Can I get a sanity check on a heli?

[Netzapper]

I'm brand new to aerial videography, and relatively new to RC helicopters. I have a fair amount of film/video experience, and my flight skills seem to be coming along quite well. For a number of reasons related to my life situation, I've decided to attempt to build a small business from aerial videography. (I'm specifically *not* seeking business advice of any sort.)

I understand that a large-scale gasser would be ideal for this task. However, I don't trust the reliability of a single machine, and so need redundant choppers. My budget therefore requires that each helicopter cost me no more than $1200.

I'd like some advice in whether or not my proposed rig will do the job.

Here's the rig:
*Century Raven 50
--OS .50 Hyper (or maybe the TT .53 Redline)
--Hitec HS-625MG servos on throttle, cyclic, and collective.
--GY-401 + whatever digital servo comes in the combo

*Helicam solutions E4 mount. (I've already talked to Jody, and he has an adaptation that fits a 50-scale.)

*Canon HV20

The total payload from mount/camera/support comes to just under 7 pounds. I actually figure that my little Century Hawk would get the payload off of the ground. However, I want power in reserve for dynamic camera work. Is the machine I describe above going to be utterly bogged down, or will I still be able to climb at a respectable rate?

I intend to route the exhaust back on the tail boom using a length of tubing or the like. I figure I'll have to play around with the length in order to get the engine in tune, but I've seen a couple of examples of such an approach working. Any giant pitfalls I'll hit there?

In addition, I seem to be having trouble tracking down flat-bottom/high-lift rotor blades in the 600-620mm range. I can find short ones for fixed-pitch choppers, and 800mm ones for 90-scale gassers. The best I can find at 610mm is Rotortech's semi-symmetrical curved-tip blades. Any ideas on this front?

[Sugarbaker]

Is there a reason that you're attached to the Century Raven? In your price range you might consider going with an Align 600N setup (GrandRC has packages starting at $1049... everything minus transmitter and reciever). For an additional $39 you can upgrade that package to include Radix 600mm blades, which I have heard good things about for AV work because of their wide cord measurement and stable hover. My thoughts are that you will have more parts available to you when you need them if you go with the Align bird.

[Netzapper]

I'm not attached to the Raven, especially. I also evaluated the Raptor and the Knight. I discounted them primarily because the Raven, in its base stock condition, can run longer blades than either of the other two.

The TRex winds up costing almost exactly $1300, once I'm done with it (the combo kit you mentioned at GrandRC seems to be electric--which is out, 'cause I can't afford enough batteries). The Raven comes in at around $900.

Four hundred bucks isn't a lot of difference, I admit, if my only goal is to get a nice helicopter in the air. But, I need two complete, redundant machines, so it's really $800. $800 gets me an awful lot of batteries for all of the electronics I'm putting up in the air.

I'd buy used, but it's hard to plan on the premise that in two months, I'll go on eBay and find a killer deal on two identical helicopters.

[Netzapper]

Actually, I've found the package deals on the nitro. That website is confusing. I'm checking that out now... any idea why it only comes with 4 servos? Don't you need five? Three for the cyclic/collective, one for throttle, and one for tail?

[Whirly-Girl]

Do you really need redundant machines? I've seen numerous people sell off their second machine because they had good PM measures on the first and replaced items BEFORE they wear out.

$2400 is a nice budget for a super-reliable electric machine! You won't have to fight exhaust (trust me...been there, done that) and you can afford batteries and a charger all in that price range...and stock up on some spare parts for quick maintenance.

[architorture]

I agree. I have setup a trex 600 electric for well below $2400. Also, for that budget you can afford to put an autopilot on the chopper, which will end up saving you a lot of money in the long run, or at least give you the confidence to get shots that you might have been worried about getting before. Take the extra money and spend it on battery packs and chargers. I can't imagine having to deal with nitro tuning, smoke, gunk, etc on my AP bird.

Besides, I can barely find time to maintain my one chopper to the point where I'm happy with it, let alone two identical birds. If you are to the point where you have so many jobs that you need redundancy, that is one thing, otherwise, spend your money on one nice AP setup and get another when the income comes rolling in. Just my opinion.

[Netzapper]

You find a redundant bird unnecessary? Really? Music to my ears. It makes me dance right over to a gasser. For $2400, I can easily build a Predator Gasser. I discount the Vario because of the apparent low availability and high expense of parts.

What other gassers might fall into my price range?

[jascamera]

I always want to have 2 heli on a job especially if it's a production, a lot of money and reputation on the line. If it's just a single man shoot, then not as critical. Helis are like *****es, they work perfect one day, and not the next. It's just good to have two for insurance. Especially, if you figure out the first heli, setting up the second heli will be easy.

2 t-rex 600 E is the way to go. smooth and cheap to repair. Skip the undeslug mount, just too heavy for 600mm blades, do the front mount and you can run 6 cell with very nice performance. Askman makes one, or you can make your own. Front are best for videos, but take a bit more effort to tune and modify the mount.

HV20 is a extremely hard to tune aerial camera. Got to do quite a bit of modification to get it work. Most people never got it to work. I got it to work, but, I will probably change to HC5, much easier to get vibe free videos. Since with my Heli, video from HV20 is pretty good, I test with my friend's HC5, video are very smooth.

Also keep under 11 lbs for 600mm blades for auto ability.

[d-bledsoe]

Just so you know the knight 3d will handle up to 620mm main blades, not sure how long you were planning on running but anyways the knight will do 620's with no mods

-Derek Bledsoe
-Infina Models
-Compass Models
-Knight 3d Carbon

[rickson34]

Have you considered the Logo 600? Pricey but well worth the money. DJ uses only Mikado Logo's and everybody on this forum is familiar with his work. This is what I am hoping to buy in the near future.

Joe

[robert1]

check out the bergens, everything you need

[Flyboy]

Consider getting one very good reliable helicopter and go from there. Most with redundant helis feel that they need them because 1. they are still crashing frequently 2. they don't maintain their gear 3.they don't fly electric helicopters;)

Whirly girl nailed it!

My humble two cents.
FB

[jascamera]

What ever you fly, I truly believe having a backup give you piece of mind, doesn't matter how good your setup and how well you fly. Especially, with heli. I do pro photography, I never go into a shoot with one camera, although the chance of it breaking down on you is very slim. But if you think yourself as a pro, there is no excuse to not getting the job done the first try. I learn the hard way. When I was fresh out of photography school, I thought I can get away with one camera. Yes, I got away with one camera for close to 2 year, but it finally break on me during a shoot. Client was very mad and I was lucky enough to have a friend come by with a camera within 2 hours. Never again will I do another shoot without back up.


With heli, if it breaks down on you, that will definitely end the shoot. It might take couple of day, or weeks to get back in the air. That's my take.

[Flyboy]

Well stated....However if you divide the stated budget by two and try and find two helis and gear that stay with in that budget I suspect you might not be gaining any more reliability as compared to spending the entire budget on one higher quality heli. Just my humble experience.
FB

[meflyjeep]

Don't forget the GSR260 gas ... tremendous payload capacity ... will you include a gyro stabilization unit such as the KS2? Video or still ... stabilization might be very important to whatever platform you choose - if video.

That said, the chances of you needing a second heli are much greater than you needing a second camera IMHO.

[jascamera]

Of course, each setup need to be the best they can be. And yes, if you really don't have budget for 2 heli, then you can only concentrate on one. But down the line, when jobs start coming in (video productions especially), you will want a backup.

And of course $1,200, I don't think you can get one 600 setup properly. Might be able to get away with T-rex600 with home made mount. But you won't have money for batties