Finally, the blazing star Rx mystery solved

[Nuttcaze]

After a somewhat heated discussion with raygun, and a whole lot of conversations with some other very knowledgable people, I finally figured out why the top rotors will stop spinning when throttling up. Also why the "Extent" feature has been changed.

There are in fact 2 different version Rx's for the Blazing Star. You can tell the difference between the 2 by the pink wire that is soldered to the Rx. If it is right next to the white wire then it is the older version Rx. If the pink wire is soldered at the top and white wire on the bottom then its the newer version.

The older version
Dip 1 is off
Extent controls servo throw

The Newer Version
Dip 1 is on
Extent controls motor proportion

The newer versions have different programming therefore they operate differently, the most common issue with the newer Blazing Star Rx's is that the top rotor can stop spinning when throttling up slow. Believe it or not that is a normal feature of the Rx.

The reason is that the newer version have AVCS (Angular Vector Control System) its kinda like a HeadHolding gyro. Well when slowly throttling up, if you leave the throttle set low (before lift off) for a while then the AVCS senses there is no rotation, therefore it stops spinning the top rotor because it thinks the heli is not moving. That is also why they changed the extent from controlling the servo throw to motor proportion, you need to be able to adjust the proportion for the AVCS to work right.

This is why when the top rotor stop spinning, you can sometimes get it to spin from moving the rudder left and right or by throttling up quickly. I find the best way is to just unplug the heli and plug it back in, this resets the gyro.

I  made another vid about it but it was before I found out the technical reason for it. None the less the newer version Rx's may be annoying with the design feature but thats just the way they are.

Now I really feel bad for all those who really thought their BS was defective.

Also some E_Sky Lama's do the same thing.

[Solitaire]

Well, it's good you persevered and found out exactly what's going on with these Blazing Stars. Finally.
I also see that Exceed is not showing the BS on their site at the moment. Either because of the problem or possibly it's been discontinued.

I guess you both were right in the long run.

[Nuttcaze]

Yeah I had checked back when raygun was telling me what the extent was for, so trying to find another BS manual I checked the Exceed site and was amazed myself that the BS was not listed. I'm guessing its not on there for both of the reasons. Prob soo many people who didn't know what was going on and complained, I bet they got tired of it and stopped making it.

But thats brings up the question of spare parts. I guess I should prob pick some up as I've super glued my main blades back together 4 times already, don't think they'll last for a 5th time. My last crash was because me and a friend flew our coaxials into each other, he has a Co-Comanche. It was one of the funniest crashes I've seen. unfortunately I didn't have my cam with me.

[Solitaire]

You can always get parts for the Walkera equivalent if they discontinue the BS, I suppose.

[Nuttcaze]

oh yeah, forgot about that

[canewalker]

I've got a Walkera #53-1 that came in a Blazing Star box and has an Exceed transmitter. I guess they were gathering up stuff from all around the plant to fill orders back then! Anyway, I checked the pink and white wires and mine's the older version.

Knowing this, does it tell why the rear motor goes bad on these helicopters? I'm on my 3rd set of motors in about 10 hours of total flight time and I need to change motors again already making it 4 sets of motors in 10 hours of use.

The rear motor starts loosing power and finally the "4 in 1" can't fix the problem anymore by adjusting it out and you have to use the rudder to maintain a steady heading and then eventually even the rudder can't stop the rotation so all you have left is a coxial heli that just spins and won't fly until you change the motors.

As soon as I buy a pinion puller I'm going to pull the gears off of my old motors and see if I can use a good front motor on the rear, if the wires are long enough. If the wires aren't long enough I'll just get out the soldering iron and see what I can destroy!                                  

[Nuttcaze]

I've got a Walkera #53-1 that came in a Blazing Star box and has an Exceed transmitter. I guess they were gathering up stuff from all around the plant to fill orders back then! Anyway, I checked the pink and white wires and mine's the older version.

Knowing this, does it tell why the rear motor goes bad on these helicopters? I'm on my 3rd set of motors in about 10 hours of total flight time and I need to change motors again already making it 4 sets of motors in 10 hours of use.
                             

not really sure, but I know I've got more then 10 hours on mine with no motor probs.

[propwash]

As a new member of the helicopter community and a owner of a Blazing Star I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to Nuttcaze and the rest of the guys who did not give up trying to determine what the cause of the top blade problem was. This situation must have reached the manufacturer, but yet it was forum members who reached a logical conclusion for the rest of us.

I have but one question though, if the Extent adjustment of the redesigned Rx controls proportional rotation of the motors instead of servo travel as on the original Rx design, then what does the Sensitivity adjustment of the redesigned Rx do ? I am trying to understand these two functions as they are basic controls for the Blazing Star.

[ronp08]

Hey Canewalker remember the front motor spins opposite of rear motor. I don't know that switching the gears will do the trick. You may wind up with two motors spinning in the same direction. I have also replaced the motors on my BS multiple times, I've but given up on the BS, and always keep the gears on so that if I go to use the motor I will be aware of the direction it turns. At least I think this is correct but I could and probably am wrong.
I have decided that the next heli I purchase will be a 2.4 Lama v4. It looks like there are replacement parts all over the place and there are also metal upgrades. I have put way too much money in my BS and I've decided to move on to something different. Totally fustrated..Good luck

[yadac123]

this just supported my claim that there was no problem with the BS all along and it just that beginner trottle too slow and the AVCS kicks in.

just trottle up faster to get the heli off the ground.

Andy

[McKrackin]

this just supported my claim that there was no problem with the BS all along and it just that beginner trottle too slow and the AVCS kicks in.

just trottle up faster to get the heli off the ground.

Andy

Good to see ya Andy.Where have you been?

[raygun]

So if you throttle up slow you lose a motor well that is an incredible useful design feature. Ray

[propwash]

Ray: Just think, we didn't pay extra for it LOL

[raygun]

I guess that is about the only way you can look at it these things must be made by Fisher Price. Ray

[Nuttcaze]

once you understand how AVCS gyros work you'll understand why the motor stops

Like on a normal CP with a HH gryo, if the gyro does not sense any movement, as in if its sitting on the floor then it does not keep trying to move the tail servo because theres no tail movement to counteract, well the top motor on the BS serves the same function of a tail servo, its usd to counteract the torque of the mian motor, it the tail isn't moving then why keep spinning the top motor.

Def not a good design but there are other models that have expereinced the same thing.