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 12th to 15th May, 2005.
The T14 still retains the best attention in Futaba booth. This time Futaba showed a line of accessories for the T14, which includes different switches and a new CR2500 charger that could charge lithium batteries.
In this show, almost all radio manufacturers showed their synthesizer system for their radio. Synthesizer function enables the change of frequency with the need of changing crystal. After releasing the T14 with has synthesizer function, Futaba released a set of transmitter and receiver modules for their Super FF9. The list price of one synthesizer module set list for 34,650yen (around US$300) and each R319 DPS receiver list for 30,450yen (around US$270-).
The GY611 gyro is an updated version of their very successful GY601. It featured extremely fast refresh rate which Futaba claims is the fastest refresh rate being used for any gyros in the market. A new version of AVCS is being used that provides strong hold to the tail and smooth operation. The circuitry of the gyro used surface mount technology that makes it very low profile. A new servo S9256 must be used with the GY611 gyro due to the high refresh rate. The list price of the GY611 gyro+S9256 servo set is 56,490yen- (around US$500-)
The GY190 gyro is released specifically for the now very popular micro size EP helicopters. It features very small footprint and light weight. (Dimension:22.2X22.8X8.9mm Weight:6.7g)
OS does not have any new helicopter related products.
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| Futaba T14 | Futaba T14 option switches and accessories |
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| CR2500 Lithium battery charger | Futaba receivers with synthesizer function |
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| Futaba synthesizer module set | Futaba Super FF9 with synthesizer |
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| Futaba GY611 gyro with 9256 servo | Futaba G190 gyro |
The definite limelight at the Hirobo booth is their new Freya Evolution, the update version of the very successful Freya that has been introduced for over four years already. The Freya Evolution features the following new designs that is updated from the original Freya design:
All the above transcend the Freya into a more refined and precise helicopter. There are 2 different packages of the Freya Evolution, the 70 and 90. The only difference between the two is just the gear ratio only.
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Freya Evolution |
Freya Evolution |
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New rotor head |
New clutch bell, switch plate and elevator assy |
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600cc fuel tank |
New pitch control bellcrank |
On the entrance of Hirobo booth showed the new wired version XRB. This new version includes a digital wire controller that includes digital trim and easy change of control modes. Also seen at demonstration flight is a Bell 222 prototype body for the XRB.
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XRB with digital wire controller |
New XRB digital wire controller |
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XRB Bell 222 |
XRB product chart |
Other things on display includes Hashimoto's Eagle 3 WC that helped him win the 2004 Japanese Champion. Talking about Blackshark 3, Hirobo later will release a version of their Sceadu 50 that includes a completely painted Blackshark 50 body at the same pattern of Hashimoto's. However, this version of Hirobo Sceadu only available for Japanese market only and have no plans to export.
Also, Hirobo showed several versions of their Sceadu Evolution that includes one electric and one that includes OS's new 37 engine.
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Hirobo booth |
Hashimoto's Blackshark 91 |
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Bell 430 |
Sceadu EP |
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Sceadu 37 |
Hirobo parts |
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 52,290yen (About US$480-) for kit, and 69,090yen (About US$650) for ARF.
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. Also shown is a landing gear for photo taking.
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| JR Airskipper 30 | JR Airskipper 50 |
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| JR Camera Stand | ¡@ |
Like Futaba, JR also showed their synthesizer system for their radio. JR released a set of transmitter and receiver modules for their PCM10X and 9X. The list price of one synthesizer module set list for 34,650yen (around US$300) and each RS10DS receiver list for 24,150yen (around US$200-). Also shown is a computer program that enables JR transmitters to link to computer to change settings stored in the connected transmitter.
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| PCM10X PLL Synthesizer | JR transmitter computer link |
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Kyosho
Kyosho have two new helicopters on display.
The first one to show was the Caliber 5, which is a plastic version of the Caliber main frame design for a 50 size engine. The Caliber 5 was designed for the entry level in mind, and base very much on their Caliber 30. The Caliber 5 had plastic main frame, while retaining the drive train design of the Caliber series, where belt are used for power transmission from engine to drive train, and is well known for its silence in operation. Unlike the Caliber 30, the Caliber 5 could only use MMS (Mechanical mixing) for control. Also, the rotor head is not as versatile as the Caliber 30. The list price of the Caliber 5 is at 56,700yen (about US$500).
Also shown is the EP Caliber 400, which is an upgrade version of their EP Caliber. The main frame is stacked frame with carbon side frames, and all parts beefed up for aerobatics and 3D in mind. The list price of the EP Caliber 400 is at 34,650yen (about US$300).
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| Caliber 5 | Caliber 5 |
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| EP Caliber 400 | EP Caliber 400 accessories |
This concludes my report for the show. Thank you for visiting and don't forget to write to me for any comment!
