Eco 8 #2: upgrade scraps can fly!

[Gadget01]

We shall call him... Number Two, the "non-bling" Eco 8.

The idea here was to make a heli from all the parts I upgraded building this heli the first time and threw into the parts bin- Gadget's Eco 8 Rebuild. (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=662539)

As it turns out, all I needed was a tailrotor hub, bearings for the tailgear tower and tailblade grips, and a washout base. I "borrowed" a couple upgrades from my Eco 8.5- the frame brace and autorotation hub with thrust bearing. New ones are on order for the 8.5. I ditched the Ikarus hiller mixing levers for an LaHeli Sniper set. The differences are small- they lack the undersized link-balls molded to them and they are dual ball raced. The Ikarus levers are "raced" with a plastic bushing, as are the washout levers.

I just made the maiden flight today and it flies just fine. Blades tracked perfectly from the get-go. There is just a hint of tail wag, which probably just needs some gain adjustment to get rid of.

This was my first heli flight in about 2 months- since the bling Eco went down. Felt good to be on the sticks again.

Setup:
4S1P 3700mah FlightPower, Jazz 40-6-18
Orbit 20-12, 21t pinion, Ikarus FG main blades, Eco 8 Royal paddles on a shortened Logo 10 flybar
4-cell nimh receiver pack, AR6000 Spektrum Rx
3x hs81mg for 120* ccpm (will replace with hs85bb)
gy240 / s9650 tail control, carbon pushrod w/ball-raced linkage ends

http://gadgetspeed.com/images/RC/Eco8/2007/October/Number_Two/DSCN0609a_frontq.jpg

http://gadgetspeed.com/images/RC/Eco8/2007/October/Number_Two/DSCN0611a_side.jpg

http://gadgetspeed.com/images/RC/Eco8/2007/October/Number_Two/DSCN0612a_head.jpg

http://gadgetspeed.com/images/RC/Eco8/2007/October/Number_Two/DSCN0613a_tail.jpg

http://gadgetspeed.com/images/RC/Eco8/2007/October/Number_Two/DSCN0614a_rear.jpg

[Greybird]

These do fly perfectly fine stock. All the Bling is really not needed.

[Greybird]

Gadget. What is it with you? Now you have me thinking of re-building all my old parts. The 500 size Trex looks like it will happen. Have you looked at those? That might be my next electric heli. The 500's seem to be the perfect size.

[Al P]

Very nice, Gadget. How do you like the Orbit motor ?

[Gadget01]

Gadget. What is it with you? Now you have me thinking of re-building all my old parts. The 500 size Trex looks like it will happen. Have you looked at those? That might be my next electric heli. The 500's seem to be the perfect size.

True, if 3d flight performance isn't exactly your bag... the bling isn't necessary. I am very tempted to get Darth's Bell 222 fuse and stuff this heli inside. Also brewing is the idea to use the Eco 16 belt (which is on order) to make an elevated tail.

Yes, the 'Rex 500 is quite interesting. I really think the Swift 550 carbon will be my next heli though. I was very tempted lately by one in the FS/W section. I really like the idea of the Logo 500/600 w/V-Bar. If money were no object, that would be it.


Al, the Orbit motors are super nice. They are among the most efficient on the market. Very good power and a turbine-like sound. I think they are worth the added expense over the competition. Both of my Eco's and my BT Corona run Orbit motors and Jazz esc's.

[Greybird]

YEA!!! Finally, you are considering a Swift. I like that Logo (especially the flybarless version), but, for me, they cost too much. I read that Century has a new Swift coming out. Similar frame and elevator to the 550, but all plastic. The plastic on these is high quality. You might consider a plastic one, so you can fly crazy and repair cheap. Just go to Century and scroll through replacement parts.

[Fred Bronk]

YEA!!! Finally, you are considering a Swift. I read that Century has a new Swift coming out. Similar frame and elevator to the 550, but all plastic. The plastic on these is high quality. You might consider a plastic one, so you can fly crazy and repair cheap. Just go to Century and scroll through replacement parts.

Yep and a new TR gearbox that is closer to the CNC one but plastic.

FB

[Greybird]

Fred, any info on when it will be out? I truly am not a fan of CF.

[Dogwoodtheone]

congrats gadget, good too see you back in the air

I actually have more than enough part to build a second ECO, debating whether or not to just build up my bling ECO as a second, or take the electronics off of the current one and just fly the bling

[Gadget01]

It's good to have redundant flying machines to make sure you can take advantage of good weather and timing opportunities. I wish I had built this heli months ago so that when my bling Eco went down I could keep on flying. Two months without any stick time was starting to make my vision blurry and utter strange incoherent phrases in languages I never studied.... or... something.

My nitro plank has been available, but man... just starting the damned motor can be a chore, and the noise/mess factor... I need to sell it before I crash it for the sake of entertainment.

[Dogwoodtheone]

naa just throw an electric motor in it :)

I currently have 3 flyable heli's - a FP micro, a T-Rex and my ECO
well the T-Rex isn't quite flyable yet but will be soon, got everything needed to get it in the air

then with the flight SIM as well...... no real reason to go very long without getting a fix of some sort :)

[RC4ZEKE]

These do fly perfectly fine stock. All the Bling is really not needed.



That makes me feel better Greybird, as I have yet to BLING my ECO-16. :)

[Gadget01]

This heli is nearly airborne again. My landing gear blocks come in handy for other things around the frame too, such as mounting the battery tray, which some of you Swift flyers might recognize.

[BowerR64]

Wow i like that battery mount, i wish i hadnt of cut mine now. Your idea is alot better then mine and ill bet you can fit your body on alot better.

[sting35]

This heli is nearly airborne again. My landing gear blocks come in handy for other things around the frame too, such as mounting the battery tray, which some of you Swift flyers might recognize.


Aha! That's what those thingies were for.

[Greybird]

I wonder what happened to the upgraded plastic tailbox and elevator set-up for the Swift?? Gadget, about time that heli is flying again. Your Eco's have been grounded for a long time.

[Gadget01]

Dogwood's washout base flies too!

[Dogwoodtheone]

Good to hear its working for you :)

[Greybird]

Gadget, Waht was the reason for your removing the anodizing again?

[Gadget01]

Gadget, What was the reason for your removing the anodizing again? It looked like a rainbow of fruit aluminum- most flavors were represented: silver, red, purple, blue, light blue.... it looked terrible.

[Gadget01]

I learned a hard pre-flight lesson again today. Check for loose fasteners. At least that's what I think was the cause today. It was flying just fine and then suddenly started an uncommanded hard roll that I could not recover from. I found one of the swash servos with no arm fastened to it. The linkage was still attached to the swash though. On the other side, the servo arm screw was loose- you could fit a fingernail under the head. Servos are HS81mg, and the screw is a machine screw that I never loctited apparently.

I have new HS85's that I was going to install- this is what I get for being lazy.


Broken parts list:
- frame, just forward of where the motor sits- should repair fairly easily
- landing gear struts, of course- if you look at them funny they will break
- motor plate
- swash antirotation guide
- canopy has several cuts, but it can be patched up
- VERY bent feathering shaft
- bent main shaft

Time to get the uber-bling Eco flying again....

[Dogwoodtheone]

oops :eek: at least it was lesson learned on the flying "extra" and not the bling eco or swift aka ultra bling Eco :)

[Greybird]

CME has the canopy for 16 bucks (pre-built). The side frames for $9.70, and the bottom plate for $7.10.

[Gadget01]

Wow, those are almost give-away prices. I suppose I'll buy a few spares while I'm at it to keep this bird going a while. Thanks for the tip, Jim. I've ordered many Eco parts from CME before and their service is very good.

CME has the canopy for 16 bucks (pre-built). The side frames for $9.70, and the bottom plate for $7.10.

[tdearth]

CME has the canopy for 16 bucks (pre-built). The side frames for $9.70, and the bottom plate for $7.10.

Who is CME?
I googled for them and did not find anything.
Tim

[Spidious]

http://www.cmehobbies.com/category_s/9.htm

[Chachin]

Sorry to hear of the incident Gadget.

Yeah I've ordered stuff from CME without trouble. Their Eco prices are almost too good to pass up. I recently ordered a new set of the aluminum blade grips for just 17 bucks or so, which is a steal compared to Fx's $63 price.

Chachin..

[Gadget01]

Thanks. I suppose I deserved it for being too casual about making sure everything was in order. Complacency will eventually cause parts breakage- it's only a matter of time. I'm just glad the Orbit motor, Jazz esc, and FP lipo made through unharmed. Unfortunate anyways... I was getting to the point of comfortably doing autorotation landings with it.

I was using this Eco basically as a warmup/fundamentals practice machine before unleashing the Swift's fury.


Sorry to hear of the incident Gadget.

Yeah I've ordered stuff from CME without trouble. Their Eco prices are almost too good to pass up. I recently ordered a new set of the aluminum blade grips for just 17 bucks or so, which is a steal compared to Fx's $63 price.

Chachin..

[tdearth]

http://www.cmehobbies.com/category_s/9.htm
Thanks Spidious,

found it. They don't seem to have much there for the ECO though.

Tim

[Spidious]

Well I came in earlier from flying my Jet Ranger. It still flies pretty good. But I have decided to sell it and buy a body for my Swift. So check the Helis for sale section if interested. I just get nervous flying it. Not as positive control as the Swift is. But still a pretty darn nice copter.
Cudos to Gadget for keeping all his in the air !

[Philscbx]

I learned a hard pre-flight lesson again today.
Broken parts list:
- frame, just forward of where the motor sits- should repair fairly easily
- landing gear struts, of course- if you look at them funny they will break
- motor plate
ETC

Time to get the uber-bling Eco flying again.... Ouch, sorry to see that Captain. I was w/o cel all week. I still need to re-contact supply here for servo's.