Vintage RC Helicopters - Hirobo

Vintage RC Helicopters - Hirobo Falcon helicopters

HIROBO Falcon Range

Hirobo's 'trainer' helicopter that immediately followed the introduction of the scale range utilising the popular pod and boom 'metal' layout.

Find link to an excellent page on Falcons including a recent build of 'new' Falcon Mk1 and Falcon 505 Kits - http://1017.org/cricket/falcon.htm - I have taken the liberty of 'borrowing' a number of items from the site to show that it is worth a visit.

Hirobo Falcon Mk1 (1977)

Info here. http://1017.org/cricket/falcon.htm

Designed for '40' size engines and was Hirobo's first 'Pod and boom' helicopter. Usual layout for the period excepting the head which operated on the same principle as the Gazelle introduced a year earlier in that as the swashplate rose to impart collective movement to the main blades it also resulted in a pitch change to the flybar paddles. mounting of the engine was achieved by folding the aluminium frame plating which unfortunately proved prone to cracking.

Mk1 full size construction drawings.

HGK 45 engine.

Hirobo recommended the HGK 45 Helicopter engine; reputed to be more than powerful enough.

Bit of a 'dog' and ripe for restoration.

Mk1 with optional head that came as standard on the Mk2.

In order to remove this 'unwanted' effect of the paddles moving with collective pitch a collective de-coupler' was devised and could be retro-fitted to the Falcon. this was an arm that 'arched' over the head and effectively 'locked' the separate flybar paddles together ensuring that they operate in the same plane. below the 'weighted' top pieced was a vertical shaft with a sliding collar connected to the original flybar control links. Thus as the swashplate moved for collective pitch control the collar would slide up and down without affecting the paddles. However, when the swashplate moved with a cyclic input it would rotate the collar and impart the movement to the paddles. Unfortunately due to the geometry of the layout, for increased collective pitch then cyclic control would also reduce due to the reduced paddle movement; so not really an effective cure.

Mk1 and a Schlüter Gazelle

Hirobo Falcon Mk2 (1979)

A slightly 'heavier' model and designed for 40/45 size engines; standard pod and boom layout and came with the 'collective de-coupler' head.

Hirobo Falcon 505 (1980)

Pod and boom general purpose helicopter for 40-50 size engines. Reverted back to the layout of the original Falcon head as the 'collective de-coupler' had proved to be unsuccessful. Came with red anodised frame and 'gunmetal' coloured head components. Engine mounting was better than the earlier models but the lower frame section could still crack as it was not very substantial. The 'plastic' clutch could also give trouble if not treated with respect on running up the rotor head.

info here including build manuals etc. http://1017.org/cricket/falcon.htm

Falcon 505 build manual - Construction manual but without exploded view (Courtesy 1017.org).

Falcon 505s build manual - Construction manual with 505 info

Hirobo Falcon 707 (1980)

A larger version of the 505 incorporating the newer See-saw head and 50 size engines with a very distinctive feature being the canopy. Unfortunately with a 50 size engine they were somewhat underpowered. Head incorporated a cast coning angle.

Falcon 505 build manual - Construction manual with 707 info (Courtesy 1017.org).

Falcon 505s build manual - Construction manual with 707 info.

Hirobo Falcon 808 (1980)