How do you like your Slimers?

[akent]

I was curious how you guys like your Slimer helis?

I actually still have a Slimer that I could never fly circa 1980. It is a Kalt Baron 60 with an OS .60 in it. It has Futaba servos and it actually has a Futaba gyro in it.

I never could even hover that thing. I had no mentor back then and the internet didn't exist, so I was fairly clueless!

One advantage I've seen over electics is flight time.
One disadvantage is all the SLIME!!

What do you all think about em?
Kent

[akphill]

I am not having as much of a problem with my nitro as I am with the electrics
So you can say I really like nitros even if I have to wipe them down when I'm done for the day

[The Dude]

I love to hate my Raptor, I am just learning nitro and it can be quirky at times, I think I have the carb issue sorted out now.

[Doozer]

Wasn't sure I'd like the smoke and oil at first, and those are drawbacks for me, but I can say my interest in electrics has fallen way off. Some people look at wiping down as a bad thing... I don't. Wiping the heli down gives me a chance to inspect it. For instance, if I wasn't wiping my hirobo down today, I would have never noticed that the electronics tray was not screwed in tightly. Something I forgot to do after mounting the servos. It was actually moving quite a bit... I have my gyro mounted to it. It's kind of important that doesn't flop around. I rarely did a thorough post flight inspection on my electrics, until it was too late that is.

As for the engines, that adds a whole new level of fun. I understand engines, so I feel more connected. Plus, I'm not a slave to the charger. I can fill up and have at it again and again, without the wait. I just have to charge a rx pack and my glow starter every once in a while.

I'm lovin' it.

[McKrackin]

My interest in electrics???
They're all gone.

100% nitro here now.

[akent]

Doozer, that's a great answer. I actually didn't think of that.

There is a fellow at the Austin field that flies a 700. That thing is a work of art. He flies too fast to notice the smoke much, but when watching him wipe down the slime, he is doing a check like you say!
Actually the heli doesn't get that messy, as he has a tube extending from the muffler away from the heli and he flies FAST!

I hope someday they come out with an efficient gas motor for these. The large plank dudes here fly with gas and those are amazing. They don't smoke at all, are incredibly reliable, and fuel is really cheap.

I'm actually surprised noone has designed a gas motor for a heli and a heli to put it in!
I could really get in to that!
Kent

[Doozer]

They got 'em bro!

www.heliproz.com/products.asp?dept=113
Here's the engines

www.ronlund.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RHPS&Product_Code=CN1330A&Category_Code=CEN_KITS
There's your heli. You can put them in anything with a little modification to the frame. I think Ernie's thinking about one.

[McKrackin]

I'm going to do a Trex 700 gasser conversion.

[Doozer]

Yeah, I think a gasser is on the docket for me too. I'd like to do a Pantera gasser, but I'd have to talk to the manufacturer first (JBeech). I'd also like to fly another Hirobo, but I'm not sure they make a gasser conversion. The thought of flying a heli all day on $3.65 (rising) worth of gas is just way too tempting. Less smoke, cheaper flights.... I'm all for it.

I had both the Hirobo and the Frenzy out yesterday, and I plan to go find a grassy spot to fly today. If there's no wind, I can hands off hover the Hirobo. That's a rock solid bird. Because I changed the servos out on the frenzy, I had some link length issues. I had to dial out some tilt in the swash too. On the Frenzy wipe down, I noticed that the RTV had blown out at the header and the bottom of the pipe had some wiggle. So you could say the once again, the wipe down saves the day!

[McKrackin]

A gasket is better than goop for the exhaust.
Just sayin' lol....

My OS91 is aluminum to aluminum with no gasket or goop but my 50 isn't perfect enough to seal that way.

[akent]

WOW Doozer!!!

Heli GASERS exist!!! I sure didn't know that!!!

Ok, I'm studying those now.

Hey Mckrackin, please post a build thread if you do your 700 gas conversion! Sounds awesome!

About gas mileage with gas...The planks around here that fly gassers use a gallon of gas in about a MONTH with a lot of flying!!! They get 10 times better mileage than nitro!

Thanks!
Kent

[akent]

I just looked at that Radikal G20 and it can fly for 6.32 HOURS per gallon of gas!!

I don't know what kind of flying that is, but that's some SERIOUS mileage!!
Kent

[McKrackin]

A gas powered 700 can outlast the RX pack.
A lot of guys put a brushless motor on the main gear to act as an alternator to charge the RX pack in flight.

I saw one 700 that would go over 30 minutes on a tank of gas.

[Doozer]

Kent,

• Most fun building I've had to date.
  
• Almost no smoke and I'm running rich. There just a little at spool up then goes away as the head speed picks up;
  
• The only place I'm getting oil is on the tail case. It's only a little bit, and probably does more good than harm;
  
• On seven ounces of gas, I had 30 minutes of fun. However, this is the break-in period, so I'm idling a lot while I check temps, adjust throttle curves, and trim;
  

Gasser cons:

• Noise. The flat can stock exhaust is not the way to go if noise bothers you;
  
• You can't keep it in the house because of the smell. You can, however plug up the exhaust pipe and vent tube and not smell a thing. But don't mess with the fuel lines inside... bad move... you can hear your brain cells dying.
  
• If you already have a nitro, you need seperate fueling pumps and line, but you don't need a wand starter or glow starter.
  

[Doozer]

Alright, for all you on the fence about flying gas... Today I flew with Coleman camp fuel a.k.a. white gas. $7.50 for a gallon at Wal-Mart. There was no noticeable difference in performance. The fuel burns very clean, and best of all.... zero smell. I have the heli inside as well as the fuel and there is not a hint of a fuel smell. Completely worth the extra cost.

The transition from gas to camping fuel was seamless. I still had gas in the line and the carb, but filled the tank with my Coleman/Royal Purple mix (25:1). The idle never skipped a beat. There was no noticeable difference in power during flight. The burned fuel smelled like I should be cooking hot dogs. Seriously, I got hungry for a chili dog.

I have to admit the smell of gas is a huge draw back to flying gas. I could only bring my heli inside with the tank empty, the exhaust plugged, and the vent on the fuel tank plugged. Even after all that, there was still a a hint of gas smell. The only way to work on the engine was outside in the heat. I just fell in love with this heli all over again.