my Trex600 AP bird...finally!

[bullaculla]

Almost done with my heli, but I can finally take stills with it and looks good enough to show off. I just ordered the AP2000i and I still need to clean up my wiring. I bought an Askman 360 mount in february so its has taken me awhile to get to where I am now. I'm running 10s with the Z power Z50a 600 motor. everything stays nice and cool with this setup. ready to shoot weight right now is slightly over 13 lbs, but I am getting some evolites in soon. right now i'm using 2x 5s 5000 evo20 lipos. I can fly for 8 minutes and only use 60% of my lipos capacity. but untill I become a better pilot or get my AP2000i, 8 minutes is a long, long time.
I'd like to give special thanks to Ticitytoc for pointing me in the right direction for my power system and letting me fill up his PM mailbox nearly everyday :D
Also thanks to Askman for his help many months ago, and to Loopback for his pics of his viewfinder cam and his jomar e-switch, and pretty much everybody here in the AP section and Trex 600 section. I have read countless threads here and learned so much, so thanks to all of you! :)

http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/large/01.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/large/02.jpg
:recently added:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/large/sprtn1.jpg
First test shot! Really windy crappy day in Hawaii tho...
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/large/DH.jpg
larger size here:
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/01.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/02.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/DH.jpg

So what do you guys think?

[Ticidytoc]

Man that looks slick Iven. Congrats on getting it finished !!
I'm glad I was able to help out a little and I cant wait to see some of those videos from Hawaii !!

PS: When are you gonna let me come and do a guest flight on it ? :D

[theglennster]

Ballaculla
Nice setup and a super clean build its a credit to you. The Hawaii photo looks sooo good I cant believe that's a crappy day ??? you wanna live in the UK we dream of days like that!
I cant wait to see what else you have in mind.

[cbdane]

I see you went first class with EMS Jomar optical isolation! :thumbup:

[heliwild]

"Really windy crappy day in Hawaii tho..."

I didn't think there was such a thing.

[AZ ChopperCam]

nice! what size blades you running?

[MarkWebber]

Man, I wanted to put my self in the box with the AP2000i when I saw those pics. Nice job.

[bullaculla]

Thanks guys!
DJ, i'm running the rotortech 610 semi symms, but i would like to try some 620 symmetrical. I read in the trex600 section they will fit. I get too much ballooning with the gusty winds around here. I want to get some good 620s on and see how many amps it pulls in a hover compared to the shorter semi symm blades. Maybe when I start making some money, i'll try a mild stretch.

I got a few jobs coming up and needed to get this thing done, but I really wanted it done right. You guys have been a real help.
Thanks again.
I dont think i'll ever be done with it tho, but its real close. I am already looking at changing the bungee hangers. they are just upsidedown landing gear with short loops through them. I'm gonna get some strips of G10 and make something a little more stable.
Now to try out the search function on our new site and take a bunch of notes about setting up the AP2000i :D

[WillJames]

AWESOME!!!!:noteworthy:glasses2:

[MarkWebber]

Got all your set up tips right here....www.webberaerialimaging.com/quickstart.html

[heliwild]

Got all your set up tips right here....www.webberaerialimaging.com/quickstart.html

Nice website, Mark.

[BarnOwl]

That is a very nice setup you've got there, bullaculla! Great pictures too!
This gives me spirit to setup something like that, the first time I shot a short video with a self made rig my T-Rex 600 came down from 200 feet on top of my BBQ because of a radio lockout. Never tried it again after that.
You have some guts to fly the rig over the sea like that! Awesome! :thumbup:

[BungeeMike]

Iven
Nice setup.... finally LOL
Lets get together and do some air to air shots of each others birds for promo, websites. My pilot can help with 2000i setup if you need it.

Aloha
Bungee

[Efliernz]

Looks great Iven

I got my 610 semi-symms on last night. Just need out horrible crappy weather to go for a test flight. Too much work on to have crappy weather...

[bullaculla]

That is a very nice setup you've got there, bullaculla! Great pictures too!
This gives me spirit to setup something like that, the first time I shot a short video with a self made rig my T-Rex 600 came down from 200 feet on top of my BBQ because of a radio lockout. Never tried it again after that.
You have some guts to fly the rig over the sea like that! Awesome! :thumbup:

Actually Barnowl, its not really over the ocean. Real close to the edge tho. Here is a vidcap of where I work and fly normally. this is my testing ground :D
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/websize/vidcap2.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/websize/vidcap1.jpg
I did get over the ocen a few times, but I was really up there!

Mike, we all have to get together some time so you can help me fine tune my setup. I appreciate all the advice you have given me too mike. You all have been great. :)

[bp_968]

Nice setup! I am looking at a larger setup myself but am still stuck at picking the ship. What made you choose the trex600 over say one of the Logos, or a swift? People have been suggesting the Logo10 to me but I have to admit the trex600 is tempting simply because it seems far easier to find parts for and people who fly them.

bp

PS, great photo! it makes me want to go back to Hawaii (been to Kauai and Maui so far).

[bullaculla]

If you want to go bigger, i'd go for a maxi joker2. I wish I bought one of those from the start! I started with the trex600 simply because I also fly some 3d and my LHS carries parts for it. Not too many big hobby shops around here... but I get most of my stuff from the mainland anyway. I think stetched logos are lighter tho. my setup is kinda porky :D

[bp_968]

If you want to go bigger, i'd go for a maxi joker2. I wish I bought one of those from the start! I started with the trex600 simply because I also fly some 3d and my LHS carries parts for it. Not too many big hobby shops around here... but I get most of my stuff from the mainland anyway. I think stetched logos are lighter tho. my setup is kinda porky :D

Sorry, I wasn't clear. By "larger" I mean larger then my trex450 (something in the trex600 size range).

I figure i'll keep the 450 for 3D flight and use the larger heli mainly for AP work. smashing the 450 into the ground tends to be a lot cheaper then a 600+ size heli ;)

The maxi joker2 looks awesome but just the thought of the batteries alone is mind $numbing$!!

bp

[bullaculla]

WhoooHooo!!!
I got my spartan AP2000i and FMA sensor in the mail today! Thanks Mark for getting it out so fast. Also got the evolite 5s 5350 packs from esprit model in today too, but aren't really that much lighter than the evo20 5000. But at least I got back up lipos :mrgreen: plus they threw in a nice esprit Tx neckstrap!

Now, how do I get the DX7 to calibrate with this thing? I've been searching, but Garys link is no good now.
If someone could give me some tips.
Thanks :)

BTW bp, the power system i'm running isn't much different than most jokers, 10s with a Jazz55! :shock:
cant believe how much money i've spent...

[bullaculla]

All cleaned up and ready for the dance :mrgreen:
It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be! the quick start guide is a huge help as the manual doesn't tell you too much. Now I just gotta figure out a way to set CAL easily without using the subtrims...
http://photos.imageevent.com/bullaculla1/heli/small/sprtn1.jpg
crimper are a must :p

[Efliernz]

Awwwe your toys turn up faster than mine... but my AP2 is on the way.

Nice tidy install. No stopping you now.

[BungeeMike]

BP
Go with the Trex like Bullaculla, I have had logo 10,20 then the maxi for that size bird I think the Trex is superior for a variety of mechanical and cost reasons. The joker batteries arent that bad $750 a set and you need at least 4 sets, its the alarm system you have to buy to protect them from theft thats expensive LOL

Bulla I am going to be at Kakako park tomorrow for a short demo if you are around, probally around lunch time. Call me if you can play
Aloha Bungee

[bullaculla]

I'll try to get out there Mike, my wife and daughter come home from Japan tomorrow tho. She is gonna be pissed when she finds out how much money I spent while she was gone :bomb: I'll give you a call if i'm still alive. :D

[Efliernz]

Iven

I tried out the new semi-symm blades yesterday with the home-made mount and Canon A640 / 0.7 lens. 30 minutes of airtime in 90 minutes of site visit. Gusting 25mph, it takes patience to bring the bird home (into wind) from 250 yards. They do balloon but the extra economy was the difference between using 4 x 6S packs and 5 x 6S packs.

[bullaculla]

Cool Peter! i'm glad they are working out for you. I'm used to flying with a 3D setup, so I fly max pitch without binding. That way you get quicker collective response. You need careful collective management and remember not to go max pitch, but its there if you need it.