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 18th to 21st May, 2006.
Futaba's displayed the T12Z which unofficially debuted at the 2006 Nuremberg Toy Fair. The T12Z is the scale down version of the T14MZ for a lower price. Major features of the Futaba T12Z are as follows:
The T12 is what a "No frills" T14MZ should be, with all the flashy "maybe no use" functions of the T14 taken out. Frankly speaking, the T12Z is a more logical option to get than the T14. Me being a T14 user, I would get the T12Z instead if I know Futaba would introduce this.... Who wants the .wma player of the T14 when I have my Apple IPod 60G? The T12Z comes in two packages, one for airplane, and another one for helicopters, each with difference in switch arrangement on the transmitter and type of servo included. However, even with the tone down, the T12Z doesn't come cheap. One set of T12Z that comes with 4 servos is set at a list price of a whopping 199,500yen (About US$1,900-)!
In additional to the T12Z, Futaba also displayed the FX40, which is the "European tray type radio" version of the T14MZ. Only 100 sets of the FX40 will be available to Japanese market, and each of them fetch a "hair raising" price of 346,500yen (About US$3,100-)!
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| Futaba T12Z | Futaba T12Z display screen and control |
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| Futaba FX40 | Futaba FX40 |
OS released two new engines on this show. First is the OS91RZ-H Ring, which is a rear exhaust version of their OS91SZH. There are two versions of the RZ-H, one with the blue color "Hyper" head, and another version has a low profile heatsink called OS91RZ-H DH Ring. Below is the technical specifications of the OS91RZH Ring:
Displacement: 14.95cc
Normal RPM range: 2,000-16,000 RPM
Output: 3.3ps/15,000RPM
Weight: 618g/623g (DH)
List price: 35,700yen (About US$330-)
The second new engine is update version of the OS91SZ-H, named the OS91SZ-H PS-Hyper. The Hyper version adds a mechanical fuel pump to the original OS91 SZ-H for better fuel supply. The list price of the OS91SZ-H PS Hyper is 43,050yen (About US$400-)
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| OS 91 RZ-H Ring Hyper | OS 91 RZ-H Ring Hyper |
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| OS 91 SZ-H PS Ring Hyper | OS 91 RZ-H DH Ring |
The definite limelight at the Hirobo booth is their new Lepton EX electric helicopter, and the "upgrade to the max version of the Sceadu" Sceadu Evolution EX.
The Lepton line of helicopter basically is based on the so call "15 engine" size helicopter, which according to Hirobo staffs would achieve the best performance at the most compact package deemed necessary. It is targeted to 3D flying, with power comparable to a 50 class nitro engine, in a small package. The Lepton line will have different packages, and the first one to come out of the market is the Lepton EX kit, which is a full option version of the Lepton airframe minus the electronics. Below are some basic dimension of the Lepton EX:
Length: 937mm
Height: 281mm
Main rotor diameter: 955mm
Weight: 1.6Kg
Gear ratio: 3.92:1:4 or 3.61:1:4
Compatible motor: 890KV Continuous current 45A Max 60A
Compatible ESC: Max 60A
Compatible battery: Lithium polymer battery 3,200mah 4S or 3S
The Lepton EX also features the following designs:
To power the Lepton EX, Hirobo offers a set of brushless motor with ESC that has BEC function, and their own lithium battery pack and charger. According to Hirobo, the LEX power pack (Hirobo# 0304-002) includes a 10 turns, 890Kv, brushless, out runner style motor with cooling fan, operating at 45A and a ESC that could operate max at 60A with BEC function. The Hirobo LEX battery pack (Hirobo# 0304-001) includes a 4s 3,200mah lithium polymer battery pack and a compatible DC charger that includes automatic cell balancing functions. The list price of the LEX power pack is 51,450 yen (About US$480-) and the LEX battery pack is 44,100 yen (About US$400-). All the components of the power and battery packs are separately available.
For a detailed test report of the Hirobo Lepton EX, please visit my other page.
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| Hirobo Lepton EX | Hirobo Lepton EX |
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| Hirobo Lepton EX | Hirobo Lepton EX main frame |
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| Hirobo Lepton brushless motor | Hirobo Lepton 4S LiPo pack and charger |
For years, I have been preaching Hirobo to make a "RG" version of the Sceadu, because I had very good experience flying my RG in the past. Now my prayers got answered! The Sceadu Evolution EX basically is a full upgrade version (The RG?) of the Sceadu Evolution. Besides all the upgrade parts currently available to the Sceadu Evolution, the EX includes new items as follows:
All of the above parts are separately available for existing Sceadu owner to upgrade their Sceadu in "piecemeal". These parts makes the performance of the Sceadu EX into a league that is at the same level of the top 91 contest grade helicopter. In fact, the Sceadu EX looks like a "miniaturised" Freya EX II! Together with a Blackshark 50 fuselage and a YS50 I could not see the Sceadu EX would be inferior to its bigger brothers. The Sceadu EX definitely defines the top of all 50 class machines! The Sceadu Evolution EX comes with two different versions, the HPM and the SWM versions. The HPM version list for 199,500yen ((About US$1,730-) and the SWM 189,000yen (About US$1,650-). So to achieve the top status for a 50 class it sure comes with a hefty price tag! I would imagine bringing the Sceadu Evolution EX to the field, like a sexy sport car, sure attracts lots of attentions!
Check my page later for a report of the Sceadu Evolution EX which I am going to bring one back with me for this trip!
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Sceadu Evolution EX |
Sceadu Evolution EX main frame |
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Sceadu EX HPM control |
EX accessories |
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Carbon tail fins |
Carbon underguard and engine mount |
For other things, there is the very cool looking Hirobo tools set. This tool sets consists of 12 pieces of tools as follows:
All tools features Japanese extra hard tool grade machined shafts, and handles machined with T6061 aircraft grade alloy.
These tools are so cool that their handle are machined in aluminum, anodized in Hirobo blue color, but the core of the handle are hollow to lighten the weight, while at the back there is a rotational pad for comfort of pressing onto the tools by force. On the handle there are three flat spaces, with two occupied by Hirobo logos and descriptions, while one left blank. Hirobo people intentionally design like that so that each pilot could have their names engraved on this blank space to personalize their tools. In fact, Hirobo might consider custom orders from individual to laser engrave their names on their tools at extra cost, but they are not sure whether to offer this service or not as they do not know the demand for this service. So if you are interested in one set of this tools, with your name laser engraved, contact your local Hirobo importer so they will push Hirobo to do it! Before these tools, only the car guys have their "professional look" tools, now we helicopter pilots have "one uped" the car guys with these nicely looking while strong and practical tools. They are "must haves" for any serious helicopter pilots!
To complement the new OS rear exhaust engine, Hirobo showed a new box type muffler. This muffler features low profile, while inner design is a real "muffler" design that not only retains the power of the engine, but also reduce noise level. I have tested one of these muffler prototype muffler and I could say their power is comparable to most 91 class competition grade mufflers available in the market now like Funtech, Hatori and Muscle Pipe! Now what I would imagine is to use this box muffler with the OS rear exhaust engine to take benefit of the extra power of the rear exhaust engine! For scale, this muffler enables the use of the rear exhaust engine, and this solves the problems of space problems that the side exhaust 91 class engines has in the past.
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Hirobo booth |
Rear exhaust muffler |
JR did not display any new helicopters.
Their booth proudly displayed the F3C World Champion trophy and the Taiwan 3D Champion trophy, together with the JR Sylphide and the JR Venture of Hiroki Ito, and lots of photos of Hiroki Ito like wallpaper.
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. They also displayed a prototype scale body of Bell 412 for the Parkmite.
Also displayed is an updated version of their Voyager E, the Super Voyager E. The "Super" version comes standard with carbon main frames and some aluminum upgrade parts.
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| JR Parkmite | Bell 412 body for Parkmite |
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| JR Super Voyager E | ¡@ |
The rumored 16 channels radio to replace the 10X is still not displayed.....
Once again JR hope to reclaim the leadership in the gyro scene. They displayed the prototype gyro G8000T and the 8800G servo. The unit was encased inside a glass shell, with rotational table. The technical details of this prototype gyro is unknown, but just by looking at the display unit, this new gyro has a detachable control panel ("Gyro Editor") for setting up of the gyro, and the gyro sensor is quite big in size. Words on the gyro sensor reads "Dual sensors" so maybe that's why the sensor body is so big. Also noticed is the new SX8800G servo that uses heavy shielded connection cable like the SX8000G in the past.
Also released are two new digital servos, the DS8711 and DS8715. These servos features FET control for faster response or high torque. Specification of these servos as follows:
| Specifications | DS8711 | DS8715 |
| Dimension (mm) | 35X21X40 | 35X21X40 |
| Speed (second@60 degrees) | 0.19 | 0.09 |
| Torque (kg/cm) | 25 | 12 |
Both these servos list for 16,800yen (About US$140-)
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| G8000T gyro | G8000T gyro editor |
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| SX8800G servo | DS8711 and DS8715 digital servo |
Kyosho
Kyosho have two new helicopters on display. Both these new helicopters, although stilled named as Caliber, but already much different and deviated very much from the original Caliber design of Mr. Makato Kunii...
The first one to show was the Caliber 3, which is a completely new design to replace the Caliber 30, design for a 32-37 size engine. The Caliber 3 was designed for the entry level in mind. The Caliber 3 had plastic main frame that looks very much like the old Concept for the back, but the front side is very pointy that looks near to the point of hideous! The drivetrain retains 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. What's "special" about the Caliber 3 is the various use of plastic parts, and I mean really too much! All the pushrods are in plastic, and the whole flybar are two pieces of blade type plastics. I touched these plastic parts and feel that although they are very elastic that could be durable during crash, but they are too soft for real use! Especially the servo control plastic pushrods, where the longest pair is nearly one feet away from the servo to the control point, bent, I could not see how this system could provide a good foundation for control?! I would think this setup might even contribute to the hardness of a newbie pilot because they are constant in struggle with all the slops and slacks in the control system! The Caliber 3 shown use MMS (Mechanical mixing) for control, whether EMS is an option is unknown. The list price of the Caliber 3, assembled with OS32SX-H engine, is at 42,000yen (about US$400).
The second one is an upgrade version of their EP Caliber 400, the Caliber 400XP The XP version comes standard with carbon main frames and some aluminum upgrade parts. The list price of the EP Caliber 400 XP is at 37,800yen (about US$350).
Also shown is the Caliber 90 Version 06, which is an update version of the Caliber 90. The main frame now does away the box design of the original Caliber, but uses stacked carbon frames with some of the original "box pieces" as cross members to link up. Control system is by 140 degrees ECCPM, with the elevator control point now on the back. The list price of the Caliber 90 Version 06 is at 336,000yen (about US$3,100-).
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| Caliber 3 | Caliber 3 plastic flybar and rotor head |
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| Caliber 3 plastic pushrod controls | Caliber 3 plastic canopy |
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| Caliber 90 Version 06 | Caliber 90 Version 06 main frame |
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| EP Caliber 400 XP | EP Caliber 400 XP main frame |
This concludes my report for the show.