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Estes Command 'Copter
Hello All,
Did anyone here ever see, build, and/or fly an Estes Command 'Copter? If so, what were your experiences with and impressions of it? This .020 glow plug engine-powered, F/F (Free-Flight) helicopter kit was offered only in the 1975 Estes catalog (on the back cover, see: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...s75/75estb.html ), and it may rival the Astron Invader boost-glider as the rarest Estes kit. It was actually a scale-like model helicopter, resembling the Hiller HJ-1 (see: http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/hiller_hj-1.php and http://www.aerospaceweb.org/questio...ers/q0141.shtml ). Since Estes is now becoming a purveyor of fine R/C electric helicopters, an updated electric version of the Command 'Copter (the motor run time could be controlled by a timer) would make a good and inexpensive F/F helicopter. Many thanks in advance for your help!
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#2
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I don't know a thing about helicopters, and I'll prove it by asking the following question: How did the Estes Command Copter achieve yaw control? Obviously it didn't use a tip jet.
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Rich Holmes Camillus, NY Secretary / newsletter editor Syracuse Rocket Club http://richsrockets.wordpress.com |
#3
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There were a couple of those for sale on Ebay within the last 5 years.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!! Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't ! Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY. ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC ! |
#4
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Quote:
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR Last edited by blackshire : 04-20-2014 at 09:31 AM. |
#5
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Quote:
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
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I seem to remember one of them included a NIB Cox Pee Wee 020 which was the Estes suggested engine.
It went for really ignorant money of somewhere near $200. The other one was also NIB, sans the 020...I'm pretty sure that one sold for under $75. I know it went for under $100. It would be interesting to see how one of there things or a Cox Sky Copter would fly with a screaming TeeDee 020 at about 27,000 RPM.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!! Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't ! Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY. ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC ! |
#7
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I own and flew the Cox Airwolf I got back in the late 80's when it came out. I flew it a few times then put it away knowing it would become a collectors item.
It flew lousy and I broke a landing gear that I need to replace.
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If it flies, I can crash it! |
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Quote:
What is/are the difference(s) between the "Pee Wee" and "Tee Dee" versions of the .020? Is the latter a "souped-up" version of the former? Also: I once had a Cox Bell 47G Free-Flight helicopter (a "semi-profile" model of the helicopter type seen on the TV show M*A*S*H, in a yellow-orange civilian decor scheme), which was powered by an .020 engine (I don't know if it was a "Pee Wee" or a "Tee Dee" .020). It never could develop *quite* enough thrust to rise into the air, but since we lived 4,000+ feet above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia at the time, the thinner air at that altitude may have kept it from developing enough power to fly. In addition: Not long after that, I noticed that the Cox Bell 47G model ceased to be available, and all of Cox's subsequent Free-Flight helicopters were powered by the more powerful .049 engines, so I guess other folks also had problems with the .020-powered Bell 47G models. Estes' Command 'Copter helicopter had a larger-diameter (24.5") rotor with wider-chord blades than the 19.5" diameter rotors on the Cox helicopters, so it may have flown just fine with an .020 engine.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR Last edited by blackshire : 04-20-2014 at 07:56 PM. |
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Quote:
My Cox Bell 47G was quite heavy for its size, which was no doubt part of why its .020 engine couldn't quite lift it (our 4,000'-plus altitude in the mountains was likely another factor), and I imagine your Cox Airwolf model is also heavy for its size.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR Last edited by blackshire : 04-20-2014 at 07:59 PM. |
#10
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The Cox Tee-Dee series engines are all very high performance front-rotary valve (crankshaft) induction that turn high RPM.
The PeeWee 020 is a shrunken version of the low-performance babe-bee 049.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!! Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't ! Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY. ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC ! |
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