Using The CSM Simulator

Editor's Note: The current CSM Simulator is version 10. As soon as I find a way to capture the screens, I'll post up my review on it. The version shown below is version 8/9.

Nothing like the real thing. True, but a simulated crash is definitely better than a real crash.

So the question here is, "Is an R/C Simulator worth getting, or should you just learn it from pure experience?".

From my experience, and also the fact that I don't have an instructor to teach me the basics of flying R/C Choppers, I opted to get a flight simulator to train on, and see just how my flying will improve, if ever.

After scouting around for several R/C Simulator, I stumbled across NHP/CSM's 3 in 1 R/C Simulator.

The folks at NHP were really helpful and patient in pursuading me to purchase their R/C Sim amongst the rest. Much thanks to Tony Wright (W3MH) for pointing the way, and also to Nicky (NHP) for taking the trouble to grope with PGP. Not forgetting Colin S Mill himself, in responding to my queries regarding his fine product. Thus, I parted with my $200.00 and ordered the product.

A week of waiting and it finally arrived.

NHP/CSM works with your own transmitter, and for it to work, you have to have the "buddy-box" connect or trainer's jack. This socket attaches to a little interface box that connects to your PC's printer/parallel port. You have to inform NHP what transmitter you're using so that they can provide you with the correct lead.

The box cover is impressively done, but the contents of the package is somewhat of an anti-climax. A 3.5" disk, cable, interface and a manual that is all text, are all there is inside.

Well, forget about the manual - where's that Interface and Diskette? After plugging in the interface to my printer port and the cable to my Futaba Skysport, I then proceeded to installed the software. Installation is straight forward. Insert the diskette and type A>INSTALL. The program will do the rest. I found out later that that wasn't even necessary. You simply need to copy the entire diskette to your harddisk and that was it, or simply play it off the diskette.

There are 3 executable files, NHPE.EXE, NHP.EXE and NAPE.EXE. NHPE and NHP is the helicopter simulator. The 'E' is the version that supports the Co-processor. NAPE is the Aeroplane simulator. I wonder how come there wasn't a NAP though. I'll be reviewing only the Helicopter Simulator over here.

(Afternote: There's no NAP version because, according to CSM, the aerodynamics computations got so complicated that he couldn't get a good frame rate without the co-processor)

Typing NHPE get's you straight to the program, and you would see this opening screen, asking for your radio type.

If your radio is not listed, just select new and you would be prompted with some questions for the system to learn your radio setup. I had to select this option too, even though Futaba Skysport was listed. The reason being I neither use MODE I nor MODE II. (My throttle/collective/rudder is on the right hand, and my cyclic is on my left hand.) The configuration for the radio was a breeze and NHP/CSM immediately got my settings done in less than a minute.

Now, the Main Menu. As you can see, there's a wide variety of choices you can choose from:

• Load helicopter - A few of the popular models have already been pre-programmed. I was particularly happy when I saw shuttle ZXX listed as I am flying that for real. If your model is not listed, there's no problem as NHP/CSM is also a modelling program, and you can program your own specifications and save it as a model inside this menu. What you should do then is to choose the model of your class (size 30 or 60) and then modify the individual parameters in the menus that follows.

• Save current helicopter - Any changes you make to the parameters of the menus will be lost if you do not save it. This command allows you to save the settings so you can load it back again whenever you want.

• Dimensions - Lots of goodies in here. I would suggest that you take a weighing machine, a long ruler and your pitch guage out and measure everthing about your real model, and then type in the dimensions into NHP/CSM. You'll be surprise how close the actual response and feel of your model is represented in this Simulator!

• Setup - This screen deals with how you setup your servos and the degree of pitch for the control surfaces.

• Pitch guage - This pitch guage can act as a test to see that your transmitter is working right when you move the sticks. One of the things I like to do here is to compare the pitch and throttle of the simulator to my real model (by using the REAL PITCH GUAGE), and see just how close they can get.

• Engine data - Grab your Engine manual here and punch in the HP and RPM. Try to get this correct, as I've experimented with different HPs and got real different respond from flying.

• Gyro/Servo Speeds - If you don't know what to do here, just leave it alone.

• Flybar Data - This is one good area to explore the relationship of the Flybar data to actual flight characteristics. But again, if you want an accurate representation of your model, measure and weigh, then type in the values

• Weather conditions - I think I must say that this simulation takes care of weather very realistically. Gusty situations can be simulated, and it's quite unpredictable when flying - so control that throttle!!

• Nose in/out take-off - Personally, I don't think this is necessary.

• Crash Limits - Fancy not crashing at all? Change the settings higher, or do you want to make perfect landings? Personally, I feel that CSM could have programmed the crash parameter more effectively like taking into consideration the weight of the helicopter and speed of impact instead of leaving this as an option.Most beginners will tend to be lenient towards themselves and may not be that lucky if they were to have heavy landings on the real thing.

• Select a transmitter - This is the same as the opening screen, which allows you to choose a transmitter setting.

• Calibrate transmitter - I like this part. Not many of the simulators allows you to program any setup, and NHP/CSM has catered for that group of people who prefers to fly with their channels mixed up.

• Servo reversing - I don't think this part is necessary again, since you would already have reversed the servos directly on the radio. Mainly, this is used if you have different settings for different helis, then you might find your servos in the wrong direction as the Simulator.

• Simulation Setup - Some interesting options here. Most computers can take 36fps, so make sure you got it as that. Want slow motion? you can lower the motion rate, and for the real beginners, there's an invisible hand that holds your heli in mid air while you figure out what the sticks on your transmitter does.

So, are you ready to fly? If you are, Click HERE.