Thinking about getting an Eco 8 ?

[jerrysimon]

Hi guys,

I mostly post in the Piccolo forum but am thinking of getting an ECO 8.

Been flying my Piccolo in Hover incl nose in and slow FF for about 6 monts now. Want something a bit bigger to do the same outside and perhaps slow circuits ? The alternative looks like a Logo 10 but that is out of my price range as is a brushless set up.

This is in my price range and I can use many of my spare bits from FW birds incl my Naro servos, spare RX and my PG-03 gyro.

I also have a FF8. So the question is which motor and what batteries. I notice the Hurricane 650 from Overlander gets a good write up. Will I need 8 or 10 sanyo cells (2400mha nicd) for this ? Also which ESC Jeti 350 ? I notice overlander also do Kontronic Sun 3000. These only go up to 30amps discharge should I be looking at a Jeti 500 or Sun 4000 ?

I reckon with my spare gear and this motor I can be in the air for about £180-£200.

Also presumably I need this free wheel hub as a minimum upgrade ? How much and where can I get one from ?

Been reading Malcolm's web page which provides some excellent info

I notice he mentions Inwood Models which I also use living in Cambridge UK.

Regards

Jerry

[Luxor]

Hi Jerry.
Sounds like you've got Eco8 bug.
The setup you've mentioned will work great on 8 cells.
I don't have any experience with Overlander, but from what Malcom has been through it sound like the perfect motor on 8 cells. The Jeti cont. will also work just fine, the one way is the only tuning part I highly recommend.
One of my 8s is totaly box stock and mechanicaly mixed, using the Ikarus brushed motor and Jeti cont. and can say it flies just fine, actually, better then fine, it flies great. I am using 8 CP1700s and can manage 5 to 7 mins. of flight time.
Aside from the usual Ikarus quirks, this is a great heli, heck, It must be as I have 4 of them.

[Malcolm]

Thanks for the kind comments on my web site - it makes all the effort worth it if someone finds it useful ;)

Most of the guys here are probably more experienced flyers, but these are my suggestions, based on my experiences.

Inwood models are excellent and often have the cheapest deals around. I purchased my JR 3810 TX from them for £250 inc charger and no other shop could beat the price at the time. The guys there are always willing to help and provide advice. I have also had excellent service from Skyline models, and several other suppliers, but I stear clear of Midland helicopters (this has been well documented elsewhere in this BB)

The Overlander Hurricane 650 motor is a nice motor with plenty of tourque, on my heli with MS carbon blades, 12t pinion and 8 cells (2100s) the power delivery is smooth and predictable. For £4:50 plus £1:50 for the suppression kit it's excellent value for money. Andy has likened the performance on 10 cells and 14t pinion to a 30 class heli. However there are stacks of 540 class motors aimed at the model car market which provide good alternatives to the Ikarus motors and start from £10. I also use the Jeti 350 (replaced the eco version after the crash I had back in May) and this is Ok although if your thinking of playing with motors you should note that the low voltage cut off (LVC) is higher on the Jeti controllers than most other. I am looking at getting one of the 65 amp controllers from Fly-electric (http://www.fly-electric.co.uk/esc/esc.htm) which are cheaper than any other ESC in its class

Suggested upgrades, well the first is the auto unit - this is a must. Others would be a rear tail servo mount and CF con rod to the tail, CF boom (not essential, but the stock boom is soooo flimbsy !)

If you have most of the equipment (servos, etc) then you should be able to get in the air for the budget you have set yourself.

Lastly if you live in Cambridge area, try contacting Mark (MRP tag on this BB) and come along to the next get to gether in Welwyn on Thursday - Mail me for full details

[joe_dejesus]

Has anyone tried the controller from Fly-electric? Seems low priced, I wonder how it compares to a 40-3 from jedy or hacker..

[jerrysimon]

Malcolm and others,

Thanks for the replies. I have contacted that ECO 8 seller highlighted on the Piccolo BBS, as £150 for a ECO 8 complete (less RX) seems like a good deal. Bit of a risk though without seeing it. He does claim that it's only been flown 10 times though ?

Let you all know what happens.

PS meant to add that I have met Mark :D at the Impington club near Cambridge when he and another guy from here Stefan bought their Piccolos along. Mark keeps inviting me along and I have let him down so far /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Can you send details about the meet this week incl map as I would love to come along and see your Pics and hopefully an Eco 8 which I understand one of you bring along sometimes /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Regards

Jerry

[MRP]

I'm listening you know !! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hope you can make it on Thursday Jerry - and I hope that ECO works out. We need more ECOs in Cambridge !!

See Ya (maybe !)

[andypocock]

How often do you Cambridge boys fly indoors? I rather fancy the idea of flying the Eco indoors.
This week is out but I'd be up for it next time.

[MRP]

Hi Andy,

We fly at Welwyn roughly every two weeks - usually on a Thursday night. Malcolm and TAW usually manage a bit of Eco hovering - the hall is not really big enough to do real circuits (although TAW tries /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

mail any of us if you want dates/directions etc.

Cheers

Mark

[andypocock]

Cheers Mark.

Let me know when the next one is and I'll try to get over.

[Malcolm]

Andy,
5th December - Last one this year. mail me if you want directions. As Mark stated the hall is OK for hovering an Eco 8 but not much else (or poss "straight" circuits if you get my drift !)

[andypocock]

I'll stick it in my diary. Formation hovering it is then!

[MRP]

Watch out for the Thermals above Malc's Eco motor and battery pack though - he likes to run them HOT !!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[TAW]

Mines nice and cool now, with my Hacker motor in.

Still needs the pitch curves setting up, so watch out /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Won't be doing any circuits, but may suffer from 'ceiling effect' if the motor has its way :D

See you all tomorrow/today/thursday ...

[Malcolm]

How else can I keep warm - who needs hot water bottles when a glowing battery pack does the job /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Should be interesting tonight - I'm trying a new Hybrid - 23 turn single wind armature from the Vision motor in the Ikarus performance motor can /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[jerrysimon]

Guys,

The S/H deal for £150 fell through /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif I have found another one where supposedly the guy is retired has flown it twice and and is selling in in fro £200 pounds /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I am tempted. Anyway also went along to Inwood models last night and the guy there (Dave ?) is a real blast /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif He had a brand new ECO 8 with all the bits on the counter incl 2 * 2400 cells less the motor for around £300. Was really trying to give me a knock down deal bless him. I managed to resist him, although did come out with a Fun Pic kit to build my second bird, until I see these ECO 8's tonight at Welwyn /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Maybe I should go for the kit as I guess part of the fun is the build ?

Regards

Jerry

[Dave58]

It's also easier to rebuild after your first major crash if you built it yourself /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[chucky]

Jerry
Just wondered why the S/H deal fell through?
I did know he wanted the buyer to collect

[Malcolm]

So Jerry, having met the crowd last night and seen a couple of Eco's in the air are you off to Inwoods this Saturday /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As you have the charger I would suggest doing a Deal with Dave for the kit, auto unit, servos, gyro, sport motor, battery packs and receiver - should set you back £250 ish and at least you'll have the funnof building it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Hooloovoo]

Malcolm,

I was going to order the standard Eco8 deal from SMC
http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/proddetail.asp?ProdID=392 for £359.99 but then I saw your last post!! On top of that I'd have to add the auto unit at £26.50 and a pinion gear for another £3.50.

You're saying I could get all of that (less the charger) from Inwoods for just £250???? A decent charger would only be another 60-70 or so wouldn't it? I know the stuff in the SMC deal isn't the best kit, what sort of stuff would you recommend I ask for? Hitec servos? 3xHS85 and an 81 for the tail??

I need to buy a TX as well... I was thinking of the JR378 for £175.

[jerrysimon]

Inwoods did a cost for me a couple of days ago it was more like £325 without a motor but included some better electrics and two 2400 bat packs.

I think they do a deal for about £285 which includes the motor and a couple of servos I think. The best thing is to phone them or go along and get them to do you a deal to the price you can afford.

I have decided to wait off buying a ECO 8 and have got myself a Piccolo Pro to tide me over :D

Chucky, the £150 deal fell through because some guy paid him directly into his bank or something. It was a good deal which I guess is why he sold it so quick.

Regards

Jerry

[smoothound]

I bought my Eco from SMC. If I was buying it again knowing what I know now I'd say get the deal but leave out the nicads/motor/charger as you've got one/maybe the speed contoller as well/ then get 1 or 2 10 cell Sanyo 2400 packs(£47-00) and a Hurricane motor(£4.50) from Overlander. If you know what you want then you could probably find better servos(HS81's) as well and just buy the basic kit and mix and match because you will soon enough anyway, especially after the first couple of mishaps...
There are plenty of UK based people here to say what is a good buy and what is bad /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Malcolm]

Hi,

Inwood are currently selling a deal of heli, gyro,4 servos, sport motor and nicad for £285. It makes no mention of speed controller, but it's worth giving them a call to see what is actually bundled.

My comments to Jerry was that he had seen a second hand eco on offer for £200, but as he already has a charger he would not need the one bundled in the deal, and for the additional £50 - £80 you could get a new one rather than a second hand one.

Here are some costings if you wanted to do things a bit cheeper: Eco 8 kit £116, servos £48, Gyro £30, buggy motor £12, battery pack £21, speed controller £30 - Total £257

[jerrysimon]

He's a man after my own heart our Malc. I think that's pretty much a bargain he has put together. I might even now go out and buy a Eco 8 as well :D

Jerry

[Bejay]

Check this out.......
ECO for sale (http://http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1921122752)

Buzz

[Hooloovoo]

Wonder what the reserve price is. The buy iy now price isn't that good at 350 since that deal can be bought brand new for 360!

[Bejay]

What...with a transmitter !! ??

Buzz

[Hooloovoo]

Yeah but the first thing you'd have to do is buy a decent TX to replace that nova 6....