JS TZ-V2 .50 Size Nitro Helicopter

When HobbyKing announced that they would be stocking 50 and 90 size Nitro powered helicopters, I’m sure that more than a few RC Helicopter enthusiasts started saving their pennies. I know that I was one of them and I waited patiently for them to get listed in their inventory. Most people were expecting clones of the popular T-Rex 600 and T-Rex 700 and everyone was surprised when they started stocking the JS TZ-V2 .50 and .90 size helicopters. I was quick to order the JS TZ-V2 .50 from the first batch.

The JS TZ-V2 .50 is sort of a Frankenstein helicopter. It has tail unit and belt drive that is very similar to the TT Raptor but the rest resembles the popular JR Vibe series. I get the feeling that the engineers at JS Models took the best features from all their favorite helicopters and created this absolutely amazing machine.

Kit Contents

The JS TZ-V2 .50 kit sold by HobbyKing arrived well packaged and with a decent set of instructions for completing the helicopter. Most of the parts were pre-assembled at the factory but I would recommend taking the whole thing apart to check that all the screws have thread lock applied.

I was a little disappointed that the tail assembly is made from re-enforced nylon instead of alloy but at only $160 for the entire kit I still feel that it is a great bargain. I also noticed that there are no main rotor blades included, so I suggest you order them at the same time when you order your kit.

As with most HobbyKing helicopter kits, it’s barebones meaning that you will need to supply your own engine and electronics.

What You Will Need

As I mentioned before, the kit doesn’t contain the engine or any electronics so you will need to supply your own:

• Radio and Receiver
• .50 Size Nitro Engine
• Standard Size Servos
• Gyro
• Receiver Battery
• Main Rotor Blades

I personally didn’t want to skimp on quality as any Nitro powered helicopter has the potential to turn deadly if any part fails. So I opted for some decent components and ended up with the following:

• Futaba 7C Transmitter and Futaba R617FS 7-Channel Receiver
• O.S. 55HZ Hyper Engine
• 4 x Futaba S3003 Standard Servos
• 1 x Futaba S9254 Digital Servo
• Futaba GY401 Gyro
• Standard Futaba Receiver Battery
• 600mm Carbon Fiber Blades

You can put the helicopter together much cheaper of course, but at the very least use a radio system with a failsafe system built in.

Assembly

Putting the JS TZ-V2 .50 together is rather simple, the supplied instructions are rather good and each step is laid out clearly. 90% of the parts are pre-assembled at the factory but I highly recommend that you take each component apart and re-assemble it ensuring that all metal on metal screws are properly thread locked. When you are doing this, make sure that you remember where every component goes so that you don’t have any problems when re-assembling it. The manual also covers the build as though you are building from scratch, so refer to it often if you are unsure.

One problem I noticed with the manual is that some of the size measurements, especially for the links, are wrong. I think the JS TZ-V2 .50 has gone through several revisions and the manual may actually be for an older model. While it isn’t a big problem, don’t fret when some measurements don’t match exactly.

The first step is the servo installation. Here is where I really started liking the JS TZ-V2 .50, everything seems very well thought out and servo installation is a breeze. There are even holes opposite to the servo mounts that help make installing servo nuts as easy as pie. Compared to small electric helicopters, this is like being in heaven.

Installing the engine is probably the step that confuses most pilots and I was expecting some problems. First you mount the clutch and fan onto the engine crank shaft and then you slide the entire engine into the frame. Once everything is in place then you can adjust the clutch bell to ensure it is properly lined up with the clutch. I was really surprised that was all there was to it.

Now you can install all the other components as per the instructions. My advice is to take your time and make sure that every step is followed properly.

Pre-Flight

Before your first flight there are a few things you should do. I highly recommend that you run at least one tank without the blades attached so that the engine can run itself in. This is also a good time to check for any vibrations and to get your engine settings right.

Next, check for any binding on the servos and control surfaces and ensure your servos are centering correctly. Make any final adjustments on your transmitter before you attach the blades.

Flight Testing

My first few flights were rather basic as I tried to get a feel for the helicopter. The JS TZ-V2 .50 flies really well without any major adjustments and I was surprised by how agile it is. The cyclic response was not as fast as my smaller helicopters but definitely fast enough to pull off most 3D moves. My blade tracking was slightly off when at maximum pitch so I had to land and adjust the linkages to get it perfect. Hovering with the JS TZ-V2 .50 is an absolute pleasure; it just floats there without much input from me.

I’ve now been flying the JS TZ-V2 .50 for just over a month and I haven’t found the need to adjust any of the stock settings. I’m no 3D expert but I have found that the TZ-V2 .50 gives me the confidence to pull of some stunning maneuvers.

Conclusion

The JS TZ-V2 .50 is a great helicopter at an incredible price. It has really opened up the door for RC helicopter pilots to make the jump from electric to Nitro. Replacement parts are readily available and I’m sure we will start seeing more and more dealers stocking them soon.

The stock setup is great for beginner to intermediate pilots and with a few adjustments and upgrades it will even satisfy the most demanding 3D nuts. Overall I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and I can see myself buying its big brother the JS TZ-V2 .90 in the near future.

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