Bell 412 Scale R/C Helicopter E-Power Test Flight

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Aircraft Aviation Control Helicopters Models Radio Space
StormyMaxPerry
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    StormyMaxPerry
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  • Added: 28-Sep-08

Some playing around with a newly converted nitro heli chassis in my front yard. After the purchase of this prefinished Scale House Helicopter Bell 412 body, I decided to use a brushless motor to power it instead of the nitro engine more commonly employed. The heli chassis of choice was the Miniature Aircraft X-Cell Graphite from 10+ years ago and an electric conversion was designed to keep the stock centrifugal clutch. The motor picked is the Great Planes 'Rimfire' 50-65-450 and is geared 10.64-1 to the main rotor. Power is 10S Li-Po (37V nominal) and flight time is a safe 8min to the 80% capacity point of the pack.

The Rimfire motor is not intended for heli operation and in stock form doesn't have adequate cooling for the job. I manufactured an auxiliary fan that covers the bottom of the motor and cooling is working perfectly.

The four-blade main rotor is stability augmented with a pair of CSM SL720 gyros and a Helitronix mixer to interface them in with the custom eCCPM swash control system. In this video there's still too much collective pitch for scale flying so the heli is rising and falling quite a bit. Sorry about that :-)

I had some fully charged Li-Po battery packs to drain down to storage voltage and I couldn't think of a more fun way to do the discharge.

The 'camera man' is a tripod in the yard. I just can't find a real person to aim a video camera when I need the help. This forces me to fly a rather restrictive path to help keep the heli in view of the camera.

  1. Categories: Science & Tech
Comments on

Bell 412 Scale R/C Helicopter E-Power Test Flight

12 Comments | Add Comment
  • how big is that?

    how big is that?

    By jchang911 [Affiliate User] 1232091357 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • damn that thing is ...

    damn that thing is badass

    By poppy1821 [Affiliate User] 1230104282 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Oops, forgot some ...

    Oops, forgot some of the other electronics installed. There's a pair of CSM SL720 gyros and a Helitronics mixer inside too. Got them at about half their new cost via trading. That's $200 for the mixer and ~$250 for each of the two gyros. How could I forget?!

    By StormyMaxPerry [Affiliate User] 1226031924 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Thanks a lot for ...

    Thanks a lot for your reply! I want buy this heli from you! If you have intrest, give your price! Thanks!

    By tuyger [Affiliate User] 1225722096 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Battery packs, LiPo ...

    Battery packs, LiPo, 2X 5S 4000mAh, $87 each on sale, Futaba FASST receiver ~$99, switching V.reg for powering the radio system - can't recall. The main blades are ZigSaw GP4 680mm long, around $100 for the set (all used). Get out your abacus and give us a total.

    The max watts pulled at full climb was just over 1800, hover power is mid-to-upper 800W. Head speed 1200rpm. Now all secrets have been revealed ;-)

    By StormyMaxPerry [Affiliate User] 1225600679 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Sure but my cost ...

    Sure but my cost isn't very realistic in light that all the major components were used or received as trades. Fuselage, painted and finished was $300USD (cheap!). Basic heli airframe was part of a combined deal with a special Vario 4-blade head, something around $250USD. The head was worth all of the $250 so that makes $0 value for the heli chassis. Motor was $99, speed control, a Castle 85HV off eBay for about $110, three digital servos @$79 each, gyro and its servo - used and can't remember.

    By StormyMaxPerry [Affiliate User] 1225600199 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Yes you are right! ...

    Yes you are right! After my comment i did check the vedio carefully and realized that I was wrong!I found nowhere the airflow that generated by a turbine engine!I appologize for my wrong words ! By the way ,would you tell me that how much your heli cost and how strong the power of your heli's electric engine(burshless) is,I am very interested in this.Thank you

    By David19860701 [Affiliate User] 1225589403 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • There are many ...

    There are many companies, Vario for example, that manufacture fine Bell 412 fuselages. The mechanics are common Miniature Aircraft X-Cell 60 Graphite but modified to E-Power by me. This modification isn't currently for sale so be prepared to 'play engineer' when you make your own electric modification. Hope this helps.

    By StormyMaxPerry [Affiliate User] 1225581964 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I sure hope you're ...

    I sure hope you're joking. If not, did you read the complete video description that I composed? Please click on the "(more info)" link in the upper right-hand portion of this page to read. I'm glad the 'turbine sound' effect is impressing the viewers. I can't get enough of the sound! XD

    By StormyMaxPerry [Affiliate User] 1225581615 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • It is not electric ...

    It is not electric power helicoptor ,instead it is turbine engine powered plane !!!! The sound and the way it start up in can prove!

    By David19860701 [Affiliate User] 1225367458 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Hi. Amazing!! Nice ...

    Hi. Amazing!! Nice Heli. do you know where i cand buy a Heli like that?

    By tuyger [Affiliate User] 1224679636 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Awesome machine ...

    Awesome machine Stormy hope my Dauphin goes half as good as that Ill be a happy man

    By lockout45 [Affiliate User] 1223052107 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
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