Radio Control: Helicopters
Larry Jolly 15781 Empire Ln. Westminster, CA 92683
Welcome back. If you recall, last month I left you with my Kalt Alpha II nearly complete; we will now pick up where we left off.
Installing the radio
Installing the radio system in the Alpha II couldn't be simpler. The Alpha features a very nice molded set of servo holders that screw together to form a superstrong, rock-free assembly. All pushrod runs are straight, and hardware for both ends of the pushrods is supplied.
Rotor blades
The Alpha II is shipped with Kalt H-55–type main blades. The H-55s are multilaminate, prefinished wood blades. Prior to flight they need only a bushing inserted and a balance check. While these blades are not the latest in FAI technology, they are nonetheless very reasonable sport blades and should give good performance.
Flying the Alpha
The setup for the Alpha is typical of Japanese machines. Use lots of pitch in the hover, then take it out for forward flight. The Alpha is definitely a two-speed setup machine. It seems very happy hovering at 1,100 rpm with plenty of tail response. I might add — it is just as happy blasting off at 1,600 rpm for aerobatics. The head and tail response were every bit as good as anything I've ever flown; you might expect this, since this head and tail combination just won the World Championships.
Conclusion
The Kalt Baron Alpha II is definitely a quality machine. It is easy to assemble, rugged, and responsive. It will please sport and competition fliers alike. The price is well below that of many others, yet it has features and qualities superior to all but the flagship machines. I definitely recommend the Alpha II as a machine that will stand up and deliver after you've worn out the others.
Options and variants:
- A tube tail drive
- Kalt fiberglass main blades
- A hex drive starting adapter
- Alpha II available as a gas machine with the K-5 rotor head (reported to be a powerhouse with long flight endurance)
- A new .60-size machine from Kalt due later this year (top-of-the-line successor to the Omega Professor)
I talked to Carey Woolard at Hobby Dynamics about these options; I expect K&S or Kalt may manufacture most of them.
New from Futaba
While finishing my Alpha II I tried to fit a Hatori 666 muffler but found the manifold wasn't long enough. Hatori now produces a 666-style muffler just for the Alpha II (Futaba stock number Y00079). Also, Futaba's new S9302 servos are little jewels, delivering 100 in-oz of torque with a metal gear train. Check your local dealer — I think you'll like them.
I'm sorry to report the helicopter portion of the Top Gun Scale Tournament has been canceled. Organizer A.E. Stanley is trying to set up an alternative contest; I'll keep you posted on details.
Hirobo Vertol
About three years ago I bought my first Hirobo Vertol imported by U.S. GMP. It seemed very expensive in the box; the instructions were good and assembly very easy. However, I was disappointed when I tried to fly it with a little OS .32 — the machine suffered low power and stability problems. Unhappy, the Vertol was put back in its box and left in hibernation. I heard of others with OS .46 Vertols still having problems.
Time passed and I admit I would have been flying the Vertol sooner had I not needed a larger tandem mover. I took the Vertol out of hibernation and Tony Davis checked the machine and tried a few modifications. First, he put on an OS .46 carb and fitted a small feeder tank close to the motor. The machine was completely cleaned up, fitted with a new set of blades, finished off and checked — and, guess what — the Vertol does fly. The new carb/fuel system produced instantaneous success. I have never seen such a transformation; the little machine is definitely different and flies right. Power/pitch settings are completely predictable.
The machine seems rpm-sensitive; it likes to hover at 1,650 rpm. Too much rpm causes vibrations; too little causes the machine to wallow and become unstable in yaw. After getting experience with it, I've found that the dampening on the heads is really too soft. The machine is highly gust-sensitive — to the point where a gust can have more effect than the control systems. This makes flying the Vertol tricky in strong wind; however, it is very stable in calm conditions.
If you have one of Hirobo's Vertols and can't get it to fly, try the carb-and-tank idea. It works! I couldn't believe it the first time I took off and flew circuits with this machine — it was really a trip. As for my big version, I'll include photos and details when I'm finished.
Tech Specialties
Bill and Ralph out at Tech Specialties must have seen my April column with pictures of the Mini-Elite rotor head. I had complained that they had used Hirobo Shuttle flybar control arms that have some riveted balls. Well, just as I was writing this column, two Tech Specialties replacement arms arrived at my front door; they now come standard on the Mini-Elite head. They are the right size and look like they were made for the Mini head. If you have an early Mini-Elite head, call Tech Specialties and get a set of the new arms; you need them.
LJMP UH-1N
LJMP has a new UH-1N Twin Huey glass fuselage. The fuselage is 1/7.5 scale, which means it is 66 in. long. Designed for .60-size mechanics, the fuselage comes with molded doors, scoops, a horizontal stabilizer, and molded windows.
Vertical Flight Technologies
Dan Melnik sent me a set of his N.H.P. graphite FAI blades. Initially they look very good and appear to be in the same class as the G.P. 9s from Miniature Aircraft Supply. The new blades have a swept tip like a sailplane and a white turbulator coating on the top surface. They are slightly washed out, hence appropriate for upright performance only. Mine have good speed and nice auto tendencies. They are available in different lengths for various .60-size machines. Dan also has carbon fiber tail booms and tail tube drives for the Alpha II. Contact Vertical Flight Technologies for more information.
Next month
I've been playing around with my Concept 60 and hope to start a review on it next month. There is also a good chance I'll have more information on the Airtronics Infinity 1000 heli radio. So until next month, I'll sign off.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
