Forward & Backward.!!!

[CombaCal]

Hi all,
HappyChristmas everyone
Can you help? I cannot get the BR to move forward or backwards. Everythimg else works fine and the tail rotor is spinning. My christmas present from mum and dad so I would like t fix this snag asap.
thanks
cal
:)

[petter]

CombaCal
You need to do the "cat killer mod". That is cutting off the ring around the tail propeller. The speed of the propeller will increase and the helicopter will move faster. Please notice that the helicopter will not go fast, at the best slow walking speed. If you try to fly faster the rotors will start to hit each other. For a indoor model most people are satisfied after they have done this mod. (the propeller will not kill anything even after cutting off the ring)

Petter

[EvilVampire]

Is there not more of a risk to damaging the blades when this mod is done? Would also like to start to follow the mods listed but dont want to end up without my toy :P. BTW i did fix mine and seems to be working fine now. Broken router and all. I miss the fact that i use to work in a plastics plant and would have been able to basically build the routers myself :(

[CombaCal]

Thanks for the advice -done the mod and it is now flying forward and bak. Any tips on better trim?
cal

[petter]

CombaCal
It is described several places how to do it, but the short version is that you will have to adjust the angle (pitch) of the rotor blades manually.

Trimming: To compensate for the left turning (need right trim) you should try to increase the pitch angle on the top rotor blades, and if it turns right (need left trim) you should try to increase the pitch angle on the lower rotor blades.

o Increase the pitch angle on the top rotor blades = right trim
o Increase the pitch angle on the low rotor blades = left trim

(you could also do the opposite and reduce the pitch angle to get opposite results)

You adjust the pitch angel by gently rotating the inner part of the blade with the rod while you hold firmly on the rotor centre or you could do it by bending up or down on the trailing edge (back) of the blades. If you adjust at the tip of the blades you need less adjustments than if you adjust the inner part of the blade. Good luck.

Petter

[erics1611]

I just did the 'cat killer' mod on mine (got it for Christmas, purple, probably QVC version since my sister is a QVC addict) and it still has problems moving forward/backward. It will start out doing so, leans way forward/backward and looks like its ready to really move out, but then it levels out fairly quickly and just hovers. There was some damage to the blades but I taped them back up.

The rotor motor appears to be fine, I try it out on its own and it works great, can feel the breeze from it. With the main blades moving it appears to work good too, but can't feel the breeze from it due to the main blades.

Other than that the thing works great, get 5+ minute flight times, and it seems to work as advertised. I was really looking forward to chasing my cat around the house though. :-)

Thanks for any help.

[likeduuh]

I just did the 'cat killer' mod on mine (got it for Christmas, purple, probably QVC version since my sister is a QVC addict) and it still has problems moving forward/backward. It will start out doing so, leans way forward/backward and looks like its ready to really move out, but then it levels out fairly quickly and just hovers.

The same happens to me. Can anyone help us please?

[Tres Wright]

This may be because the increased control response is causing the blades to clash. Are you hearing a buzzing noise when it levels out? To fix this blade clashing, remove the plastic sleeve from the shaft (holding the top rotor in place). Remove the rotor and slide a 1/2" spacer down over the shaft. Shrink wraps works great for this, but don't shrink it. Put the top rotor and plastic holder back in place and your rotors will now be 1/2" farther apart. This should eliminate most of the rotor clashing although they still might clash if it gets caught in a gust (too close to an air conditioner register for example).

Good luck!

[Lee1]

i have the same problem :mad: i only got it today, and it dosent go forwads r back :( , so i think im gonna try the mod :) hope it works :rolleyes:


and in the pic above how come the back rotor is at the end of the boom ??, mine isent it is about 1 inch away from the end

[Tres Wright]

That picture is from Petter, the inventor of the Proxflyer (the design that led to the Bladerunner). That is probably a prototype, early production model or something he modified. The normal production model has the motor 1" in as you described.

Report back after you try the cat killer mod, I think you'll like it :) If it's still not as responsive as you want the next step is to remove the body. That saves weight and improves responsiveness a lot, to the point that you need to be good on the sticks to fly it. It becomes too much for small kids to handle though.

[erics1611]

This may be because the increased control response is causing the blades to clash. Are you hearing a buzzing noise when it levels out?

No, the blades are not crashing together, I was looking out for that occuring based on what I read in the forum before doing the mod. It will lean forward and start moving forward (and I do see the blades moving together but they never hit each other, not even close), and then suddenly it will just level out and hover. I can see the little tail rotor is still spinning, but nothing is happening. It does the exact same thing when going backwards. I'll try videoing what its doing later and post it.

[Tres Wright]

Strange. One other thought, are you pushing the stick quickly or slowly when you input forward stick? If I push it too quickly, sometimes the rotors can get out of balance and cause the pitch up you describe. I have the QVC version as well, but I never flew it with the body on and the cat killer mod. I removed the body first, then later did the cat killer. So I'm not sure how it does with the body on.

[Vraptor04]

Im gonna remove the body now. hope this solves my problem

[Vraptor04]

It really helped it out alot!!!! thanks for the info. but i will miss the good looks of it :(

[Kwok_Yu]

That picture is from Petter, the inventor of the Proxflyer (the design that led to the Bladerunner). That is probably a prototype, early production model or something he modified. The normal production model has the motor 1" in as you described.

No, I think Petter got the pic from the main thread. Someone just cut the end off their tail to save weight.

[Kwok_Yu]

No, the blades are not crashing together, I was looking out for that occuring based on what I read in the forum before doing the mod. It will lean forward and start moving forward (and I do see the blades moving together but they never hit each other, not even close), and then suddenly it will just level out and hover. I can see the little tail rotor is still spinning, but nothing is happening. It does the exact same thing when going backwards. I'll try videoing what its doing later and post it.
This is exactly how mine fly sometimes. I think the primary cause is the battery. On a fresh charge, say the first minute, it doesn't do this. Then later it as you describe. And the BR actually starts to drop. I have to add more throttle and that kill the battery even more. The battery can only give 2 amps. If the BR trys to draw more, the voltage just drops. BR needs 1.6 amps just to hover, but probably more like 1.8 amps. Even more if it is damaged. The tail motor draws about 150 mA. I am thinking this would all go away with a Kokam 340.

[Tres Wright]

==but i will miss the good looks of it==

Glad it worked! I liked the looks of the body too, but I've gotten used to the "naked" look of it :) On the main thread on Micros, there are some paper body templates that are pretty cool if you really dislike the bodyless look. Below is a pic of mine with one of these bodies, it only weighs one gram compared to 5 grams for the stock plastic body.

[erics1611]

Strange. One other thought, are you pushing the stick quickly or slowly when you input forward stick? If I push it too quickly, sometimes the rotors can get out of balance and cause the pitch up you describe. I have the QVC version as well, but I never flew it with the body on and the cat killer mod. I removed the body first, then later did the cat killer. So I'm not sure how it does with the body on.

I tried moving the stick slowly and it still didn't work. So decided to take the jump and remove the body. Now since the CG is off it flies backwards a lot better, but still nothing forward. Will try rebalancing it and see how it goes. What is the best way to check the CG?

Another question, the tail rotor prop is a little less that 1.5" in diameter, is that standard? It just seems a little gutless on mine, even with a full battery charge. I'm getting good long flights, especially now with the body off, so it seems like the battery is taking a good charge.

[Vraptor04]

I did the following and it resulted in a nice flying Bladerunner. I tried many things to get to this but in the end it was great
-Remove body
-Bend tail motor housing slightly forward
-Use a 1'' piece of electricians tape for nose weight
-Space rotors 1/2'' further apart
It is all worth it

[MackemPete]

Where abouts are the templates for the paper shells. I've had a look but i cant find them? can you post a link?

I've just bought one from "Must have IT" for £30. Done the "cat killer" mod and put a spacer in. Flys great! Forward speeds a bit slow but till i get used to it I'm not going to tweak it any more.
I had the first gen one (black with wires on the outside of the tail £60 from the gadget shop) and it was rubbish... Found a blue one with internal wires and the white rotors in "must have it" and its so stable for half the price! Tho be warned a mate bought one from the same shop and it was the same spec as the gadget shop one but with a blue body?

[Vraptor04]

All u have to do for a body template is measure the appropriate size. Sketch 1 side of the body and reflect it about 1 1/2'' beside it. Draw the bottom folds and the top one and cut it out. I have yet to decorate mine but i will post an example

[Vraptor04]

Http://C:/My documents/My pictures/Bladerunner templates/copy of bladerunner templates 001 This one is my original Body design
enjoy :cool:

[Tres Wright]

==Now since the CG is off it flies backwards a lot better, but still nothing forward. Will try rebalancing it and see how it goes. What is the best way to check the CG?==

When you re-balance it, it will take care of this problem. Untape the battery, slide it out of the frame and as far forward as possible. Then tape it back into place. This should put your CG about 2mm in front of the mainshaft. At that point, it will hover in place and fly forward and backward nicely. To check the CG, set a pencil on a flat surface and rest the BR on its landing gear on the pencil. You'll have to hold it, it won't balance on its own. CG should be about 2mm ahead of the mainshaft (imagine a line extending straight down from the mainshaft as you look at it from the side).

==the tail rotor prop is a little less that 1.5" in diameter, is that standard?==

Yes.

==Where abouts are the templates for the paper shells==

They're peppered through the giant Bladerunner thread. You'll have to dig a bit, but there are several posted starting around page 23 (which this link should take you to):

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294497&page=23&pp=25

[Vraptor04]

Can antone see my template? My PC has an X where it should be. Tell me if u can see it

[Vraptor04]

Sorry i meant to say anyone

[Kwok_Yu]

Can antone see my template? My PC has an X where it should be. Tell me if u can see it
No, can't see it. Look at the link. It points to your C: drive. You have to go to advanced reply and upload the pic as an attachment.

[Fotta]

Très Wright - very cool body! Awesome idea !! A couple of grams makes a big difference in something that weighs so little to begin with.

And the various mods and suggestions from others are fascinating! If it were up to me, I'd put you all on the ITC payroll :-)

[Lee1]

I did the cat killer mod and spaced the rotors , cos i had the same prop it's ok now :D

[Tres Wright]

Thanks Fotta! I can't take credit for the canopy design though, it's something I found on the 'net. A guy had it posted on his web site as a paper canopy for the Piccolo. I scaled it down for the BR. If anyone else wants to try this one, here's where I downloaded it from:

http://www.btinternet.com/~rc.camera/Piccolo.html

[rlarson1959]

Wow! What a difference. The Cat Killer mod makes it a whole new helicopter. The trim mods make it a great, whole new helicopter. Thanks to all for the help :)
Bob L.

[Vraptor04]

Here it is

[Vraptor04]

Has anyone Tried this one yet? worked good for me