Maidened my Park Zone Typhoon 3D yesterday (the original, not the Typhoon 2) that I got for $65 on close out from AirLand Hobbies. Holy !@$#, that was a handful. None of the surfaces were right, despite "looking" lined up ok. Thing jumped off the deck like I was use to from the simulator, but then it was pitching, rolling and diving. Even with lower rates it was full time panic, while I tried to gain some altitude and get the trims set.I had a broken aileron horn when checking everything out, but managed to super glue it without freezing the servo, since I didn't have any ones that would fit it (Hitec's don't seem to be the same groove pitch). Anyway, my motor would scream and cut out really abruptly at certain speeds, like it was slipping or something. Eventually, it would just ALWAYS be in "slip" mode and wouldn't generate much/any thrust at all, even at full speed. Motor sounded like it was reving, but... Figured I had a bad ESC like everyone mentions on here. Still, took the cowl off and noticed the bullet motor connectors are SUPER loose. Managed to get them tighter, but made no difference. Took the whole gear housing/motor off and nothing obvious, but I did notice there was some "slop" on the main shaft, so I pushed the big gear down harder on the shaft, and put it all back together. There wasn't any signs of the gear being stripped, but. Anyway...once all that was done, it seems to work just fine now. No cutting out or sudden "spinning". I also got different programming instructions for the ESC than the original manual said (and there are 4 settings, not the three the original manual says). It gives you options for 4 pole and greater outrunner and inrunner, and then less than 4 pole...???? Which one? I tried both, and they both seem to work ok...but think I picked the less than 4 pole the last time...????
Anyway, managed not to cram it into the ground, and after my hands stopped trembling (ok, slowed down a little), I played with it for quite a while. Even managed to land it and take off again. Thing spins on a dime, rolls like crazy and is very dynamic. Goes where you point it and sometimes a little too litterally. Tried high rates for a bit, and it really got into trouble after flipping it and tumbling, but got it back under control. It wants to tip stall out and drops into a roll very easily...so, you have to keep the speed up. Tried out some loops, barrel rolls, rudder spins, and tried to elevator it down (need to get more speed to avoid stalling it out).
Whew...it was a lot more plane than the Aerobird Xtreme and the EZ*. I flew them each 3 times, too, over the turkey break, and had a great time. Hopefully I can get use to this Typhoon and begin to be able to do 3D a little...
Went over to the empty school lot near my house to try the second flight out on my Typhoon. Wind was gusting between 15-20mph, so I decided not to. Threw my Aerobird up for a while, and it was really fun. Strong head winds, but it really screamed on the downwind leg. Got about 20 minutes out of the 3800mAh battery finally, now that I'm fully charging it. Tony's Firebird Commander (no elevator control) was too light, and it just got beat around in the wind. Kept looping straight up under power and then would flop over. Tony finally lost it over some houses, but we found it, safe and sound, in the top of a big tall pine tree. Got it down, thanks to the nice neighbor.
ReplyDeleteWent back later about sunset, and wind had died down. Couple other people came out to fly in addition to me an Tony. A father and son with a Striker C. Wow...that thing really zoomes. Tony had better luck with his Commander this time, and I got to fly my Typhoon. Still has too much elevator when you use the airbrake, but it flew very nice. I got a better "elevator" out of it this time, but it sure gets unstable and turns all over with tip stalls. I probably need a little more speed, or some flaps. I played around with some 3D (way up high), and I suck. Grin. Finally ended up almost nosing straight in, but pulled a tight loop and cut the power and hard belly flopped it in. Bent the gear a little, and cracked the cowl, but nothing major. The elevator servo was stripped (not sure how that happened, since it didn't hit, but it was). So, came home and swapped it out with my HS-81 Hitecs.