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You'll find here the most frequently asked questions:
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  • Cine-Scale
  • What is Cine-Scale?
    Cine-Scale is a company which designs, builds and sales high quality functional radio-controlled helicopters. Back to questions list
  • How long does the building takes?
    The time spent depends from the finish level requested by the clients, and the model previous versioning. For exemple, a first full scale model with its 40000 rivets, hand made one by one, which interior design requires the creation of 15 different specific molds, will require several weeks or months to get done. However, the same model treated with a semi-scale outside finish, without interior finish, and which accessories are already know as they were created on previous models could be finished within a month. Back to questions list
  • Can I purchase any type of helicopter from Cine-Scale?
    Cine-Scale specialty is to realize 100% scale model helicopters. We do not offer typical "pod and boom" training models, as those you can see frequently on flying fields. However we can offer on request a semi-scale finish instead of the full scale finish. Back to questions list
  • What is a "full scale"?..semi-scale finish?
    A full scale model is a functional flying model, which design, structure and finish are entirely dedicated to the realism and the similarity to the full scale helicopter.
    A semi-scale model is a functional flying model, which design, structure and finish are dedicated to the realism and the similarity to the full scale helicopter, but with a few compromisew to comply with a few technical restrictions. Back to questions list
  • How does the VAT works?
    The VAT is the Value Added Tax. As of today, the french VAT rate is 19,6%. This is 4 possible situations:
    1) You are an individual or a company established in France: you have to pay the french VAT
    2) You are an individual living within the European Union: you have to pay the french VAT
    3) You are a company outside of France, but within the EU: you pay VAT free if your are ordering with a valid VAT number.
    4) You are an individual or a company outside of the EU: you always pay VAT free Back to questions list
  • How to buy on your website?
    That's very easy, just click on the button "add to cart" just next to the product picture. Your online basket will be loaded with the product, and will appear on the left side of your screen. You can then update the quantity if required. Once done, please proceed by clicking the button "checkout", you will be forwarded to the Paypal website, which is our online payment partner. You don't need to have a Paypal account, a simple credit card is enough. Once you filled up your information on the first page, the second page will be adding the VAT (if applicable) and the shipping charges depending of your location (see FAQ question about VAT) . At the end of the process, you will receive a confirmation email. The online payment process is dedicated on all items proposed on our site. The tailor made turn-key helicopters are paid based on a previous quotation. Back to questions list
  • Technique
  • Is the V.O.G. fenestron compatible with all models? Should I do some modification to my mechanic?
    Yes our V.O.G. fenestron is compatible with all models. You have two possibilities; you can either use our specific gearbox to use the original output of your mechanic and get the proper speed on the fenestrons rotor (our gearbox uses the standard input rpm from curent mechanics as Jetcat, Varios..), or can use a conventional tail rotor housing and install our fenestron rotor, but then you'll have to use a speed up device on the mechanics side. Back to questions list
  • Tail rotor drive, what are the solutions?
    The tail rotor drive is a key aspect if the scale model onboard mechanic. Very often the mechanics position constraints are prioritary, and the shape of the fuselage matching the full scale one, we are often facing some situations where the mechanic tail output shaft is not aligned with the tailgearbox input shaft. To solve that very common problem, there is several solutions, which could be constant velocity joints, flexible joints, flexible shaft drive. Each method has its pros and cons, we will discuss this with you when you are placing your order. Back to questions list
  • What are the different scales available? What are the minimum and maximum dimensions?
    As full scale helicopters could be ridiculously small single seat ultralight as well as a post-coldwar gigantic russian helicopter, rather than talking about scale factor, let's define a minimum and maximum rotor diameter
    As a minimum, the 1m60 is the smallest possible for a full scale finish, because as of today, there is no turbine system available to drive a smaller rotor disk. An an other side, as smaller rotor diameter reduces drastically the payload and geopardizes the capacity to load the airframe with many full scale details.
    As a maximum, we currently work with a 2m40 rotor diameter, which is offering many advantages: you can still carry your model without having to buy a trailer, the mecanics are standard from Jetcat, which means that they are very reliable, and the payload is fairly good, meaning that you can push the finish to a real full scale treatment and carry enough fuel. Finally the overall takeoff weight stays below 25Kg, which is under the legal threshold of the DGAC category 2 airborne system, so you can fly without having a specific licence. This is for France, see in your own country for your local regulation. Back to questions list
  • What is the maximum takeoff weight?
    The maximum takeoff weight is a main parameter is the scale model design, as with all the accessories and the the additional details that you put on it, the machine gets heavier. If you don't stay alert, you can end up with a excess of weight which leads to an under powered model. Also, depending of the number of blades, the lifts varies. A 3 bladed rotor has more lift than a 2 bladed. However, the more blades you put, the more the torque increases, and you will have to keep up with the tail rotor thrust. The powerplants is really important. Turbine engines have a very specific maximal takeoff weight limitation, which have to never be overshot as your would get a combustion chamber overheating and a power drop. Back to questions list
  • What powerplant to use?
    There is 4 types of powerplants: methanol (glow), gas, electric, or gas turbine.
    The methanol has a very interesting power to weight ratio, but the current mechanics are limitating the rotor size to small dimentions, and the exhaust mist is a real mess, not mentionning that the smoke trail is very unpleasant for a scale model.We do not recommend this solution, unless you have a very small semi-scale project.
    The gasoline solution as the main advantage to be affordable and torquy and you can then drive a larger rotor, about 1m80, with an almost invisible smoke trail. the model stays clean but the smell is strong and persistant. The downsides are a higher vibration lever, and a higher temperature in summer, or at any season if the mechanic is in a tight area where the engine can't get a proper fresh air circulation.
    The electric motor is clean and silent, which is an excellent solution of semi-scale models. The batteries are massive and this is very complex to have theses bulky batteries to co-exist with a full scale finish.
    The turbine powerplant is the ultimate solution for a 100% scale project with an unmatched realism, as from their functionement and sound, as from their available power.
    There is number of advantages; no vibration, goose-bumping sound, huge power, automatic start-up, running and shut-down. The main downside is the exhaust heat managment, which temperature and orientation have to be carfully mastered.
    Our models are almost all equipped with turbine. Back to questions list
  • Piloting
  • Should I use a electronic stabilisation system with a flybarless rotorhead?
    As you know, multibladed rotorheads are quite special in their behavior, and this is partly due to the scale ratio between the rotor disk mass and the airframe mass. At our reduced scale, all reactions are very direct, and the piloting can be a bit intimidating. To put it in simple words; this is going to be more difficult to fly a multibladed head on a small and light semi-scale model than on a larger and heavier 2m40 and 20Kg scale model.
    There is today several electronic device which are interfacing the pilot commands and the airframe attitudes. Any unwanted change in attitude is automatically corrected without having to constantly fight with the transmitters sticks.
    To the question: "is is must have?" the answer is no, this is not a must have, you can fly without. However the comfort and the serenity they provide make them very desirable. Today, this would be a pity to skip them. This technology is quite emerging the results can vary quite a lot from one manufacturer to another, don't hesitate to ask us any advice about this. Cine-Scale recommends the V-Stabi system from Mikado, which performs very well and easy to program. Back to questions list
  • Two bladed rotor with flybar of flybarless head?
    A two bladed bell-hiller rotor sytem is a totally bullet-proof and know technology. However there isn't any full scale helicopter with a bell-hiller system. The closest would be some Bell helicopers which use a flybar, but with weights and no profiled paddles. On a UH1D, 212, or 214, this small alteration from the realism is totally acceptable and these are ideal models for a first scale project. In fact, when the piloting of multibladed heads is considered as an additionnal difficulty that you would rather skip at the beginning, the choice of these models is very wise.
    If you choose for a model which mainrotor will be "rigid" -2 or more blades, but no flybar-, you can expect some reactions from the model quite different from those you were used to with your flybar head. The behavior is much more direct and has to be adapted. The gyroscopic precession is much more obvious in forward flight, as there isn't any flybar to prevent the pitch up tendency. You can get an electronic stabilisation system to solve this if you don't want to push yourself too much in the piloting. Back to questions list
  • I just started to learn to fly and I would love to get a scale airwolf or another beautiful scale model..
    First of all, we understand your desire for a nice looking machine, and the is the expression of the wish to have a really rare, and exclusive model. However, if you just recently started to learn about r/c helicopters, your friendly advise is "STOP!" This is absolutely mandatory and essential to learn to fly properly to be able to operate a scale model. Scale models are highly loaded machines, with very specific powerplants, and they rotorheads have specials flying characteristics which could be too tricky for a beginner.
    Should you wish to estimate your skills, you could evaluate yourself this way:

    -Test 1: put an object on the middle of the flying field and execute a clean hover at eye level right above your object, with the helicopter pointing to one given heading. Now, the heli still in hover, without changing the heading, nor any altitude variations of more than 1ft, nor leaving a circle of 2ft of radius around the vertical of your object, just walk gently around your flying helicopter, describing a large circle around 30ft of radius, and repeat this both ways. If you can do this properly, you successfully passed the first test.
    -Test 2: choose a target on your runway and execute an autorotation from around 100 ft high to land within 10ft from your target Shoot two autos, one in straight line, the other one started downwind and with a U-turn along the slope. If you succeeded the two autos, you passed the second test.
    If you passed the 1st test without the 2nd test, you could enjoy your scale model, but you will probably be limited to some quiet flights.
    If you passed the 2nd test without the 1st one, it is highly possible that you have some trouble to handle properly the nose-in hover, including landing in auto. Think about it, this could be useful.
    If you passed both 1st and 2nd test, you seem to be proficient enough and will certainly fully enjoy your scale model and be able to widely exploit its flight envelope. Back to questions list
© Cine-Scale 2009 cine.scale@gmail.com