RCE Solutions Colco Thunderbird Concept II User Manual

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Colco Thunderbird Concept II

User/Operators Manual

RCE Solutions

Capetown, South Africa

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Visit: http://www.rchq.co.za

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Page 1 Colco Thunderbird Concept II User/Operators Manual This material is Copyright (c) 2005 RCE Solutions Capetown, South Africa Spares ordering and Questions Visit: http://www.rchq.co.za...
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Contents Table of Contents Foreword Part I Introduction Part II Safety Instructions Part III Know your Radio Transmitter Part IV Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup Part V Adjust the Balance with the Battery Part VI Gyro Setting Part VII Service and Cleaning Part VIII Repair Hints &...
Page 4: Part I Introduction
A Online price list is available and spares can be ordered and will be available within 48 hours after ordering if we have stock. Enjoy the Thunderbird Mini RC Helicopter RCE Solutions Cape Town South Africa Cornelis van Rensburg ( Crashbandit ) Safety Instructions Read the operation instructions through completely before commissioning.
Page 5: Part Iii Know Your Radio Transmitter
Safety Instructions Never touch the charger with moist or wet hands. There is a risk of a fatal electric shock. The charger is licensed for operation on main sockets with alternating current in the household 220-230 V ~/50-60hz and in dry rooms. Remove the battery's from charging devices is not in use.
Page 6 User Manual the Heli. Make sure that the throttle is at 0% speed, (Lowest Position) Let see the functions of the Channels (Sticks) on the Radio Transmitter This is a Quick overview of the Functions for each channel on the radio. With the thunderbird, we only use 4 Channels, due to the fact that the TB is a Fixed Pitch Heli.
Page 7 Know your Radio Transmitter The left hand control aggregate control the rotor speed proportionally in the vertical direction. This is the only aggregate with a "Snap-in" feature for maintaining the rotor speed during flight. Lever DOWN: 0% Speed Lever UP : 100% Speed Channel 2 ©...
Page 8 User Manual The Left hand Control, controls the "Rudder feature" proportionally in the horizontal position. This feature is necessary to turn the helicopter with the nose in the direction in which you wish to fly. This takes place through the control of the small rear Tail Motor. Lever to the Left: Nose Left, Tail Right Lever to the Right:...
Page 9 Know your Radio Transmitter The Right hand Control, controls the "Nick feature" forward/Backwards in the Vertical position. Lever UP: Helicopter nose Down and Flies forward. Lever DOWN: Helicopter Nose up and fly Backwards Channel 4 © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 10: Part Iv Heli Trim And Pre-Flight Setup
User Manual The Right Hand Control "Roll Feature" proportionally in the Horizontal position. This feature is necessary for flying the helicopter side ways. The nose of the Heli still points forwards. Lever to the Left: Helicopter inclines to the Left Lever to the Right: Helicopter inclines to the Right.
Page 11 Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup Turn Rotor head so that Blades are horizontal with the tail boom. Put your 2 fingers under the screws that hold the rotor blades and lift the heli off the table. Adjust the battery position until the heli lifts of evenly. (The Landing gear lifts of level with the table) Turn on transmitter (ALWAYS FIRST) Plug in battery...
Page 12 User Manual Loosen the screws on the fly bar paddles and align them to be exactly level. Even a slight up or down angle on the fly bar paddles will affect the flying characteristic Make sure the fly bar lengths are exactly the same on both sides of the rotor head. Slight length differences Will cause vibration Straighten the rotor blades by pulling on their tips and then aligning them 90 deg to the fly bar...
Page 13 Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup Tighten the screws that hold the blades to the rotor head, not too much, just a little, The blades should be able to move but should not fall/slide out of position under their own weight. If the blades are loose they do right themselves by centrifugal force but I do not like the vibration it causes until they are aligned Now rotate the whole rotor head assembly by turning the main gear through 360 degrees.
Page 14: Part V Adjust The Balance With The Battery
User Manual If it does not re-adjust the trims and fly bar paddles until it does. You might have to redo this a couple of times to get it right. If all is set up correctly and you let go of the heli, it should hang "reasonably" still in the air. If the heli does roll or yaw hard it is not set up right and you will never be able to fly it properly.
Page 15 Adjust the Balance with the Battery The following Picture show that the Balance is to far Back, and need to be adjusted forward. Move the battery forward to make the Heli hangs level. This can lead to a broken Tail rotor as soon as you try to lift up, due to the Heavy weight to the back.
Page 16: Part Vi Gyro Setting
User Manual Gyro Setting Adjustment- Centrifugal System. The helicopter is equipped with a Centrifugal (Gyro) System. This system compensates the rotary movements of the helicopter fuselage which arise through the rotating motor. The Helicopter remains stable in the desired light direction. This feature has to be adjusted before flying is commenced.
Page 17 Gyro Setting · Connect the Battery to the Helicopter and wait approx 2 seconds. Automatic setup is Carried out. · Hold the helicopter by the tail boom behind the landing gear. Increase the throttle and allow the main blades to start rotating at a fair pace where it feels as if it want's to lift off out of your hand.
Page 18: Part Vii Service And Cleaning
User Manual This will increase the speed at which the tail motor spins proportionally to the main rotor and will counter the tail's anti clock wise rotation. If the tails want's to swing clockwise turn the setup/mixing screw counterclockwise, this will reduce the speed at which the tail rotor spins proportionally to the main rotor.
Page 19: Part Viii Repair Hints & Tips
Repair Hints & Tips Repair Hints & Tips Tail Rotor Motor and Gears Here are a Few Images I took, to demonstrate how to assemble the Thunderbird RC Helicopter. Put the Small Capacitor Legs through the Little hole at the Back of the Tail Rotor Motor. Screw the Rail Rotor Motor to the Tail Holder.
Page 20 User Manual Solder the Wire to the Motor. Please note the Polarity. + (Red wire) - Black Wire. Add the Tail Rotor Gear to the Tail Fastening Sleeve Spindle. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 21 Repair Hints & Tips Add the Tail Rotor Blade, Spring, Washer and Plastic Tubbing to the Tail Fastening Spindle. The Tail Rotor Motor assembly are completed. Please note the Distance between the Motor and the Rotor Gear. Do not tighten to tight. Leave a Little cap between the Motor and the Gear. SERVOS Connect the Servo Tie Bars to the Servo Horn.
Page 22 User Manual Connect the Servos with the Screw supplied to the Main Frame Servo Holders Receiver, Speed control and Gyro Add the Speed Control and Receiver in the PCB Box. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 23 Repair Hints & Tips Connection Diagram for the Speed Control Gyro and Receiver is as Follows. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 24 User Manual Main Motor & Main Gear Add the Main Rotor Motor Give Out cove to the Main Motor. Be careful not to put the Cove over the Ventilation Holes on the Motor. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 25 Repair Hints & Tips Use the Supplied screws and screw the Main Motor to the Body Frame. Don't tighten them yet, because we need to align the Main Rotor Gear. Add the Main Shaft to the Main Motor Gear and Press in the Main Frame Body. Please make sure that the Bottom and Top bearings are fitted correctly, before press the shaft through the Main Frame hole.
Page 26 User Manual Pay attention to the clip that hold the Main Shaft in place at the Main Gear. I used a Little CA glue, after the pin is securely fitted. Also adjust the Main Motor that the Gear is not running to tight against the Main Gear.
Page 30 User Manual Loosen the Fly bar Blades and align the 0° Horizontal, and tighten them again. Balancing & Fitting the Main Blades © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 31 Repair Hints & Tips Use two Flat bottom glasses, and put the Main Rotor Blades with head Assembly on the bottom If the Blades hang to the one side,Use Electric Tape to balance the Blades. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 32 User Manual Slow cutoff and remove small pieces of tape and put the Blades back on the Glasses Once the Blades hangs 100% horizontal, it's balanced and ready to connect to your Helicopter. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 33 Repair Hints & Tips Ready to Go Once everything is checked and re-checked, you are ready to take your heli for a maiden light. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 34 User Manual Once again, check the Balance of the Heli (refer to: Adjust the Balances with the Battery) section on Balancing Tips. Extend the Transmitter (Radio) antenna to full length and switch on the transmitter. Please NOTE: Always make sure that the Channel 1 Throttle Position is set to 0%. Connect the Heli Battery to the Receiver and ESC units.
Page 35: Part Ix Explosion Drawing
Repair Hints & Tips And there we go..isn't this FUN!!!!!! Explosion Drawing © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 37 Individual Spares/Part List Part No Description Image Main Motor EH 1 EH 2 Rotor Head EH 3 Double Hole Tie Bar (Short) EH 4 Rotary Sleeve Spindle 3 x 6 x 2.5 mm EH 5 Main Rotor Ball Bearings (4) 2 x Rotor Head ©...
Page 38 User Manual Part No Description Image Internal Control Panel EH 6 EH 7 Double Hole Tie Bar (Long) EH 8 External Control Panel EH 9 Stabilizing Wing Beam EH 10 Internal Tilting Pan © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 39 Individual Spares/Part List Part No Description Image Single Hole Tie Bar EH 11 EH 12 Servo Hole Tie Bar EH 13 Stabilizing Blades Servo EH 15 Main rotor Motor Kit © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 40 User Manual Part No Description Image PCB Box Lid EH 16 EH 17 Framework EH 18 Casing(Canopy) EH 19 Battery EH 20 Foot Pole Support © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 41 Individual Spares/Part List Part No Description Image Main Shaft EH 21 EH 22 Driving Wheel Gear EH 23 Battery Holder EH 24 Casing Pole Support EH 25 Foot Pole Support © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 42 User Manual Part No Description Image Tail Stabling Wing EH 26 EH 27 Tail Fastening Sleeve spindle EH 28 Tail Rotor EH 24 Tail Rotor Gear Wheel 2 x 6 x 2 mm EH 30 Tail Rotor Ball Bearing © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 43 Individual Spares/Part List Part No Description Image EH 31 Tail Holder EH 32 Tail Motor Motor Kit EH 33 R144 IDF Receiver EH 45 CLC (II) Electron Timing EH 46 PG-03 Gyro © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 44: Part Xi Pp Joy
User Manual Part No Description Image EH 49 Training Frame EH 50 Tail Rotor Motor Give Out Cove EH 51 Main Rotor Motor Give Out Cove PP Joy This document describes how to install PPJoy on a new system. If you are installing PPJoy on Windows 2000 or XP, please make sure that: You are logged in as Administrator or another user with Administrative privileges on the local machine.
Page 45 PP Joy Please wait while the PPJoy installation prepares itself. It should only take a few seconds. The installer for PPJoy was created using Installer VISE from Mind Vision Software. For more information on Installer VISE, contact: Mind Vision Software 5901 North 58th Street Lincoln, NE 68507 Voice: (402) 323-6600...
Page 46 User Manual If you get this warning it means that the PPJoy setup application thinks your computer will not allow the installation of unsigned drivers. Please see the section Changing the Driver Signing settings for details. If you are sure your settings are correct, then press OK to continue with the installation.
Page 47 PP Joy This screen may contain important information in addition to the PPJoy documentation. Please read it carefully. Click on Next once you are done. This screen allows you to choose an installation directory for PPJoy. This is where the PPJoy documentation and source driver files will be kept.
Page 48 User Manual This screen allows you to select the Program Folder on the Start Menu where the PPJoy files will be installed. Accept the default folder (recommended) or choose a new folder. Click on Next. This screen confirms that setup is ready to start the PPJoy installation. Click on Next. This dialog shows the installation progress.
Page 49 PP Joy The PPJoy setup is complete. Press Close to finish setup. Changing the Driver Signing Windows 2000 and XP have a new feature that controls the installation of unsigned device drivers. There are three settings for Driver Signing: Block: This will prevent the installation of unsigned drivers. ·...
Page 50 User Manual They may impair your system performance. It is up to you to decide if you want to take the risk or not.] First, locate the My Computer icon on the desktop or in Windows Explorer. Right-click on the My Computer icon and select Properties.
Page 51 PP Joy Windows 2000 After clicking on the Hardware tab your screen should look like one of the two screens shown above. Now click on Driver Signing. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 52 User Manual Make sure that either Warn or Ignore is selected. Then click on OK. Opening the PP Joy Application Applet This document describes how to open the PPJoy Control Panel applet. The PPJoy applet is used to add and remove joysticks that are plugged into the Parallel Port. ©...
Page 53 PP Joy First, click Start on the Taskbar, then Settings and finally on Control Panel. This will open the Control Panel. © <2005> ... RCE...
Page 54 User Manual In Control Panel, double-click on the Parallel Port Joysticks icon (shown highlighted). This will open the PPJoy Control Panel applet. This is the main PPJoy applet window. From this screen you will add and remove joysticks that are connected to the Parallel Port.
Page 55 PP Joy Follow the Instructions on How to Install PP Joy. Plug the Serial Interface Received with your Heli into a Free Serial port on your Computer. DO NOT PLUG IT INTO THE RADIO (TX) YET!!! Go to Start, Control Panel, Parallel Port Joysticks. Click on ADD ©...
Page 56 User Manual Select at the Parallel Port Drop Dow, Virtual Joysticks and Press ADD, and the DONE Your Operating System will Install the Necessary Software for the Virtual Joystick. Continue Installation until Done. When Complete with the Driver Installation go to Start, Programs, Parallel Port Joystick and PPJOYCOM, to Execute the Com Driver for the Joystick.
Page 57 PP Joy Select the Serial Port, and Select THEN HUA 5 BYTE PROTOCOL at the Serial Protocol Drop down. Note the Message "Waiting for Stream Init..." Plug the Connector into your Radio TX. Do not Switch the Radio ON. NOTE: The Message will change to Read Serial Stream... if the connection is successful. If not, remove the Cable and try a Different COM port.
Page 58 User Manual Remember to Calibrate you TX before lying attempts. Press the OK Button. You are ready to fly the Heli on FMS. Enjoy. © <2005> ... RCE...