dkshema
rrProfessor
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
| The Caliber 30 kit has been discontinued for about a year now. Parts are still available, and parts for the newly introduced (about a year ago) Caliber 4 are interchangeable, so parts availability into the future is not as big a problem as it was when the Nexus and Concept series were discontinued by Kyosho.
That Caliber 30 is a fine flying machine and will do a lot more than many people give credit for.
To get a better indication of how much it is worth, we need to know a few more things -- and you should too.
1. OS hasn't made a 30 for years, if ever. Find out if the motor is an OS 32 SX-H or an OS 37 SZ-H. Motor alone makes a HUGE difference in the abilities of this chopper. If the motor is an OS 37 SZ-H, and it has the stock muffler on it, you'll be sorely disappointed in the overall performance of the heli. If it's an OS 37 SZ-H with a good after market muffler (Hatori, Curtis Muscle Pipe, Toki..), that's a REAL plus.
If the motor is an OS 32 SX-H, find out if it has a 3H carburetor (not good, but easily replaced for a few dollars), or a 20C (good carb). In the picture below, the 20C is the squarish one on the bottom.
If the motor is an OS32 SX-H, find out if it is the ABN version, or the ringed version. For heli use, the ringed version is a little better as it is more forgiving for a lean run.
Find out what fuel's been used in it. You may have to readjust the needle valves if you switch brands of fuel, and definitely will if you change the amount of nitro in the fuel.
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If it's offered with a radio, which one is it. If it's a Futaba Skysport, that radio is barely worth the effort to continue to use. The receiver and servos would be fine, just the TX is marginal for heli use. The health of the radio batteries is something to consider. You don't know for sure how old they are, or how well they've been maintained. You might need to replace the battery packs in the TX and RX to be safe.
Double-check which servos are installed.
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Gyro. What gyro is installed, and what servo is being used for the tail rotor. If you see a Futaba GY401 gyro and a Futaba S9253 or S9254, great, that's a plus.
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Wood or carbon fiber main rotor blades? If carbon fiber, what brand are they? Carbon fiber is a definite plus and would up the price a tiny bit.
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When was the last time the heli was flown, how long has it sat since it last saw action, how well maintained and how clean overall is it?
You may want to take the tank apart and replace ALL fuel line that you can see, inside and outside the tank. If there's a header tank, replace the fuel line there, too. If there's not a header tank, consider installing one.
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Overall, if a complete radio is supplied as part of the deal, $500 is about the most I'd offer for it. Not because it's a bad heli (it isn't, it is a great little 30-sized machine), but because used RC equipment just doesn't really hold its value. The transmitter is the key -- if it's something like the Futaba Skysport, the TX is a throw-away and has no real value in the package.
An OS 32 SX-H will fly the machine, you will learn collective pitch and throttle management, and is easily replaced with an OS 37 SZ-H with a good muffler to really wake up the Caliber 30.
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Keep in mind you'll need a starter with a 6mm hex start shaft extension, a battery to drive it, fuel pump, fuel, ignitor battery for the glow plug, some extra glow plugs, and a few extra tools that you don't now have with your Trex.
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Make sure it is set up for CCPM control (a quick visual check is to look at where the pushrods on the swashplate are located. If the three pushrods are at the three 120 degree balls, it's been set up as a CCPM system). If it is set up as a standard mix heli, find out if the guy has the CCPM parts and have him include them as part of the deal. Otherwise you'll need to buy the right servo tray to go CCPM.
CCPM is THE way to go with this heli.
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Make sure you get the manuals (if they're not available from the owner, copies are out on my gallery here).
Go through the heli and make sure it's assembled correctly and that everything is done right. If you're new to helis, or relatively new, get an experienced flyer to look it over and check it out. Make sure he is competent before asking advice.
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* Making the World a Better Place -- One Helicopter at a time! *
Dave |
Dont know the price but there is a thread around here sum where or some one will chime in. the se kit is sweet looking with the blue and or black anodising
