SJM 325 Whats in the box video

[scubas00755511]

SJM 325 !!!!

R8mMHtJ1AZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8mMHtJ1AZM

[scubas00755511]

I mixed my stickers up looking throught the boxes, the SJM 500 sticker doesn't come with the SJM 325. And it was late the SJM 325 is polished aluminum.

[DebianDog]

Good 1st try :thumbup: but if you are going to continue to do these I would suggest turning off all the background noise and mount the camera on a cheap tripod if nothing else.

[DavidH]

Yep good first try. Probably would place in the top 3 on AFV. Maybe should send it in, might win the grand prize.

David

[Scott_RC-TEK]

Yep good first try. Probably would place in the top 3 on AFV. Maybe should send it in, might win the grand prize.

David

Hey David-
For a guy with a NO BULL avatar, you sure know how to dish it out...:...:
Give the guy a break and maybe a little respect; he did his best with what he had.

Scott-

[DavidH]

Hey David-
For a guy with a NO BULL avatar, you sure know how to dish it out...:...:
Give the guy a break and maybe a little respect; he did his best with what he had.

Scott-

The No Bull means I call it like I see it. Don't see how suggesting to send the video to AFV is disrespectful.

David

[jurassic5]

Nice video, but noisy background.

Great heli !!

[Glocksucker]

I just got my SJM325 yesterday. I have a lot of 450 class ships, 2 Trex, 2 Diablos, and 2 Sky Sharks. One of the reasons I started flying RCT-450 was the price of the ship and cost of the parts, I liked that a majority of the parts were compatible with my Trex. Having access to cheaper good quality parts was key to my learning at a much faster pace (started Sept '07), I started to worry less about crashing. My routine quickly became "fly, crash, watch finless video, rebuild, fly again the next day....."

I was hesitant to get another 450 (325) class heli mostly because It meant more parts to keep in stock. After seeing the pictures on this site and others, I decided I needed to see one for myself.

First off, there are no instructions, I knew this ahead of time. I'm not sure it needs any unless you have never built a heli before. Of course the ESC could use instructions!!! Good ones....

The head is every bit as sweet as I have been reading, like nothing I have seen before, polish and bearings everywhere. Looks stout.

It came with aluminum swash servo arms and it is a nice touch. Just like the ones you see in all the postings. Only problem is they will not fit on any servos I have to use. The output shaft on a DS285 is too large and so is the output shaft on ACE C1016 servos. It seems the provided arms will fit on RCT's SDG servos but I did not use these because I bust a lot of servo gears and the ACE servos are cheap and inexpensive to fix.

I love the swash servo spider mount. With all the stout aluminum in the head I'm guessing I will break servo gears more often. Here's the cool part, there is so much room around the servos that they do not need to be unmounted in order to change out the inner gears. I only have to disconnect the servo horn and unscrew the 4 bottom case screws to get to the inners of a DS285 or ACE c1016. I cannot do this with my TRex, and the Shark/Diablo while easier to get to the swash servos, the two front ones still need to be unmounted in order to remove the servo horns.

All the screws are steel, good steel. If you have a cheap 1.5mm hex driver it may wear out with time. Get a good ball head (Snap-On) there are some screws which are inserted from a bit of an angle. Washers are simple flat steel, I've been using anodized frame washers all over for that "CDI" factor ("Chicks Dig It")

Tail assembly is modular like the Mini-Titan, I really like this system. Way easier to work on than a TRex/RCT-450. Perhaps it will allow me to keep a complete assy built up ready to plug-in after a crash. I believe they should work on a mod which will allow for it to be attached using clevis pins or something, some way to take advantage of a "quick detach" feature for easier transport and storage. Working this out would really set it apart. Imagine packing it up in a foam cut backpack like the photographers use, or even a photographers backpack as is, I could mountain bike to my favorite flying spot. As it is, it is too long to fit in either a TRex nor will it fit in an RCT-450 case. For those of you who have a Wing Tote for your Mini-Titan it will fit in that.

That's all I have for now, I'm still setting it up, perhaps pictures later.

Parts compatible with TRex, RCT-450 that I know of so far:

Frame screws
Blades
Tail Servo mounts
Velcro

But hey, I didn't buy it for it's standardization. I bought it because it seems like a well thought out well made heli with lots of attention to detail. It just seems like a good value considering all that it is. Remember, an Align SE V2 head will set you back about $175 that's already half the cost of the whole SJM325 package with motor and ESC and believe me the SJM head alone will "hypmotize you"

Last note, tail boom measures 0.436" O.D. and is carbon. My Align carbon boom measures 0.475" O.D. SJM clamps both for. and aft., seem like they can take the Align booms but I noticed the SJM is longer by roughly 3/4". I was wondering if I could use the shorter Align booms as replacements if I also use their drive belts, wonder if the tail rotor will clear the main rotors, and if not perhaps the tri-blade will. Someone try this for me, I gotta wait for a crash.

perhaps more later,

Cujo

[Glocksucker]

Okay, I just finished the build or close to anyway

ESC instructions were sent by Scott via e-mail (thanks Scott) additionally I did have the instructions for it, I just couldn't find them in all the excitement. Nice chime on the ESC by the way ( Fosters, "Oh! Susanna"). Perhaps it would be better to have Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries". Seriously, I'd change all my ESCs no matter how hard they were to program if they played "Ride of the Valkyries"

Tail blade mounting screws should be longer and have Nylock nuts instead of flat.

Tail servo push rod should be longer. Those of us using DS3400g and bigger Futaba servos will have the case touching the boom support. Still just long enough though.

I need to replace the servo arms to longer ones, the ones in the pix are temporary. Anybody know where to get aluminum servo arms for ACE C1016 or Futaba 3103 or DS285?

ACE C1016 swash
DS3400g tail
GY401
DX7 w/6100e Rx
SJM esc and motor supplied

more later it's raining here in Nor. Cal. may not be able to fly until next week..

Hope the pix come out, pilot not included, camo job is tape. Hard to see in the air but has good ramp appeal and of course "CDI"


Cujo

[Scott_RC-TEK]

Haa! Those pics are too cool.. :thumbup:

Regards,
Scott

[neo187i]

Hello I have just bought a s 325 from flying hobby but scott from rc tek said I won't get a speed control with the motor does anyone know if I can use any 40A one or does it have to be the sjm one only oh and can I fit any 450 size cf blades and paddles.thanks

[edzinator]

I will recommend the Castle Creation 45A ESC, if you need to buy one buy a good one first not third.

edz

[neo187i]

hello cheers for that mate I have bought a good one now though it is a flightech synergy 35A esc for it and it is the dogs nads it is fully programable with eight program features this was recomended by my local model shop.thanks