X-Cell 60 ST History

X-Cell Helicopters - Manuals and stuff.

01/06/2001 - Step X (Tail Boom) 1 hour.  Got the crazy tube stuck in the tail boom.  Trying to get out.  Oops disconnected the tube from the bearing.

01/08/2001 - Snapped the tube.  Need to purchase another one. #0867-9.

01/24/2001 - Replaced tube.  Got tail together.  1 Hour.

01/30/2001 - Took to Riders to check out.  Had to switch around a few linkages.  1 Hour.

02/01/2001 - Removed tail rotor to balance.  Seems to balance mostly alright (one center section seems to be slightly heavy.)  Gave up because needs to be 100% straight to do any more balancing.  1 Hour.

02/02/2001 - Hooked up servos to receiver and battery.  Finished Step X.  1 Hour.

02/07/2001 - Step XI (Radio Equipment and Push Rods) 1 Hour.

02/12/2001 - Step XII (Canopy) 3 hours.  Glued, taped and first sanded the ugly blue beast.

02/17/2001 - Canopy.  Paint and apply decals.  2 Hours.

02/18/2001 - Step V Engine.  Install engine and muffler 1 hour.

02/19/2001 - Step VIII (Fuel Tank)  Install 2 times, first time too far to one side 1 hour.

03/03/2001 - Went to Paul's house and glued in the weight of the blades.  1 Hour.  Added and sanded the balsa parts covering the weights.  0.5 Hours.

03/14/2001 - Tape, paint and glue blades together.  1 hour.

03/17/2001 - Went to Paul's again.  Balanced and covered blades.  Install filter, muffler seal and install muffler.  Set radio and linkages.  Step XIII (Final Mechanical and Electrical Set-up) Step XIV (Mechanical and Electrical Setup)  5 Hours.  All that is left to do is to mess with the gyro.  Step XV (Final Assembly)

Step XVI (Inspection)

04/29/2001 - Go and watch the Heli's fly.

04/30/2001 - Go to Paul's house and re-setup for new radio and gyro.

05/05/2001 - First setup attempt.  Failed radio check, tried to work with it anyways.  Almost lost it.  Changed receivers later that night, and all is well.  (Dawn went)

05/13/2001 - Second setup.  Mostly working, except throttle not perfect.  I was able to hover "around" with Paul watching one time.  Next time, I went through a tank by my self!  Yea ha.  2 more tanks at Harkless house.

05/20/2001 - Went to JMB and hovered for 2 tanks.  Each tank last about 15 minutes.  16 and it runs out.  Then went to Harkless house and ran another 2 tanks.  Everything if fine.  Can hover, staying in roughly the same area, at any height from 1 foot to about 10 feet.  When the wind hits it, most of the time it stays put.

06/--/2001 - Hovered 3 tanks at school.

07/05/2001 - Hovered 2 tanks at school.  During high wind, can keep it within a 5 foot cube.  During calm, within about 2 foot cube.

07/08/2001 - Went to Chesaning after first tank, I was notified to start nose in hovering.  Nose in hovering first tank, what a mess.  Then fixed the throttle problem, changing the glow plug made it run much better.  Time for some simulator work.

07/14/2001 - Flew it at Lennon field.  Ran great!.  No nose in, but I hovered around and made it do a large box and go from side to side.

09/??/2001 - Hovering?

10/??/2001 - First tank of fuel done.  Hovering nose in and tail in in super tall grass.  Struck the tail to ground and ripped out teeth in gear.  Fixed by flipping it over.

02/17/2002 - Dress up all balls and ball links.  Going to give Heli some TLC.

03/03/2002 - Found out why only 12-13° travel.  The elevator servo mounting bracket was binding with the Aluminum Elevator Swing Arm Kit.  Time to fix.  All links re-set per Ray's Authoritative Helicopter Manual.

04/07/2002 (7 days) - Major work on Heli.  Small side tank installed.  Parts purchased from Toledo show.

8/02/2002 - Started heli first time since major re-work of links.  Re-adjusted throttle.  Also re-tracked blades and reset trims.