TRex 450 SE nV2 to 500E Makeover ...

[crazyerick]

Hi Erick

I had a lot of vibration, i just reduced the head speed a bit and it went away.

Thanks Buddy. A combination of lower head speed and foam over the elevator servo seemed to have done the trick. Haven't really flown her but hovered her by the pool and seemed allot better.

Thanks,
Erick

[RChristopher]

Yea, I am playing a bit with head speed also.

Here are a few things I have delt with regarding vibration: No contact between mech's and fuse. All blades are balanced, both main and tail rotor. Check your tracking and get it dead on. Take it one half turn past and come back to it. A thorough check of all fasteners, especially main bearing and tail tube blocks. Secure top portion of frame to fuse. Gyro is properly set up. Snug up canopy to fuse attachment.

I am testing the longer LG tube extension, and it looks so much cooler in the air!!!!!

Virtually all of the vibration is gone, and she is flying GREAT!!!

Oh turbine50, when I get a chance I got out to the RC Heli Field at Tom Bass Park. It's a beautiful day today so I am on my way.

Later

Bob C.

[crazyerick]

Hey Bob C.

Thanks for the info. I flew yesterday evening at the field and even though there was a stiff breeze he flew well, my vibration is also virtually gone.

http://www.crazyerick.com/llpf/gallery/IMG_9423-01.jpg
http://www.crazyerick.com/llpf/gallery/IMG_9444-01.jpg
http://www.crazyerick.com/llpf/gallery/IMG_9450-01.jpg

Thanks for all the help!

Cheers,
Erick

[RChristopher]

Boy O Boy, that sure looks nice!!!! Great pics.

I got some good air time today at the field. Severals guys took some pics and vids. Maybe turbine50 will post a link to the vid he took.

Enjoy!!

Bob C.

[turbine50]

Bob,
Too funny, I saw that heli and I knew it was you. That thing looked awesome in the air as well as sitting on the table. 3 camera's (including mine) were going at the same time while you were flying. I'll get the vids up on youtube as soon as it stops being a PIA...GG

[RChristopher]

Thanks sir! Really appreciate the comments and getting to meet you. Looks like good weather is forecast for Sunday so I may try and make it to the field again for a few more laps.

I would like to get a copy of the regular pic files if possible. I will PM you with my e-mail address.

Thanks again and good luck with yours!!

Bob C.

[SimonV6]

Got this fuse myself, what is the max size of Rudder servo, I have a Futaba S9650, seems a little big?

Great looking heli's guys :)


Simon

[crazyerick]

I ended up putting in a JR 3400G. Just depends how you mount it. I have seen some innovative ideas to get more of the tail servo under the boom block.

[SimonV6]

I ended up putting in a JR 3400G. Just depends how you mount it. I have seen some innovative ideas to get more of the tail servo under the boom block.

thanks, Managed to fit it all in, in the end :)
Need a new belt though, as noticed mine was starting to fray a little, good job I found that before flying :)

here's mine so far, still a few more things to do before getting Airbourne :)

Simon

sorry for bad pics, only a phone cam

[turbine50]

Simon- That looks great!

Bob- I talked to Jay at Dee Tee today and he says they have no idea when they might get more of them. He says to just keep checking their site and snap one up as soon as they pop up.
This might not happen for quite awhile, I'm afraid. I found a decent looking one on good ole Ebay. The only thing I'm concerned with is that it ships from Hong Kong. The seller has decent recent feedback but it will probably take 3 weeks or more to get here. I sent the seller a messege asking what colors they come in. If he responds quickly with an intelligent answer, I might do it. I'll be happy as long as it gets here...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300181515494&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

[RChristopher]

Looking good Simon. The registration numbers are one of the next items for me. I also use the JR DS3400G. It fit fine, with a little angling.

I really want to try and get a more scale gear arrangement per the attached pic's. Longer legs and tubes with a wider stance.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/n50482/Helis/Front8x6.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/n50482/Helis/Side8x6.jpg

A five bladed head would be great too, who knows ...

But, this is all really just practice for hopefully a bigger project in the future.

Greg, that's a shame that supply of these is so hard to get. I saw a post by avconslt over at RunRyder regarding one of those. Looks identical. Didn't come with instructions. Bit pricey too. Good luck!!

Cheers

Bob C.

[crazyerick]

I got mine from Ebay and arrived fine in South Africa. I was more concerned about damage. Mine arrived 50 days after I paid the guy. He blamed the festive season but I have proof he shipped it nine days before I got it. Just don't buy from a guy called "rcmachine".

[turbine50]

I got quick replies back from both questions I asked. Avcnslt says it took a week to get his. I think I'll pull the trigger on this one. It sure looks cool!

[DDragon]

Hi,
I just picked one up from ebay for $73.00 + $32 shipping. It's in the ball-park for these. It's coming from Taiwan. But the guy looks ok.

I'm currently working on a 4-blade t450 with 2 gyros and a helitronix mixer. So I think this will be perfect for that project. Once I get it going I may swap out the 4 blade head and get the 5 blade head. I'm using the Lightning head. So the swap won't be too expensive... another $100.00.

BTW if it all works out... Look at this parts list:

1 - Head 4 blade head - $99.00
2 - GWS Gyros - $59.00
1 - Helitronix Mixer $200

Total = $358


Compare to the DeeTee 4 blade head at $319.00

Mind you, I heard here that the Lightning heads aren't very good, but most of those reviews were without the extra gyros and the mixer.... results may differ. Originally the plan was to do it this way as a proof of concept then cannibalize the electronics and get a Diamond head for a T600 and build a Magnum PI Helicopter.

But it looks like things may have changed.

BTW... the only thing I don't like about this canopy is the way the tail rotor sticks out of the tail... the diameter of the tail isn't tapered nicely, doesn't look scale. Does this bother anyone else?

[RChristopher]

The Align tail tube is thicker and shorter than the full scale version, as seen in the photo above, but it does work great when using it on a 450 SE V2. To me it's a good intro into scale. By the way, the tail tube/TR gear drive area of the Align is somewhat similar to the full scale unit. Full scale gear drive is inclosed and appears smaller in contrast though. See attached photo's.

I am also interested in a 5 blade head, but I don't like the idea of spending as much on it and the electronics as I did on the 450. I will settle now for the two blade set up.

Bob C.

[hooked124]

For those looking at multi-blades;

1 http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=1528 (3 bladed)

2 http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=1996 (4 bladed) I have this one looking to put on v2 MD500

better 4 blade? http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=2385

5 blade!? http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=2383

Oh and looking good Bob C.!

[RChristopher]

Most interesting. I am curious of the track record of this system. Do you know much about it? Are you going to be using a mixer and gyro's?

Bob C.

[hooked124]

Most interesting. I am curious of the track record of this system. Do you know much about it? Are you going to be using a mixer and gyro's?

Bob C.

No, I ran across the "HAC(s)" the other night while looking for 335(s)/350(s) for the MD I'm working on here in Iraq, when the free time is more that 3 hours a day! I have the, what I think is first gen;

http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=1996

it came with no information, the follower/drive arm was no where near a flyable setup, I looked at the 3 bladed one to get ideas for a better drive arm.....and that's where I'm at now. I have test fitted my v2 in the md and now have the goldnrod for the tail control just need to make the lower tail servo mount to get it in and should be able to test fly with stock head within the week. The 4 bladed head, if used will be used with Captron Heli Command Rigid. Still have lots of work to get to that point.

[RChristopher]

I would be interested in how your application works out. Please keep in contact, maybe even via PM. If it is adequate I would do a five blade version, and maybe the Captron also. Appreciate the info.

Oh, my 500 is legal now, it has it's N number,LOL. Actually that is the N number of my KR2 I flew in one of my prior lives.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/n50482/Helis/P1310015.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/n50482/Helis/P1310199.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/n50482/Helis/P1310027.jpg

My previous KR2 Homebuilt/Experimental - the original N50482

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a328/n50482/KR2-2.jpg

Have a GREAT ONE!!!!

Bob C.

[DDragon]

The Align tail tube is thicker and shorter than the full scale version, as seen in the photo above, but it does work great when using it on a 450 SE V2. To me it's a good intro into scale. By the way, the tail tube/TR gear drive area of the Align is somewhat similar to the full scale unit. Full scale gear drive is inclosed and appears smaller in contrast though. See attached photo's.

I am also interested in a 5 blade head, but I don't like the idea of spending as much on it and the electronics as I did on the 450. I will settle now for the two blade set up.

Bob C.

Hi Bob,
Those pictures are really nice. I see what you mean about the similarities. When I get my canopy I'll see what I can do about creating some type of "end cap" that mates the tail gearbox to the canopy tail better.

I don't know what it is about the shape and look of the 500E but I find it more pleasing than most other full scale helic including the Bell types.

Just had a thought, maybe I could use the boom and belt from the Trex500 to increase the tail length?

Thanks.

[DDragon]

For those looking at multi-blades;

1 http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=1528 (3 bladed)

2 http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=1996 (4 bladed) I have this one looking to put on v2 MD500

better 4 blade? http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=2385

5 blade!? http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_25_114&products_id=2383

Oh and looking good Bob C.!

Thanks Gregory, those link will come in handy. I wonder if we can get this thread made into a sticky. Seems that there is a lot of good information we should save?

The ones you mention as "better". I wonder if they are.... they really do LOOK better. If I can get this project off the ground so to speak. I'll get the "better" 5 blade one and report back to the group. The good thing about this project is, once I have the gyros and all the electronics, the main rotors seem to be pretty cheap to swap back and forth.

[DDragon]

Also been thinking, has anyone considered putting the tail rotor on the other side? Would it work... I figure you just need to bolt it on the opposed position, and mount the servo and push rod on the top instead of the bottom? And reverse the twist in the belt of course.

[DDragon]

OK... I'm selling off my T450 4 blade head at cost. It was mounted but not flown. I haven't progressed that far yet. The reason? I just bought a Align 500E canopy, in order to go more scale I'm going to get the 5 blade head. Originally I bought the 4 blade head because I didn't want to split a pack of blades and try to match them up to the other four. But what the hell....

Anyway, I'm selling it for $99 which includes shipping if you are in North America. If not in North America.... we can discuss it.

These normally go for $109 plus $20-$35 shipping. So you are getting a deal.

PM if you're interested.

[turbine50]

My fiberglass Hughes 500 is on it's way! It just left the Kwun Tong Post Office...

gotta love Google Earth

[RChristopher]

Great!!!! Isn't the internet too cool!! Looking forward to pics of your project.

Later

Bob C.