2nd Heli

[notsane]

Hi all,

This is my first post. This site looks great and I am learning quite a bit already. Thanks!

My first Helis was (and is) a RTF coxaial Walkera.
http://www.xheli.com/wa4chdr53cor.html
It is not the greatest, but I figured I would destroy it in the learning process, so $120 seemed like a better way to spend money than an expensive sim (I have not crashed it yet). I also got the FMS Alpha 8.5 Flight sime and an E-Sky USB controller. i was thinking that my next step would be a CP RTF, but then I started doing the research and boy was I wrong. I want something with Li-Po and a brushless motor. After reading as much as I could stand it looks like the T-Rex 450 SE V2 is the ticket.

What do I need to buy along with it?

Where do I get it?

Is there any way to do this for less $$ (ie the 450SA version)?

What am I not asking?

Thanks!

Mike

[Wrench69]

I also recommend geting a GOOD Sim. FMS is realy not a good representative of helis. You get basics like orientation but thats not all. Best idea is get a Transmitter that you want get and get a good SIM. I use Phoenix. Practice, Practice then over the course of couple months assemble your heli. Don't rush. Heli's are not cheap don't run up credit card charges take it slow and easy. Put away a bit of money every month for spares. Oh and READ every little bit on heli's.

I am on my 3rd month now I finnaly got all parts in even some bling 3 crash kits, my sim skills are getting better. But best of all I didn't break the bank doing it. I have a 500 size heli and its easily 40% more then a 450.

Btw Trex is not the only heli out there, Mini Titan, Dragonus are all very nice birds and cheaper as well. You can always buy a Esky King2.

I am probably missing some stuff but from a newb to a newb this is what I found I had to purchase.

Even for a basic Trex your looking 1000+


Above all you will need an understanding wife/girlfriend

For the Heli.

Good TX/Reciever
Servos
Good tail servo + gyro
Motor + ESC
Batteries.

PARTS for crashes AKA crash kits
Main blades
Tail blades
Feathering shafts
Main shaft
Tail shaft
Main Gear
Flybar
Links.
Tail control rod.
Spare gear sets for servos


Most people foreget these but you will end up buying them eventually. I have used these in my assembly.

Pitch Gauge
Hex drivers. (I have a nice set and a cheapo set)
Soldering Tools. (Iron, paste, solder)
Set of files. (Come in handy)
Charger + powersupply (or all in 1 like the bantam bc6)
Dean plugs
Ball link pliers
Pliers (needle nose)
Epoxy / Glue
Rubing alcohol
Lube.
Rubber bands
Training gear.
Zip ties.
Tool box
Blade holders
Thread lock
Valcro

[Pinecone]

I will share this WORK IN PROGRESS. It is a document I was making up for a friend on what to get, with CHOICES. This is based on my experience and info from people on this site, but in most cases there are other choices available.

I will entertain CONSTRUCTIVE comments about things to add to the list.

It IS a long list, but assumes that you have NOTHING.

Trex 450 Suggested Stuff

Kit

Trex 450 SE V1
rdlohr Underboom Gyro Mount – allows mounting the gyro under the boom block on the V1 to prevent damage from the flybar (http://www.wavelandps.com/clearly/ )
V2 Tail servo mount – not needed, but nice, designed to mount the larger nicer tail servos. I have one, but haven’t gotten around to installing it.

Or

Trex 450 SE V2
Align 430L Motor – lower amp draw, plenty of power, save the 430XL that comes with the kit for later.

For either one – 12t Pinion is nice

The V1 is a fine heli and a very good value. The V2 has slightly thicker frames, a thicker feathering shaft with thrust bearings in the grips, a nicer fiberglass canopy, is setup for under boom mounting of the gyro, and has the tail servo mount that is designed for the tail servos now being used on these helis.

Radio

Spektrum DX7

Or

JR X9303 2.4 GHz (www.toddsmodels.com ) – More radio than is needed, but will work with your just about anywhere you go with this hobby. Also just plain feels better in the hands.

A nitro heli will require 7 channels if you run a governor. So if you want to do scale with retracts and other such stuff, the 9303 will give you two extra channels for that.

AR6100 Receiver (www.toddsmodels.com or www.lightflightrc.com )

The AR7000 that comes with the DX7 will work, but is larger and heavier than needed. The AR9000 that comes with the X9303 is way overkill. Save them or sell them.

Dimension Engineering SportBEC – provides more amperage and more stable power to the radio system. Allows 5 or 6-volt operation. 6-volts gives more speed and torque from the servos. ParkBEC will also work. (http://www.dimensionengineering.com/SportBEC.htm )

Cyclic Servos

Hitec HS-65MG (need 3)

Gyro/Tail Servo

Futaba GY401 Gyro – Works well, easy to setup, the standard.

JR DS3400 – nice fast servo, runs well at 6 volts – What I am running

Or

Futaba S9257 – fastest, but needs step down to run on a 6 volt system

Or

Futaba S9650 – nice servo, not as good as the above, but still good, works on 6 volts.


Other Stuff

Blades – Tech Model Products has very nice wood blades at $28 for 3 sets. www.techmodelproducts.com

Gorilla Gear – Buy it now or buy it when the stock gear breaks. (ReadyHeli or www.rchover.com )

Gorilla Paddles – Not needed, but the neon yellow ones are easy to see. (ReadyHeli or RCHover)

Modefos hex screw kit – replaces the button head frame screws with proper hex head machine screws, not needed but nice. (http://www.modefosheli.com/inc/sdetail/38854 ) Or you can buy the complete heli screw set from RTL (www.rtlfsteners.com or ReadyHeli carries it, I did both)

rdlohr tail fins – heavier weight plexiglass, hold up better And in bright color helps orientation.

Elfierz Lipo alarm – Efliernz is on HeliFreak and makes very nice alarms that will turn on a buzzer and LEDs to warn you your pack is low. He makes one specific for the Trex 450.

Deans Plugs – Male for the speed controller many females for battery packs

1/8” Carbon Fiber Tube – Used to make a much better tail pushrod plus one package of link rods

Batteries and Chargers

Kong Power or Air Thunder 2100mAH 3S packs are good, and are resistant to over discharge, safer for a beginner. (ReadyHeli carries the Kong Power)

Flight Power EVO 25C 3S 2170 or EVO 25C 3S 2500 or EVOLite 3S 2500 are all super packs, with superb performance, and a 50% crash damage warranty. The Evo 2170 and the EVOLite 2500 are about the same weight, with the EVOLite provided slightly longer flights, or more constant power for the same flight duration. The EVO 2500 are nice if the heli turns out tail heavy, no need to carry useless weight. (ReadyHeli)

FMA CellPro 4S Charger – One of the best lipo only chargers around. Will handle up to 4S, balances during charging and have intelligence features to allow faster charging, safety. You will also need a power supply. Various sources for these include from Radio Shack or ReadyHeli or eBay. You can also make your own from an old PC power supply. I just ordered two of them. (www.Fmadirect.com )

Or

ThunderPower 1010C with 210V balancer – Higher end setup, can handle much larger packs, can do multiple smaller packs at once. Also with firmware upgrades can do other than lipos. Does up to 10S and “talks” to the 210 V balancer to keep things safe. (ReadyHeli)


Tools

Pitch Gauge – The Align one will work with smaller and larger helis as well - http://www.readyheli.com/K10180A_Micro_Heli_Pitch_Gauge_p/k10180a.htm

Blade Balancer – K&S – This is the one I have, you may have to look around for one: http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=KSJ528

This is another one, but I haven’t seen one in person: http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=KSJ1470

Ball Link Sizer - http://www.readyheli.com/Ball_Link_Sizing_Tool_p/jrp960219.htm

Ball Link Pliers – For 450 I prefer these - http://www.readyheli.com/HMXR4861_Heli_Max_Ball_Link_Removal_Tool_p/hmxr4861.htm , but these are nice to have also - http://www.readyheli.com/K10338TA_Align_Curved_Ball_Link_Plier_Pliers_p/k10338ta.htm

Hex Drivers – You need 2 x 1.5mm, 2mm (preferably ball end for motor mount screws) and 2.5mm along with a JIS Philips head driver. What I did was to buy both of the below items to have what I needed at hand without having to swap ends:

http://www.readyheli.com/HZ024_New_Hexagon_Screw_Driver_Set_4_pcs_p/hz024.htm

http://www.readyheli.com/HZ040_New_Screw_Driver_Set_p/hz040.htm

Duratrax (below) has a 2mm ball end driver

Nut drivers – You need a 4mm and a 5.5mm, either dedicated nut driver or if you have ¼” socket set with these sizes, that will work. I use Duratrax from Tower Hobby. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0091P?&P=SM&C=RAL&V=DTX

Screwdrivers – 00 and 0 Philips for the servo screws. I use Duratrax. They make a nice set of tools, but none of the sets have the 5.5mm nut driver.

Loctite 242 (Blue)

Thin Cyanoacrylate
Medium Cyanoacrylate

Triflow – Lubricant - http://www.readyheli.com/Tri_Flow_Lube_6oz_Bottle_p/ltf0021060a.htm

Soldering iron (40 watts) and solder and third hand tool: http://www.readyheli.com/Helping_Hand_p/hhand.htm These are also available at some electronics type places, possibly Radio Shack, you don’t need the magnifier, but the third hand is VERY helpful.

Eagle Tree eLogger – Definitely not needed, but nice over time, this device will log amp draw, volts, and RPM while you fly and there is an available LCD screen so you can do direct readouts. http://www.eagletreesystems.com/MicroPower/micro.htm


Spare Parts

Minimum
Blades
Spindles/feathering shafts
Tail Blades
Main Shafts
Booms
Main Gears
Paddles

Others

Main Bearings
Tail Shafts


Suppliers

ReadyHeli is my number 1 source.
Tech Model Products is very good also, but their site is a bit harder to navigate.
Grand RC and Modefos are also good to deal with.

RC Hover is good, as is Ron Lund’s HeliProz South. Ron Lund’s is more towards larger and nitro helis.

HeliDirect has some knock off stuff that can be OK. The have some carbon fiber blades that are very nice for $24 a set. They list some very cheap wood blades, but not sure how they are.

Stay AWAY from HeliHobby. If they ship your order correctly, they are fine, but if not, look out.

[notsane]

Wow! Thanks for all of your help! I think I will wait a little bit and do more research. I don't want to rush into this and destroy my investment. I will get a better sim and practice with my current heli more before I crash $1000.

You are great!

[notsane]

I am wondeing if I could get away with a Belt CP (Carbon RTF Version) for my next heli to see if this is something that I really really like before spending 1000.

http://www.rchelicoptershop.com/catalog/ek1he015a-esky-beltcp-carbon-rtf-version-p-314.html

You mentioned the honey bee king 2 and this seems like a step up (trex clone)

[Pinecone]

Right now, the low cost CCPM step up looks like the Blade 400. But since they just got out this week, give it a bit.

And at least with the Blade 400 you get a quality radio for later helis.

[notsane]

Thanks, I will look at the Blade 400.

I don't want to cheap out, but I can't spring for the full package yet.

[Pinecone]

That is the way with many people. But in the long run, you will be better served by saving moeny and doing it right.

Trust me, most of us learned this lesson the hard way. :)

[Billybuck]

It really depends on how much you have the bug. I'm the extreme kind of guy. I was adding up receipts today. Nearly $7,000. Believe me this is extreme for a noob like me. But then again shopping is so much fun.

I spend most of my time educating myself here and praticing on my G4 Sim. The sky beckons but the weather just won't cooperate.

Unless you have money to burn, most here will tell you to stay with something smaller and cheaper until you get your feet wet. (A very practical approach)

[notsane]

This sounds a lot like when I was putting my audio recording package togeter for video production. There were shortcuts you can take, but you were making serious compromises and you would always want the real thing later anyway (so you ended up spending a lot more in the long run). I am always on the forums telling people just what you guys are saying. The only thing about that is that you are using the gear to make money, so it isn't as hard to justify with your wife.

There is not a lot of local support here in seattle (hobby shops etc) to get me going building a heli and that list of tools, parts and guages (thank you very much)is a bit overwhelming. I don't think I would have the first clue what to do. It sounds like I need a heli internship lol! I guess I just didn't realize how deep this is!

You guys are awesome!!!!

BTW, I am going to borry my friens real light sim!

[DA54]

Try RC Hobby over in Woodinville, they seem to have the most heli parts and info. Dave and Cory are very helpful.

[notsane]

I will do it! That is near where we are looking for a place.