David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 11:57 AM |
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I'm having to re-learn everything I ever knew about radio control
(probably only of interest to people who do radio control stuff)
The domestic authority has given me the green light to build a tricopter! 
I have always been fascinated by R/C helicopters, but could never, EVER, justify the huge initial outlay. Also, I could never afford to spend the
time and money learning to fly one properly, assuming that I ever managed to develop that skill. Finally, repairs after the inevitable crashes would
be too expensive.
Then I saw articles about tricopters... for those who have never seen these things - they are small aircraft with a Y-shaped frame and a small
electric motor at the end of each leg. They stay in the air by sheer brute force, as the motors provide thrust that is greater than the weight of the
aircraft. Their big advantage is that they are stabilised with 3 gyros (roll, pitch and yaw) so can be relatively easy to fly (but can still be flown
into the ground by incompetent pilots!). Also, the inevitable repairs are far less expensive as individual components are relatively cheap. Finally,
the initial stages of learning to fly can be done in my back garden.
Oh - another bonus - the airframe can be folded up small enough to fit in the boot of my Locost!
The trouble I'm currently having is understanding all the new systems that are available in the R/C world - my last experience was with 27MHz
radio kit which, from the expression on the salesman's face in the local shop, is akin to coal-powered steam technology! I now have a 2.4GHz
6-channel radio set for less than I paid for my old 3-channel 27MHz set-up - and that's ignoring inflation over all those years.
I'm also having to learn all sorts of new terminology:
Brushless outrunner motors - tiny 3-phase motors that consume huge amount of current!
ESC - Electronic Speed Controller - manages the 3-phase supply to each motor.
BEC - no, not that one! - a battery eliminator to power the receiver from the propulsion battery.
And so on, and so on...
Good fun though. 
Anyone else playing with these things?
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 12:10 PM |
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I have quite a nice rc copter which made friends with the ground about a year ago, its been in the box since 
Build Blog
Build Photo Album
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balidey
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 12:12 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Anyone else playing with these things?
Hoping to build a quad in the not so distant future. Not sure what controller to use yet. Maybe Coptercontrol. But would be cheaper to make a
wiicopter version.
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 12:19 PM |
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I'm looking at the KKmulticontroller (KKmulticopter) - expensive, but it takes a huge amount of
hardware off the aircraft (e.g. the gyros are on the board) and can be modified for different configurations just by flashing new firmware onto it.
This will be the last thing I'll look at anyway - I want to build the tricopter first, and get the controller at the end - after all, I might
find a better/cheaper one!
Liam - when I was in the model shop there was a HUGE helicopter stripped down on the counter - it was about 5 foot long, with a massive i.c. engine
inside. Probably spectacular when flying, but I *really* wouldn't want to pay for repairs if it crashed!
[Edited on 11/8/11 by David Jenkins]
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VanHaydn
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 12:21 PM |
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I am!
Welcome to the learning curve....Ive been doing this for 5 years concentrated time now....have designed 4 types of helicopters all electric and full
on!
Here is a link to what the boys are doing in Australia..really cheap and definatly locost ideas too....
http://www.archeli.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=142733&highlight=tri+copter
lots of very usefull stuff on this site...
all I can say is...."hobbyking.com is your friend"
ive spent 8 g's there in 5 years..they have every thing you need at a teenth of the price your local hobbyshop will "hobbyshops give ya
one up the foofy valve without vaso mate!"
next best advice I can give you is get a decent simulator...you will save hundreds of thousand worth of crashes ..well my helicopters cost 5 grand
each so not something ya want to go in EVER!
Phoenix is one of the best and value for money....
Cheers
H
http://www.rjxhobby.com/en/pro_detail.asp?id=1645
sell a package that has all of the best simulators in one box and cost only a few dollars....
this is a vid of me overseeing a pilot fly my latest design at a funfly in australi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkr7zRfAMRg
lots of other very intersesting vids under my username
one of my bigger helis pulls 248amps in some moves and a top speed of 257kms
[Edited on 11/8/11 by VanHaydn]
[Edited on 11/8/11 by VanHaydn]
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balidey
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 12:27 PM |
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Lots (infact too much) info on rcgroups forum on multicopters....
http://www.rcgroups.com/multi-rotor-helis-659/
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 12:48 PM |
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I've sort-of given up on rcgroups - one really good thread was just under 1000 pages long! At least, there was some good stuff in there, but I
had to wade through tons of "what a good thread" posts, flame wars and occasional personal abuse to find the 4 or 5 useful bits.
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designer
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 02:03 PM |
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I have dents all over the walls and ceiling.
To learn get one of the 20 quid thingys. They are good fun, you will learn a lot, and then you can throw it away.
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wescottishmatt
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 02:27 PM |
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I went straight for one of these 'Raptor 50 SE' Nitro powered beasts. Still learning to fly it. Joined a local club to get proper
instruction and so far no accidents but it think its only a matter of time. Also bought the 'Phoenix' Flight simulator which is pretty
good and gets you familiar with the controls etc and lets you test a lot of the flying RC models, both heli's and planes.
Great fun but needs real concentration and plently of spare time. (something i don't really have right now with building a car (well thats
nearly done as its down at MAC#1 at the moment waiting for its IVA next Thursday), moving house and all the other things life throws at you).
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tony-devon
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 02:27 PM |
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www.rcheliaddict.co.uk
heavy is good, heavy is reliable, and if it breaks, hit them with it
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 02:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by designer
I have dents all over the walls and ceiling.
To learn get one of the 20 quid thingys. They are good fun, you will learn a lot, and then you can throw it away.
Got one already!
I managed to chop a few leaves off a house-plant today - fortunately my wife was in the garden... 
It was the classic "it's coming towards me, I want it to turn to my left... arhg! it's right as far as the model is
concerned!" problem.
[Edited on 11/8/11 by David Jenkins]
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ChrisW
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 03:20 PM |
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I've wanted one of these for a while...
MikroKopter
...but I've no idea how it compares to other stuff on the market. That was based on seeing a youtube video and thinking "wow, I want
one!"
Chris
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/8/11 at 03:37 PM |
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Internet videos have got a lot to answer for! That's what made me take an interest in these things - because of them I also fancy putting my el
cheapo video camera on the front of it sometime in the future.
Mind you - videos like this one open up a whole new world of mayhem possibilities! (best done
when there's snow on the ground, to avoid setting forest fires...)
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VanHaydn
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| posted on 12/8/11 at 01:44 AM |
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Ultimate locost Tri copter
this is where to start.....
http://rcexplorer.se/projects/tricopter/tricopter.html
and once you are good and know what you are doing a few months down the line upgrade to this
http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/
its a no brainer
SIM FIRST! many many crashes later
FLY and of course crash but not as often!
Cheers
H
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T66
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| posted on 12/8/11 at 07:20 AM |
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What amazes me about rc helicopter pilots, is their ability to think mirror fashion with tje controls.
Always fancied one but i am certain it would of got trashed, and with a million otjer hobbies to upset her indoors i havent bothered.
My preference woul be fixed wing, maybe one day i will have a go.
For the guys interested in helicopters, heres a link to a picture of my "office".
The learning curve was fairly steep here too.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Police/Eurocopter-EC-135T-2/1265452/&sid=90a280ef9cc822f1f88d42ce398aefaa
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 12/8/11 at 07:36 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by VanHaydn
this is where to start.....
http://rcexplorer.se/projects/tricopter/tricopter.html
That's exactly the one I'm about to build - well, his "V2" one anyway. It's a nice and simple design that works well
(it's the one used in the silly balloon-popping video above).
His "Tricopter V2" uses a controller board with 3 built-in gyros rather than using 4 individual ones.
[Edited on 12/8/11 by David Jenkins]
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T66
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| posted on 12/8/11 at 11:17 AM |
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I domt have broadband at the minute, but ive saved the link as it looks very interesting.
Want one.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 12/8/11 at 12:12 PM |
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I've been flying a raptor 50 for years now, just love it. Not to impressed with the electric ones as the cost is vastly more than nitro and
still with rubbish fight times of 5-10 mins, my raptor will fly for half an hour on a tankful.
Good tip is to paint the canopy a bright colour like mine below so you can tell at a distance which way the stupid thing is pointing, especially
helpful when doing stunts.
[Edited on 12/8/11 by Mr Whippy]
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 12/8/11 at 01:31 PM |
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Canopy!? We don't want no steenkin' canopy!
(with apologies to Blazing Saddles)
I was thinking of painting one side fluorescent green, and the other in fluorescent red... probably with a super-bright LED of the appropriate colour
on the end of each side arm, and a white one at the front (hardly any current consumption when compared to the drive motors and hardly any extra
weight).
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ChrisW
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| posted on 21/8/11 at 11:01 AM |
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I assume you guys have seen 'care free' mode on the mikrokopter? From what I understand it eliminates the problem of 'which way is
the thing pointing?'. Not sure if the others do it, but it can't be that difficult to patch the software.
Chris
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ashg
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| posted on 21/8/11 at 01:04 PM |
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packed up flying rc last year as i just dont have the time any more. i recall one year spending over 5k on heli's and their repairs alone.
the inevitable fact is.... its not if it goes in (craches) its when it goes in. the best route to take with rc is if you think the model was expensive
to buy then its will certainly be too expensive to maintain. always buy models where you think the price is reasonable or cheep, then you wont be
shocked when you have to fix it. i was flying 1-2k helis and on average every time i crashed one it would cost minimum of £200-300 to fix when i had
a proper crash.
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 21/8/11 at 04:24 PM |
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That's exactly why I didn't try helis - and exactly why I'm having a go at a multicopter. Broken props are the usual result of a
crash, maybe a broken arm (on the airframe!) which is a length of hardwood, or if I'm really unlucky a broken tail servo or a bent motor. Props
are about £4 for 6 from HK, the motor would be around £10, and the servo around £16. The wood is around £2. If I trash a GRP bit on the airframe
that's £6 a sheet and quite a few man-hours! The only PITA from a crash is the time I'd have to wait for mail-order parts.
The one bit I'd hate to damage would be the flight control board (£65!) but that will be protected to the best of my ability (and is a tiny PCB
with surface-mount components, so it's not exactly fragile). I've seen a great "canopy" made from one half of an Easter egg
cover (the egg-shaped clear plastic they put around the chocolate).
[Edited on 21/8/11 by David Jenkins]
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907
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| posted on 21/8/11 at 04:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I've seen a great "canopy" made from one half of an Easter egg cover (the egg-shaped clear plastic the put around the chocolate).
If it's any help David I could eat the chocolate.
Cheers
Paul G
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eddie99
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| posted on 22/8/11 at 08:07 PM |
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All these posts about radio controlled thingies... Digged out the ERB Electric Lama Heli and a cheaper similar thing.... Got the bug again!!!
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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T66
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| posted on 23/8/11 at 07:13 AM |
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Ive just watched this, have a look
http://av.vimeo.com/17028/039/37645662.mp4?token=1314084095_33e4e1359ce66288684ee54474435f1b
[Edited on 23/8/11 by T66]
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