Picco Z show us your mods & tricks [Archive]

Bender

09-03-2006, 02:02 PM

My Picco Z flew fine out of box but it would not go forward even with all 3 aluminum stickers in the nose. After doing some research I decided to put fins up front for some down thrust. This was a great way to get forward flight with minimal weight gain. What amazes me most is how stable this little guy is. Its incredible.

http://www.projectsimon.com/rc/PiccoHammerHead-1.jpg

I have some Aero Ace components around so I decided to try the 130 mah battery from that. I knew weight was about 2g more than the stock so I built a lighter all carbon / foam frame. AUW is now 11g but flight times are much better.

http://www.projectsimon.com/rc/piccomod.jpg

The only problem I have to overcome is the heli turns abruptly left. Right turns are very smooth and controllable. I think this has to do with weight distribution. The heli looks like its hanging right even in forward flight. Im going to try and move the battery over to compensate. So far this is the most fun I have had for a heli at any price. If this were 3 or 4 channel I would be selling my other helis!

Bender

09-03-2006, 06:08 PM

Ok get this. I got 17 minutes out of a single charge due to the bigger battery! That was mostly airtime but a few landings & crashes. Everything is lubed and tweaked. The only downside is the CA does not like to stick to the carbon chassis. I had have had to glue some things back together since I did the mod. What is a better way to bond carbon to carbon?

G-MRM

09-04-2006, 04:19 AM

I have never got 17 min flying time out of ANY of my electric helis. Well done !!

CA is good for CF but that maybe carbon reinforced plastic, I would try two part epoxy, that should work fine :lol:

eddiemoth

09-04-2006, 08:26 AM

I usually use fine linen thread to hold the parts together and then apply CA. It holds up better when used with linen thread. 17 minutes is a lot flight time. Do they sell replacement parts. I have a Skyshow. That is really a toy but it entertains me very well in the winter in my small study room. They don't sell replacement parts. All I have to use to fix broken parts is CA and epoxy.

The Broker

09-04-2006, 08:55 AM

That heli is soooo cute :)
with its original shell it reminds me of a catfish although I am not sure why, I suppose its the front fins.
I will have to get one now, I love the fun heli,s because flying them is relaxed and in my opinion thats what it is all about.
I applaud you Bender for working on it and taking it seriously enough to bother to make modifications and improve it. 17 minutes of flying that little sweetie would improve anyones day
:D

Bender

09-04-2006, 03:03 PM

I thought the first mod I did was like a hammerhead but now that you mension catfish I see what you mean. Since I have been trying everything I decided to try and use the origional body from the picooz. Unfortunately weight went up a gram and flight time went down. This will probably be my project heli since I would like to get another one and keep it almost stock. Being very careful it may be possible to get the heli under 11g with the 130mah cell. A 90mah atomic workshop cell would probably be the best power weight ratio. Next time I do a carbon chassis I will use kevlar string with CA on the joints. Using only CA the joints are fragile. If I get another one of these I will try a super slicks motor. The motor is bigger so I will have to mod the motor mount.

markdeacon

09-19-2006, 05:05 PM

Hi, my brothers got one of these orderd. But before he goes smashing it up I need to know if you can get spares for it?

If you can does anyone know where from...

Thanks, Mark Deacon

Phenom

09-20-2006, 08:51 AM

Not sure of your brothers age but because of the size and WT and how the picco z is built it is pretty hard to smash it up.

I am not saying that people have not been able to break them but I am a total newb and crash my Picco every time I fly it, multiple times, and have never broke anything.

It comes with two additional tail rotors for spares.

People are making due with CF rod for replacing the shaft, some people are making soada can props and even vacu-formed props.

As far as I know there is not an easy way to get replacement parts yet.

Her are some mod links I have been watching.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=532452 <<soda can props... Ouch watch those fingers and eye's>>
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=556227&page=6&pp=100 << This is a large mod thread. One of the posters is going to make CF shaft and bearing kits available for sale to who ever want to buy them>>
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572214 <<This shows some pics of a vacu-formed main rotor looks good
>>

eddiemoth

09-20-2006, 12:22 PM

Hmmm...I am not sure about the soda can props. It looks nice but scary.

markdeacon

09-21-2006, 04:58 PM

markdeacon

09-22-2006, 02:45 PM

My brothers got his PiccoZ helicopter now and it works but not properly. It just spins round and round in a Clockwise direction (I Think).

Its deffo spinning one way or the other tho, he has tried to adjust the trims both ways according to the instructions and its not improving. Is there any settings on helicopter to stop this or does anyone have any ideas.

It apparently doesn't go up in the air properly either but that might be down to it spinning fast.

Phenom

09-29-2006, 07:54 AM

Sorry have not been here in a few days.

I found this post http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576147

And this one
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576001

And this one which seems the best.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=559725&highlight=spinning

Bender

10-02-2006, 10:28 AM

Has anyone noticed the PicooZ is no longer on the Radioshack Website?

Phenom

10-05-2006, 08:31 AM

I read two diff things .. One that RS is raising the price to $39.99.. and also a post from Alexander (I believe he is the designer) said that thy have teamed up with another company (same company that does the aero ace) for distro reasons so there will be more available soon .. No clue on the price.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578595

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578410

Rick

10-12-2006, 12:31 PM

I think I'm gonna have to get myself one of these.

Too bad every RS in the area doesn't have them anymore:(

Rick

10-31-2006, 12:09 PM

*sigh* I got one of the "can't trim it out no matte what" birds. Even after bending the tail rotor, oiling, adjusting , etc the best I can get is it to hold sorta neutral under full left stick. After a few seconds when the battery wears a bit then I can't even hold that. Sucks because I can get some control but only turning in one direction, if this thing worked well it'd be a blast.

I'm still working on getting this thing to fly right, because it'd cost me almost as much in shipping to exchange it, and there are very few left anyways.

It has managed to whet my appetite for a coaxial rotor bird:) Methinks I'll get myself one after the Holidays.

The Broker

10-31-2006, 12:52 PM

It has managed to whet my appetite for a coaxial rotor bird:) Methinks I'll get myself one after the Holidays
Hi Rick :D
I think you would love the co-axials they are great fun.
Sue

eddiemoth

10-31-2006, 09:34 PM

Yeah Rick. If noone buys one for you, give yourself a treat! Holidays are comming. and a coaxial is easy to fly.

Sleepstalker

11-02-2006, 04:12 PM

Check your Walmarts! they carry pico's even up here in Canada! I might pick one up for some giggles... 8)

Bill F

11-10-2006, 12:13 PM

My picco is flying great, even with a chip in the rotor blade. I use silly putty on the front to make it fly foward, I use the putty so I can change how fast I want it to fly easily.

The Broker

11-10-2006, 04:56 PM

Your right Sleepster you should pick one up :) When I first saw them in my LHS I kinda thought they were not to be taken seriously but I have had to change my mind.
People are doing modifications to them and they really are a great buy and a lot of fun so as soon as I see one I will be buying it.

Sue

wcairsoft3r

11-10-2006, 05:25 PM

I have done some mods on mine,like moving thelipo up,carbon fibr shaft,etc.These things are fun..I usually use it on my breaks while writing papers for school=)

The Broker

11-10-2006, 05:34 PM

Its amazing what mods people are doing, I think the soda can mod turns it into a lethal weapon :shock: :shock:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=532452
Sue

eddiemoth

11-10-2006, 07:03 PM

I completely agree with you on this - I will not put this thing on my heli.

The Broker

11-15-2006, 01:09 PM

Hi All,
Just been told that my LHS will have the Picco Z in very soon so I have pr-ordered one as last time they sold out. :shock:
I am eager to find out what makes everyone want one, shall hopefully do some mods of my own.
Sue :D

NeilM

12-26-2006, 08:49 AM

I managed to get two, just before Christmas, one for me, and one for my son.

Unfortunately, I did not think to get them on different channels, so we can't fly at the same time.

HOWEVER: Synchronised picco flying :lol:

Two heli's on the same channel, what a laugh :lol:

I've tried blu-tac on the nose of mine. It just flies slower, but not forward.

Who cares, they are a lot of fun.

Neil

Pipes

01-16-2007, 01:08 AM

I have a Pico Z I can't get it to lift off the ground more that 5 inches . I tried to kill the battery and give it a full charge. Then tried to give it a second charge in the book they say that this will may it fly with more power. Well I tried this but it doesn't take the second charge. The green light goes on for a second or two then goes off. Does anyone know what I need to do. Do I need to adjust the rotors or the back tail?
Thanks.

NPD62

01-21-2007, 07:04 PM

I would love to get one of those mini heli to fly in my condo, but I don't know where to get one. Any suggestions?

NeilM

01-22-2007, 10:22 AM

Pipes, what happens if you try to launch the heli from your hand? By that I mean you hold the heli at shoulder height and then throttle up until it lifts off.

Does it fly, or slowly fall to the ground?

Don't try to flatten the battery. The cell fitted is a Lipo (Lithium polymer). They are not like other rechargables, and they don't like being fully discharged. We have a couple of very knowledgeable folk on the forum, who know much more about Lipo's than me.

If the green light goes out, I would say the battery is charged, unless the batteries in the transmitter are running low.

I would not adjust anything yet. This seems more like a power issue than aerodynamics.

Neil

The Broker

04-29-2007, 02:00 AM

I wish my Picco Z flew as well as the one in the vid :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHb-qmX1wsc

G-MRM

04-30-2007, 01:11 AM

The heli will fly like that, it's all down to the pilot :D :D :D

I would like to see anti-clock good circuits as they are much harder to do with these !

The Broker

04-30-2007, 01:23 AM

I quite agree with you so I suppose you wouldn't mind a little bet then would you. You do as many circuits as that guy without crashing or falling down behind the sofa or else you buy me a T-Rex 600 nitro Ok.....I am so confident you cant do it that I am on the phone to Midlands now with your credit card to pre-order it ...thanks Martin :D :D The funny thing is you'll think I'm joking, guess again :badgrin: :badgrin: :badgrin:

G-MRM

04-30-2007, 02:12 AM

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Well another item for a FunFly video !!!! Clockwise no problem !!!!!!!! Head to head with you Broker !!!!

Rick

06-01-2007, 12:51 PM

they've got a metric ton of these at the local Fry's store-they have the "air hogs" version, and some knock-off right next to them for $10-$15 less on the next end cap.

Whats cool about the knock offs is there's another flavor-a plastic bodied model that looks like a Hughes. I have two of those and they fly better IMHO than the foam bodies. I did have one that wouldn't trim out after a few days of rough flying and crashing, but the other gets flown daily thru a couple of charges and still works fine.

Downside is, even with practice, these little guys can't handle any wind at all. Now I gotta buy something bigger so I cna fly outside.

eddiemoth

06-01-2007, 08:46 PM

Rick, do they still have it on sale at Fry's. I'll get one for $20.

billm555

06-02-2007, 05:51 AM

Hey all, new here.

I have a HAvoc that just spins like a top. I've tried trimming, in both directions. I even tried trimming the tail rotor a couple mm. But nothing helps. It almost stops spinning if I give it fullstick.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bill

mtpenguin

12-17-2007, 01:42 PM

The only thing I've found that can be repaired on a Havoc that spins is to pull the rotor off of the tail and clean out the hair / lint that gets on the axle and slows it down. Other that that, it would seem the motor is bad....

B-)

franklin

05-11-2008, 09:41 PM

the tail rotor is the most fragile part on this copter, its good to have a few spares on hand

franklin

05-11-2008, 09:47 PM

here are some of the mods I made to my picco z, they're a great copter, what a blast. Mine needed some help achieving forward flight however...

Red and Black Spiderman Picco Z paintjobs (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic24_red-and-black-spiderman-picco-z-paintjobs.html)
Rotor Mod for Picco Z - stronger and more stable (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic15_rotor-mod-for-picco-z-stronger-and-more-stable.html)
Mod: Picco Z horizontal tail fin (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic14_mod-picco-z-horizontal-tail-fin.html)
Picco Z Weighted Nose Mod (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic13_picco-z-weighted-nose-mod.html)
Mod : Extend your Picco Z controller's batteries (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic12_mod-extend-your-picco-z-controller%CA%B9s-batteries.html)
Picco Z canard (wing) mod (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic10_picco-z-canard-wing-mod.html)
Picco Z RC Helicopter mods (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic7_picco-z-rc-helicopter-mods.html)
Picco Z mod straightens its flight (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic5_picco-z-mod-straightens-its-flight.html)
Picco Z forward movement (http://www.rc-copter.com/forum/ftopic3_picco-z.html)