Chapter 1 - Introduction:

I am going to be making four assumptions that are required to properly set up an electronically mixed swashplate:

1. You have built your RC helicopter correctly and have used the recommended servo & swashplate pushrod measurements from the instructions to get your swash in the “ball park” or at least playing in the same city. If you have a RTF, or used heli that came all built, the pushrod lengths should be good; it wouldn’t hurt to double check them though.

2. You have a computerized radio with RC heli software that supports the type of CCPM swashplate (120 or 140) that your heli uses.

3. You are familiar with your computerized radio and the menus/programming adjustments related to RC helicopters, specifically : The pitch curve menu - The sub-trim menu - The servo direction menu - The ATV (adjustable travel volume) or servo travel adjustment menu - The swash type & mix menu

4. You know how to use a RC helicopter pitch gauge.

Chapter 2 - Procedures & Tools

I follow a simple 5 step process when I set up an electronically mixed swashplate. The examples I am giving with steps and illustrations are shown on an Align T-Rex 600 ESP RC helicopter and a smaller E-flite Blade 400 RC heli, both with 120 degree CCPM swash mixing and paired with a Spektrum DX7 computerized radio. 120 degree mixing is the most common and I honestly can’t think of many (if any) 400 size machines that use 140 mixing. Some of the bigger birds out there use 140 degree CCPM; so if by chance you have 140 degree swash mixing, the procedures I have will be identical – the only difference is...

The second and less known tool is called a swashplate levelling tool. You can build your own (we will get to that in Chapter 3) or purchase one. The best I have found to date and the one I’m using as an example throughout this guide is manufactured by a company called Trueblood Engineering. Trueblood Engineering makes several different versions of their levelling tool for different sizes and types of RC helicopters with 120 degree swashplates.

Chapter 3 - How To Build A Simple Swash Levelling Tool:

The tool I have built here will work on most swashplates, from 400 size electric helis up to larger 600 electrics and 30-60 size nitros, perhaps even larger. It of course depends on the specific swashplate, but you will get a good idea of how to size your homemade levelling tool no matter what size machine you have...

Chapter 4 - Servo Setup - Direction & Interaction:

Finish up by rechecking all interactions to make sure the swash is moving in all directions correctly. Congrats – you just completed the most difficult part of swashplate set up as far as I am concerned (getting the servo direction and interactions setup correctly), levelling the swashplate will be child’s play.

Chapter 6 - Levelling The Swashplate:

Don’t worry – this one is easy with the help of our trusty computerized radio – specifically the servo travel limit screen. Right now you have a swashplate levelled at mid stick, the question is will it stay level at minimum and maximum pitch values? Give it a try, move the collective stick on the radio to full low and see if the swashplate is still level. Now try moving to full high, again is it still level? In both cases the answer is most likely NO!

Chapter 9 - Recording Your Values:

Here is the chart with all the values I have programmed for the Trex 600 I just set up so you can get an idea of what I record and how easy it is. On the following page, I have included the same chart I use. Just print off as many as you need (pg 45 of the document) if you feel they will help. I usually tuck them into the manual that...

Testimonials

I don't know how I missed your e-book on swash plate set-up but I purchased it last night. This is the book I've been looking for. Within 30 minuets of reading then applying what I learned, my scale Hughes 500C flew for the first time, a nice stable hover and the motor never went above 120 deg F despite having 4 blades to swing. You need to write more books like this. At the next club meeting this one will cause quite a lot of interest. Thanks again!

Capt R Coburn
United States

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I bought your book on swashplates and like the rest of your books learned more from it then any other place.

Now when my new TRex 600 arrives I just hope I can put the reading to doing and correctly. Your book and the way you explain at least finally gives me a good chance. I must admit before I did not think I stood a chance of doing it correctly but the book makes it understandable and actually makes sense of it all. I am still somewhat unsure of radio settings but when I reach that point I may be turning to you for some extra advice. I had already ordered that Trueblood engineering leveller as all my research led me to that as being the best so it was at least reassuring that it was the one you recommended.

A great book John and $10 well spent.

Kieth Carter
Canada

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Hi John, Congratulations! You have done it again! Swashplate setup has been a major topic for me over the last 2 weeks and has seen me scratching my head on many an evening. I bought your latest book on Friday and my problems are solved (well, almost all of my problems). I really must say that you have a knack to present difficult topics in a clear and understandable manner. To date (of all the documents I have read in respect of rc cars and helis - any there are/were many) the original book and the new one are by far the best and informative. My Raptor's setup instructions on the swashplate is contained in one paragraph. I gave it one look and thought "what?" together with some non-printable other thoughts. At least I now know that I will get that part right.

A local pro recently (yesterday) flew my Blade 400 and raved about how stable it is. I told him to purchase and read your "swash" book as you should take full credit for how my heli flies. I am really caught up with this hobby, already owning aBlade 400, Blade MSR and a Raptor E550. Every one of my helicopters have been set up using your guides and I enjoy every minute flying them. I hope to add a T-Rex 600 nitro to the collection during the course of the year. Many thanksfor your efforts and please keep going. Kind regards

Michael Collins
South Africa

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Hi John, Just got your swash plate setup book and wanted to say THANK YOU! I have your Setup & Tips book and got so much out it but was really trying to find out how to setup my swash plate after I had to replace a servo gear. I couldn't find the info anywhere and really made a mess of things. My LHS fared no better I am afraid and I think I should tell them about your e-book! Your excellent writing style and easy to follow format allowed me to follow along with the process from start to finish with no difficulties. I know my Blade 400's swash plate is setup better then it ever has been. I built that leveling tool and it works so well, but it was hard for me to confirm the heli was level so think I will get one of those Trueblood tools you mentioned. Too bad you don't sell those with the book - you would make a small fortune I think. Thanks again for making this info available for such a low cost.

Regards, Patrick Chan
United States

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John, Wanted to let you know what a great help this swash plate book of yours has been. I thought I had a fairly good understanding of swash plate setup, but I do admit I was always messing around with servo interaction and followed the old hit & miss, trial & error method of getting the interactions figured out. I knew there had to be a better way and after searching the internet high and low, found your e-book. Your logical approach took the guesswork out of it. I can't imagine how much time I would have saved if I knew your "little secret". Keep up the good work.

Dwight Dukitch
Germany

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