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Click the mailbox above to send an e-mail to Jason Chan Copyright 2000 by Jason Chan, Hong Kong
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09/2000 Tokyo Hobby Fair
The Tokyo 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 21st to 24th September, 2000. Due to the new F3C rules effective 2002, which engine displacement limit has been increased, this show featured a lot of prototype 91 machines in which 91 size engines are retrofitted in 60 class helicopters. Now, let's take a look as to what's new and different.
Click on the image for a larger image. Futaba
Once again Futaba has joined forces with OS and share one booth together. Futaba does not display any new products this time. The GY601 gyro, debuted on the May 2000 Shizuoka Show, will be officially be on the Japanese market on November. It featured extremely fast refresh rate (760MS) which Futaba claims is the fastest refresh rate being used for any gyros in the market. A new version of AVCS (Heading lock in Futaba terms) is being used that provides strong hold to the tail and smooth operation. The circuitary of the gyro used surface mount technology that makes it very low profile. The GY601 required the use of S9251 digital servo due its high refresh rate. Price for the GY601 is listed approximately at US$380- and at US$500- with the S9251 servo, and the S9251 servo listed at about US$230-. One special thing about the S9251 servo is that its body is made of machined aluminum instead of the usual plastic and Futaba said it act as heatsink for the motor and internal circuitary. Specification of the S9251 as follows: Dimension: 40X20X36.6mm Weight: 57g Speed: 0.07sec./60 degrees Torque: 3.7kg/cm
OSOS displayed a new engine, OS61SZ-H, which is prototype test bed for a new 61 and maybe a 91 sized engine. Of notice on the SZH is that new engine body and carburetor is used. The crankcase of the SZH is beefier than the one used in SXH. As to the carburetor, the overall size of the SZH carb is about 10% larger than the 60B through my eye judgement. OS did not release any technical data of the SZH.
Hirobo
For Hirobo, the limelight is still on their Eagle Freya, entry level 60 class helicopter. There are some upgrade parts for the Freya displayed as follows :
Also displayed is a Freya prototype fitted with an OS91 engine. Basic change on the mechanics of the 91 Freya is just different gear ratio and the use of a special muffler.
For scale helicopters, there are no new release from Hirobo, except for some upgrade parts for the Panther, Tiger and Dauphin. There is a new 4 blade metal head, to be used with a special metal swashplate and FRP blades, which all of them available separately. On display also is the optional on-board starter.
Hirobo also showed an upgrade version of their GPH346, called GPH50. The GPH50 comes with some metal G-parts as standard, and with parts that fit the new OS50SXH engine. There is one curious creature that settle quietly besides the GPH50, without any description other than a board that said "prototype", what is it??? From the first look it should be a 30 class machine, but its nothing that I've even seen produced by Hirobo!
A chat with Hirobo's official reveals that its the new Shuttle! Dubbed "The Raptor Killer", this new Shuttle has all the things that make it earn its nickname. Here are some features of the new Shuttle judging from the display item:
Hirobo did not say when the new Shuttle will be released, and even did not mention if it will be produced. Judging from the molding of the new plastic parts on the "prototype" Shuttle I guess Hirobo could produce it anytime, cause they would not have invest on the expensive plastic molds to produce just a prototype. However, Hirobo official did say that if it is produced the price ceiling would be at the same price of the Shuttle now being produced. Watch out, Raptor, you might meet your predator later!
HPI Helicopter Division
HPI, a r/c cars manufacturer with great success, entered the r/c helicopter market by buying the whole line of Kalt helicopter. Kalt seized to exist as a Sanwa operation after HPI taken over. For the moment, HPI continues to produce the whole line of offerings from Kalt, just changing the names and stickers. The only new item on display, other than the familar Kalt helicopters in HPI disguise, is a prototype 36 engine produced by them. However, I guess HPI would come up with more new and exciting products. Glad to see a new manufacturer getting into r/c helicopter manufacturing, and I wish HPI all the best!
JR Propo Helicopter Division
In the middle of JR booth is a netted area that JR used to display the flying of their EP Voyager.
The EP Voyager now has a new Bell 230 fuselage, but sadly the retracts would not work. JR showed the Voyager 30, 50, GS, a new GSR and a new 50 Dual. The Voyager 50 Dual (Dual, according to JR, means dual purpose for F3C and 3D flying) is a special version of the Voyager 50 with some upgrade parts comes standard, and the Voyager GSR is a version of the Voyager Gas equipped with a revised landing gear that could be used to mount a camera, and an extension of the FRP fuselage. Also on display is some new upgrade parts and fuselage for the Voyager line of various sizes. There is also the IMZ RV50S engine, together with a matching muffler. Price for the IMZ 50 is a whopping US$350-! Gone from the display is the IMZ60 engine, and according to JR officials due to the new F3C rules they might instead introduce a new engine the size of a 91 engine instead.
Due to the new F3C rules, most manufacturers are busy prototyping new machines. While JR did not show their prototype machine (Mush have hidden it somewhere...), JR showed a new fuselage that is designed for the new rule. The new fuselage, called the Galaxy, has the whole helicopter encased in order to shelter noise from the mechanics. The Galaxy will be available either by itself (listed for US$380-) or bundled with a limited version of Superio (listed for US$2,600-). There is also a 50 sized Galaxy fuselage available for the 50 class machines (listed for US$320-).
JR Propo Radio DivisionJR Radio Division showed two new gyros, G460T and G410T. Destined for small and electric helicopters, these gyros GY410 featured small footprints (24,5X30X30mm), and difference between the two is just that GY460T featured remote gain settings with is adjustable from the transmitter, and the GY410T has only single rate gain setting that could not be adjusted from the transmitter. Together with these gyros, a new servo NES810G is also released to provide an economy alternative for tail control. Price for the NES810G1 is listed approximately at US$110-. Specification of the NES810G as follows: Dimension: 34.5X19X38mm Weight: 47g Speed: 0.1sec./60 degrees Torque: 2.4kg/cm There is also a new packaging of the PCM10X set with four 8300 Super servos.
Kyosho
Kyosho does not have many new parts to display for their helicopter division. On display are some upgrade parts for their Caliber 60, and a prototype Caliber 90 that is fitted with a OS91 engine and different gear ratio. However, of interest is Kyosho's display of two additions to their very successful ducted fan jet planes, a F16 with upgraded motor power, and a F86 sabre powered with a 15 size nitro engine.
K&SOnce again, the K&S booth displayed mostly their planes and boats, with helicopter parts quietly sitting at a side. Of interest is a muffler manufactured for OS91 engines.
YSNot to be left out, YS displayed a new engine that is designed for the 2002 F3C rules, the YS80ST. Displacement of the YS80 is 80 size, different from the regular 91 engine. Based on the YS61ST2, the changes on the YS80 is just larger cylinder, piston, connection rod, and carburetor. YS did not post the power output of the YS80ST. Price for the YS80 is just about US$20 higher than that of the YS61ST2.
Copyright 2000 by Jason Chan of Hong Kong. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication of all or any part of this page is prohibited.
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