just ordered raptor 30v2 arf from amainhobbies tips/help

[raptor30v2owner]

hey all
im glad i finally found time to join the freak here
i just ordered a tt raptor v2 30 with a os 37 ring
i just have too many questions its my first heli ever
i know guys who can teach me at a nearby field so thats not a concern
i ordered the ARF not the kit (had bad expireince building the kits for rc nitro cars so i just wont be doin kits for awhile)
its the pro version too
got a great price on everything (if u want to know how much i spent just ask lol)
i ordered a jr7202 synth system with the servos
jr gyro with servo
again os 37 ring (i will need plenty help breaking in, i did break in my own rc nitro cars but i dont know if its different)
i will need help setting up my radio system
i am looking for that rotopod delux training gear and i found it but its outa stock
i ordered all that other stuff too at amain (foam, slimlime starter kit, super brain 989, 6mm shaft, switch,rx pack,high performance muffler,crash kit, glow adapter,blade holder, exhaust deflector etc)
so what else do i need? will i need a pitch guage? please any tips are welcome
thanks a bunch guys!

[BarracudaHockey]

Nix the rotopod.

Kits are way better than ARF's, what are you going to do when you have to fix it? Are you sure the little man on the assemblyl line thats never seen a model heli fly used locktite everywhere??

Aside from that read http://www.raptortechnique.com tells you pretty much all you need to know about building/fixing/setting up Raptors.

[Rodan]

You will definitely need a pitch gauge, and a tach, or access to one. Consider carefully the specs on the servos that come with the radio. I'm not sure which servos they are, but make sure they are up to heli use. Helis put a lot higher demand on servos than planks. A friend just had a $250 crash thanks to a failed servo motor on the cyclic.

If you don't have a sim, it's a good investment...

Oh, crash spares, you will need them... main/tail blades, grips, main and feathering shafts, boom, tail belt...

[avatar71]

many thing to share!
1. use locktite where metal bolts to metal. I bought the rap 30 arf too and there was NO locktite to be found.
2. forget about it being an arf and get mechanical with it. if you don't, you'll want to toss it after your 1st crash.
3. find someone to help you (actually fly that is) I puttered around for months till someone "made" me take off the training gear and hover.
4. do what the two previous posts said.
5. way too long a list for this post... go to raptortechnique!!!

[raptor30v2owner]

thanks guys
ill do wat u say
i am goin to get a pitch gauge but those tachs are too $$
also i just bought fs one and im already doin aerobatics on it

[raptor30v2owner]

so do i get a rotopod or not?? u said "nix" wat the heck do that means

[Motions]

"nix" means throw the thing away. It hinders the learning process more than it helps and if you use it too long, you develop some bad habits.

[aevans692]

Hi guys

The first thing you will need to do is take apart everything which needs to be thread locked, and make sure it has been done. Then check all C clips (on the tail, and the washout) and replace the ones missing..

By doing this it will save you alot of time latter on as it prob has not been done, and is likely to cause a crash..

A friend of mine had a tail go in mid air and that was a artf..

It is a good thought to do some research about heli setup, check out www.raptor technique.com, then reasearch your radio and how to set that up. Once you have done that it would be wise to get a few hours in on a sim,

Then the bit you have been waiting for ....

Would recomend using a training undercarrage to start with, will make landings easier.. good luck.

if you get stuck you can email me Aevans692@btinternet.com and will try and help.. have fun
Andy :mrgreen:

[comeflywithme]

Rather than buying a tach, just buy a Governor if you're going to spend the money. This will achieve the same thing, cost more or less the same and you get the obvious advantages of having a governor installed on your heli. Dont know how many channels your radio is but you can even use them with 6 channel radios.

Alternatively if you want to save the money you should be able to simply judge the head speed by sound. If you know an experience heli pilot, get him to give you a hand and he'll be able to tell you if the head speed is right.

Pitch gauge is a must though.

[Rodan]

So you can tell the difference between 1950 and 2000 by sound? Wouldn't you like to be sure you're governor is running the HS you intend it to? I know the numbers in the instruction manual for my Throttle Jockey are not accurate with my radio...

I would consider a tach as critical as a pitch gauge for properly setting up a nitro heli...

[comeflywithme]

Personally I dont think your head speed has to be within 50RPM of what you want if you're a beginner but thats just my opinion (anywhere between 1600 and 1800RPM on woodies is fine for a start- and you can tell that by ear)

If you can get your hands on a tach then of course, check it, but if you're trying to save $'s then provided you get your heli checked by someone experience you should be fine.

You're right though Rodan, its a good idea to check your governor if you can.

[Rodan]

I'm just thinking that once anyone is past the beginner stage, it's a pretty useful tool... :wink:

[BarracudaHockey]

Depends on the governor you're running, the GV1 is set by RPM and as long as the gear ratio is correct you are fine. The Revlocks set the engine RPM so if you can do some simple math you can figure out your head speed so I would say between a revlock and a tach I'd rather buy a revlock.

Training sticks with wiffle balls aren sufficent you dont need/want a roto pod, nix means don't bother.

Find someone around you too look it over and test fly it, this will save you time, money and agrivation.

[raptor30v2owner]

hey all it arriced 2 days ago
shes a beaut!
engine is installed and blades etc
thread locked everything
what im p/od about is the servo connection/rc setting up its impossible ive got all these servo wires everywhere
i need serious help here im frustrated off my butt
i plugged in the throttle servo on the proper channel on the reciever and turned on my tx/rx but when i move throttle channel its not working?? PLS SOMEONE HELP!
btw guys dont buy the slimline power station its crap
that thing is more frustrating than the heli
the instructions for wiring dont make sense
its a complete ripoff
all u get is a power panel and the fuel cap and a sullivan electric pump
so i want to trash it and get the hobbico ready station thats cheaper and comes with all ur starter fuel line powerpanel battery glow ignitor and all the in betweens
man cant wait to fly it!!

[raptor30v2owner]

hey all it arriced 2 days ago
shes a beaut!
engine is installed and blades etc
thread locked everything
what im p/od about is the servo connection/rc setting up its impossible ive got all these servo wires everywhere
i need serious help here im frustrated off my butt
i plugged in the throttle servo on the proper channel on the reciever and turned on my tx/rx but when i move throttle channel its not working?? PLS SOMEONE HELP!
btw guys dont buy the slimline power station its crap
that thing is more frustrating than the heli
the instructions for wiring dont make sense
its a complete ripoff
all u get is a power panel and the fuel cap and a sullivan electric pump
so i want to trash it and get the hobbico ready station thats cheaper and comes with all ur starter fuel line powerpanel battery glow ignitor and all the in betweens
man cant wait to fly it!!

[comeflywithme]

If your throttle doesnt move, check that your transmitter isnt in Throttle Hold. Also check obvious (but easyily made) mistakes such as servo plug installed wrong way round. Also try plugging a different servo into the throttle channel - that way you'll know if your servo is faulty.

-Is the Receiver working? - Try some of the other channels - do they work?
-Is your switch harness installed right - if not you might not be getting power to your receiver. Are you using the right Crystals?

A lot of it is just progress by ellimination. Change one thing, does it make a difference - no - change something else, does that make a difference and so on

Servo Wiring - This is an artform in itself and some people (myself not included) seem to be able to do the most amazing jobs of this. Personally I go through each servo one by one (once installed into frame) and make sure they are all exiting on the same side of the frame (so you will have to route a couple through the frame - there are big enough gaps for this). I route all cables on the left side when heli viwed from behing as thats where the gyro leads run too. To connect the right servo to the right channel, I simply pull the ends of different servo leads to check which servo it corresponds to. Once they are all plugged into the receiver, use cable ties or some types of sleves that are availlable, to tidy things up. One you're done all this it'll look much less messy.

I found when I built my first heli - its a really steep learning curve so it will take a while to figure out how everying is put together the first time but from there on it will be second nature to you.

The main thing is to be patient and not get too frustrated - try to enjoy it - unuless youre stinking rich you wont get to build a heli that often!.

[raptor30v2owner]

bad news its still not working, the throttle linkage isnt either
im takin it in to have someone finish it off for me
thanks

[raptor30v2owner]

hey its been givin to a guy who knows what he is doing
owell i gave it a shot
its tuff stuff
the guy is gonna break her in, finish off, set her up, and test it and he might teach me a little
i already know some guys at the field that are more than willing to teach me
thanks again
im sure ill have some questions later on

[angrycookieman]

You're gonna get differing opinions on this, but for me the rotopod was the best money I spent on my heli except for the os 37. I was new to helis and It saved me at least a couple of crashes. I did take them off once I was comfortable hovering and landing, but still think it was worth the money. Also, you need to learn to set the heli up yourself. Until you do that you will never really understand it like you should. There's lots on info on the internet, and you can get dvds on setting them up from hobby shops.