Vintage R/C Heli - 1974 Du-Bro Hughes 300

[illbeda1974]

I wonder if you could adapt a 4 stroke motor to it,might sound kinda realistic then.

[spitvace]

Nice flying Steve. I'm looking forward to flying mine whenever I get time to go over it. I hope the old O&R is up to the task...

[kz4506]

well what a nice heli where could i get one of these , i have a mfa 500 sport that need a swash , and setting up , but this is perfect , do you know where one could be found , not seen one in new zealand ,here well done very inperssed , and you know how to fly it to .call me if one comes up f sale myjane@xtra.co.nz many thanks

[StormyMaxPerry]

@kz4506

I'd love to help but finding 36 year old heli's is very difficult. Your best bet is to look through the USA eBay site and maybe you will be lucky. Shipping it will be very expensive, even if it's mostly taken apart. In all honesty, you do NOT want one of these Du-Bros unless you have the burning desire to tinker. Parts are very scarce and the O&R engine is total carp :-) This one flys because I have 5 and borrowed parts from each one as needed. .good luck!

[Mordock999]

Could you please send me pictures if THAT head? Thanks in advance!

[StormyMaxPerry]

@Mordock999

Send where? Best you PM me with contact info.

[Mordock999]

Got an old Dubro Hughes 300 and was in the process of converting it to a Shark .60 when I lost interest 30 years ago! I'm think of finishing the task now. (Still have all the conversion parts) Do you know where I can get a Dubro collective pitch rotor head?

[StormyMaxPerry]

@Mordock999

Good luck finding that head. I have a complete collective Shark 60 and it was by luck that *it* found me! i have pictures to share showing the basic collective parts but that all I can do to help.

[MarioIArguello]

Max,

Have you tried to stiffen up the head spring on the Du-Bro heli? I remember seeing a adds in some late 80's early 90's mag's... given the time frame these helis were designed, most of them share similar head designs. I revamped a couple GMP crickets and the "anticipation to reaction" you mention in trying to fly these helis was gone with a regular rotor head. But I still like the feeling of the stock original heads, that is what make them flying a bit unique and more exiting, I think.

[StormyMaxPerry]

@MarioIArguello

I've experimented with stock springs, NO springs and a completely locked teetering system. Locked worked best for me in 1975 on my first Du-Bro Hughes 300 but now I don't really care. Why modify the antique heli design? If I want something with better flying qualities, I'll pick something newer to fly, right? Leave the 'oldies' alone and let them fly as-designed. I have hundreds of others to choose from. PM me some time please :-)

[MarioIArguello]

@StormyMaxPerry I've been getting a lot of inspiration to complete a rather large ultralight RC helicopter , whcih I finally finished, by watching this particular video you posted. I love the way that 300 flies. Check out my most recent RC Ultralight Heli video.

[MarioIArguello]

Stormy, Love the vintage helis, they have something missing in todays cookie cutter RC heli designs. Enjoyed your video very realistic flight. Have you ever got the House FLY assembled and flying?

[StormyMaxPerry]

Hi MarioIArguello!

Yeah, seems like all the heli's today are distilled down from designs made over the last 30 years. The market has demanded a type of heli that fits a certain specification (3D flying) and thereby goes the evolution. Sorry, my House Fly is still in its box. Too many other projects lol!

[rhettscal]

Cool! I remember this being on the cover of RC Modeler magazine in 1973 when I was still a young teenager. I worn that magazine out reading/dreaming about that helicopter.

[PreddyGS]

Always great to see a video of a vintage piece of history actually flying - well done Steve.

[sonixsp]

awsome i just got one off craigs list. so the fun of restoring begins...

[gabrielbenitosobrino]

¿lleva motor de motosierra?

[jnelsonsk8]

I have several of the Du Bro Heli's 505,300,shark,collective heads,parts. may want to sell entire collection

[StormyMaxPerry]

Hi jnelsonsk8: I just left you a direct message through your youtube account. Please get back to me. THX!

[meisjt33]

how much do you want for it

[StormyMaxPerry]

Want? I never suggested it was for sale. But just to let you know, this video was to be the last one of myself as the owner of this Hughes. I was to "hand over the keys" to the new owner at the end of this flight. He (new owner) traded a new Futaba 14MZ transmitter/receiver for the heli RTF. I actually did my best to talk him out of the trade but he insisted. Three months later, 'trader's remorse' set in and he wanted to trade back. To keep the peace, that's what I did. The 300's mine forever :)

[StormyMaxPerry]

Oh, late additional note: The cameraman is the person that wanted to trade me. FYI...

[NightFlyyer]

Very Nicely done. 5 Stars.

[StormyMaxPerry]

Thanks Dave. Flying this 14lb, fixed-pitch, under-powered monster is hard work. This is the very same Du-Bro model version as I had back in 1974 as my first RC heli. I'll soon post my 2003 videos of me trying to fly this one without a tail gyro and it's very clear why I didn't ever learn to fly my original Hughes way back then in '74-75. Without a doubt, this heli, sans gyro, is the hardest model to fly, ever. With the gyro it's not too bad, just takes some anticipation to reactions.