HobbyMate FBL unit

[nightflyr]

This is a short review of a prototype unit that was offered for flight testing..

It comes from HobbyMate, Hobbymate flybarless 3 axis gyro




Setup is virtually the same as a BeastX V1 unit.
Documentation is minimal at best, being a prototype... a half sheet of instructions that will get the job done.

As to how it operates..
In comparison to the BeastX V1 it is just about the same, in flight performance.
No surprises during spool up or take off.
I did notice a it of nodding when ELV was applied hard which can be adjusted out via the trim pots.
Tail holds very well and as responsive as the BeastX.

As to cost of the unit, that information has not been forwarded to me.

But it is a viable unit to consider depending on the final release cost.

[Spork01]

did you get a chance to test fly yet?

[nightflyr]

Virtually the same as the BeastX V1 in flight performance, no real differences between the 2 units

[beenflying]

I'm really happy with mine so far. I'm using it on an Align 550E. Good riddance to the Align 3G unit.

What heli did you fit it too? What style of flying do you do?

[nightflyr]

Originally Posted by beenflying

I'm really happy with mine so far. I'm using it on an Align 550E. Good riddance to the Align 3G unit.

What heli did you fit it too? What style of flying do you do?

It's mounted on a CHAOS 600.. doing sport and mild 3D

[FrenzyTheory]

is the 1, 2, 3 adjustments for quick swash leveling or something else?

[memosteve]

Originally Posted by FrenzyTheory

is the 1, 2, 3 adjustments for quick swash leveling or something else?

Swash leveling is done during the programming phase of the setup, exactly like the BeastX.

The pots (1, 2, 3) are for adjusting various gains such as cyclic, etc..

I just installed one of these units on a 500ESP with an RJX head...only got to fly one pack this evening in the front yard. So far, so good! Had some slight vertical bobble in backwards flight, which will probably go away once I adjust the cyclic gain pot (pot 1).

Tail holds just fine, but stops seem a little soft. The tail doesn't overshoot, it's just not stopping as crisp as I like. I'm sure I'll be able to get the response I like once I start adjusting things.

Setup was a breeze, just like a BeastX, despite the included instructions being lacking...only issue I had with the unit I'm testing is that the indicator lights for parameters G/H don't light up when programming those parameters...they work when not in programming mode, however.

I was expecting to give the unit a proper smack-down 3D shakedown today, but the weather thought otherwise. Looks like I'll get some decent weather tomorrow so I'll hopefully get a few harder flights in tomorrow to really see how this unit performs.

I'll give a more in-depth review tomorrow and hopefully some video as well.

[beenflying]

Originally Posted by FrenzyTheory

is the 1, 2, 3 adjustments for quick swash leveling or something else?

My take on what the pots do:
Pot 1: Cyclic gain
Pot 2: Bell adjustment. How much control goes directly to the blades (bypassing the flybar/hiller).
Pot 3: Tail stop gain or the D gain of the tail PID control.

[memosteve]

Got a few actual flights in today...

There was a fair amount of wind at the field today that was gusting. Probably 10-15+.

With the pots in the middle position, there was an up/down bobbing of the tail/nose, especially during backwards flight. This really got bad when I did tic-tocs and flips.

I landed, dialed pot 1 (cyclic) down just a bit and went up again. This time, the machine was dialed in perfectly! I proceeded to big-air 3D the thing and was blown away...handled everything I threw at it perfectly!

The 500 flew/handled like a big heli and flew like it was on rails, even in the wind!

I did piro-flips, hurricanes, funnels, elevator/aileron tic-tocs, stationary flips, FFF, FBF, giant loops, slow controlled F3C type flying, reversals, everything...it did it all w/out any issues at all! The unit performed just as well as any of my BeastX units. I was completely blown away and wasn't expecting this level of performance from what is basically a BeastX clone! It was flawless!

There was absolutely no drift of the tail or cyclic, even in the wind...everything stayed put and would basically hover hands off. Piros were even in both directions and the disk didn't wander at all. In FFF, I could piro w/out any slingshotting issues and the heli didn't deviate from it's path, loose/gain altitude nor loose speed.

The feel was very smooth and connected.

I'm very impressed w/the unit and glad I got to test it out!

Here's the setup I tested the unit on:

Heli - T-Rex 500ESP with the RJX head.

Cyclic servos - Hi-Tec HS225MG

Tail Servo - Savox SH-1290MG

Blades - Align 3G

Battery - Pulse 2500Mah, 45C

Running "Pro" mode on the FBL unit w/12 degrees pitch.

Flight videos will follow this coming weekend...didn't get any today due to overcast sky and no decent video cam being available.

Attached is some pics of the rig.

[pani]

Where can someone buy one of these units?

[petedee]

You can't yet I suspect, this is a prototype.

[beenflying]

Originally Posted by pani

Where can someone buy one of these units?

There's another thread on RCGroups about this gyro and some more information is also revealed about when it will be released:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1639336
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=136

FYI, the model number for the Hobbymate FBL gyro has also been released. It's going to be the HB800.

[pani]

Thanks guys.

[Spork01]

Originally Posted by memosteve

Got a few actual flights in today...

There was a fair amount of wind at the field today that was gusting. Probably 10-15+.

With the pots in the middle position, there was an up/down bobbing of the tail/nose, especially during backwards flight. This really got bad when I did tic-tocs and flips.

I landed, dialed pot 1 (cyclic) down just a bit and went up again. This time, the machine was dialed in perfectly! I proceeded to big-air 3D the thing and was blown away...handled everything I threw at it perfectly!

The 500 flew/handled like a big heli and flew like it was on rails, even in the wind!

I did piro-flips, hurricanes, funnels, elevator/aileron tic-tocs, stationary flips, FFF, FBF, giant loops, slow controlled F3C type flying, reversals, everything...it did it all w/out any issues at all! The unit performed just as well as any of my BeastX units. I was completely blown away and wasn't expecting this level of performance from what is basically a BeastX clone! It was flawless!

There was absolutely no drift of the tail or cyclic, even in the wind...everything stayed put and would basically hover hands off. Piros were even in both directions and the disk didn't wander at all. In FFF, I could piro w/out any slingshotting issues and the heli didn't deviate from it's path, loose/gain altitude nor loose speed.

The feel was very smooth and connected.

I'm very impressed w/the unit and glad I got to test it out!

Here's the setup I tested the unit on:

Heli - T-Rex 500ESP with the RJX head.

Cyclic servos - Hi-Tec HS225MG

Tail Servo - Savox SH-1290MG

Blades - Align 3G

Battery - Pulse 2500Mah, 45C

Running "Pro" mode on the FBL unit w/12 degrees pitch.

Flight videos will follow this coming weekend...didn't get any today due to overcast sky and no decent video cam being available.

Attached is some pics of the rig.

Steve, Glad to hear it performed to your satisfaction Nice 500!

We are finalizing this unit right now and it will available in a few weeks.

Retail is expected to be $50-$60. It will be available at hobbycool.com

[pani]

50-60$??? I want one.

[FrenzyTheory]

nice thats where i buy my 450 heli kits, some parts anyway

its about time cheap FBL gyro's are becoming available in the USA
rather then HK or china.

my 450 is grounded cause i have to wait for a replacement Gyro from
china booo, but oh well at least i got my 500 to fly O_O

[Spork01]

we also have new FBL heads to go with the new FBL gyro units. DFC heads are also on the way.

[beenflying]

Originally Posted by Spork01

we also have new FBL heads to go with the new FBL gyro units. DFC heads are also on the way.

I just fitted one of the VWinRC 500 FBL heads to my 500ESP. The quality is just excellent and the price is unbelievable:
http://www.hobbycool.com/500-fbl-rc-...ter-p-462.html

Also a 550/600 head for $45.50:
http://www.hobbycool.com/550600-fbl-...ter-p-461.html

BTW, Spork01. The shaft size on the 500 head is incorrectly stated as 10mm. It should be 8mm.

[FrenzyTheory]

Originally Posted by Spork01

we also have new FBL heads to go with the new FBL gyro units. DFC heads are also on the way.

awsome cause i was looking at those they look nice, to bad they
havn't made them for the 500.

i got a tarot FBL head that was suppose to come with turnbuckles but
did not "not hobbycools fault bought elsewhere" but the quality
appears to be good from tarot.

[FrenzyTheory]

Originally Posted by beenflying

I just fitted one of the VWinRC 500 FBL heads to my 500ESP. The quality is just excellent and the price is unbelievable.

yea i got one as well they are nice
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mxw_pbHHo4[/ame]