Gadget's Never-Ending Eco 8 rebuild

Gadget01 · Mar 26, 2007, 12:52 PM

After flying this cool bird a few months, I cannot seem to help getting caught in upgrading. The last batch of upgrade parts include CF frame sides, alum tail pulley tower, anti-rotation bracket, hardened main and tail shafts, alum tailboom clamps, etc. On the way, and probably to complete the process (dare I say) is the alum rotor head.

Anyways... this is the progress so far:

Gadget01 · Mar 26, 2007, 12:56 PM

I also decided to change the swashplate servo arrangement- I had the left/right servos to the rear originally. I've finished new servo mounting brackets for one side- now, just have to duplicate for the other and then the rebuild should progress much faster.

RC4ZEKE · Mar 26, 2007, 03:44 PM

Can't wait till my Eco looks like that!

Do you plan on putting cf or aluminum landing gear on it?

Spidious · Mar 26, 2007, 07:14 PM

Am I seeing that correct, that the carbon fiber has the slot in it for the Mechanical swash set up ? If so. I think I might get it and the other aluminum stuff ! What type of carbon fiber sides are those ?

Greybird · Mar 26, 2007, 08:47 PM

Crap. Now you make me want those parts. It looks very nice! I still like my Eco because it gets long flights on cheap batteries.

Gadget01 · Mar 27, 2007, 02:58 AM

Spidi- these CF frame sides by Ikarus are cut almost identically as the oem plastic ones. I cut on the front part to allow for a high-nose battery mount.

I'm almost done making the left-right angled servo mounts, but they are a real chore to get dialed in just the way I want. I'm trying as best I can to avoid drilling extra holes in the frame.

Gadget01 · Mar 27, 2007, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC4ZEKE

Do you plan on putting cf or aluminum landing gear on it?

I'm considering it. I will most likely use some CF struts made for plankers- I've seen some cool stuff at my LHS that might work really well, and then clamp some alum skids to the ends.

Greybird · Mar 27, 2007, 07:37 AM

Gadget. It would suck to see that heli all together without that shiney, red rotor head....

Gadget01 · Mar 27, 2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greybird

Gadget. It would suck to see that heli all together without that shiney, red rotor head....

Yeah, I finally got tired of my LHS saying the head was backordered from whatever their source is. FXAero has the the alum head in stock and for a good price, so I placed the order today. I find it odd that I can get these parts cheaper from the US than from Germany-for a German-brand heli.

I am unimpressed with the tailcase upgrade offerings I've seen so far. Nothing wrong with the plastic one I suppose. I wonder if I could convince Matt to upscale the billet tailcase he makes for the Corona....

Greybird · Mar 27, 2007, 08:26 AM

Have you seen this one?

ftcs · Mar 27, 2007, 08:56 AM

Where did you get the alum tail pulley tower from?

Greybird · Mar 27, 2007, 09:17 AM

I think he is headed for the most blinged Eco ever..

Gadget01 · Mar 27, 2007, 12:57 PM

Jim, I just saw that one today.. it's something like 98 euros.... ouch. Maybe later.

The alum tail pulley tower is from here: http://www.woelk-modellbau.homepage....Shop/index.htm

After slaving in the Gadget Laboratory all afternoon, the front servo mounts are complete. I think they came out pretty nice. I might lighten them up later on.

For all but one set of the holes I ended up drilling into the frame, I used as a stiffening opportunity and sandwiched a CF tube inbetween.

Gadget01 · Mar 28, 2007, 05:13 PM

Mostly finished and ready for a flight test--

CRAZYKEV · Mar 28, 2007, 05:22 PM

Sweet battery tray! Inventive

Mar 26, 2007, 12:52 PM	#1
Gadget01 mad heli scientist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 3,693	Gadget's Never-Ending Eco 8 rebuild After flying this cool bird a few months, I cannot seem to help getting caught in upgrading. The last batch of upgrade parts include CF frame sides, alum tail pulley tower, anti-rotation bracket, hardened main and tail shafts, alum tailboom clamps, etc. On the way, and probably to complete the process (dare I say) is the alum rotor head. Anyways... this is the progress so far: Last edited by Gadget01; Nov 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM.

Mar 27, 2007, 02:58 AM	#6
Gadget01 mad heli scientist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 3,693	Spidi- these CF frame sides by Ikarus are cut almost identically as the oem plastic ones. I cut on the front part to allow for a high-nose battery mount. I'm almost done making the left-right angled servo mounts, but they are a real chore to get dialed in just the way I want. I'm trying as best I can to avoid drilling extra holes in the frame. Last edited by Gadget01; Mar 27, 2007 at 03:08 AM.

Mar 27, 2007, 08:26 AM	#10
Greybird Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 5,882	Have you seen this one? Attached Thumbnails 32.9 KB · Views: 529

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Mar 26, 2007, 12:56 PM	#2
Gadget01 mad heli scientist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 3,693	I also decided to change the swashplate servo arrangement- I had the left/right servos to the rear originally. I've finished new servo mounting brackets for one side- now, just have to duplicate for the other and then the rebuild should progress much faster.

Mar 26, 2007, 03:44 PM	#3
RC4ZEKE Whistling Death Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: WA,USA Posts: 1,546	Can't wait till my Eco looks like that! Do you plan on putting cf or aluminum landing gear on it?

Mar 26, 2007, 07:14 PM	#4
Spidious Yes that is my Agusta A109 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: By Tower Hobbies, Hobbico & Advantage Hobby Posts: 3,744	Am I seeing that correct, that the carbon fiber has the slot in it for the Mechanical swash set up ? If so. I think I might get it and the other aluminum stuff ! What type of carbon fiber sides are those ?

Mar 26, 2007, 08:47 PM	#5
Greybird Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 5,882	Crap. Now you make me want those parts. It looks very nice! I still like my Eco because it gets long flights on cheap batteries.

Mar 27, 2007, 07:37 AM	#8
Greybird Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 5,882	Gadget. It would suck to see that heli all together without that shiney, red rotor head....

Mar 27, 2007, 08:56 AM	#11
ftcs Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 67	Where did you get the alum tail pulley tower from?

Mar 27, 2007, 09:17 AM	#12
Greybird Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 5,882	I think he is headed for the most blinged Eco ever..

Mar 27, 2007, 12:57 PM	#13
Gadget01 mad heli scientist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 3,693	Jim, I just saw that one today.. it's something like 98 euros.... ouch. Maybe later. The alum tail pulley tower is from here: http://www.woelk-modellbau.homepage....Shop/index.htm After slaving in the Gadget Laboratory all afternoon, the front servo mounts are complete. I think they came out pretty nice. I might lighten them up later on. For all but one set of the holes I ended up drilling into the frame, I used as a stiffening opportunity and sandwiched a CF tube inbetween.

Mar 28, 2007, 05:13 PM	#14
Gadget01 mad heli scientist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Okinawa, Japan Posts: 3,693	Mostly finished and ready for a flight test--

Mar 28, 2007, 05:22 PM	#15
CRAZYKEV Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: CINCINNATI,OHIO - U.S.A. Posts: 388	Sweet battery tray! Inventive