T-Rex 600 AP

[lowandslow]

I decided to give the 600 a go as a Helicam platform. I will be carrying a Airfoil Carbon 30P w/ a Sony V3 camera and all the usual downlink equipment. I have an ION currently but its a lot of $$ and a lot of weight to carry a 15oz camera. I'm trying for something a little lighter, less expensive and easer on the wallet for Lipo power. I'm still flying the ION on 32 round cells which work quite well but they are 4.5 lbs just for the batteries with an all up weight of 17 lbs ready to take pictures. Two sets of lipos for the ION would be almost $1600 which I think is crazy. For that I can almost build a complete 50 sized helicam system with a couple of lipo packs. I'll post my progress and findings.

[dreslism]

Cool I am excited to see the results with this heli for AP. I could not wait any longer for these to come out, and I was not sure how the first ones would be, so I went with an e-raptor50 myself.

What power system and lipos do you plan to put in it?

Thanks

[lowandslow]

For now I'll be using the stock motor and esc that comes in the kit along with the Align 6S 4400. I did a quick little test with my friends 600 and strapped on my carrier less the camera at about 3.3 pounds and it seemed to handle it well pulling about 39 amps on climb out. The Airfoil carrier with all the stuff should be around 4 pounds. Performance and duration will be the big question.

[AZ ChopperCam]

so that means you'll be at what... 10-11lb AUW?

I'm guessing about 700 watts to hover. on a 6s that's around 30 amps. I would expect the runtime to be around 7-8 minutes. Not bad.

These number of course assume that the gearing and motor combo is pretty efficient.

Is there a way to stretch one to run 660's and turn them a bit slower, like maybe 1450-1500?? That could give you an extra minute or more of run time and autos would be much easier.

[lowandslow]

That's what I'm checking into now. Not sure if anything is available yet but a stretch, smaller pinion, bigger blades and slower head speed I think would really be the ticket. Yes, I guess about 10-11lbs. Seven lbs lighter than my ION. Wow!

[dreslism]

For now I'll be using the stock motor and esc that comes in the kit along with the Align 6S 4400. I did a quick little test with my friends 600 and strapped on my carrier less the camera at about 3.3 pounds and it seemed to handle it well pulling about 39 amps on climb out. The Airfoil carrier with all the stuff should be around 4 pounds. Performance and duration will be the big question.


All on 6S huh?

I was really doubting that 6s would do it for this heli, let alone slinging a couple of pounds underneath it.

What did that setup cost? Kit with motor and esc, and their 6s 4400?

[dreslism]

That's what I'm checking into now. Not sure if anything is available yet but a stretch, smaller pinion, bigger blades and slower head speed I think would really be the ticket. Yes, I guess about 10-11lbs. Seven lbs lighter than my ION. Wow!

Stock, this is a 3d heli right? So it will spin about 2000 out of the box?

[lowandslow]

The ION is a 3D heli and makes an excellent AP platform. Not sure what the rpm is out of the box. The combo with motor and esc is $620. The batteries are $259 or $179 for the first one if you buy the combo. Already hauled up 3.3 lbs with no problem at all. Gear down a bit and my bet is the 600 will perform well. My guess is it won't do too bad in it's stock configuration. I don't really care about 3D performance as I will only be hovering.