Sponsored by Hirobo Limited
The Shizuoka Hobby Fair is one of the two bi-annual hobby trade fair in Japan. This fair previews the latest products that will be released in the coming year. This particular fair spanned four whole days from 13th to 16th May, 2004.
Futaba released a new set of radio targeted to the entry level users, the seven channels FF7. The FF7 features the same dial control as seen with the FF9, but gone are the FF9's graphical display to save cost. It comes as airplane and helicopter package set. Packaged with four S3003 servos, the list price of the FF9CHP is at 53,340yen (Around US$490-).
Also displayed in Futaba booth is a prototype digital servo, the S9255, which is targeted for helicopter use and stated to replace the S9252. Specification of the S9255 is as follows:
Dimension: 40X20X36.6mm
Weight: 50g
Speed: 0.16sec./60 degrees
Torque: 9.0kg/cm
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| Futaba FF7 | Futaba 9255 servo |
OS released two new engines on this show.
First is the OS50SXH Ring Hyper, which is an update of their very successful OS50SXH. The main difference between the regular OS50 SXH and the Hyper version is the new engine heatsink which is said to have different combustion chamber design that yields more power. Below is the technical data of the OS50SXH Ring Hyper:
Displacement: 8.17cc
Normal RPM range: 2,000-20,000 RPM
Output: 1.9ps/17,000RPM
Weight: 406g
List price: JPY24,675 (About US$200-)
The second new engine is the long awaited OS37SZH, which is an replacement of the OS32SXH. From the look, the 37 SZH is not just a "bored out" OS32, but a completely new design with beefed up crankcase. The carburetor, 20M, have a very big air intake which is similar in size of the OS 50. Below is the technical data of the OS37SZH:
Displacement: 6.07cc
Normal RPM range: 2,000-21,000 RPM
Output: 1.4ps/18,000RPM
Weight: 293g
List price: JPY18,375 (About US$140-)
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| OS 50 SX-H Ring Hyper | OS 37 SZ-H Ring |
On the entrance of Hirobo booth showed the XRB SR, which is a radio controlled version of their very successful Mini Lama XRB. (X "Cross" Rotation Blades) This wireless version XRB is now at production stage. The wireless XRB is using the same mechanics of the wire controlled version, now incorporated a receiver and a battery pack for wireless control. Besides the electronics, some part of the rotor head is also changed to provide better flying capability. There are two packages of the wireless XRBs, one could be used with any 5 channels radio, and another package comes with a transmitter. Power is from a lithium polymer battery pack underneath the XRB. Flight time is around 15-18 minutes on a full charge, which is quite impressive. List price of the XRB SR is at JPY52,290 (About US$460-) for the set with transmitter, and at JPY45,990 (About US$390-) for the version without transmitter.
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XRB SR with transmitter |
XRB SR rotor head |
On display are the World Champion Eagle 3 WC together with the FAI F3C World Championship trophy and the 2003 Japanese National Championship trophy. Besides the Eagle 3 WC, Hirobo showed a new package of their very good selling Freya, the Freya Super II. The Freya Super II is based on the plastic Freya mechanics, but includes some part of the Eagle 3 WC. Below are what makes the Freya Super II special:
Special edition YS 91 engine, with heat sink anodized in gold color
SSR-VII rotor head (The rotor head of Eagle 3 WC)
Funtech HN-90F YS muffler
Push-pull pitch lever
Eagle 3 clutch hub
600cc fuel tank
680mm EX FRP main blade
The Freya Super II list for JPY231,000- (About US$1,950-) and is a limited production item.
For scale helicopters, Hirobo showed three new scale helicopters. First of all are the Vertol and Chinook that are based on the old Vertol that Hirobo released long time ago. Both the new Vertol and Chinook shared the same mechanics and it is a completely new design that uses 50 size engine. Of special is a electronic control mixer box and a 3 axis gyro system that does all the necessary mixing on control, and provide stability. I actually saw both flew in Hirobo factory, and I must say they now could fly and hover quite well. Another new item is the Airwolf 60.
Hirobo also showed other products of interest. Once again the both "Executive Line" of products, the Big Bell 430 and the Volvo Penta drive. Both are on-order basis, and come with a very big sticker price. There are also a line of die-cast display helicopters and a new line of tool bags that resembles a "doctor's outpatient bag"
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Eagle 3 WC and Freya Super II |
Vertol and Chinook |
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Big Bell 430 |
Volvo Penta out-drive unit |
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Hirobo tools |
Hirobo die-cast display helicopters |
Hidden in a room of Hirobo booth is the Ruediger Feil version Freya Twister, which is like the European version of the X-Spec. This version of Freya's main frame is similar to the US's X-Spec, with plastic upper and carbon lower frames. The rotor head is based on the plastic Freya head, with some modification that dial its performance more for 3D. The paddles that comes with the Twister are carbon made with cool looking "3D" words etched on the paddles. The canopy is made of fiberglass. Like the X-Spec, the Freya Twister is only available for European market.
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Hirobo Freya Twister |
Twister rotor head |
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3D paddles |
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JR did not display any new helicopters.
Once again they display their their new "mini" class electric helicopter, the Parkmite. JR designed the Parkmite as "the Cadillac of mini electric helicopter", as everything of it is either metal or carbon. The main frame is a one piece machined aluminum item that encased everything, much like the Sylphide. The rotor head, swashplate and washout are all metal. A set of carbon main and tail blades are included. Power is transferred from the engine to a very big gear than via a belt to the tail, and it looks like a Henseleit in miniature.... Control is through 120 degree 3 servo ECCPM. While JR did not demostrate the flight of the Parkmite at the show, I think it should have a very good performance for 3D. The Parkmite is priced at 49,800yen (About US$461-)
Another item that JR display is their Airskipper, in both 30 and 50 size. Different from the old version which is ECCPM control, this new version uses traditional mechanical mixing control.
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| JR Airskipper 50 | JR Airskipper 50 description |
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| JR Airskipper main frame | JR Parkmite |
For radio, JR did not show many new item. The only new item of interest is the X2610, which is targeted to the entry level users.
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| X2610 |
Kyosho
Kyosho did not have any new helicopter models. The "so called" new model is a prototype Caliber GS, which is a gas power variament of their Caliber. Also on display is the Caliber EP ready set.
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| Caliber EP ready set | Caliber GS prototype |
K&S displayed their planes and some upgrade parts for JR line of helicopters. Of interest is a light weight main frame set and a 12mm main shaft set for the JR Sylphide. With these two parts, one could finally build a complete Sylphide helicopter with K&S upgrade parts, but that's going to be at sky high price.....
Also on display is a new muffler from K&S. While I do not have a clue as to muffler design, this K&S new muffler is so special that K&S display a cut out version to show the construction of the muffler, and emphasize that this design is patent pending with big words...
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| K&S booth | K&S upgrade parts for JR Sylphide |
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| K&S muffler | Construction of K&S muffler |
In the YS booth are two engines that what I think are the limelight helicopter products of this show....
First there is the new YS 91 ST-R, which is based on the YS 91 ST2. The STR is a minor upgrade version of the YS 91 ST2. YS changed the color of the head sink of the STR to red color, and add an in-flight mixture control on the carburetor.
However, the most interesting product is the YS 50St engine. This 50 size engine features the performance proven pump system of YS. While there is no output figures quoted, according to my previous experience with YS helicopter engine, this new 50 size engine would set a new performance standard for other engine manufacturers to follow.
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| YS 91 STR | YS 91 STR |
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| YS 50 ST | YS 50 ST |
This concludes my report for the show. Thank you for visiting and don't forget to write to me for any comment!