Current 550 discussions moved from my video topic

[Skaross]

2. If I do need a BEC what is the best one to use?

3.I been reading that alot of the 550 are using the Align ESC. Is this the best or just OK.

The Align BEC seems perfectly good enough for me... mine is actually the GAUI badged one that came with the kit bundle, but its the same unit. I can't say I'm an expert, but there are a lot of TRex 600 users with them, and to my knowledge its not an item many throw away and replace with something more expensive.

My experiences with the Align ESC suggest it to be a good budget solution that is well up to the task. It looks chunky and relatively well made, but its governor is a little simplistic.

For a Joe Bloggs average flyer like me it is perfect, but I was spoiled by originally using a Castle Creations 80 (which let out the magic blue smoke sadly!!) and now I want the simplicity of governor mode, but with more control of the headspeed. For sport flying, its a great cheap solution!

I'll let others comment on digital vs. analogue servos... I'm too poor a flyer to tell the difference! I will say I use Spektrum/JR 821's, so call me a digital servo snob :)

Kev

[simonandsonia]

Hi

Thanks Bob, X30PILOT & Stefank for your replies. I'll have to get a sizing tool - thats another one for my overflowing heli tool box! I must have been lucky in the past as I've never had to do this before. Can't wait to get this flying, it looks great in the vids.

Cheers

Simon

[garciaj01]

Thanks for the info Gents. Looks like i will be ordering Align Electronics.

[garciaj01]

Looking for hs-635hb servos does any one have a lead were i can get some at a decent price. if you have extras i will buy them from you.

[EricW]

Great build Bob, thanks!,

This heli really looks good overall, especially when you look at the price.
Straight forward design and seems to fly very stable.
Will take awhile before i switch to a 500/550 size heli, My miniTitan is still my baby, but this one seems to be a future candidate.
A Trex500 could spoil things i guess.

VetteNooB:
Are you Dutch? maybe just a coincidence but a Cool Nickname :lol: (real Dutch slang)
Success with your EP550!

Eric

[VetteNoob]

Nope, not Dutch. It used to be my hobby until we had our first kid. Couldnt afford to keep a toy in the garage but I decided to stick with the nick.

I had an 86 coupe, 99 coupe, and 99 vert Corvettes. My 99 vert made 420hp to the wheels and was a blast to drive.....

If nothing else, this hobby is still hella cheaper than my previous one :)

[EricW]

I know, cars...., i've been in Rallysport before i picked up RC again(like WRC but a much cheaper Class :) ) so..
:oops: In Dutch VetteNoob means something like "enormous newbie" but in a cool funny way.
Sorry for the Offtopics but i had to ask :lol:

Eric

[canadianshark74]

The main blade bolts are 3mm. Do the cnc grips use 4mm bolts?

Also, which blades would be a good fit. 500 or 515 carbons?

thanks

[Finless]

Yes the grip bolts ont he metal grips are 4mm. I used Mikado 500mm CF blades and they run great but I did have to use the 3mm bolt tubes from the wood blades for the plastic grips as the Mikado blade holes are 4mm.

Bob

[Finless]

WARNING ALL! The Gaui metal grips are all pre-assembled. I decided to take mine apart and check if the thrust bearings are lubed... NOT A OUNCE OF OIL OR GREASE!!!! WTF is up with that?

So if you got these your going to need to tap out the first bearing (the one towards the blades) and then grease the thrust bearing. Now the outer bearing is a press fit in the grip and you will need to HEAT the grips to tap it out safely... Thats a bummer because you will need to regrease these from time to time. :arggg:

I am actually wondering or thinking about reversing the bearing order on the metal grips... Most helis I have built have the thrust bearing LAST (last bearing towards the blades) but this one has it in between 2 ball bearings. For the plastic grips this probably was OK as that last ball bearing "floats" in the grip and is not pressed in and thus will be pulled onto the thrust bearing...... BUT on the metal grips it makes no sense as the last bearing is a TIGHT press fit.... I am thinking it would be better now to put the thrust bearing as the last bearing for the metal grips.

But if that wont work (and I think it will) another idea is to drill a small oiling hole that is centered on the thrust bearing so you can oil it from time to time without having to freakin remove the grip, heat it, and tap out the damn bearing.... :arggg:

Anyway just be aware that I think this is a issue that needs to be addressed.....

Bob

[neilnpw]

I have various set of batteries including some Evo 20 2500 4S, and I am thinking of using these with a high voltage esc on this heli. The ESC is capable of running 6-10 cell lipo`s which means I can fly using my standard Align packs used on my Trex 450 or with a pair of the 4 cell evos.

Does anybody know what motors there are available that would work reasonably well on 6 cells and really buzz on the eight.

Bob,
I am waiting for my CNC blade grips to arrive, for hard to get to areas I use a syringe to inject oil onto the bearings, would this suffice for these blade grip bearings?
:arggg:

[VetteNoob]

Bob,

Does this look right to you? I took what you said in the video and what I read on Swift-Tuning (since these are similar sized helis) and plotted out a pitch and throttle curves.

If I went with the "adjusted" values, do you think it would be fairly tame for a beginner?

Ive attached a pic of the curves graphed out.

[soundgodz]

Hi Bob

Thanks for the video , I was wondering what direction to set the Esc on the hurricane ep550. I did not see it in the manual or did i remember it stated in the build video. Can you tell me so i don't have to clamp ti down and pray! :wink:

[Skaross]

Blades go clockwise looking from above. Also, if the motor is reversed, the one way bearing kicks in and the head doesnt rotate... I would never rely on this as a safety feature though... always stand well clear.

Kev

[soundgodz]

Thanks , but i was asking about the direction on the transmitter channel.
I know about changing the direction of rotation by swapping two motor wires.
I changed the direction on one of my models before and got full on with the stick all the way down. that was what i wanted to avoid again. :oops:

[Finless]

Futaba radio or JR?
Futaba you reverse the throttle... For JR or DX leave it normal.

Bob

[VetteNoob]

Is the 2.9v 1st Step battery maintenance setting on the ESC too low? Everything Ive read and searched shows that 3.2v is as low as each cell should get. Just curious.

[soundgodz]

Thanks Bob, I do have a Futaba.
But I want to get the Dx7 after payday.So both answers very helpful.
I will test fly mine this week sometime. :lol:

[Jimbo80]

There has been allot of discussion about the low voltage cutoff on the gaui esc. This afternoon I accidentally flew my hurricane to the point where the voltage cutoff got enabled.
I must say it worked exactly as it should, it lower my head speed and there was no problem bringing the bird down. It was a big change in head speed so there is no way I could have missed it, but still no problem bringing her down.
My guess is that I had flown about 6 to 7 min, using stock gaui motor with 15T, Mikando 500 cabon blades, 2 x 2350mah 3s and 100-90-100 throttle curve. (normally I fly 5min and put back 1900mah when I remember to turn on the timer :wink: )
When I connected my battery to the charger each cell had about 3,5V (unloaded I guess). And I was able to put back 2400mah to batteries.

[X30PILOT]

Gentlemen,

In regards to your throttle sensing on your radios, I highly recommend getting your ESC and motor hooked up and tested before you mount the motor in your heli. Modern speed controls have some nice safety features, but I still would not bet my fingers that it’s always going to work.

I have 45 flights on my Hurricane now and I really have been enjoying this thing.
The only maintenance that I have needed was to CA in the screws for the tail ball links.
The helicopter and gear train is not showing any signs of stress or wear
Currently I am planning to try some different paddles to pick up the cyclic response a bit.
Has anyone flown something besides the stock paddles?

X30

[Tom Viper]

Nope, running the stock paddles. I wonder if there is much to gain here?
Which ones have a slimer airfoil and lighter in weight?
Could the KJS paddles work? Or, is it a longer flybar we want?
How much are acctually up to the blades?

Mine is over 150 flights (25h airtime), running great still. This is acctually the only heli I fly nowdays. All others are grounded hehe...

[X30PILOT]

Tom Viper

A simple change in paddles can make a big difference in cyclic response.
One of my flying buddies has a Tiger that had very slow controls and he installed the Miniature Aircraft XL 3D paddles and now that thing will flip and tumble like a real 3D machine. I'm thinking about trying these paddles on the Hurricane.

X30

[Skaross]

X30

I have the light Raptor paddles, which if nothing else, are a better aerofoil than the stock hollow plastic ones. Yet to fit them, but probably will as part of my next upgrade. Will let you know if I can feel the difference.

Kev

[Turbo Boss]

Hello Guys, I have read all the pages and I have seen all the finless videos. Very nice and informative.

Have any of you have try a fuselage in this heli? Or what fuselage can fit to this heli?

THX,

Isaac

[Turbo Boss]

Guys plese check the question on the pic.

THX,

Isaac