A new heli stand in town - review

[Prontow]

I am in Muncie at the Futabe XFC, SO COOL!!! I am getting to look at some 90 size birds and getting feedback from the pilots. I am getting good information and some ideas.
Right now the stand I have works really good for a 450-500 size heli. But I am going to make one that will work with a 90 size, just taking longer than I expected.

[rotorhead58d]

a little baby stand for my gaui 200 would fit the bill.

desk mounted...

[th3tick]

Bump for an update? Here's hoping...

John

[Praztek]

I couldn't wait any longer and built my own.

[Prontow]

Sorry for the length of time since my last update but I have been pretty busy.
Here is what I have been doing,
I now have a larger base for the stand, I lengthened the legs by 6" with solid steel round stock so there is no problem with a possable tip-over even with the larger helis.
I modified the holding fixture so it will now hold a 450 up to a 700 size. I have modified the pivot clamp so there is no problem with the holding fixture moving with the heavier helicopters. I does not have as much positioning options as the original but it is a lot more stable and I feel it is a better stand all around. I have been building up a batch to take to have power coated but I can take a couple of pictures of the one I have built that is unpainted and post them tonight.
I am still building up the mounting bracket for the tool tray and hope to have them finished in a couple of days.
I am getting ready for URCHA, trying to have as many built up as I can but I will also have some available before then.

[Prontow]

Here are some quick and dirty pics of the new stand, the fixture is not powder coated and I am still working on the best configuration for the tool tray.

[ZephanRC]

This is looking pretty nice and I like the idea. I'm an all thumbs kind of builder and always bumbing thinks when trying to flip the heli around working on it.

I know that you are trying to get this thing out, but something that might be nice is another (maybe an "add-on" fixture) way to attach the heli to the stand other than the skids in case you want to work on something with the skids and bottom plate off (like easier engine removal/replacement). Maybe a fixture that connects/clamps to the base of the tail boom or something. Maybe there is a potential for several "add-on" mounting fixture options?

[Prontow]

Here are some pictures of a completed stand. I have a batch I am assembling right now to sell and carry to IRCHA. This Stand will hold a 450 electric up to a 700 size nitro machine.
I am selling these for $185.00. The added cost is from the machining work I am having done and the cost of powder coating.
The stand works very well and I am extreemly pleased with my final product.

[TheBum]

Does that price include everything, i.e. including the tray and tripod base? Can the heli be turned upside down, or at least mostly upside down? It would be great to see some photos with a heli turned as far upside down as possible.

[Prontow]

Everything is included at that price, tray, tripod base, and helicopter mounting fixture. The helicopter cannot be turned completely upside down but it can be tilted over 90 degrees and then the mounting skid can be rotated from that point 360 degrees around.
The pictures I posted in the post just before my last post shows a pretty good view of the fixture. This was a fixture I was using to mock one up so it is not painted.

[SDGeo]

I just received my stand last week and I'm thrilled. I can work in a much smaller area, when I drop things.... I can find them. Really, I think everyone should work with one of these; you'll never want to roll your heli around a table top again.

You essentially just mount the landing struts to the metal guides and thats it. I keep my most used tools on my tray, go grab the parts I need then start flipp'n and roll'n, spinning my heli around. I don't have to worry about laying dow the heli the wrong way. I used to alway hit my flybar on stuff and have to take off the blades. Now I have a 360 degree shot at any section I need.

The downside is the cost but I've been installing stuff, ok, reparing stuff in "half the time". I'm always setup and ready to go. I think it's worth the initial investment. It'll pay off later over time.I really had to go back and forth on the price and if I really needed it but now it's a slam dunk. No regrets.

I don't know pronto, have never spoken with him at all but he makes a damn fine work stand. If you're serious about working on your bird, if 50% ALWAYS equals perfect zero pitch, if you see sub-trim as a neccesary evil, if you own more then one level, if you can quote all the pitch settings for all your helis... this is the next step for you.

Just my opinion.... "it'll probably fall over and kill me now"

geo

[legends]

for a really nice stand look on century or heli world site, $119.00 I think. they use these stands there.

[legends]

century heli web site, look under field support. I think it will handle 90 size heli. I was in their show room checking it out, looks really nice. they had a raven clamped on it.

[Kustom]

I went to check out the video but it says file not there

[Prontow]

Video would not do much good these days since my new stand is quite a bit different from the one Finless did the review on. I believe there are some pics I have posted in this thread, if not I will post some. I am also thinking about doing a demo video and post it in YouTube to show all of the capabilities of the "Tilt-A-Whirl"

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by Prontow

Video would not do much good these days since my new stand is quite a bit different from the one Finless did the review on. I believe there are some pics I have posted in this thread, if not I will post some. I am also thinking about doing a demo video and post it in YouTube to show all of the capabilities of the "Tilt-A-Whirl"

Please do. I'm still hesitating on pulling the trigger, but photos and a video might get me to commit.

[efrsysop]

Originally Posted by TheBum

Please do. I'm still hesitating on pulling the trigger, but photos and a video might get me to commit.

Ditto!!

[Shockwave 3K]

Whatever the name is in the link is censored. I'm guessing something happened for that name to be blocked....

[xxSLOANxx]

i wanna see..cant watch video..

[Prontow]

I made some videos of my stand and posted them on YouTube, here is the link.
THANKS !!!!!

Tilt A Whirl Fixture Adjustments (8 min 26 sec)