To scale or not to scale that is the question

[don_m8856]

Each weekend as I lay out my collection of scale heli's I am always asked by onlookers, people who fly pod and boom & people who want to get into the hobby how much and how hard is it to fly scale. How hard ? mmmm lets see I've be flying now just a bit over 2 years and its still hard as hell lol even though I've been told I look good flying my scales. The thing I feel that is the hardest is making it look real, keeping the movements slow and steady or fast and smooth no jerky movements. Sounds easy but believe me Its nerve racking. Also keep in mind what a real heli can do ! no it does not normally flip, roll, tic toc, fly upside down and so on, leave that to the 3D guys. So yes Its hard to fly scale but much more rewarding than 3D in my book. How much lol well that depends on how much you got in the bank and if you can afford a divorce when the wife finds out how much you did spend lol Century has a line of nice scale kits that are nicely priced or you can go to hirobo for mid priced kits and of course vairo for the top of the line. In all its a fun hobby to get into but remember before you go scale or 3D take time to learn to fly it will cost you much less when you do :D

Don

[mtpenguin]

Do you, or have you ever used / heard of 'scale' blades?

They supposedly are more tuned to making the chop chop chop sounds and slower control instead of stiffness / lift.

I'd been thinking how it would be interesting to build a very heavy, little lift, severely limited swash to make it nearly impossible to *not* fly it scale.

I never thought a real heli could do funnels until I saw one circling above us at mardi gras as a sheriff was taking down a dude. It was unbelievable! Could feel the prop wash, and the thing funneled like a model 3D. I was too in awe to even snap a pic/vid.

B-)

[don_m8856]

There are scale blade out there but as of yet I do not use them. I need to update my scale bird to a 3 bladed head first. If you want to see something cool look up the red bull heli on youtube it does thing I never thought a heli would do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdprMRMjs1c&feature=PlayList&p=036F26C8E863CBDB&index=26&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

[swatson144]

Vario makes the "reflex" blades (http://us.vario-helicopter.biz/shop/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=7545ab32e9f7a9e6 455aa2b332c649b9&keywords=reflex&osCsid=7545ab32e9f7a9e6455aa2b332c649b9&x=0&y=0)which surprisingly enough aren't cost prohibitive. They do have a strange way of measuring as they are listed by rotor size. The set I have are 2160mm but they are 950mm each. the 1380mm are 590mm each. I'm thinking of getting a set of them for the little Vario and see how they go the 1820mm should do fine.

Best I can determine the realistic sound comes from getting good lift at low HS which also reduces the overall liveliness of the heli. IE you lug around a heavy fus at 1200 rpm and everything is mellower.

Steve

[The Broker]

I totally agree with Don about scale flying, just as its more difficult to hold a rock steady hover than FF, so its harder to fly slow and realistic rather than tearing up the skies lol
Crashing your scale heli will have a more devastating effect than a pod and boom as well, they can be more difficult to tote about with you because of all the edges and scale parts that can get damaged.
All in all I think to fly to scale you gotta love them or else they do make life difficult, the times I have knocked the tail on Gussie and her door handles one side are broken, mind you martin is supposed to be making some new ones, when he gets round to it. :D

If your a total newbie my advice would be to watch the guys who fly scale and admire the models but stick to pod and boom.

These pics are a blatant way of showing off Gussie but you can see the parts that decorate her like door handles, aerials etc that are a pain in transit lol lol

[don_m8856]

You have a nice looking scale there broker :D And yes scale flying is a passion8)

[heli143]

I agree with how hard it is to fly in a scale manner.
I don't think most 3D guys understand or believe that until they try it:)

I enjoy watching 3D if it is flown in a smooth manner meaning that you can actually see the transition between maneuvers and not just a heli flip-flopping around in what appears to be an uncontrollable manner.

[ranger306ci]

I agree with how hard it is to fly in a scale manner.
I don't think most 3D guys understand or believe that until they try it:)

I enjoy watching 3D if it is flown in a smooth manner meaning that you can actually see the transition between maneuvers and not just a heli flip-flopping around in what appears to be an uncontrollable manner.

I totally agree!
One of these days, when I get the time, I will build a scale bird. It will be electric, though. Nitro is just so messy.