Logo 500 3D Beginner/Sport Set-up. Experienced Pilots please review.

[stvjeep]

OK, here is my Logo 500 3d Beginner/Sport set-up. Let me know what you all think. I should get 5 minute flights with 30 minute rests in between to charge.

Kit: Logo 500 3D (V-Bar I wish)
Gyro: GY401
Cyclic Servos: JRDS821 (with Futaba S9452 later)
Tail Servo: Futaba S9254
Rx: AR7000 (with DX7 tx)
Main blades: 550mm (brand?)
Motor: Z-Power Z-30A 800KV (possibly Tango 45-08, but double the cost)
Pinion: 17T; mod .07 or 153T on main gear (~2100 rpm head speed)
ESC: Jazz 80-6-18 (BEC built in)
Battery: 10S A123 2300 mAh (I do NOT want to go for lipo's)
Charger: Hyperion EOS 0610i
Power Supply: Pyramid PS36X (15v, 32A, 480W)

Total package cost is approx. $2000
Total package cost with V-Bar is approx. $2700

Is this a suitable beginner/sport set-up?

Would the V-Bar be suitable for a beginner?

[wlfk]

Is this a suitable beginner/sport set-up?

In terms of motor, batteries, pinion etc... it sounds about right. But I think you want a high-voltage ESC, no? 10sA123 needs something that's good to 36V at least.

Tail setup makes sense. I don't know the cyclic servos.

Would the V-Bar be suitable for a beginner?

Have you flown any helicopter before? I have no experience of the v-bar but it strikes me you want to keep things simple when you're starting out.

People will shoot me down for saying this, but I made most of my early mistakes on the ubiquitous 450. If you have someone to buddy you and guide you then it might make sense to go for a bigger helicopter. Otherwise I think there's a lot to be said for learning on a 450. Simple things like learning to hit 'throttle-hold' very quickly to save damage before a crash, or that if you get the skid stuck under a root - however tiny - you will tip over and damage the heli if you try to take-off quickly. Or that it's safer to land power-off and that you don't need to use negative cyclic to get there.

Also, I don't see the point in going for the 3d. You can pick up dxs comparatively cheaply. If you don't crash it, then at some point it may make sense to go flybarless at which point you'll want to upgrade the head anyway. If you do crash it, then it will likely be at a stage when you wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyhow.

K

[itsparks]

OK, here is my Logo 500 3d Beginner/Sport set-up. Let me know what you all think. I should get 5 minute flights with 30 minute rests in between to charge.

Kit: Logo 500 3D (V-Bar I wish)
Gyro: GY401
Cyclic Servos: JRDS821 (with Futaba S9452 later)
Tail Servo: Futaba S9254
Rx: AR7000 (with DX7 tx)
Main blades: 550mm (brand?)
Motor: Z-Power Z-30A 800KV (possibly Tango 45-08, but double the cost)
Pinion: 17T; mod .07 or 153T on main gear (~2100 rpm head speed)
ESC: Jazz 80-6-18 (BEC built in)
Battery: 10S A123 2300 mAh (I do NOT want to go for lipo's)
Charger: Hyperion EOS 0610i
Power Supply: Pyramid PS36X (15v, 32A, 480W)

Total package cost is approx. $2000
Total package cost with V-Bar is approx. $2700

Is this a suitable beginner/sport set-up?

Would the V-Bar be suitable for a beginner?


Where in canada are you located ?

I would not go v-bar as you are just learning if im correct its alot of work to setup and if your a beginer then it should be something you get later one, from what i have been told V-bar is for people with very good3d skills looking for longer flight times and more power.

The charger you picked out is the same as mine perfect charger for ya. Batteries i assume you are going to make your self ? they are easy to do.

I also have the same esc, Specs,

Model:
Jazz 80-6-18
# Cells Input:
6-18 (2-6 LiPo)
BEC Max.:
N/A
Constant Current:
80A
Max. Surge Current:
100A
Weight (w/wires):
59 grams

Id start off with 500mm blades, the stock blades @ 500mm are perfect and good for learning with, http://www.rcflightstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=59_71&products_id=361

This motor would be great for you, http://www.rcflightstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=38&products_id=1063
Cheap and very good.

[stvjeep]

I'm located in Northern Ontario. I also think that the V-Bar is for an advanced skill level. Still have to do some more reading about it though. Thought I would see what others think. The thing I like most is that there are less moving parts thus less things to create drag and/or fail.

When reading up on this hobby I had read the attached "Electronic Helicopter Beginners Guide". The guide is a little dated, but very good reading for a beginner. The author recommends the Logo 10 (the older version of the Logo 500) as a great beginner helicopter. It's stable in flight, easy to work on, durable, and of great quality. Have a read through it, it's well written.

My choices are between the T-Rex 500 and Logo 500. The T-rex still has some first run production issues that I don't like. What I do like is the price. IT would also be a good beginner heli, but it needs to be dialed down. I think it's more of a hardcore 3D machine for most. The Logo is expensive but can be set-up for a trainer right up to a 3D competition level machine.

Anyways, I hope some other beginner reads all this and it helps them. I've done a TON of reading up on all this. Still not ready to commit yet though. A lot of money, patience and time is involved in this hobby. I need to make sure I'm ready first. My Realflight G4 awaits...

[Mercuriell]

Hard to give hard advice on as you aren't going for a tried and tested setup - Z30 and A123s definitely a step out of the ordinary - I would say the 500 is a great beginner's hel as it can be dialled in really stable and smooth - bit bigger and easier to orientate to than the T450 or T500 - MAH 516s are cheap and tough from Esprit at the moment and KB 89 tail blades work real well and are tough and cheap.

[jamesotron99]

If you're learning then you want some cheap woodies - Century make great and cheap ones for the swift that you can throw right on. Otherwise, I'd go with the RotorTech 560's (flybarred) or 550's (vbar) if you want good performance.

[Skaross]

Z30 and A123s definitely a step out of the ordinary

Wouldn't say that much out of the ordinary Mercuriell... I was flying my L500 on 8S A123 and a Z30 clone (TT) about 2 weeks after they were released in the Eu. There was a lot of support on HF for this setup as many had used it for Raptor 550E's prior to the Logo's release.

My Logo is here with the full discussion of my Logo build:
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=43785&page=2

It's still flying on 8S A123 now but as my flying improves, I'm now down to a 4.5 minute timer to stop the packs dumping at the end. Adding 2 extra cells will add at least a minute to that flight time so seems perfectly viable to me.

Just make sure the ESC can handle 33V input is all I'll say... I use a CC 45HV and have no complaints.

Kev

[itsparks]

Skaross (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=10856), good pictures, one thing i did with mine was put in all the servos then marked the wires, then i shortened them from the actual servo it self :YeaBaby:

I still have to do the tail servo and stuff :) i like things being really nice and clean :)


http://odie.ath.cx/logo/IMGP1899.jpg

[Skaross]

The bulk of the excess wiring you see was to incorporate the CSM Cyclock mixer. This does the CCPM in hardware rather than on the set and was a pre-cursor to making the Logo flybarless, going the CSM route. It is about to be replaced with a Skookum SK360 digital flybar which will neaten things considerably :)

I like tidy just like you, but sometimes you have no choice but to bundle a few wires neatly. From experience, doing the tidiest installations sometimes comes back to bite you when maintenance or repair is required. Those "just the right length servo wires" make it a right pain to do a servo gear set in situ :)

Kev