MS Composit Hornet X3D [Archive]

rcpilot82

08-27-2008, 11:04 AM

Just wondering if anyone has a hornet x 3d here, I have one but have been struggling to get the setup right for a while now. if ya got one post your setups here and any other info!!

evlfkrjohn

09-05-2008, 09:47 PM

What kind of problems are you having? I may be able to help.

rcpilot82

09-08-2008, 11:04 AM

Hello, my heli is very unstable along all axis. I am new to collective helis and some local heli flyers said that my servos were not centering. I am using hs55's all around. I cant seem to get it more than 6" off the ground. any thoughts?

rcpilot82

09-19-2008, 06:31 AM

OK well i cracked up the heli again the other day. broke the tail fin off and broke a blade(wood) so I have a question. Can anyone who has this heli flying on a futaba please post, pm, or e-mail me the radio programming so I can try and replicate it? another thought i had was all this time I have been trying to just hover about a foot off the ground. i wonder if the "ground effect" from the blades are making this thing that much harder to fly. so i was thinking about going all for nothing and once it's repaired, actually hitting the collective and trying to fly about 50-100 ft in the air. at least then I should be able to get a good feel for it. what's your thoughts??

JustPlaneChris

09-19-2008, 08:27 AM

Wow, I had a Hornet X3D and can't imagine trying to fly one as your first CP heli. It is VERY responsive and sensitive to setup, and is really more suited to the experienced builder and pilot.

Ground effects will make it somewhat harder, but honestly... even up in the air the Hornet is a handful! You may want to consider getting something a bit larger (more stable) and come back to the Hornet after you have some flight and setup experience.

rcpilot82

09-19-2008, 10:34 AM

CHRIS, hello, I never thought I'd get a reply from you! I love the podcasts you, burke, and diggs do. I listen to them at work and try and learn stuff to try. anyway, the thought of a larger heli crossed my mind but I really cant afford one at the time, so i figured i'd try and get this thing going as I have a TON of parts for it. I think a fixed pitch heli would be MUCH better for me after litening to your podcasts, but all my funding has been re-routed to finishing my cnc router. I added wheel collar weights to the flybar paddles to soften the control up, and it worked. I just cant seem to get the dang thing to calm down. I am running the brushless motor that was an option for the kit and hs55 servos all around, and 3s 1250mah lipos. so since a new heli is not possible, any suggestions on how to set up or calm this thing down?? keep up the great work on inside heli, and all things that fly

JustPlaneChris

09-23-2008, 09:02 AM

Thanks for the kind words! :)

You're on the right track with the flybar weights. The other thing that is absolutely critical is that you get all the links as free as possible. Stiff controls really make it a beastly little thing to fly.

Also, try reducing the throttle curve a bit or go to a smaller pinion to keep headspeed down.

Good luck with it! When tuned well, they can be great fun. :)

rcpilot82

09-23-2008, 09:43 AM

HMM, never thought about the links.. whats the best way to loosen them up without making them sloppy?? as far as the throttle curve, what rpm would be a good headspeed to learn?

ok, I just watched Finless bobs video on ball links.( great videos, very educational) my question is this, is there another way to open the link without the tool bob used as i don't have one?

JustPlaneChris

09-24-2008, 01:07 PM

Actually, you can gently squeeze the links with smooth-jaw pliers while they are installed on the ball to loosen them up. Just go easy on it! You could also very gently burnish the ball itself with rubbing compound.

As for headspeed, try dialing it back to around 2200 rpm and see how you get along with it. Also, which blades are you using? Mine came with some really narrow chord blades and it was a very odd flyer until I switched to more conventional wider blades.

rcpilot82

09-24-2008, 01:13 PM

I got 2 sets of blades, wooden sets and composite sets, they were all from ms-composit / mr.carbon for the hornet. I do not know the length of them but they were long enough to come down and hit the tail fin and knock it off the boom. (oops) what blades did you use? I am going to look at it tonight and try and set it up from scratch using the finless bob videos and convert it to 2.4.thanks for the help!!

JustPlaneChris

09-24-2008, 11:30 PM

I started out with the "razor blade" gray ones that as it turns out were designed for their 3-blade scale heads. I then got a set of the MS Composite carbons, and they flew much better. Sounds like yours should work fine.

Good luck with it! Post some video when you get 'er dialed in. :)

rcpilot82

09-25-2008, 06:41 AM

Well, I tore into the heli last night and found that more than half of the head links were too tight. I started a new model on the 9c and set it up from scratch, re-centered the servos and all. I used the videos to guide me through the re-build and even though it took me about 3 1/2 hours to do I got her put back together again. I dropped the head speed from 3100 down to about 2300 (just under 90% on the throttle curve). I have to finish setting up the tail and put the trainer gear back on it before I take it outside and see what happens. I'll let yall know what happens.

rcpilot82

10-03-2008, 07:33 PM

well the weather here sucks right now and I have a full weekend so no time to play with the heli or the planes :( it has been windy all week and I am not about to try this thing indoor. it seems I have everything going the right direction but my pitch is acting wierd. at 3/4 stick it has enough pitch to lift the heli, but any further on the stick and the pitch goes neutral and then negative. any toughts on that? i know it's something on the radio but I havent got the time yet to play with it.

rcpilot82

10-09-2008, 06:20 AM

ok, well I have given this heli to a CNC buddy of mine who flys helis for him to look at. I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong. so when I hear back from him I'll let ya know what he finds.

JustPlaneChris

10-09-2008, 11:52 AM

Hopefully he can figure it out! I wasn't sure what to suggest for that weird pitch reversal, sorry. :o

Ogre55

10-09-2008, 04:12 PM

rcpilot82

10-10-2008, 06:40 AM

thanks for the info, I'll pass it along to my buddy!

rcpilot82

10-13-2008, 07:05 PM

well, i got an update from my buddy today on the heli. the radio was all messed up, and my swash plate was not moving linear. as of now it's almost hands off (for a few moments) in a hover and all around a happier heli! he said he is going to set the idle up modes for me and make sure it is "noob ready". he also changed my pinion on the motor for a slower headspeed and better mesh. it looks as though I may actually get some airtime with it yet! I guess i should stick to building planes! (for now) :)

rcpilot82

11-08-2008, 07:07 AM

OMG IT FLYS!!! I got the heli back last night and I actually hovered it!! it is a whole different heli now, a better heli!! Didn't have a camera on me but I'll get some pics. The best part was 3 packs through it and It;'s still in one piece!!

JustPlaneChris

11-09-2008, 11:10 AM

Congrats! It's nice when everything finally works. :)

rcpilot82

11-09-2008, 05:29 PM

as promised here of some pics of the heli.

rcpilot82

12-21-2009, 01:10 PM

OK, I am looking for parts for this heli. Is there any US based companys that provide parts for the ms composit hornets?? I need one dang link and cant find it in the us. I need part E173

JustPlaneChris

12-21-2009, 04:40 PM

I checked with a friend who flew Hornets long after I sold mine, and unfortunately there are no longer any US dealers for parts. His advice was to ditch it and buy an LA Heli Ricco. ;)

rcpilot82

12-21-2009, 05:39 PM

Well, Just Plane Chris....That just plane sucks!:cool:
I guess I'll have to get smart and try and cnc out my parts then. I got a TON of parts for this heli, just not that one, go figure.
Thanks for looking into it though Chris

rcpilot82

12-21-2009, 08:18 PM

Ok, I was able to engage my brain and evaluate the link. I was able to salvage the link and replace the molded plastic ball link with a metal link. knowing that there are no parts available in the us for this heli, I am going to draw out or mold as many parts as I can for it so I can make my own if needed. as my signature says, Necessity is the mother of all invention :)