Hi everyone,
This week I should receive my LAMA SA-315B from HIROBO Japan. I will be making this beast as a electric conversion with a the MRB-III head rotor system. Here is what they had to say about this LAMA SA-315B (30)size Helicopter from HIROBO...



HIROBO A E R O S P A T I A L
SA 315B LAMA
The Lama is very visible in flight and has a lot of presence
by John Christensen with Scott Eves

The French Aerospatiale SA 315B Lama turbine powered helicopter was designed and built at the request of the Indian Air Force. They were looking for a helicopter that was capable of operating in altitudes up to 6,000 meters (19,500 feet) and that could be used for aerial work in the mountains. In fact, it still holds the world altitude record of 35,000 feet, set more than 30 years ago in 1972. While the RC version from Hirobo is not that old, it has been around for quite some time. Originally launched in the late 80s, the Hirobo Lama received a major overhaul recently. It is now delivered with a new type of molded plastic that is much stronger that the previous version, along with a complete new scale cockpit interior kit, a scale exterior kit, and upgraded mechanics.



I saw the new Lama at the Hirobo booth at the Totally Outrageous Challenge in Las Vegas last year, and I immediately fell in love with the heli. Even though it’s a small 30-size helicopter, it has a lot of presence. It looked like it would be a fun project. I had long wanted to get started with scale helicopters, so it was an easy decision. The box arrived two weeks after the show and contained the helicopter, a Hirobo .36 engine and a scale three-bladed rotor head.

Due to a very tight work schedule, I talked my good friend and fellow club member Scott Eves into putting the Lama together for me. Scott is our local helicopter guru, and is very meticulous when it comes to helicopter assembly and setup. In fact, most helicopters in our club end up on Scott’s workbench for extreme fine-tuning.



LAMA ASSEMBLY
By Scott Eves

The Hirobo Lama is an excellent choice for the first time model heli/scale builder as well as the seasoned modeler. This is because the mechanics are based on the proven Hirobo Shuttle series RC helicopters that have been around since the early 80s, and it is one of the most popular RC helicopter designs ever. Because of its simple yet well thought-out design, the Lama is easy to assemble and maintain. Shuttle parts are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. This is an extraordinary addition to any collection: one that will provide many hours of conversation and flying pleasure.



The assembly process took a total of 14 to 16 hours, including the time needed to finish painting some of the included plastic trim pieces and to add decals. The dummy engine and cockpit kit is delivered in white plastic, so I painted them with various colors of Krylon spray can paint. The kit comes with wood main blades that are pre-built and a two-piece muffler. For the powerplant, we decided to use Hirobo’s new .36 with an O.S. No. 8 plug, as it has proven to be a very powerful and reliable engine.

For those of you who have been building and flying the Hirobo line of mid-sized models, the 30-sized Lama is an almost identical build. It is essentially a modified and beefed-up Shuttle plus a number of well thought-out additions that give you a very nice scale heli out of the box: one that the crowds will certainly notice at the local flying fields and fun flies.



There really aren’t any surprises or additional remarks to add to the included manual. Everything is clearly illustrated and described, with all individual parts for each building step packed in sealed bags. I am not a big fan of using Z-bends on the pushrods of helicopters, but this system has worked on Shuttles for years, and it proved to work just fine on the Lama as well. When installing the three-bladed rotor head in the future, I will upgrade the pushrods with ball links on each end to avoid any slop.

A good remote glow adapter is an absolute must, since there is no easy access to the glow plug. We used a Century Helicopter Products #2222 remote glow plug adapter.





Use a padded clamping system to aid in the assembly of the tail boom section. Take your time when assembling and installing the completed tail section to the airframe, and make sure the tail drive output shaft is seated all the way into the transmission coupling for proper alignment. Also, make sure to lubricate the driveshaft before final assembly.

The stock Hirobo muffler must be reversed by rotating the exhaust port 180 degrees, as the muffler needs to face towards the rear. To ensure a trouble free exhaust system, disassemble the muffler, clean the mating surfaces, and reassemble using red thread lock on the mating surfaces and the main through bolt before securely tightening. Also, make sure the motor mount bolts are thread locked and tight before installing the muffler, as you will not be able to get to them afterwards.

Nice video:

http://www.alouettelama.com/video/MAKILAalouette2.mov


THREE-BLADED ROTOR HEAD
Hirobo offers a scale three-bladed rotor head for the Lama, and we are currently setting up the helicopter for this system, which will further improve the good scale looks.



CONCLUSION
The Hirobo Lama is a sweet looking scale helicopter that will make a perfect first scale helicopter for anyone with even limited flight experience. Were it not for the $40 tail boom and the other scale parts, it could even be recommended as a first helicopter because of its stable flight characteristics. The Lama is very easy to see in flight and gets a lot of approving looks wherever it shows up. Though the Lama has been on the market for more than 15 years, the new upgrades have prepared it for another decade.



SPECS
HELICOPTER: SA315B Lama

MANUFACTURER: Hirobo

DISTRIBUTOR: MRC

TYPE: Scale Helicopter

FOR: Intermediate to advanced pilots

FLYING WEIGHT: 7 lbs. (112 oz.)

LENGTH: 43.3 in.

MAIN ROTOR DIAMETER: 48.8 in.

RADIO: Futaba 9CHP; 5 ball bearing standard servos

ONBOARD BATTERY: 1700mAh NiMH 4.8v

ENGINE RANGE: .32 - .50; flown with Hirobo .36

FUEL: Cool Power 30% helicopter fuel

PRICE: $599



COMPONENTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE: Gyro, helicopter radio, 5 servos, receiver, receiver switch, flight battery, remote glow plug adaptor, thread locker, paint for scale parts, Zap CA and basic hobby tools.



SUMMARY
The Hirobo Lama has enough details and looks to satisfy an experienced scale flier, and yet it is stable enough to be flown by any helicopter pilot with basic flying skills. Superior packaging and manual make the Lama a very enjoyable encounter. All parts fit great, so you will be out flying in no time.




Video:
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AIRBORNE
FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Lama has performed perfectly, from the first tank of gas. Only a few clicks of trim were needed for a nice hands-off hover. Since the Hirobo .36 was brand new, the first five tanks of gas were used while hovering at a rich needle setting. During the break-in period, the engine shakes a bit due to the rich mixture setting, so it would not be a bad idea to install the scale details after the engine is broken-in. This will avoid stressing the plastic parts.

While Hirobo offers a 50-size engine conversion kit, the .36 produced more than enough power to fly the 7-pound Lama. A .50 engine would also burn fuel much faster, and since there is limited room for the fuel tank, the Hirobo .36 proved to be a good choice. The engine sits entirely enclosed in the fuselage, but the cooling system is perfectly adequate, even on a hot Florida day.
FORWARD FLIGHT

Forward flight is stable with good tracking, even with the included 550 mm wood blades. Fiberglass or carbon fiber main blades would further improve the flight characteristics, but the wood blades do perform well.

AEROBATICS

Let’s look at how the helicopter performs. WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! That was Scott’s first comment when I looped the Lama, followed by a roll and a 540-degree stall turn. While certainly not scale maneuvers, the Hirobo version performs them with ease. It is obviously not a 3D helicopter by any means, but the Hirobo .36 has been running great and supplies plenty of power on 30% Cool Power helicopter fuel.

Where I found my LAMA SA-315B and got hook!
[url=http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/gallery/34346/?script=Lama_E]

30 SCALE Lama SA-315B
Red MRB-Ⅲ Option Version

On a later note,

After mastering the HIROBO LAMA SA-315B RC Helicopter flying for the fiew months to come, I'll have a look at this follow LAMA SA-315B Two-Stage Turbine System from close. The Goal on that large turbine LAMA SA-315B is to be use as a Helicopter with a motion picture HDPROCAM for my Independent Director of Photography compagny as a service for Publicity & the Films Industries a cross the world. This will be later consider as a great KEY asset department from my motion picture Photography compagny.

HELICOPTERS-TURBOPROPS
The Ultimate Two-Stage Turbine System



This scale turbine R/C model helicopter is developed as an easy to fly model with good scale detail. Being approx 1/5 scale, it was the first scale model turbine helicopter developed (in 1999/2000) with the two-stage turbine. The turbine is mounted in scale position and drives through a specially developed gearbox, which is now developed as a production gearbox from Ourselves. The airframe and mechanics have been developed as a production package... kit or ready built, including some cockpit detail... with over 240 hours flying development.



The airframe is built in two sections... main frame, and landing skid sections bolt together. The framework is high quality stainless tube which is silver soldered, using jigs to ensure that all frames are built to the same high standard. The Cockpit is empty of all mechanics or obstruction, for the scale builder, and manufactured by ourselves in fibreglass, with door shells for opening doors. Included in the kit is an instrument console and moulded front seat shells. Mechanics are developed with our own components, all tested from our development projects for reliability. Quality engineering is maintained throughout the construction of our Turbine LAMA...



General Specification
The Turbine LAMA is offered as Factory Built Helicopter (90% complete) ready for radio equipment, or as Two Kits of Airframe + Mechanics. The turbine system and gearbox, is supplied fully built and tested for installation in the airframe.



SIZE
Main Rotor 2,000 mm diameter
Tail Rotor 340 mm diameter
Weight 10.6kg (ready to fly incl radio)
Length 1,930 mm
Height 580 mm (top of rotor blade grip)
Width -max 410 mm (outside of landing skid)
Width -cockpit 320 mm (outside of cockpit)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLSKxu60sIs
http://tomasrc.cz/index.php?option=co ... sk=view&id=149&Itemid=136

Hello (SW),

Welcome on Heliforum.

This RC SA-315B Lama is a wonderfull helicopter.
Thanks for your description, photos and video.

I have modified your post to include photos and correct the last link you have set.
You can easily add direct links to images appearing in your posts using BBCode :
[ img ]...single url to image...[ /img ] (without spaces)

Regards.
Jean-Marc

----------------
Quote:

Hi Jean-Marc,
Thanks for your help Bud!

SW
LAMAHORSE

Here is the white LAMA SA-315B version 2 blades system from HIROBO.



Many as choose this version 2 blades system for their LAMA SA-315B. This version (White)LAMA SA-315B can also be done with the MRB-III head rotor system. HIROBO as a specific LAMA SA-315B for the MRB-III sold together (The Suisse color scheme model type) on a special TAG price.



But if you choose to get this white version LAMA SA-315B with the MRB-III rotor head system, you will pay a little more for the helicopter kit with the MRB-III System.







Also the LAMA SA-315B as a Instruments panel lights system in the canopy. Its a real ball!
I will add some Nav,strobe,landing lights system on my HIROBO LAMA SA-315B and should be a blast to watch while approaching for the HeliPath in our home at the country side estate.



Individual XLIGHTSTM LEDs
Universal 6mm Single XLIGHTSTM
1+ Mile Daylight Visible, 30kmcd, LEDs that support a positive input voltage range from 4.8VDC to 8VDC. Available Colors: White, Red, Green, Amber, Blue, White Strobe, Red Strobe



16mm Flood Lights w/ 6mm XLIGHTSTM LEDs
16mm housing with removable high-impact lens cover. Includes swivel mount. (Note: 16mm housings available separately)Available Materials: Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Available Colors: Aluminum (Natural), Stainless Steel (Natural), White, Red, Green, Blue, Black, Gold, and Purple



Interior canopy will be done with leather parts as I did so on my (SuperChipmunk)canopy in the past. Sometime you need to do those scale parts to get a great scale looking Helicopter and to enjoy the view of other going wild about the scale results of your machine.

So far my new direction in the Heli Hobby as been a ball!
I was especting a phone call from my distributor last week about my order with the LAMA SA-315B coming in from Japan. So far no phone call. I'll call them today and see if it got in this week-end. If not it should arrive this week for a delivery of 3 weeks waiting on the LAMA...

I have'nt stay put, I got my self going with my HeliPath tower. Yea, a tower landing Helipath that I called SIGN,(ALPHA-1ONE-CHARLIE HeliPath TOWER)hight(4fts). Now I'm at the stage of going around stores to find the right lights landing system for the tower to be add-on as A/C. I have a fiew idea view of how I will light up this tower for night. I think you guys will like my creation of this HeliPath tower for the LAMA SA-315B. It will sure get alote of attention by my next door neightboor Heli-compagny Buddies pilots when I'll install it for testing soon at our estate back yard in the country region.

Alote of details have been add to the HeliPath Tower and as soon as it will be ready, I'll trow a fiew photos of the complet HeliPath Tower here... You'll just want to make one your self for sure after seeing it. Maybe I should make a fiew on special order and sale them around??? Ha,ha,lol...

I have spoke to my distributor yesturday!

My LAMA SA-315B is somewhere betwen Japan and my home base. The Japan peoples had some kind of holiday vacation and the shipping was stall for a fiew days. My distributor as confirm me that is should be here soon as he got smaller packages that came in from Japan this week, so that is good news for the pilot,,, ME...

Yesturday I was on the final of the ALPHA-1ONE-CHARLIE TOWER build. Made many add-on to the Tower base and some materials equipments on the HeliPath Plattform for the LAMA SA-315B. I'm satisfy with the result of all my build doing for the Tower. I just have to join a fiew electric wires and that will be it for the HeliPath Plattform Tower ALPHA-1ONE-CHARLIE Project. (Pictures will be done as soon as I assemble parts together) Promess...

At this moment I have started a HeliPath Plattform for the hangar work base. Yea I need this Plattform to work on my LAMA SA-315B while on Base location to do my adjustments and FIX.

It will be a little longer as Plattform, as it will give me more space to work around the LAMA SA-315B while on the ground for (SNAGS) issues. It should take me all day to finish and ready GO.

Got my Hangar Base HeliPath Plattform almost done and finish.
I'm satisfy with the result and it is a large Plattform to work on the LAMA SA-315B.
The floor of the Hangar-plattform looks like a full scale Hangar area,, so clean that I could eat on it. I even did the wax on it...

Today I'll have to go at the store to get some light delay system for the HeliPath Plattform Tower, so it can flash at a delay time sequence while the LAMA in on final approach or on TARMAC. I have also made some HeliPath lights towers (x2) to light up the HeliPath area while at night on the Plattform.

Their is alote of details on my doing HeliPath-Plattform Tower (ALPHA-1ONE-CHARLIE) & the Hangar HeliPath-Plattform that I name (BRAVO-1ONE-CHARLIE) and it should be a must for a LAMA SA-315B Helicopter to have all those EXTRA's properly done for sutch a machine as the LAMA. None less...

If all goes well today for the final of the Both Plattform, I should be doing a photoshoot saturday and will up-load them here as soon as I can do that. Long week-end holidays for us here, yeaaaa!!

SW/LAMAHORSE

Hello (SW),

I can't wait to see your HeliPath-Platform finished.
Perhaps you have made photos during the building.
It should be interesting to see the evolution of your realisation.

You will upload your pictures in our new photo-album "Modèles réduits" (Reduce models).

Soon.
Jean-Marc

----------------
Quote:

Hey JM,
While I was building the HeliPath Platform I tought of doing pictures,, But did'nt...
As I will do the photoshoot this week-end, I'll show parts needed as mutch as I can in details. If anyone is interested to build one, it will be easy to figure out what you'll need to make it like my Helipath Platform. Thanks for the kind words towards my Helipath Platform Project Bud!

And No swet, I'll up-load in the new photo-album "Modèles réduits" (Reduce models).
I'm sure it will get alote of attention responce from the Heli Guy's Pilots...

SW/LAMAHORSE
LAMA SA-315B