RC-Tek Diablo Review / Overview

[Finless]

OK folks here is the REVIEW / Build tips

This is not a complete build series but I do cover many things.

OK I shot these before the final production version so you need to watch the UPDATE video to understand the differences between my heli and what the production unit will have. Bottom line RCT changed some things about the frame based on my input.

VIDEO -> Update Video showing the changes for Production units (18 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/diablo&filename=update.wmv)

VIDEO -> First Look and whats in the box! (33 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/diablo&filename=firstlook.wmv)

VIDEO -> Tail Overview and what to check for (15 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/diablo&filename=tail.wmv)

VIDEO -> Frames Overview and Servo setup (38 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/diablo&filename=frames.wmv)

VIDEO -> Head setup and Final setup notes (30 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/diablo&filename=head.wmv)

VIDEO -> Flying Baby! (77 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/diablo&filename=flying.wmv)

I will do a RCT 40 ESC setup and review of the standard motor soon!

Bob

[mecevans1]

finally! thanks for the vids!

[TheBum]

I'm looking forward to it. I've been participating in an RCT-450 discussion thread over at RCGroups and found out from Scott at RC-Tek that the Diablo and Sky Shark should be released any day now. I'm probably going to be getting one and this will be my first "serious" heli, so I'll need all the help I can get (the T-Rex videos are still a tremendous help in learning the general "what to do" philosophy, though)

[sirAbe]

this is great i have a diablo and this helps only problem is mine is fully setup so i might have to undo somethings to be able to fit the servo in like that.

[brovic777]

Here's Finless flying the heck out of the Diablo. That sucker flies soo good!!! Better than the Trex 450 IMO.

For Download, right click, save as:
Finless Bob Flying the RC-Tek Diablo (http://www.******tv.com/HDVIDS/FinlessDiabloHDwide2mbps.wmv) 77mb's

My server is very slow. It needs to be uploaded to a faster server which I don't got!! :D

Google Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5763548598357444089&hl=en

[skid]

It would have been nice to hear the heli instead of ac\dc.

[TheBum]

It would have been nice to hear the heli instead of ac\dc.
Agreed! I don't know why people insist on having music blaring on their heli videos. I'd much rather hear the whine of the motor and the buzzing of the blades.

[blade strike]

I think it was a pretty cool video ;)

[HeliNY]

That heli is so smooth and stable in inverted hover, it flies beautifully. And its better to hear the heli and Bob's comments which is why ****** lifted the music track and restored the original sound. As soon as the heli comes in with all the new motors and other accessories I will reorder it. My order overlapped the shipping of the new motor and other parts so I cancelled it until such time all the goodies were included. My money was refunded to my account in less then a day by the way, so no worries about buying from Scott and RC-Tek.

[TheBum]

Not to turn this into a "how great RC-Tek is" thread, but I've admittedly been a pest as I've been trying to pull everything together for my Diablo and Scott has been more patient than I would have been under the circumstances. I'm looking forward to getting this thing ready to fly, but I'm also trying not to rush things since this is my first non-RTF heli, which is why my setup will probably take several weeks. Hopefully, Finless will get his videos posted before I go too far down the wrong road.

Anyway, mine has the G-head, new motor, the upgraded ESC with switching BEC, but the old boom clamp. I'm trying to bide my time on the setup so that I can get the new CF boom clamp before it comes time to mount the gyro because the new clamp has an underside platform. I had originally thought that the old clamp could be inverted, but it turned out not to be practical.

[Finless]

OK the review / build tips overview is UP!

Enjoy!

Bob

[TheBum]

Great! The only problem I see is that the Frames Overview and Servo Setup link is bad.

[Finless]

Link is fixed! Thanks for letting me know.

Bob

[brovic777]

Here's the video remake requested by some to be without music.

You get the bonus of hearing the peanut gallery guys!!!! I swear, those guys will be famous one day!!

Finless Bob flying RC-Tek Diablo w/o music Video (http://www.******tv.com/HDVIDS/FinlessDiabloNoMusic1.2mbps.wmv) 47mb's

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o91/******777/Pics2/IMG_0326.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o91/******777/Pics2/IMG_0328.jpg

[TheBum]

I noticed in the Tail video that Finless mentioned "backing" Loctite. I assume that will work anywhere that the end of the screw is exposed? The reason I ask is because I used bolts and nuts on my elevator servo (a DS285) that I've already tightened down really well and I don't really want to remove the nuts just to put on Loctite. Just call me lazy.

[Finless]

Yes it will work. While not as secure as doing properly it is a way to cheat and save time. It's worked for me over the years :)

Bob

[kmfisher]

Thats some great flying there Bob, the kind I'm aspiring to do some day. Great review and build video. I've been looking at the Diablo for a couple of weeks as my next chopper and I've got a couple of questions:

Whats the benefit of a high flybar as oppossed to a low flybar?

What is the purpose of the servo layout they used? Is better / more efficient?

I noticed in the tail video that it was a leading edge control, whats the difference?

What did you think of the Diablo as a whole? How does it stack up to the Trex 450 se v2?

Thanks for your time,
Ken F.

[Finless]

Well flying wise I have not noticed anything HUGELY better witht he high flybar design over the low. Only thign I did notice is I can get more cyclic and pitch before the head binds in the corners of stick movement.

The idea behind the servo layout is to allow for a top mounted motor which moves more weight to the center of the heli thus increasing cyclic performance.

Leading vs trailing on the tail blades is always debated as to the pro's and con's. What I notice is that this tail unit / slider has less slop than a Trex yet is not as complicated as a uH tail of similar design.

I think the Diablo is a fine heli and is built well. I will be keeping mine and flying it. As to comparison with a Trex well both are very similar in how they fly and quality. I will say the DIablo is one of the better 450's to come along and compete against the Trex.

Bob

[brovic777]

Here's another video of a pre-production Diablo flown a few months back by Jason Chow on a 4s battery and Neu Motor. Listen to how high headspead is. You probably won't want to run it in this setup as its too much power. Even Jason now likes using the Align 430XL motor better because it handles better for him..

For Video Download Right Click and save as:
Jason Chow flying 4s, Nue Motor RC-Tek Diablo (http://www.******tv.com/HDVIDS/Jason4sDiabloWideHD.wmv) 57mb's

[Spectre]

Here's another video of a pre-production Diablo flown a few months back by Jason Chow on a 4s battery and Neu Motor. Listen to how high headspead is. You probably won't want to run it in this setup as its too much power. Even Jason now likes using the Align 430XL motor better because it handles better for him..

For Video Download Right Click and save as:
Jason Chow flying 4s, Nue Motor RC-Tek Diablo (http://www.******tv.com/HDVIDS/Jason4sDiabloWideHD.wmv) 57mb's

What blades does he have on?

[brovic777]

What blades does he have on?

Not sure. Probably V-Blades.

[ct420]

Hi Bob,

When you inspected the tail rotor hub, did you find that the hub is the type that protrudes into the inner race of the bearings, or is it the "butt against" type like the old T-REX?

You mentioned in the vid that you were going to look for this, but I didn't notice you comment on it again (unless I just missed it somehow).

I'm just curious which type it is...

[Finless]

Yes it protrudes into the grips and is the "good design" I could have sworn I covered that but if I didnt say anything the video clearly show the hub type while I have it apart.

Bob

[Awais]

Bob,

You sure the trex tail grips are trailing edge control. I have both mine as leading edge.

Awais

[skid]

My se is leading edge control on tail.