Welcome to my new Blog

This is a blog I've just created to document my RC-Helicopter hobby.

I started this hobby in December 2006 when i bought myself for Christmas an E-Sky Robins R22, which is the popular E-Sky Lama V3 helicopter dressed in a scale cabin of something that resembles a Robinson R22. Not a very accurate representation but looks nice and is quite crash-resistant.

Since I've been flying and tuning this nice little heli, for quite some time, so i thought it would be a good idea to document everything in a blog.

Things that I've done so far:

• Original battery holder replaced by a combination of an elastic band and two carbon-fiber sticks - Robins accepts all kinds of LiPos.
  
• Tuning aluminum rotor head and swash plate.
• Carbon-fiber outer shaft, 1 cm longer than the original - lighter and helps reducing rotor blade clashes.
• Shorter flybar with adjustable weights - greatly improved maneuverability.
• Modified stock transmitter to give longer servo displacement - greatly increased fast-forward flight (FFF) speed.
• Upgrade to self made CD-ROM brushless motors (!):
• Motors dubbed "Schnurzz" in Germany were constructed from kits sold at www.cnc-modellsport.de and were fixed on self-made adapter sockets and fitted with plastic pinions bought from www.conrad.de (http://www.conrad.de/goto.php?artikel=297402, 12 tooth pinions were sparated from the gears)
• Stock receiver board was used.
  
• Stock ESC/gyro board was replaced by standard components including 2 Tower PRO 12A ESCs, a PG-03 micro gyro and a V-tail mixer.
• Yaw control on the transmitter was adjusted to work with the gyro, a separate potentiometer was added for yaw trim.
• Total cost:
• Motors: 2 x 15€
• ESCs: 2 x 20€
• Gyro: 30€ from Hong Kong
• V-Mixer: 10€ from Hong Kong
• Gear set: 5€
• Sums up to 115€ plus small stuff (wires, 2mm gold contacs, shrink tube, etc..)

• Installed a self-made LED low-battery alarm, with adjustable threshold voltage.
  
• Replaced low current stock BEC with connector 2mm gold contacts with plastic holders - improved flight time.
• Laminated rotor blades and inside of cabin with glass-fiber enforced adhesive tape (www.cnc-modellsport.de) - greatly improved overall robustness.

After all the modifications, the indoor slow-flying beginner helicopter turned into a powerful fixed-pitch heli that can handle moderate winds, capable of FFF and flies more like a single-rotor heli.

Flight time was increased from 8 min with stock motors to more than 13 min (until LiPo alarm goes off at 6.3V).

Currently I am short of time because busy finishing my Masters thesis. However I will provide you with some more detailed explanations including photos and plans.

My next project will be an E-Sky Belt CP which i will buy as soon as i will have enough free time.

Don't hesitate to put your comments and ask questions!

Regards,
Prince