Mikado Helis

Express-Version, Mikado LOGO series

  • Attention This specific Wizard assumes that the heli is built according to the manual (e.g. leading/trailing edge control of the main and tail rotor, mounting position of servos, distance of ball links on servo arms, direction of rotation on main and tail rotor etc.).
  • Attention Disconnect all servos on an already set-up model and disconnect the ball links to the swash plate and the tail rotor push rod. This is to avoid damage to the tail servo and to the mechanics during the setup process.
  • Attention A VBar that is connected to the VBar Control System for the first time will automatically cause the setup wizard to start. A VBar that has already been connected to a VBar Control System will just connect. In this case, select Heli Setup Wizard from Model Setup, Setup Tools in the menu to start the setup process.
  • Attention For LOGO series helicopters, the collective and cyclic values will be set automatically to factory defaults. This requires the heli to be set up by following the manual exactly. To check or to make changes to the setup according to your personal wishes or taste, re-enter the Heli Setup Wizard again after the initial setup and select Edit Current Model.

Turn on your VBar Control Transmitter. Turn the motor switch to OFF-position if prompted.

Power up the VBar with the VBar Control Receiver Satellite connected.

If the VBar Control Receiver Satellite is not yet bound to your VBar Control Transmitter, first turn on the receiver, wait for 10 seconds, then turn on the transmitter. Select Transmitter Setup, Bind from the menu, Select the VBar (model name or serial number) of the VBar you are about to set up.

Select Model Setup, Setup Tools, Heli Setup Wizard from the menu.

In the Heli Setup Wizard, select the Mikado LOGO you want to set up (for other brands, see below).

Carefully read the instructions given in the Wizard.

Select Load values… from the menu. This will load factory defaults for the LOGO series type and size into the VBar Flybarless Controller. Wait a few seconds for the process to finish.

Mount the VBar or sensor of the VBar, as shown in the manual of your LOGO and as shown in the Wizard.

Connect the swash plate servos according to the graphics shown in the Wizard (nose of the model pointing away from you). In case you encounter issues with the control directions later on, double check proper connection of the servos again. Now mount the servo arms as close to 90° as possible to the servos/links. Connect the links to the swash plate.

Check if the swash plate is moving correctly according to the stick inputs. If not, reverse. All three swash plate servos will be reversed simultaneously.

Use the trim controls to level the swash plate (90° to the main shaft for aileron and elevator, good visual judgment is precise enough) and to set it to the center of it’s available collective throw. Make sure the servo arms are truly at 90° to the servos/links now. If not, adjust the links to the swash plate by the same amount, and/or move servo arms to achieve the least necessary electronic trim.

  • Attention For adjusting 0° collective, fold the blades and visually check that they are on the same level. There is no method more precise than the folding method.

Select the tail servo type (see list here www.vstabi.info/tailservos). In case your servo is not listed, check the specs of your servo for center pulse (mandatory parameter) and frame rate. Select the adequate center pulse and the frame rate that comes closest to, but does not exceed, the frame rate which your servo can handle.

Only now connect the servo to the VBar Flybarless Controller and mount the servo arm as close to 90° as possible to the servo/tail push rod. The final trim will be done by the Autotrim feature. For optimum performance, 90° angles should apply from the servo arm to the push rod and from the push rod to the bell crank on the tail gear box. This can be adjusted properly with the heli turned off, so you can move the servo arm and push rod manually.

Check the servo direction; reverse if necessary. Select and set the limits by moving the stick to both directions and using the EDS dial to fine-tune. On initial setup, the value is set very low (40), to avoid binding and damage to the servo and the mechanics. A sensible range of values will be 80-110. If necessary, move the ball link on the servo arm to get into this range. In case the values for both directions differ immoderately, move the servo arm one notch over it’s true center position and try again.

Select the type of Governor you intend to use: External Governor (means the ESC will do the rpm control, VBar Control will loop through the throttle signal) or VBar e-Governor (means VBar Control and the VBar Flybarless Controller will govern rpm).

In case you select the External Governor, the Wizard will finish here. Continue setting up your ESC using the ESC Setup Wizard.

If you you select VBar e-Governor, check and select the type of main gear and pinion on your heli (to calculate the gear ratio automatically) and set the Sensor configuration properly (half the pole count of your electric motor, e.g. ‘5’ for a 10-pole motor).

The values for the most popular Mikado Combos will be pre-set already. The Wizard will finish here.

  • Attention Certain Mikado OEM-ESCs (like the YGE 160 HV from Mikado 700 and 800 XXtreme-Combos) come pre-programmed and ready for use. These controllers you do not need to set up using a prog card or other means. For non-Mikado ESCs or YGE 90 LV ESCs from Mikado Combos, please go to the ESC Setup Wizard.