Just got my MD530 TT kit delivered, have questions

[Mike SVOR]

Looks like a nice kit.
Why is the landing gear heavier than the entire body?

How do I route the exhaust to come out the back like a real chopper? I thought this would be included in the kit since I see a lot of them with rear exhaust. How do I do it? Got a link or some pics to help?

[BarracudaHockey]

Dont worry about the landing gear except for this, and it will save you some throwing and cussing. Take the bolts that go through the gear struts and into the plastic and pre thread them into the plastic outside of the body. Do it to each hole. Its next to impossible to get them started once you have it all put together.

Any hobby shop that sells airplane stuff sells tuned pipe coupler by the foot, its just silicon tubing. Clamp it on to the muffler snugly (not a tie wrap, use a screw on clamp) and run it out the back and cut it flush. Richen up the needle a half turn and start there. Dont bother with the back windows you wont get enough cooling. Mount the remote glow on the upper engine bolt instead of the lower one and invest in a Venom temp gauge.

[Rodan]

Ditto on what Andy said about threading the screws in before hand, as well as leaving the rear windows out. Also, the markings for the holes to be cut through the fuselage for the skid struts/grommets are far too small. Enlarge them (slowly) until you can get the grommet in, and the strut slides through without alot of force. This will save you a lot of cussing when trying to get it all together.

Also, it helps to slightly countersink the holes on the bottom of the frame where the frame bolts to the landing gear. This will help "index" the bolts when you're trying to screw them in from the bottom. This will save more cussing... trust me... ;)

[Mike SVOR]

Ok, thanks guys.

So, rear windows out? I was thinking there's got to be a way to channel the hot air out via frame side plates that cover the motor or dense foam fill glued to the body.

as far as the exhaust goes, I think I found another solution. 1/2" aluminum tubing bent in an S shape to the exhaust opening. Whachathink?

[BarracudaHockey]

Aluminum tubing will work too but the silicon tuned pipe coupler is so simple I just didnt see the point of going to the trouble.

Another trick is to lubricate the rubber gromments for the skids with armor all when you are fitting the struts, makes everything slide around without the rubber grabbing the struts.

Rodan, wish I had thought about countersinking the holes, I cussed some over that.

[Rodan]

Rodan, wish I had thought about countersinking the holes, I cussed some over that.

Don't kick yourself too hard... I didn't think of it until about the 3rd time I had the mechs out...:P