Thunder Tiger E550 Raptor vs Gaui Hurricane 550

[helicraze]

Is that a plastic head block with a button top??? Must be new

[rotorhead58d]

Is that a plastic head block with a button top??? Must be new

wow, you have some eagle eyes. i never noticed that.

[GatoVolador]

Is that a plastic head block with a button top??? Must be new

That's this little goodie:

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=803750

[helicraze]

Cool whos it made by?

I just got back from flying the E550, it was fun as usual. I get a vibration that can be seen in the horizontal stabilzer at low RPM, as soon as i flick to idle 1 or 2 it goes away.
Its been like this always, anyone else have the same thing?

[rotorhead58d]

Cool whos it made by?

I just got back from flying the E550, it was fun as usual. I get a vibration that can be seen in the horizontal stabilzer at low RPM, as soon as i flick to idle 1 or 2 it goes away.
Its been like this always, anyone else have the same thing?

some say it's because of low head speed and is normal

[3D Dave]

Thanks also to GatoVolador and anyone else if I missed you.

I think I forgot to mention...

here is the final spec:

- Raptor E550 basic kit
- Tonic-X Z30A/1110KV brushless
- Castle Phoenix 85HV ESC
- Castle 10A BEC/regulator
- Futaba GY401 w/9254 tail servo
- (3) Futaba S9252's on cyclic
- SUS one piece tailshaft
- MVP Raptor 30 head button
- 550 MS Composit FG main blades
- Spektrum AR7000 receiver
- (3) Cellpro Revolectrix 6s 5300mAh Li-Po's
- Western Robotics Spectrum LiPo battery monitor/alarm

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My collection is almost complete. I want to finsh it off with a micro heli for indoor/winter flying in a small living room. I don't plan to decide until fall so there's time.

I've narrowed it down to:

GAUI 200
Honey Bee FP

Any suggestions?

Dave

[helicraze]

Gaui 200 for sure, everytime i get a FP i have to sell it. You would hate to crash it inside, it will do some damage! (EP200)

[rotorhead58d]

i own a 200. not exactly what i would call a livingroom flyer, but for a small back yard, ya. walkera 4#3 is more of a livingroom flyer, or hirobo quark.

[3D Dave]

Thanks guys. I think even with a "tame" setup and tons of expo I would be taking chances indoors with a GAUI 200.

I think the Walkera 4#3 or the Hirobo Quark are more in line with what I want to do.

I wonder if I can use my DX7 and a micro RX with either one.


Dave D.

[rotorhead58d]

lots of guys say the walkera 4#3 is very hard to control. the gaui 200 is smooth, but not for the livingroom. i've been looking at the quark, but so was my accountant

[RMG2]

I didn't read this thread completely so sorry if this was mentioned prior but where would the Century Swift 16, or newer 550 Carbon Swift fit into this comparison? I too have a Mini Titan as my first CP heli and I love it but am looking to move up to a 550-class heli now. The Swift looks like a lot of heli for the money???

Any opinions, or comparisons with the Swift & E550?

[GatoVolador]

The Swift is a nice heli -- a bit lighter than the Raptor but also less crash-worthy IMHO. You're also more limited battery-wise as the battery is mounted up front like in the Hurry. Quality-wise it's very good -- better than the Gaui but a bit less Thunder Tiger I think. So, I'd rate them (from OK to best):

Hurry -> Swift -> E-Raptor

[RMG2]

The Swift is a nice heli -- a bit lighter than the Raptor but also less crash-worthy IMHO. You're also more limited battery-wise as the battery is mounted up front like in the Hurry. Quality-wise it's very good -- better than the Gaui but a bit less Thunder Tiger I think. So, I'd rate them (from OK to best):

Hurry -> Swift -> E-Raptor

Thank you for your information.

[bmichels]

Hello, somebody propose me an Hurricane 550 EP, that seems to be, according to the pictures, unfortunately fiber instead of carbon.

Is there a big difference between the 2 version ? what is the weight difference ? are there other differences ?
Also, the head seems to be NOT alu ? is is less good ?
I am a beginer, but I want maximum flying time (one of the reason of my hurricane choice) by using "BIG" 6s Lipos. Is the Carbon version a real PLUS in this case ?
Here are the picture that were sent to me ? What do you think of this Hurricane ? What version is it ?
Thanks in adavance

PS: are there some "goog but light" scale fuselage available for this bird ?

http://i1.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/01/75/0fc8_1.JPG
http://i16.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/01/75/1193_1.JPG
http://i2.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/02/d8/4612_1.JPG


bertrand

[Vinger]

That is a complete stock PLASTIC frame Hurricane. Just check to see if it does have the 8mm secondary shaft and motormount with bearing upgrade. If not then it is one of the early ones and I would steer clear of it. Six cell packs won't fit that frame. You will have to upgrade the elevator bellcrank as well, the stock plastic one does not last.

[3D Dave]

Hey Gato, Vinger, and the rest,

Just to update you my E550 is flying awesome. I have about 60 flights on it and I just did my first flips with it last week :banana

I'm so glad I went with the Raptor. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

Now I have a question. I'm using the Tonic-X motor and it seems great. The problem is I just found out I need to get a locking collar on the motor shaft because it is not locked in the can. I never noticed that but it does move freely if you pull the pinion but I don't know how serious this is. Now I'm told if I don't put a collar on it the motor/magnets will wear out pre-maturely.

How important do you guys think this is? If I really need to do it then I better start looking for a collar that will fit it perfectly.

Dave D.

PS, I'm going to IRCHA so maybe I'll run into some of you.

[helicraze]

No collar needed as the stock pinion is long enough, have the pinion butted against the motor bearing. TT made the pinion this way.

[rotorhead58d]

a trex 450 main shaft collar is a perfect fit

[helicraze]

Doesn't anyone listen? The stock pinion is long enough!

[Tim Tompkins]

Yes he's right. Just remove the motor from the mount and slide the pinion down the shaft until it bottoms on the brg. Reinstall with loctite of course. no need for a collar. The pinion is made for the pupose. It will be plenty long enough to hold the motor shaft close and still engage fully into the main gear. TimT

[3D Dave]

helicraze and Tim,

I just removed my Tonix-X and moved the stock pinion down to the bearing. I did leave a very small amount of play (less than 1/16 inch) just to keep the shaft from binding due to heat/cold expansion/contraction.

Is that ok or should I take it apart again and re-set it so that there's NO PLAY AT ALL?


Thanks.

[helicraze]

Hi, don't know i always just pushed it down all the way so there was no way. I don't think a little gap will matter.

[3D Dave]

Thanks helicraze.

Unless Tim or someone else says differently, I'll leave the pinion where it's at.

Also, I noticed previously that sometimes I'd hear a "screeching" noise from the motor and kept wondering what it was. I have a feeling it had something to do with the play in the main shaft. Flying it today I didn't hear the screeching once.

One thing I did notice now though is that in idle up 2 (I think programmed the same as idle up 1 except with slightly higher HS) I get a tail "twitch" every 5-10 seconds. I don't know what is causing it and I never noticed it before. It does not seem to do it in idle up 1 though. This is after only 3-4 minutes of flight so I don't think it's a BEC or battery issue.

Any ideas?




Dave

[Vinger]

Thanks helicraze.

Unless Tim or someone else says differently, I'll leave the pinion where it's at.

Also, I noticed previously that sometimes I'd hear a "screeching" noise from the motor and kept wondering what it was. I have a feeling it had something to do with the play in the main shaft. Flying it today I didn't hear the screeching once.

One thing I did notice now though is that in idle up 2 (I think programmed the same as idle up 1 except with slightly higher HS) I get a tail "twitch" every 5-10 seconds. I don't know what is causing it and I never noticed it before. It does not seem to do it in idle up 1 though. This is after only 3-4 minutes of flight so I don't think it's a BEC or battery issue.

Any ideas?




Dave
Are you running an CC ESC set in gov mode? CC have a tendency in gov mode to surge the motor only at certain HS, which causes the tail twitching you describe.

[helicraze]

The Ace ESC in gov mod make the tail twitch slightly, i do not worry about it.
You had the same problem as me, screeching from the motor and then i moved the pinion to the correct position and it went away. Every now and again it makes a noise but i'm not worried