[Phil Noel]

It is with great sadness that I must make this post.

Udo Pique, a very good friend and long time (20+ years) scale heli modeler, passed away on March 28th after a 3 month battle with lung cancer. He built very nice and detailed scale models that were never just hanger queens. He could usually be seen flying one of them at our local field every weekend. He will certainly be missed by his many friends, family and clubmates.

I have been asked by his wife, to sell off his hobby items and was hoping some of you could give me a good idea of what I should ask for his two current steeds.

Both are the big Vario gas powered helis that have similar gear. One is the big Hughes 500D with the Vario 5 blade head with the Vario specific blades that attach with two bolts. The other is their big EC-145/ BK-117 which has the Vario 4-blade head with the Vario specific blades that also attach with two bolts.

Both use the Vario Petrol Mechanics and are powered by the RC-G240 engine with the Vario specific exhaust system.

Both come fully detailed with the Vario cockpit, pilot figure, optional scale fittings, all doors open and close (sliding rear doors on the EC-145), high intensity LED lighting system. The EC-145 also has the Vario 40 degree tail drive gearbox,

For radio gear, both use the Futaba R6014FS fast receiver coupled to the Skookum 720 FBL control system using 4 x HiTech HS5645 servos to control the swashplate, and the Futaba S9256 servos on the tail with the GV-1 governor working with the Stator Gator sensor.

Both are flown with his Futaba 12FG FASST radio.

When I totaled the components in each, I found that each one would cost about $6000.00 to get into the air, if the 12FG TX was included.

Here is a a video of his first flight last year with the H500D:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTvGVR-7Tdw

and here is the EC145:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7EmvZ0K5ps

Could you fellows please give me an idea of what I should ask for these two gems?

As they are so well detailed I would first like to try to sell them locally as packing them for shipping anywhere would require some special crates and packing to do so safely.

[vinver]

Hi Phil,
Just saw this posted on Scale helis website sorry to hear of Udos passing. I watched some of his You-tube videos, I see there's a Schluter magic video looks like you filmed in 1989! Very rare to hear of helicopter flyers that stick with it until the end, his loss must be a big one for you and everyone who knew him.
Vince

[Phil Noel]

Thank you Vinver. Udo was one of the first people I met from the RC community when I first moved here in 1980. We flew airplanes then and both got into helis together in 1985. After we became relatively proficient with them, he became more interested in scale while I moved more toward FAI & aerobatics. But we always continued to fly together.

His Magic in 1989 was his last aerobatic heli. After that, he moved into building many different Vario scale helis....his first being one of their 60 sized Bell 222.

He was a man of many talents, as he was a precision machinist by trade, a very good photographer, accomplished gardener, computer guru and a very proficient artist with water colours also. So there are many people indeed who will be missing him.

[kev-o]

Yes we will miss him and the christmas emails every year how is Crystal doing I hope she is coping with it

If there's anything I can do to help shout Phil

I'm Not far away

[ve1ahm]

Hi Phil;

Sorry to hear of your friends passing. I watched the videos of the two helicopters. Excellent workmanship and very well flown. Certanly a great loss to the RC community.

Gary
MAAC 15252