Helicopter PHOTO Gallery and Discussion: Post Yours

The on-road cars that we have really like the parking lot at the harbeck school.  The asphalt there is relatively new and does not have any cracks.  The bigger cars like my 1/8 scale OFNA GTP2e can handle some rougher asphalt better than the smaller 1/10 scale.  Our Team Associated 18R 1/18 scale cars need a good surface and Harbeck has that.  The 1/18 scale 18R cars also don't like a lot of pebbles or stones since they are so low.

Your HPI 5B can probably handle any parking lot you throw at it.  I would invest on some on-road tires if you do plan to run it on asphalt because the off-road tires will be ruined quickly on asphalt.  The same goes for our 1/10 scale off-road short course trucks.  I've ruined plenty of sets of off-road tires racing around the pavement and they also don't get as good of traction for handling as on-road tires.

I outfitted my Traxxas eRevo with some foam tires to do some high speed runs on asphalt and they worked extremely well because they don't balloon like regular off-road tires and that helps the airflow because the cars ride height stays pretty much the same except for any on-power squat.
OFNA even makes belted tires for the GTP2e to prevent ballooning but the non-belted tires that came in the box with my kit work well on the Harbeck parking lot.  However if I was going to go for straight high speed runs I would get a set of the belted tires, or foam.

Your HPI 5B should also be a blast in the park on the grass with the stock tires.  If you were local you would really get a kick out of running your HPI 5B at the B street Jumps that we go to.  There are a variety of fun jumps and some grassy areas to tear around.

Certainly the stock tires on my HPI Gasser are NO good for what I want to do and this I've I've always known

... But, and here's it's a big "BUT" sad to say ...  I'm still having trouble finding someone to help me enjoy this monster. Meh, apparently ALL my friends have LIVES of their own! It's certain now I can't do it all myself given my situation and another issue I hadn't thought of in my eagerness to buy it was my location, there's simply no place to drive it around here.

This summer will be different though as my brother lives out of town and has the man-power (he's got KID's) that can help w/ the work. More importantly though he's got the locations being out in the boon-docks. Anyhow this maybe the opportunity to finally get out and have some fun with it ... If NOT I just may SELL IT to avoid it being living room decoration ...

If you can take it to your brothers and he is "in the country" you will get a kick out of it.  But if you will be needing to run it in town you might consider a electric conversion.  I know you've mentioned it already before.  They are a little spendy but you will probably be able to get away with running it around your local park as a electric.

Yeah decisions, decisions and more decisions! Between ALL the helicopters, my photographic and electronics interests (and a few things I keep secret) there is really NOT much time left, nor $$$$ for anything more on my plate ...

Still an excuse to get out into the country is STILL getting out into the country and in it's self worth the effort

Yes I agree, w/ electric I could get away with locally and the reason why I'm considering the conversion ...
{LMAO} Could then DO a couple of FAST laps around the living-room OK OK J/K

I want to see you run some car or trucks in your living room so my vote is go for it.  You should get a Team Associated 18R.  They are low cost and are a absolute hoot.  Tons of hop-up parts and you can find used ones on eBay cheap, or brand new RTR (ready to run) for $150.  Plus it will run great in your living room.

Thanks Yoda for the recommendation ... I was, I am looking for something suitable for the front-room

wOOd, have you got any thing that floats? I just finally got a closer look at the last map you posted and there is a nice pond near by too. 
I suppose it is ice now but that pond that would be cool for boating or float flying. 

LOL nope only me that floats, w00d floats don't it 

Nope nothing Rc, although floats for one of my big helicopters would be doable without too much effort, maybe my 450 or 500 ...
hehe, don't think they ever did a UH1 Huey w/ floats so I think that would look too odd, yeah

.... Floats on my 500 would LOOK cool  8)

I've watched a number of videos of helis on floats, does look fun. All the floats I have seen for them look something akin to an inflated rubber. ;D

You are up past your bed time. 

I've seen those sausage looking floats but I don't really like the looks of them. I was thinking Styrofoam Floats could be made to fit w/ some DIY time, like those you see on the airplanes. Maybe those would have a better look and with those I could try running take-off or would make a better running take-off!?!

And yup up late Spent most of the day doing nothing so I thought I'd put in some comp time

I guess you really don't see many scale helis with floats. It appears most can either land and float in water (boat like) or not. I agree with you that making some out of plane floats might be better looking than what are sold for the purpose. Wouldn't be hard to do either. 

This also got me thinking about my "Running Take-Off" comment {LOL, smell the w00d burning} and my Take-Offs in general ... my Take-Offs generally suk! Sure I can FLY pretty good and heavens knows I'm an EXPERT at hovering but my Take-Offs looks horrid. They look like I'm a little skittish or scared for that micro-second just before we actually get into the sky or maybe we look a wee bit hesitant just before my confidence takes over ... Meh, could be some "floats" w/ a Running Take-Off would ADD some style and/or pizzas to my Take-Off technique ...

... Anywayzzzzz it's something we can't do on GRASS nor w/ "Monkey Majik" grass either {ROLFLMAO} Ok we can see where my mood is going, it's going a little LEFT of but mostly "satirical" ... w/ skidds we have found I can do a Running Take-Off on the hardw00d floor but soon RUN OUT of room very quickly

I like running take offs, but generally my normal takeoffs are really good, and hovering has become very good, but when I point the nose at me it's all over with! I am so nervous about "un-assisted" (no co pilot) nose in flying that I won't do it at all and thus will never learn it seems like.....

But this year I now have the co pilot on a switch and can turn it on for a save if I need to (which I will) and I will try to learn and fly with no assistance........

In all honesty I think everyone who flies w/ CoPilot will come to that conclusion at some point sooner or later ...
... hehe, Like w/ the SIM's at some point it's time to Sink or Swim

{LOL} That said I WISH I had the CoPilot to HELP w/ my Nose-In as I too am in teh same boat. I'm so nervous
when flying Nose-In (and I'll leave out the colorful euphemisms this time) I also tend to shy-away from them

I do practice ALL I can on the Simulator but Heli-SIM's can only take one so far as there's no substitute for flying the
real world. Meh, sure SIM's are good for developing "Muscle Memory" but that's about it IMO

They TELL me "Altitude is your best friend" when practicing Nose-In, then it's a matter of getting them lower
as one gets more proficient  Which is about ALL I have for Nose-In Flight

Sounds to me like both of you guys could really use a Blade 120SR.  It's really forgiving in a crash and yet it's a real helicopter.  I can't think of a better way to learn head in flying.  A simulator is helpful, but it lacks the reality, stress, and 3D aspect of the real thing, as was said earlier.  I only takes you so far.  The 120 is really inexpensive (BNF) and even after you master it, it's still a lot of fun to fly.  Even though I fly the bigger stuff now, I don't see where I would ever want to sell my 120.  It's just too much fun and you can use it indoors or out.

PP - I hoped I would see you at Redwood today!  It was really nice to meet you at the Robot Club meeting last night.  If you happen to be going to the indoor fly at Lincoln Savage this week, let me know and I'll bring the 120 for you to try.

...Tiger

Tiger, likewise, great meeting you as well. When I woke up today I was charging batteries and looking forward to the bright sun that was outside, then when I got out of the shower it turned all grey and 42 degrees. So I was bummed and just stayed in. I am currently working on a CAD drawing for my new FPV camera mount and will mill that out in a few minutes. Will probably do a quick video of it when done. I do plan on being at the indoor deal but need to try and pick up some batteries for my son's mCX if I can find then at Slead's.

Sorry Tiger although I would have to agree a larger fixed pitch heli could/would/may HELP with many a Nose-In issue but I can't do it

My Excuse: I've tried with their smaller BLADE mSR and TRex 100 (see SIG) and that did or does help teaching Nose-In, yes it reinforces the Muscle Memory needed. And they are certainly more robust and w/ their ability to take the HITS which in it's self does help somewhat w/ the "nerves" ...

... Unfortunately for me it ALL comes back when we move back to my CCPM heli's

Although NOT for me, THANKS for the TIP as this could HELP others wanting to try your suggestion

And although I don't necessarily agree that learning on a lesser Helicopter is the WAY to GO I can "Agree to Disagree" and say it anyway. Maybe a Fixed Pitched Heli could be their FIRST helicopter thus making the path to Nose-In somewhat less painful for them

    [shadow=Orange,left]w00d[/shadow]

I am hardly one to be giving much advice here. It took longer than I care to admit to fly nose in. What I finally did was get so P.O.ed at my self for not seeming to be able to learn it, that for about a couple weeks straight I sat at the sim every night and practiced nose in hover. Finally it became easier and easier. Muscle memory improved and dumb thumbs stunts became fewer.
As mentioned below, ya need the real thing to get over the fear of crashing. I think you need to develop kind of a "by damn, I can do this" attitude along with some "Altitude" to help control the fear.
For me, after I got comfortable on the sim, I still was afraid to try a nose in hover with the heli, so while making oval or round circuits I would make a leg of the circuit come toward me instead of cross in front of me. This puts the nose of the heli coming right at you and you can slow it down to a crawl, if you feel the chicken at your back you can swing the tail around and be in a comfortable spot again. A little collective and elevation gives one a few seconds to get the chicken off your back too. 
Learning to fly one of these darn things was probably one of the most challenging things I have done, getting the nose in bit was a close second. ;D

 

You guys already have Blade mSR's if I am not mistaken.  If you can fly that twitchy little bugger nose in you can probably fly anything nose in.

It is a little help, but when you have something with considerably more power and weight looking you in the eye, it is not quite the same.