Family photo

[lrogers]

The "Dragon Nest" has expanded again so I thought I post a "family photo" of me and the birds.

The newest addition is Puff-the-magic-dragon, a electric mini of the 400 (motor size) class. Puff is a T-Rex 450 SA. Power comes from a 450xl motor and a 2170mha LiPo battery. Puff is a bit over 25" long nose-to-tail and swings 325mm main rotor blades.

The smaller size makes Puff a bit more "twitchy" than the larger birds, but I've been making small adjustments and it's coming around.

This little bird requires a lot less support equipment be carried and I can fly it in the front yard. This is the only one I've been able to fly since I messed up my ankle.

I'm all ready working a scale fuselage for Puff. Before long, it will become a Bell 222 complete with retracting landing gear!

[gad5264]

Nice collection you have there Larry.

How is the ankle coming along?

[lrogers]

The ankle is coming along very well; thanks for asking, Grant. I go back to the doctor Thursday and he will do another x-ray and HOPEFULLY, the "boot" (visible in the photo) will get the boot!

[cabinetman]

Those are some great looking machinery. Probably a small fortune. Take care of that ankle. I was thinking, have you thought of making a wood helo, maybe out of balsa wood or something like that. That would be some cool project.
.

[mater]

Nice family you have there Larry.

[lrogers]

Cabinetman;
Your are correct; a small fortune, but at least I'm staying out of bars and away from fast women! (If LOML was any faster she'd have kicked my behind several times overmy toys. The ankle has let her get close a couple of times!).

As for the wooden helo, the answer is yes! There is a company called Approach Engineering that makes AWESOME fuselage kits from lite-ply and balsa. He currently has an Apache kit that would/will fit over the Hawk framework (the blue one in the picture). He is also working on a Cobra gunship that will fit on the big yellow and white one. When he's not designing/manufacturing kits, he's an instructor on the Apache! Very good chance that I'll be ordering an Apache kit for the Hawk once I finish using the Hawk to get my flying skills where I want them.

Things were going good in that area before the "ankle incident". Last Sunday was the first time I was able to fly since the accident. While I can't do too much more than hover in the front yard with the T-Rex, it's still good stick time and I can practice some slow forward flight.

[leehljp]

Congrats on the new "baby" helo.

I have been having all kinds of trouble with my Honey Bee King. I had a motor controller problem at first. All controllers were back ordered for 6 weeks; got them and then found that I have a receiver problem. Couldn't get a new receiver from anyone here or SW Asia (Honk Kong / Singapore). I meant to get one from Hobby Lobby Inc while in the States in May but I got so busy traveling that I didn't have a minute to work on it.

I will get back to it this fall hopefully.

Glad to see your ankle is not keeping your from enjoying life.

[lrogers]

Hey Hank!
I was wondering how you were fairing with your Honey Bee. Sorry you have had so much trouble with it. The small electrics are definitely a bit different from their larger brothers. Got to say though, the more I fly the T-rex, the more I like it!

My nephew bought a Blade CX2 and brought it over for me to do test/trim flights with. We had a blast with it. Chris is a marine stationed over in P'cola while he's going through his A school. On the way back to base that afternoon, he stopped by Hobby Town and bought a couple more battiers and some spare parts. I think it was an exciting evening in the barracks!

Hope you get it all sorted out soon!

[Alex Franke]

Very, very cool. Well, we're not quite at your level yet, but someone in my family now really really wants to follow in your footsteps! Here's a family photo of our own!

[DonHo]

Wow, looks like I better stay away from the RC helos. Looks like they're as addicting as turning, I can't afford another addiction

[gsmittle]

Does the Apache have the missile pods and machine gun turret? Think of the fun harassing the neighborhood squirrels!

The birds look like fun! I'd love to try it, but I think I've pushed the limit on expensive hobbies for now.

g.

[lrogers]

Yes, the Apache does have the missle pods and chain gun. One guy that has built one, put a flashing LED in the gun barrel to simulate gunfire. The AMA makes firing missles a big NO NO, but I have seen it done!

Alex, be carefull! That is the first step to the darkside! One grandson is at that stage and one grandaughter (age 4) has just built her first helo! It was at her request that the T-Rex ended up shades of pink!

Don, YES, it is as addicitng as crack cocain and almost as expensive. It is however, a lot more fun and very satisfying when you are able to take off and land AND the model has all it's parts in the same configuration at the end as they were at the start!!!!

You might not realize it, but the helos have meshed nicely with the wood working and I've had a lot of projects (mostly small) to help with the helos.