RCE Solutions Colco Thunderbird Concept II User manual

This material is Copyright (c) 2005
Colco Thunderbird Concept II
User/Operators Manual
RCE Solutions
Capetown, South Africa
Spares ordering and Questions
Visit: http://www.rchq.co.za

Table of Contents
Foreword 0
Part I Introduction 2
Part II Safety Instructions 2
Part III Know your Radio Transmitter 3
Part IV Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup 8
Part V Adjust the Balance with the
Battery 12
Part VI Gyro Setting 14
Part VII Service and Cleaning 16
Part VIII Repair Hints & Tips 17
Part IX Explosion Drawing 33
Part X Individual Spares/Part List 34
Part XI PP Joy 42
Index 0
IContents
© <2005> ... RCE

2User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
1Introduction
Dear Customer.
Thank you for purchase the Thunderbird Colco Concept II Mini RC Helicopter.
For more information about our product, please visit the RC Headquarters on the internet at
http://www.rchq.co.za
Online spares can be ordered and Question can be ask, and will be answered by our group of RC
Heli pilots.
A Online price list is available and spares can be ordered and will be available within 48 hours after
ordering if we have stock.
Enjoy the Thunderbird Mini RC Helicopter
RCE Solutions
Cape Town
South Africa
Cornelis van Rensburg ( Crashbandit )
2Safety Instructions
Read the operation instructions through completely before commissioning. This
include important information for correct operation.
We do not take any responsibility for personal injury or damage property caused by
incorrect handling or non-observance of the safety instructions!
To maintain this status en ensure safe operation, the user must comply with the safety
instructions and warnings contained in these instructions.
Do not leave chargers and connected battery's in operation unattended.
Chargers and accessories should be kept out of reach of children. It's not toys.
Avoid Charging operation under adverse ambient conditions. These can lead to damage to
sensitive electronics on the inside of the charger and thus to possible danger for the user. Adverse
ambient conditions are:
- Excessive humidity (> 75 % relative, condensing)
- Wetness and dampness, petrol
- Dust or combustible gasses, vapours or solvents
- excessive ambient temperature (> approx ±40°C)
When charging battery's, always observe the charging regulations and the battery manufacturer
concerned.

3Safety Instructions
© <2005> ... RCE
Never touch the charger with moist or wet hands. There is a risk of a fatal electric shock.
The charger is licensed for operation on main sockets with alternating current in the household
220-230 V ~/50-60hz and in dry rooms.
Remove the battery's from charging devices is not in use.
When operation a Model aircraft, (Heli or Airplane) you are responsible for actions and any
consequences.
Remote-controlled model aeroplanes are not toys. For this reason, children and young people
should always be supervised by adults when operating.
3Know your Radio Transmitter
RC Helicopters, come in different modes to fly in. Mode 1 and Mode 2. Personally I think mode 2 is
the easiest mode to fly any RC heli in. But that's a personal decision, and the mode that your
comfortable with, is the correct mode for you.
Very Important: Always switch on the Radio first and then connect the accumulator (Battery) to

4User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
the Heli. Make sure that the throttle is at 0% speed, (Lowest Position)
Let see the functions of the Channels (Sticks) on the Radio Transmitter
This is a Quick overview of the Functions for each channel on the radio. With the thunderbird, we
only use 4 Channels, due to the fact that the TB is a Fixed Pitch Heli. Channels 5 and 6 are not
occupied and are not required for flight operation.
Channel
1

5Know your Radio Transmitter
© <2005> ... RCE
The left hand control aggregate control the rotor speed proportionally in the vertical direction.
This is the only aggregate with a "Snap-in" feature for maintaining the rotor speed during flight.
Lever DOWN:
0% Speed
Lever UP :
100% Speed
Channel 2

6User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
The Left hand Control, controls the "Rudder feature" proportionally in the horizontal position.
This feature is necessary to turn the helicopter with the nose in the direction in which you wish to
fly. This takes place through the control of the small rear Tail Motor.
Lever to the Left:
Nose Left, Tail Right
Lever to the Right:
Nose Right, Tail Left
Channel 3

7Know your Radio Transmitter
© <2005> ... RCE
The Right hand Control, controls the "Nick feature" forward/Backwards in the Vertical position.
Lever UP: Helicopter nose Down and Flies forward.
Lever DOWN: Helicopter Nose up and fly Backwards
Channel 4

8User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
The Right Hand Control "Roll Feature" proportionally in the Horizontal position.
This feature is necessary for flying the helicopter side ways. The nose of the Heli still points
forwards.
Lever to the Left:
Helicopter inclines to the Left
Lever to the Right:
Helicopter inclines to the Right.
4Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup
Put the helicopter on a flat level surface
Fit the battery pack.

9Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup
© <2005> ... RCE
Turn Rotor head so that Blades are horizontal with the tail boom. Put your 2 fingers under the
screws that hold the rotor blades and lift the heli off the table.
Adjust the battery position until the heli lifts of evenly. (The Landing gear lifts of level with the
table)
Turn on transmitter (ALWAYS FIRST)
Plug in battery
Set the TX trims so that the Swash plate is level.
Make Sure it is level with the surface the heli is on.

10 User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
Loosen the screws on the fly bar paddles and align them to be exactly level.
Even a slight up or down angle on the fly bar paddles will affect the flying characteristic
Make sure the fly bar lengths are exactly the same on both sides of the rotor head. Slight length
differences
Will cause vibration
Straighten the rotor blades by pulling on their tips and then aligning them 90 deg to the fly bar
rod

11Heli Trim and Pre-Flight Setup
© <2005> ... RCE
Tighten the screws that hold the blades to the rotor head, not too much, just a little, The blades
should be able to move but should not fall/slide out of position under their own weight.
If the blades are loose they do right themselves by centrifugal force but I do not like the vibration
it causes until they are aligned
Now rotate the whole rotor head assembly by turning the main gear through 360 degrees. Ensure
the fly bar paddles remain exactly level through the entire rotation.

12 User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
If it does not re
-ad
just the trims and fly bar paddles until it does.
You might have to redo this a couple of times to get it right.
If all is set up correctly and you let go of the heli, it should hang "reasonably" still in the air.
If the heli does roll or yaw hard it is not set up right and you will never be able to fly it properly.
You will be fighting it every second you fly.
5Adjust the Balance with the Battery
A very important aspect for flying the Thunderbird Helicopter, is to make absolutely sure that the
Balance (Also refer to as the CG"Centre of Gravity) is set correctly on the Helicopter. Incorrect
Balancing can lead to a few problems when flying. Use the Battery to Adjust the Balance of the
Heli.
Set the Main Blades inline with the Tail Rotor Boom.
Lift the Heli in the Middle on the Fly bar beam with one hand.

13Adjust the Balance with the Battery
© <2005> ... RCE
The following Picture show that the Balance is to far Back, and need to be adjusted forward. Move
the battery forward to make the Heli hangs level. This can lead to a broken Tail rotor as soon as
you try to lift up, due to the Heavy weight to the back.
The next picture show the Ideal Balancing of the Helicopter. When holding at the Fly bar beam,
the Helicopter hangs horizontal in the Air.

14 User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
6Gyro Setting
Adjustment- Centrifugal System.
The helicopter is equipped with a Centrifugal (Gyro) System. This system compensates the rotary
movements of the helicopter fuselage which arise through the rotating motor. The Helicopter
remains stable in the desired light direction.
This feature has to be adjusted before flying is commenced. Proceed as follows.
·
Put the helicopter on a Level open Area.
·
Centre the channel 2 Trim slider (Move it to the centre position)
·

15Gyro Setting
© <2005> ... RCE
·
Connect the Battery to the Helicopter and wait approx 2 seconds. Automatic setup is Carried
out.
·
Hold the helicopter by the tail boom behind the landing gear.
Increase the throttle and allow the main blades to start rotating at a fair pace where it feels as if it
want's to lift off out of your hand.
Check to see that the tail motor starts spinning too.
Feel whether the helicopter is trying to except a sideways force on your hand. If the heli's tail
wants to swing anticlockwise, turn the gyro mixing(control 1) screw clockwise.

16 User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
This will increase the speed at which the tail motor spins proportionally to the main rotor and will
counter the tail's anti clock wise rotation.
If the tails want's to swing clockwise turn the setup/mixing screw counterclockwise, this will
reduce the speed at which the tail rotor spins proportionally to the main rotor.
The idea is to set the speed of the tail rotor just right so that the helicopters tail does not want to
rotate in any direction but remains neutral in flight.
If the mixing is not correctly setup the gyro will try to correct the tail too much. This will shorten
the life of your tail motor drastically. Take time to get it right.
Now flick the helicopters tail away from you, counter clockwise) The tail rotor should speed up
(rev) to try to prevent this movement. The "size" of this "Rev" is determined by the gain (control 2
)screw on the gyro. Do not fiddle with this screw, It should be set Ok.
Doing so will also affect the mixing ratio and you will have to start adjusting again from the top of
this chapter.
Now Still holding the helicopter, throttle up to hover rpm ( the heli wants to fly up out of your
hand). Feel again for any Forces exerted on your hand.
If there are no strong forces in the roll or yaw axis and the tail seems to be neutral, briefly let go
of the helicopter.
If you have setup your helicopter correctly it will fly (hover) pretty much in the same place you left
it. It may however climb upwards, in which case you must reduce the throttle slightly.
7Service and Cleaning
Clean the Helicopter and Rotor blades after each flight.
Disconnect the battery from the Receiver and ESC.
Check all screw connections for tightness after each flight.

17Repair Hints & Tips
© <2005> ... RCE
8Repair Hints & Tips
Tail Rotor Motor and Gears
Here are a Few Images I took, to demonstrate how to assemble the Thunderbird RC Helicopter.
Put the Small Capacitor Legs through the Little hole at the Back of the Tail Rotor Motor.
Screw the Rail Rotor Motor to the Tail Holder.

18 User Manual
© <2005> ... RCE
Solder the Wire to the Motor. Please note the Polarity. + (Red wire) - Black Wire.
Add the Tail Rotor Gear to the Tail Fastening Sleeve Spindle.