy. Just praying for a calm day now (bring on the ice) this will be fantastic to fly in ideal conditions outdoors.... in a living room it's pretty pointless, much like having a car and only being able to drive it in your garage. Anyhoo..... first flight this afternoon:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 22:34:06 GMT
That was a really good first flight, Mike. You have a nice empty space there too. I find the backwash a real problem in my place with furniture providing all kinds of stability problems that totally disappear outside.
It's a case of grit your teeth and keep it high if you have the bottle.
A better battery seems to change the trim, Mike. My Buzzflyer 25C batteries hold it much more. Maybe the blades are driven better with just a bit more power. Mine is way better with them. With the standard battery, mine goes left.
Also, connect the battery while the heli is flat on the floor. The giro seems to behave better and you get a better trim. It's a bit fiddle but seems to work on mine.
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Post by toad on Nov 15, 2011 8:23:42 GMT
Blimey they look a handful for indoors. Seriously impressive though. They sound cool too. Very smooth sounding. Pretty loud I would imagine? Your Mrs must love you Ian lol. My partner said she likes your rug. I didn't even notice it until she said, I was more interested in the heli Re the heli, she has told me I'm not having something that size in the house. Ian
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