Why haven't I been told about this heli? Is this a big kept secret or what? I LOVE IT!

Set it up easily just like the 4G6/4G3. Only took me 10 minutes to straighten and have everything set symmetrically then program it into my 2801pro. In stock form, it hovers so smooth and stable, my 4G6 is getting all jealous. Very precise in control and extremely calming, it handles like a big heli but far from intimidating compared to 400/450 class.

I think I finally understand what the Hornet oldtimers & the Maxir/Ricco boys are talking about.

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COMPILATION OF INFO ON WALKERA 1#A (in no particular order)

Exploded diagram of 1#A v1 & 1#B v1
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=116
Latest version http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showa...4&d=1295361651

Walkera 1#B && 22E parts compatibility match
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=83

Total electronics replacement & battery mount
http://www.microheli.net/report/hm1a/re_hm1a.htm

HDX 300 parts for OWB & tail and some others
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=802007

Battery mount mods
http://www.airbornerc.com.au/rc_helicopter_guide/?p=30
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...9#post16256149

Leading edge control for faster response
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...5&postcount=76

Cyclic servo options
Generic Esky/PowerHD 8g
EXI-D213F

Tail setup
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...l#post16229222

Tail servo options
D922MG DS420 DS919MG DS480 DS65HB

Blade options
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=156
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...t#post16643883

Flybar options
Anything 1.5mm diameter
Honeybee CP2/CP3/CPX flybar & paddles
Blade CP/CPP flybar & paddles
TREX 250 flybar, no paddle (shorter than stock) http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...0#post16612576

FBL/flybarless options
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...postcount=1315
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...postcount=1319

Running 3S
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=881
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...postcount=1322

Yeah, I've been looking in to this one. Do they still sell it? where can I get parts???

Parts are available at HeliPal, Hobby-Wing, and I think RC-Fever. Don't know about States-side shops. Got my BNF version from HobbyCity. Best heli I've owned so far (lowest price, too!). I got a G-106 headlock gyro & a CF sim foam blades on the way. Note that there's nothing wrong with the current gyro. I just like to roll with the headlock. Now having a hard time finding 3mm 0.4M pinion to get it running 3S packs. This baby in stock form is no short of s-w-e-e-t but got lots of potential.

Wait, the canopy is ugly. There, a negative critic for one.

Nice... I might try one. How does it handle some wind?

I haven't tried it, but I think it should handle it much better than a Blade CPP, especially if you run stiff blades + 3s on it.

European 1#A god-pilot for reference: http://microheli.net (scroll down for videos)
http://www.microheli.net/report/hm1a/re_hm1a.htm - mod from yesteryears

I really like this heli, but only helipal.com seem to have parts in stock (and some guys at ebay). I find this very alarming, along with the the very small online community for this heli, I am hesitating. But the price is right... and it is very elegant and simple.

Is this the most underestimated Walkera Heli?

Most underestimated? I would think so. I think it's because the original design itself goes way back quite some years as you can see from the date in microheli.net videos. Somewhere along that time, the 500mm-dia. light micros fade into the background and into niche market like LA Heli products (which btw makes superior heli). However, to get complete hardware & electronics for less than the Maxir kit, and flies well, too? It's practically like getting your cake and eating it.

Imo, they ought to sell this baby in hardware kit form and let hobbyists go crazy with their own electronics. I love the simplistic HBFP/CP2 days.

Originally Posted by mprasm

Most underestimated? I would think so. I think it's because the original design itself goes way back quite some years as you can see from the date in microheli.net videos. Somewhere along that time, the 500mm-dia. light micros fade into the background and into niche market like LA Heli products (which btw makes superior heli). However, to get complete hardware & electronics for less than the Maxir kit, and flies well, too? It's practically like getting your cake and eating it.

Imo, they ought to sell this baby in hardware kit form and let hobbyists go crazy with their own electronics. I love the simplistic HBFP/CP2 days.

Yes I would agree, the A1 was a great heli and had a good following in Germany plus a few of us on RCG but unfortunately overall it was not that popular - at the time people seemed more interested in the 400-550 class or submicro - and it was regarded as a little expensive compared to standard electric tail heli's of the class but it had brushless motor all separate electronics and belt driven tail - it would as you say make a ideal build it yourself kit.

Regards David

I asked Walkera.com.hk if they plan to provide parts for the 1#A, and they said that this heli and parts are no longer available. So it is discontinued... That is really too bad as there is really nothing that simple and light in the market.

One thing's for sure. If part support is discontinued, it will be my last Walkera product to buy, and will be an understatement of how I feel.

Found something interesting today. Although it says 'rate gyro' on the stock gyro, I think it's got headlock mode. This is judging from setting the gyro sens and seeing gyro light being on at 80% and off at 30%. Walkera website says, the WK-G012 has/is:

Control system: Digital advanced PI(proportional integration)
Gyro sensor: Piezoelectric sensor
Operating voltage: DC 4~6V
Operating temperature range: -5 ~ +75 (°C)
Dimension: 27.2 * 21.3 * 9.5 mm
Weight: 10g

Features:
reverse switch
AVCS on/off switch
sensitivity trimmer,servo travel adjustment

If I understand correctly, AVCS/headlock is integration of rate-of-change measurement. So there.

Originally Posted by mprasm

Found something interesting today. Although it says 'rate gyro' on the stock gyro, I think it's got headlock mode. This is judging from setting the gyro sens and seeing gyro light being on at 80% and off at 30%. Walkera website says, the WK-G012 has/is:

Control system: Digital advanced PI(proportional integration)
Gyro sensor: Piezoelectric sensor
Operating voltage: DC 4~6V
Operating temperature range: -5 ~ +75 (°C)
Dimension: 27.2 * 21.3 * 9.5 mm
Weight: 10g

Features:
reverse switch
AVCS on/off switch
sensitivity trimmer,servo travel adjustment

If I understand correctly, AVCS/headlock is integration of rate-of-change measurement. So there.

Yes it is a HH/rate switchable gyro on the A1 Mprasm - and like yourself I think its a real shame such a superb helicopter has been discontinued but at the time it did get a great deal of flack from the anti walkeraites saying it was far too expensive and no body would buy it and it would be discontinued, which has ended up as a self fulfilling prophecy

regards David

I have worked on 2 of them for a buddy of mine and this heli really is a simple CP flyer. Very stable to fly and relaxing to do circuits. You can also get parts from Dustin at heli-heli in Arizona. He has a pretty much everything for the 1#A including the hard to find feathering shafts.

Originally Posted by dkfuji

I have worked on 2 of them for a buddy of mine and this heli really is a simple CP flyer. Very stable to fly and relaxing to do circuits. You can also get parts from Dustin at heli-heli in Arizona. He has a pretty much everything for the 1#A including the hard to find feathering shafts.

But for how long? If WK dont have parts its only a matter of time till he runs out since once can assume they are no longer being made.

Got an email reply from Walkera central. They said they will still produce parts for it. So I guess helipal and heli-heli (thx for the info, Darryl) should cover both sides of the world just fine. If they do replace this baby, I hope it'd be something like the Hiko400 (basically a revised 60B). That'd be even better.

Btw, bymannan, I don't think walkera.com.hk is official WK shop. Just like ehirobo or etamiya aren't.

I also canceled going 3S. It'd take too much hassle to replace motor (3500KV+11T 0.4M) & esc (30A) & getting new sets of batteries (unless you already own a 250 to share the 3S with). I tried to take off the pinion but I figure it's not worth ruining while it's flying just fine. I'll just go with higher C rating lipo to get more pitch oomphs. The lightweight factor is a very significant part in 1#A's flying characteristics. It felt sluggish carrying 140g batteries (like my 1800mah 3S). Perhaps 800mah 3S is fine as it's almost the same as 1200mah 2S.

This thing is so nice to fly, I'm having more time enjoying the flight and virtually no crashing.