Bob Hates Us

[Jungle Bob]

Anyone read Bob Finless's remarks about our beloved heli!!!??!! He really doesn't rate the Hurri so, if like me, you are lovin' it, don't be hurt by his comments. I think we have a superb heli here and Bob...bro' you are wrong! I have huge respect for Finless but I don't think he does our chosen heli justice on this occasion. Come and watch the faces of my buddy and I when we are flying ours and tell us it's a POS!

ps. Do people get banned on this forum, like on RR? If so....Bob you are totally right ha ha

[Mikej]

JB,

I've contributed to the original thread - I think that there are a number of problems that Bob encountered (I followed his build thread and still bought the heli) mainly due to having an early kit (dodgy gears, flexy frame), pushing it beyond it's original design (more powerful motors etc.), plus some poor QC (self-tappers barely holding etc.). Bob is a very honest straight-talking guy from what I can see and is just relaying his impressions based upon an early kit with problems that have subsequently largelly been resolved.

I still love my 550 - for me it flies really well, cheap parts, fantastic VFM and a really friendly support community - even if it is allegedly a POS :lol:

Cheers,
Mike.

[Jungle Bob]

Bob is a straight talking guy and I have no issue with that, he certainly seems to hold his integrity under a barrage of pressure from suppliers and manufacturers (I wish he wrote for one of the main heli mags, then we might get an honest report on a new heli feature!). My thread is actually abit of a spoof, a humerous attempt to defend our favourite heli with a 'tongue in cheek' allegation that 'Bob hates us'. Bob has a far higher expectation of his helis than I do and, he may well be right, I don't have the skill level to dispute his analysis. Howver, the Hurricane EP 550 is perfect for my needs.

[mjdee14]

I know BF "Loves" us thats' why he gives us his honest opinion.

I absolutely LOVE my 550, BUT I would have been very upset had not been for Bob and everyone else pointing out the weak spots....

I think Gaui has responded faster than most manufacturers and corrected several first run problems. Smart on their part to keep a share of the market.

It has to be a popular heli, look how many HS are carrying it and parts.

I flew my ECO and 550 last sunday and I had a smile on my face with the 550 the whole time.

Mike

[Helifan]

I had to laugh when I read the thread title.

For me the Hurri 550 fills a niche in my heli stable. Yes, had to upgrade the head, stiffen up the frame, thrust bearing tail, aftermarket motor and ESC to make it a performer. But it does perform quite well.

Cheap replacement parts is the 550's best feature. I have had other helis in this size range and to me they either did not perform or the replacement parts were a killer. $10 buck for a spindle shaft or $10-$18 for a main shaft is outrageous.

Hats off to Bob for the time and effort he has put into this heli. Through his tinkering and effort you can have a heli that rocks.

[vicrc]

Bob has seen and built many helis so I respect his opinion. I am just glad he has helped us iron out the problems with it. I knew it has a some problems and still purchased the kit, its a good size heli and there is nothing close to its size and performance for its price tag.Heck you can even purchase an entire kit just to have all the parts in hand and its cheap enough to do that. A noob flyer like myself will enjoy it many times over.

[concept1]

yea I was originally really upset at the thread and the POS comment, then I thought about it. he does have some points, but in no way is it a POS!! this heli did start out as a mild bird, and he really over powered it and probably flew it to death. and Yes it is no TREX 600 out of the box. and he has a point on Price. it can be a real cheap bird, but if you start upgading it can end up costing more then the new trex 500, but 6 months ago their was no 500!!! I am still flying the plastic frame version with some upgrades and performance is great, and I am way under the cost of a Trex 600 and i have close to the same performance and I am even under the price of a 500. now I want to get the carbon or G10 frame, so all of a sudden my Hurricane will no longer be a cheap Heli. But it will still be dirt cheap to fly! His thread did get me thinking though, should I really keep it and continue upgrading or should I go for the Trex 500?

[ke6d]

now I want to get the carbon or G10 frame, so all of a sudden my Hurricane will no longer be a cheap Heli. But it will still be dirt cheap to fly! His thread did get me thinking though, should I really keep it and continue upgrading or should I go for the Trex 500?

I went with an XES kit from ReadyHeli. I upgraded to the metal tail and a few bling parts. Adding the cost of a motor/ESC. Mine came close to about $800. But it has been a wonderful bird to fly (60 and counting) without any problem at all. A friend of mine has a TRex 500 CF and flew it the other day. The TRex 500 does have more power on a set of 2200 mA packs and can fly for > 6 min, but it is much smaller and twitchier than the Hurricane in the air.

The T-Rex 500 is not without problem though. My friend's T-Rex 500 (and many others) lost power all of a sudden during flight and crashed. I believe they are still working on that problem on the 500 forum. Just like anything else in the technology world, if you like to experiment with "bleeding edge" technology, you are bound to get cut from time to time.

I waited patiently for 6 months (and watched other people at my flying field tinker with their Hurricane to get them to fly properly) before ordering mine. Mine has been flawless so far :)

My second Hurricane is not so expensive though because I bought them through all the fire sales at ReadyHeli ($200 CFS kit, $180 head/canopy, $30 RCP blades) Adding the cost of a motor and ESC, the cost of my second Hurricane is about the same as a T-500 CF.

Dan

Here is a picture of my Hurricane and a friend T-500 before his power shut down in flight.

[WillJames]

I think like everybody else, Bob gets frustrated with one heli or another at times and trying to maintain and fly more than 3 is about impossible for most of us.

I think this is really a case of if newer parts are available and due to the fact of his machine being one of the very first, it is likely they had a few growing pains like most machines.

I like 500 class machines, and it is cool to have choices.

[Mercuriell]

I think like everybody else, Bob gets frustrated with one heli or another at times and trying to maintain and fly more than 3 is about impossible for most of us.


Not impossible if you don't talk to the wife and kids, don't feed the dog, don't mind the dining room table not seeing the light of day for months on end and work your socks off to feed the addiction ....... must find cure .... must find cure ...... :shock:

[Mikej]

JB,

Actually thinking about this a bit more - I hate you and Wazzer as well, and with comments like this are you surprised

Saturday?, beach, flying? Tanjung Aru? Shorts and t'shirts? (oops, did I just tell the World we don't have a winter here...me and my big mouth eh?)

:nanabobo:nanabobo:nanabobo

Mike in rainy UK (did I mention that we are due to get snow blizzards tomorrow :( )

[Jungle Bob]

ha ha, sorry Mike! Both of us do work here and it's a hot and sweaty place to be....make you feel better? The pay isn't brilliant and we have a wet season...better now? I suppose there is always a price to pay for the luxury of all year round flying...we just think it is worth it! Oh, I forgot....it has a cheap cost of living, it overlooks the South China sea, there are beautiful islands 15 minutes away, the diving is great, the place is full of gorgeous asian girls and I am sat on my bacony at 7.30am in my shorts......dang, bet you hate me again now eh? Google earth us (Kota Kinabalu) and see what we have to put up with! NW of the city you will see a hotel with a golf course, just south of that is a beach opposite a large white apartment block. Thats where we fly (Tanjung Aru)

[mjdee14]

Jungle Bob....you sure do know how to win and influence people...you smooth talker you.....

may the winds blow 50 mph for the next month until the rest of us get good weather...

Post more flying photos....it really does look beatiful there....

Maybe we should have a fly-in there, get a group rate on an airline....or do we have to take a tramp steamer to get there?

Mike D

[bugdozer]

JB,

Actually thinking about this a bit more - I hate you and Wazzer as well, and with comments like this are you surprised


:nanabobo:nanabobo:nanabobo

Mike in rainy UK (did I mention that we are due to get snow blizzards tomorrow :( )

I feel for ya Mike. We were having a video call with friends of ours in London. I could see her husband putting on a jacket, gloves, a hat and scarf. He had to take the dog out. I told him all I do is put on my sandals and head out the back door. I received a pleasant had gesture. :)

[Mikej]

I feel for ya Mike. We were having a video call with friends of ours in London. I could see her husband putting on a jacket, gloves, a hat and scarf. He had to take the dog out. I told him all I do is put on my sandals and head out the back door. I received a pleasant had gesture. :)
:lol::lol:

I make a similar gesture everytime I see posts from Bob and Ben :mad::mad:

I'll be on the first boat out for the fly-in :hug::hug::hug:

Cheers,
Mike.

[Jungle Bob]

Flyin tomorrow Mike, promise to get some pics....if it's not too hot ha ha ha.
My Hurri is grounded awaiting parts but Bens will be up as will my Rex and Zap. We have 18 batteries between us so we should get some airtime! I saw a cloud... I saw a cloud!!!

[Happy|Harry]

I'll be on the first boat out for the fly-in :hug::hug::hug:

Cheers,
Mike.

and i'll be right behind you :D

phil

[concept1]

Heck, sunshine is over rated! here in Ohio we almost never see the sun, We did see it for a bit yesterday, and I almost went out to fly if it wasn't for the dang 50mph wind gusts!! that sunshine was real tempting though. today we got 34 degrees and a mix of rain, snow, ice, sleet, got it all today. but this weekend they are acctually forcasting 40+ degrees and some sun so I might acctually get to fly. last time we had good 2 weeks ago we had 60 degrees then it dropped to 6 in one day. I did get 10 or so flights in on that 60degree day. man that was great!

[mjdee14]

Google earth us (Kota Kinabalu) and see what we have to put up with! NW of the city you will see a hotel with a golf course, just south of that is a beach opposite a large white apartment block. Thats where we fly (Tanjung Aru)

Found it !! Hate you BOTH !!! Looks beautiful !!! Come to the States and freeze with us....

Mike D

[mjdee14]

Gonna be 55deg today...just swapped out the 14t for the 15t hope to get some flights in this afternoon.....not near as good as looking at bikinis walking by but the dried grass will have to do...!! :YeaBaby:

[Mikej]

Flew a few batteries today - 3.5degrees celcius :hammer:hammer

[Wazzer]

Hey Guys

Just a couple more pics to make you want to come Visit!

First shot is both of us in the air at the same tame (JB with Trex SEv2)
Next shot is Me flying my Hurricane
Next shot is The Man Jungle Bob Himself flying his Zap 400
Last shot is result of not discussing flight plan before flight!!!

Accommodation and cost of living is cheap guys, come visit and fly on the Beach!!

Ben

[mjdee14]

Wazzer

Nice pics..... Damage could have been a lot worse..

Still jealous.....although it was 56 deg f and got about 4 flights saturday...

Keep posting the pics....it's nice to see the warm weather..

Mike

[Wazzer]

Just a few more to rub it in

EDIT: Damage was the following

Boom (obvioulsy!)
Tail out put shaft
Belt (striped a few teeth)
Horizontal fin (cracked but repairable)

Oh and one way bearing started to Rattle a bit when free spinning but doesnt slip (will replace anyway)

So pretty reasonable really!

Cheers

[mjdee14]

Wazzer...

Is it just you and JB flying or do you have a little group......I guess the onlookers are some of the locals?

I guess the sand isn't any softer thn anyhing else when hit from about 10 feet....

Do you guys fly over the water or just up & down the beach?

Guess this isn't an AMA approved field !!!

Still looks good, whish I was there !


Mike D