[TripRodriguez]

Review of EC-135 Cyclic by MicroHelis.de : (please note I will be slowly adding pictures and more detail as I finish my Gazelle cockpit build).

1- Ordering: Ordering from Microhelis was quick and painless, and the staff there are very quick to communicate and a pleasure to work with. Yogi is very much available to discuss and answer questions.

2- Delivery: MicroHelis shipped the item when they said they would. This might seem like no big deal unless you've purchased from one of the many other suppliers of sim hardware who frequently run months late. The package did take a while after being shipped to arrive in the US, and DHL's tracking left something to be desired, it never updated after leaving Germany!

3- Unboxing: The cyclic was very well packed, and would have been nearly impossible to damage it unless you dropped a car or something on it!





4- Assembly: Assembling the Cyclic was MUCH simpler than I expected.

4a- Though assembly is simple and most of us could figure it out easily on our own, instructions would be nice. (NOTE: Keep in mind that if you have any trouble or questions Yogi is quick to respond to questions so this isn't a big deal!) Yogi has since started adding some tutorials on his site and I plan to offer to create for him a simple instruction sheet to include. Hooking the wires from the controller up to the Bodnar boards was quick and painless with the nice terminals on Yogi's version of the boards really making it a cinch. You connect the black ground wire to the common ground and then just connect all the other wires to button input terminals. For the Cyclic base you just plug the connectors right onto the board.








4b- Tools: Some people will not have the tools required to assemble the controller. These include a couple very small metric wrenches or sockets and a couple metric allen keys. It would be good for Yogi to give a list of needed tools when you order so you can be sure to be prepared when the unit arrives. This is a minor convenience item, but it would be a nice thing to do.












4c- You will need a couple USB A/B cables to connect the boards to your computer which are not included. These are the type typically used for printers for PC.

5- Appearance and Finish: I was very pleased with the appearance of the item given the knowledge that much of it including the grip is 3D printed. Clearly a high end 3D printer is used, and then Yogi applies a textured paint that really makes the item nice. Many of my friends were very suprised when I told them the grip was 3D printed, though if you really look at it you can see that 3D printer pattern a bit. In very bright light it is very visible.












6- Function: The function of the cyclic is fantastic, and the only improvement I could ask for is in the works. Like every other Cyclic on the market, it lacks force trim but Microhelis has a force trim module in development with a working prototype already. Very exciting.

6a- The buttons feel like good high quality units with nice spring action and feel. Equal to or better than any other stick I've used save the high end Thrustmasters.

6b- The grip feels very solid and makes no squeaks or anything like so many retail sticks. Most importantly it doesn't feel like a toy, which to me so many others do. I think this is partially owing to the fact that the grip is apparently glued together rather than screwed together. This of course comes with a down side, if you eventually wear out switches it will probably not be a very simple task to replace them.

6c- Cyclic function- It's amazing how much better it feels to be using a hydraulically damped stick! The cyclic feels amazing when you use it, and is also extremely accurate owing to the high end sensors and Bodnar board Yogi uses. Stick travel is good and long for accurate control. If you are using an off the shelf stick, you will be AMAZED at how much easier it is to fly a helicopter with the right equipment! The springs are very very soft (and adjustable) so they are completely unobtrusive. I thought I'd be removing them but I won't. Also note that Yogi has a force trim module coming for his cyclics to add that last bit of realism!

Conclusion: Overall, the Microhelis.com cyclic is a really fantastic item and I'm very satisfied with the purchase. Satisfied enough that I now intend to purchase Microhelis.com pedals and maybe collective.

NOTE: Copy/Pasted contents from the other thread are now relocated to the third post in this thread.

[yogi149]

Hi
and THX Trip to split the thread.

[TripRodriguez]

It's the man himself!

Yogi, how much height below the floor is required for your cyclic?

Any guess how much extra for force trim when it becomes available?

COPIED POSTS FROM OTHER THREAD RELOCATED TO HERE:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings all.

Some of us have been discussing microhelis.de equipment in an unrelated thread and I thought it was time to move the conversation over to a dedicated thread.

My microhelis.de cyclic is on order, and I'm planning to do a review right here when it comes in about a month.

I have been extremely impressed with microhelis.de communication and so far have heard only good things about their gear. Definitely check them out!

Here are some quotes from the other thread:

Originally Posted by Icebear

I use the microhelis controllers and am very satisfied with it. I have the UH-1 Version for about a year and they work without problems and still very precise although my was one of the first UH-1 prototypes.

Originally Posted by swissMAG

Just contact the guy, give him your facebook and he will actually chat with you every day if you want. There is also a heli simmer group (english as well) where there are a lot of microheli controller users. You will see his current force trimm prototype for the cyclic (and future pedals and collective) as well.

Best regards

Originally Posted by Icebear

This is the link to the Facebook-Group:
Home-Copter

Originally Posted by TripRodriguez

Thank you @Icebear . MicroHelis.de were very responsive and friendly, and I have now ordered my cyclic! I'll be reporting back with a detailed review once I receive and test the controller.

https://shop.microhelis.de/Cyclic-Stick-EC-135/145

Originally Posted by nrgized

I ended up ordering a Huey collective for myself after Icebear posted.

Same experience of a quick response and friendly.

Originally Posted by trigen

Looking forward to the review! Im looking to upgrade my stick to a more commercial in the hopes to achieve the best possible realism. I find myself flying the Huey nonstop but would also like to have a lot more buttons on it to VR. The ECXX looks the best there but i guess someone like komodo sims could customize that. To bad the price will be somewhat on the crazy side.

Originally Posted by Chic

Just had same experience TripRod described. Microhelis wouldn't process my online order for Huey collective. Waitin for response to my email. More optimistic now that I've read this thread and TeamSpoke with nrgized.

Been using full set of Komodosim for @ 2 years. Didn't have button issue that Los described but throttle mechanism shat the bed early on. And Yah, was not about to send it back so worked around it. I also since replaced the pedals with a sturdier pair from OE-XAM. Despite this, I love these controllers. Unfortunately, it appears that Rich Komodosim is OOB. I was thrilled when nrgized turned me on to this thread. Ordering a backup collective now to avoid any future downtime from the Huey.
Keep yas posted.

Originally Posted by TripRodriguez

Chic, make sure you watch your SPAM folder for the reply from microhelis.de nothing every goes into my spam folder but their messages did so initially I thought I wasn't getting a reply. Tell Susanne I said hi =P.

Trip

Originally Posted by yogi149

Hi

I am yogi from microhelis, and perhaps I can answer some questions about our controls.
I do not want to advertise our products here, but maybe I can answer technical questions and wishes.

Our controls will be shipped "pre-mounted", all buttons and switches are inserted and plugged to the control cable. The cable end will be shipped isolated and has to be prepared for plugging by yourself.
The hallsensor have a 3-pol cable which is used in RC for servos, and can be plugged directly to the Bodnar board.

(and sorry if some of my descriptions are perhaps not easy to understand, english is not my native language )

Originally Posted by TripRodriguez

@yogi149 Your english is excellent but often more technical things can be confusing!

When you say "shipped isolated and has to be prepared for plugging by yourself", the word "prepared" makes it sound like this may be complex task not everyone might be comfortable in doing. I suspect this is not the case and is very simple, no soldering or anything?

PS- Also thank you for posting here to answer questions. I am always very happy to see vendors who communicate with us!

Originally Posted by yogi149

Hi,

ok, we can offer the preparing of the cable ends for plugging or soldering too.
Simple remark in the ordering process.

Originally Posted by Bearfoot

+1 Absolutely looking forward to your review/comparisons!

[yogi149]

Hi Trip,

for the "normal" damped version you need 110mm under the floor.
My prototype for the FTR need some more place.

[Kornskydiver]

Yogi, do you offer a complete "plug n play" Huey collective? I noticed there are quite a few options to include a button box and USB controllers. Is it safe for me to assume all options are required to make this collective fully functional? Thanks!

[trigen]

Originally Posted by yogi149

Hi Trip,

for the "normal" damped version you need 110mm under the floor.
My prototype for the FTR need some more place.

Guessing FTR means force trim? That's something im very interested in. Will that be sold as a base only too? Thats one thing i really like as i tend to tinker a lot myself and have multiple grips and shafts. Any word on release date?

[trigen]

Originally Posted by Kornskydiver

Yogi, do you offer a complete "plug n play" Huey collective? I noticed there are quite a few options to include a button box and USB controllers. Is it safe for me to assume all options are required to make this collective fully functional? Thanks!

Curious about this too

[TripRodriguez]

Originally Posted by trigen

Guessing FTR means force trim? That's something im very interested in. Will that be sold as a base only too? Thats one thing i really like as i tend to tinker a lot myself and have multiple grips and shafts. Any word on release date?

Yes Yogi is working on a force trim module which if all goes according to plan will be available to add to your existing microhelis.de cyclic base.

As far as complete plug and play controllers, when you put the cyclic in your cart it suggests the other three components to add as well, you just check the tick boxes. I would guess it would do the same thing when you add a collective to your cart.

I'm not 100% clear on this but I think putting it together when it comes will be a simple matter anyone should be able to easily do but again, I'm not absolutely sure of that.

[yogi149]

Hi @all,

can you tell me exactly what you mean with "plug & Play"?
For our base-unit you need a hole in the floor and some screws for mounting it.
Sensor are ready to plug in a Leo Bodnar board.
Button and switches are wired in the collective box and grip. All uses 1 common line, so the other cable end must be plugged or soldered to the button board.

[Barefoot Bandit]

Originally Posted by yogi149

Hi @all,

can you tell me exactly what you mean with "plug & Play"?
For our base-unit you need a hole in the floor and some screws for mounting it.
Sensor are ready to plug in a Leo Bodnar board.
Button and switches are wired in the collective box and grip. All uses 1 common line, so the other cable end must be plugged or soldered to the button board.

I suspect this means everything connected via a USB cable, that plugs into the PC, and it works, all in the one package, ready to go.

Z...