My goal this past few months was to have a large scale helicopter. You would Marvel at the amount of time spent, many many hours on the internet, reading, and e-mailing different scale helicopter veterans gathering info, making sure every move was the best I could make.

Some of you remember Scott Gayle. He was the first,(that I am aware of), to have a gasoline powered helicopter at our club. It was a vario benzin trainer. I was even more awe inspired when he crammed it into a 6ft Airwolf fuselage, complete with on-board electric start, and retracts.

I made up my mind then and there I would also have one before I totally depleted my childrens college fund on this hobby.

Either I don't have the patience, or the talent to fly the way Tal does, I haven't really dedicated the time or practice to find out which. But I new I could build a really impressive model if I set my mind to it.

You could consider this to be a melancholy or sentimental statement to make, but when that heli hit the ground, at that instant every feeling I had that made this hobby exciting left my body. I have never been so aggrivated in my life as I have been the last few months trying to chase the demons out of this machine to make it worthy for a smooth, reliable machine to be the basis for a fuselage. Those of you who have followed my progress can attest to my experiences trying to figure out what was wrong.

This last go around I dumped almost $500.00 in new bearings, parts and radio gear to try to make it as bullet proof as possible, all for nothing.

Saturday morning, a week later, I finally got up the nerve to tear her down and assess the damage. The most obvious was the blades. Others were stripped servos, stripped drivetrain gears, bent shafts, frames, and finally another big expense I didn't notice at the field, the metal head yoke is toast.$$$$ And still no leads as to what caused it.


When I found that, I locked up the shop, got the money I had set aside for the rest of the scale project, and bought myself a 50inch wide screen LCD HDTV, complete with surround sound. I spent my usual Sunday flying day watching TV the way it was meant to be watched.

Though I have no desire what so ever right now to fly anymore, it would be foolish for me to say that I quit. I know that the last few months have NOT been enjoyable. Just flying the pod and boom around made me a nervous wreck. I can't imagine how I would feel with a body that cost as much as the mechanics floating around on a prayer. There is a little piece of me that says, give it one more shot at trying for a scale bird, but the practical fairy sitting on my shoulder says to give it up. Its not about the money, though it is a huge set back financially, I get paid every Friday, and just as before, I can set a little aside and get back to where I was. Its the anxiety I have no use for.

If I decide no, then I guess I will build it back to the smaller stock kit, and just fly it as is.

If you don't see me around for a few weekends then you will know why. I am taking a vacation. I may go over to Buzz's house and watch fish.:)

BTW, thanks for the kind words. I know you guys felt my pain.




Scott

Sorry for your frustration, just come around on the week ends and hang out we will do our best to pick your spirits back up.

I say forget all that expensive scale stuff and get a chopper that won't break your heart if it gets banged up and just enjoy flying, who knows in a few months or years you might feel enthused to give it another shot and have a much better outcome. Then when you have your prize scale chopper you will look back and have a great story of what you had to go through to get what you always wanted.

Sorry about your heli, and I hope you'll cheer back up soon, Scott.

To each his own, but risking a nervous breakdown while flying an expensive model aircraft is not much fun, in my opinion.

I agree with Steve. Get yourself another chopper, a less expensive one, and have fun with it.
Like we do — the ones who fly at the cheap end of the pit area... :)

I wish that I had come to that conclusion about RC helicopters 35 years ago when that DuBro 505 went in.
Still oued Dixie Hobbycrafts (Henry W.) about $450.00 on it.

I could be watching a 50" LCD HDTV in my own theatre and playing with a flight stimulator.

Like Amber told me one time, it does take a certain amount of insanity to be a dedicated RC aircraft nerd.

I remember taking three choppers to a fly-in in MS and bringing three crashed ones back. Thank goodness I found a bottle of Peppermint Snapps in the motor home we were traveling in. It numbed the black mood, but it also was the first PM Snapps I ever had and the last. Sick Sick Sick, but I smelt like peppermint for a few days till I sweated it out.

Just test flying Steve's chopper stresses me out all I can stand now.

Ouch Scott!!! Sorry about the heli.

Ahhhhh grasshoppa welcrum to the world of scale!

i do understand where you are coming from, i have way to much into helis now and i have two that are broken and only one still flying and i think i fly it once week if i am lucky... i love them but i think planes is winning me back because of funds and being alot more relaxed...so with my helis i have kind of done the same thing take a break and just let them sit. one day i will get back into the mood. i felt bad when i smashed my hyper raptor, i know it dosent cost nothing compared to the gasser but i atleast see where you are coming from

Scott/Rob,

Just sent you an e-mail.

Later,

Rob

Hey now Alvin....I don't remember saying anything close to that and you can't prove it!!!!

Miss Amber :wub: ,
You said something sort of like that, but i had to clean it up a little.

I feel your pain Scott, If the rewards are not as much as they should be then its good to take a break,but dont quit.I felt like I was snake bit last year when I purchased the bergen. Something so simple as a regulator caused three crashes in a weeks time. It doesnt hurt so much when its pilot era but when your chasing that demon monkey it can be a realy big pain.
This week I've got the curse.. vibration from hades, I tore the thing down and could'nt figure it out... Come to find out it was the swashplate, That extra hole is not intended to tighten up the slack. A ground wire came loose on the regulator and the servos need gear sets because of it. Anyways give me a call whan your ready to start building and I'll bring over the parts I have. Maybe we can catch a flick on your new TV.

Scott,

I guess you know your gonna get a different response from me. I can just see everyone sitting in front of their computers with a tear rolling down their cheeks. Oh....how bad it must be to be Scott.

Now....quit crying you little pu$$? and rebuild the D A M N thing. Ever since I've known you thats all you've talked about is this scale heli. BY GOD....before I die you will have one if I have to order the freaking thing and have it sent to your house.

On the fish tank thing. I just thought heli stuff was expensive. So far, I've got about two gassers worth invested in this thing. Brought two new fish home yesterday and the $150 fish ATE the $25 fish within a couple of hours. Talking about a midair. Bet you never knew I could happen under water. Oh well, at least the expensive one ate the cheap one.

Happy Easter,

Buzz

Yall all have such high thrill thresholds.

Here is what I did today for excitement.
Over in the evening after I had recovered from the Armageddon cooking thing.
I decided to do some RC stuff.
You remember that last week I made me a two holer transmitter case out of an old hard laptop computer case.
Turned out very well with just right room for what I wanted to put in it and got it padded neato.
I had the radio instruction books behind the foam padding in the case lid.
But they were so heavy that they wanted to flop out because the foam padding would not hold them in place.

So today I built a carbon fiber with gold anodized fittings retaining device to keep the radio manuals in place real good.
Also borrowed a wire cloths hanger from Frits to fabricate a pre tensioned spring attachment to keep the retaining device in place without having to drill any holes in the case.

Turned out really well for an engineering prototype.
That was about all I could stand for RC fun today. :hyper:

Dang...talk about "no thrill" thresh hold! I had to wake myself up twice while reading that! Had to keep lookin back at the name.. thought maybe Frits was posting!! :hyper:

Thanks for the kind words Mike, I knew I could count on you.


For $25.00 you could have went to Wintzells, and YOU could have ate the fish.

I went to Rock Creek Country club in Daphne this weekend and played a round of Golf. First time I have played in two years, but I shot a 105. Not too bad I think.

It cost me $70.00 in green fees, and I had to go buy a pair of dress shorts, as when I showed up I was turned away because of the "No Denim" drees code policy they have. Funny how I spent $30.00 on the pair of Levi shorts I had on, but was admitted after purchasing a pair of $13.00 Duckheads. I'll never understand rich people.

I also came home with a chigger bites all over my body, a sunburn, and a blister on one of my hands. But it was a good excuse to ride around in a golf cart and drink beer.

Scott

Scott,

You had to ride almost past my house to get to Rock Creek. Wish you would have called. We could have flown the T-Rex s into the woods or my mail box or something around the house. I know what you mean about the golf course rules. Hope you didn't show up in a shirt without a collar. They'll send ya packin for that too.

You know me.... I like to cause trouble. There is nothing I enjoy more while working in these golf neighborhoods than to hit the trigger on the miter or table saw in the middle of their backswing. Get lots of nasty looks. Most of them aren't worth a crap anyway and it gives them a chance to hit a "Mulligan".

So...have you figured up which parts you could have bought with the money you spent golfing?

Hey, wait a minute! As I'm typing this reply, my wife is standing here complaining about little bites all over her body, mainly her boobs. Did you really go golfing yesterday or was that the story you told Stef? Could this explain why you didn't call me when you drove within 6 minutes of my home? Are you a boob man or butt man? (She has more bites on her boobs) Lots of questions?

I'll post pics below of my wife's boobs and bites. You can tell me if they match yours.
























































































:fullmoon: :roflmao: Oh...You wish.

Buzz

Sorry pal,

It was a last minute invite by a bud that lives over there. I thought about inviting you, but I didn't want to interrupt any quality time you might have wanted with the fishies.

As for the bites on the wife, you'll have to supeona my dental records, I neither confirm nor deny anything to do with it.

Steph was out of town, or so she said. She did come home smelling like fish. :fishing:


Scott

God.... I'm sick in the head. I almost went and talked about your wife. She has been sweet as pie :wub: and I can't (as tempting as it was) drag her into our sick world.

For once...a little self control.

See Ya,
Buzz

For those who care,

I am over being mad.

I plan to rebuild it just as it was before-(big)

If it happens again, I plan to keep my pistol handy in my truck that way I can commit suicide immediatley following the crash.

Frits, be sure you have your camera handy, as I plan to discharge the gun into my temple next to the wreckage. You should be able to get the crash, and my body in the same frame.

I ordered everything tonight. Rumor has it that Century is back ordered on EVERYTHING until the next Ice Age. Barring that, if everything goes well, I hope to have it rebuilt and flying next weekend.



Scott

:thumbup:

Good going Scott :thumbup:

This one will be the winner :) :greenheli:

Thanks guys,




Well as feared, Century was back ordered on alot of the parts.

They did, however, have everything to take it back to the standard size kit, so thats the route I took.

Less, money to fix, (MUCH LESS), and in time less anxiety once I get it back in the air.


Scott

Sorry to here about the Heli Scott... But I like the way you refer to the Gasser as "standard size" lol... its still huge!

Hope to see ya Sunday!

Jake

i am glad to see you are rebuilding it!!!! cant wait to see it fly

Just have to say this,

"Told Ya So" :hysterical:

Good luck with the rebuild. Yep I said good luck.

Scott, do they have a scale body for the standard gasser? If so, which one will you be looking at? Even a stock scale gasser would be really cool. There are lots of scale airplanes at the field but never seen a scale heli out there. Just my 2 cents.

See Ya,
Buzz

Glad you changed your mind!!! Look forward to seeing a nice scale gasser at the field!!!