Gaui 200 New Build... Thoughts, Photos & Questions

[knucklesdragon]

Hey Everybody,

I have been working on my G200 for the last couple of days and though I would share.

Here is what I started with:
Gaui Hurricane EP200 Belt drive kit w/ Motor & ESC
Logictech 2100T & LTS-3100G Combo
Spektrum DSP60 servos for cyclic
Ar6100
DX7

http://a281.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/108/l_0f5043f2da57ad8ff7b47b148878c438.jpg

I am currently using the E-flight 7.4V 800mAh ?C Battery from my Blade CX2.
http://a686.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/72/l_90ecf6a97b037bc3fcd6d2ead68156e5.jpg
I have already ordered 4 of the Gaui 7.4V 800mAh

Below are some photos of my build so far. It is a work in progress, as I am waiting for the Gaui batteries and and a couple other parts so I can set it up for better center of gravity. It is currently still a little tail heavy. I plan to route wires better and shorten them once I decide on my final layout (currently the extra weight of the wires up front is only helping)
http://a669.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/112/l_b3a1cabb8ff7d3da14674e6cd12832d4.jpg
http://a895.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/116/l_a201518a0176b5a018a98a1d8a3a5c5e.jpg
http://a331.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/103/l_90d1ab1461fa09ae508d562368fc929a.jpg
http://a572.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/99/l_b233c395182d9326cc8d06df6be0a0ab.jpg
http://a697.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/100/l_682004fd8c67ed996ac91cc133dd2578.jpg
http://a290.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/90/l_80bca9899ab6deb507ea368fd2b96079.jpg

So far I have flown/hovered about 1.5 batts through it.


Question 1: One of my Spektrum DSP60 cyclic servos is VERY twitchy at the center. Because of this flying it reminds me a LOT of flying the CP Pro. It feels sloppy and twitchy, and it bobs up and down a bit.
I am wondering if I got a bad servo, or maybe I need to buy the programmer to set them to helicopter mode and center properly???

Question 2: Does the Stock Gaui 12A ESC have a soft start feature set in the default set-up? or does this motor just take some time to spin-up?
I set up the ESC like the manual says, I went into program mode and just set the top and bottom of my throttle.
I spool up in Normal (65% Throttle, 0 pitch at mid stick), then I was switching to Idle up (100,75,100 Throttle, 0 to 100 pitch)
It seems to take some time to spool up... I am hoping this is a soft start function and not the normal reaction speed for this motor. I was in my basement so I couldn't really hold any hard punches. It sure climbs quick enough when you have an 8 foot ceiling.

It seemed to fly pretty nice (considering the balance and servo issues). I think the E-flight batts are under powered as the battery got pretty warm during my flight(these things even get warm in the CX2 :roll:) My belt tension seems reasonable, but I am thinking now I should double check my main gear mesh to make sure it is not too tight.

Well thanks for looking, and thanks in advance for your help!

[rotorhead58d]

talk to buzzkill about the servo issues. i'm pretty sure he runs them in one of his THREE 200's. lookin good dude. if you hold your grips and wiggle them up and down, do you have alot of play?

the stock soft start in the gaui esc is just really slow. somewhere on one of these 200 threads, there are instructions on how to program it.

[stoatnchips]

nice clean build :thumbup: sorry i can't help with the servo questions, i'm running the 306s and am on the look out for some replacements myself. Rotorheads right on the soft start, its like that by default and takes time to spin up. programmin infor for the esc is here:

http://www.elisanet.fi/mnentwig/webr...12A/index.html (http://www.elisanet.fi/mnentwig/webr...12A/index.html)

I can also confirm that the Eflite packs are a little 'asthmatic' compared to the 2s Gaui or APlus packs... think it might be the discharge rate...

Whats the Battery mount made from... GRP?

[knucklesdragon]

Thanks for the replies.

Rotorhead - The dampers seem OK. If I wriggle the blade grips on the Gaui I seem to have proportionally about the same amount of play that I have in my T-rex (stock dampers in t-rex)

Stoat - The Battery mount is made from plastic. It was a divider for a "Plano" tacklebox/organizer case. I just cut it to size with a sturdy pair of scissors and stuck some velcro to the front. I also put a thin strip of velcro on the back to hold the strap in place. After that I just Zip tied it on. I had zip ties on the bottom too, but I put them on the wrong way and they interfered with the canopy so I cut them off, only to realize I was out of little zipties.... I'm just leaving it for now, until I have all my placement finalized.
http://a559.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/113/l_9e7b62949e0635bf178eaadae63ce6de.jpg
http://a962.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/69/l_b9f8e597ff3d21ce48384a156a08fc01.jpg
http://a284.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/109/l_fe5558d1886e2cbed7e72bd8d4b3b58b.jpg
the case:
http://a156.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/109/l_172f45e1fcc338dcf30474e829865773.jpg
the dividers:
http://a210.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/70/l_0a548b03866aa22c16ecbbb86295de51.jpg



The Servo issue is REALLY bothering me, I just looked at it a little more. It seems to only be only one servo that is acting up. It is like every time I make a cyclic or collective movement all the servos move properly then this one just twitches after the others have stopped moving:mad:.

Maybe I will try to take a short video of the problem and post it up. Or maybe I'll just throw money at it like I usually do .....

[bonzai888]

DSP60 twitching?? Hahahaaa.. I have the exact same prob on my 200. I'm using 3 DSP60 also and I have 2 that is twitching. I would love to hear someone who can solve this issue.

My setup:
Logitech gyro and tail servo
CC 25A esc
stock motor
AR6100
DSP60 on cyclics

Someone HELPS us!! :o

[Fudd]

You want to make sure the canopy still fits ok with the battery mounted there. I made a similar mount using aplus 850 2s and struggled to get the canopy on. Heres a pic of the 2nd mount I made. No probs with the battery touching the canopy now and you can also move the battery back/ forwards to adjust the CoG.
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=46433&d=1209257406

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=46432&d=1209257406

[rotorhead58d]

doesn't spektrum sell some kind of device to set up those servos? buzzkill would know, but he is too busy moving to the country. buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz helllllllllllllllllllllllllp!

[Hover_X]

Hey Everybody,

I have been working on my G200 for the last couple of days and though I would share.

Here is what I started with:
Gaui Hurricane EP200 Belt drive kit w/ Motor & ESC
Logictech 2100T & LTS-3100G Combo
Spektrum DSP60 servos for cyclic
Ar6100
DX7



knucklesdragon,

I see you are using the Spektrum DSP60 servos, did you have to modify the fram at all to make them fit?

Thanks!

[tempwork]

Fudd - Your battery mount is AWESOME. It was my inspiration for mounting my battery up front, it also got me thinking of using zipties to mount it. My battery fits fine with the canopy on, but you have to make sure you position it low enough on the mount. I really like your set-up b/c you can move the weight around :thumbup:. My mount is possibly temporary as I want to see how my weight distribution is going to play out in the end. I ordered a T-rex CF battery mount so I could make a gyro tray if I decide to mount my battery on the bottom shelf...

Bonzai & Rotor - I ordered the Spektrum Digital Servo Programmer last night, I hope it will be here Wednesday or so. I will let you know if it solves the twitching problem. If not I am gonna get some HS-45's and throw these stupid DSP60's away:bomb:.

Hover_X - I wouldn't say I had to modify the frame, but I did buy some jewelers files and I did file the holes out just a little where the shrink wrap is on the servos. Even with filing down I am stupid and got a little impatient and tried to make a servo fit and I cracked the side frame on the Top/Front servo at the very top where it is SUPER thin. It doesn't seem to make a difference but I ordered new top sides anyway...

Otherwise...this thing is SWEET! My wife even thinks it's "Cute":YeaBaby:

[knucklesdragon]

Oops.....^^^^^^Thats me^^^^^

I made a temporary work user name when I signed up b/c I can't access my personal email from work.... Anyway....

[psindrup]

I love your "layout" and where you have placed/positioned your "hardware"

I just wish that Gaui would include a battery mount - like yours - in their kit. :)

Peter

[Fudd]

I'd love to say its 'my' battery mount but its just a rip-off of what I've seen others do on here. I'm surprised no one's made something similar yet and offered it for sale.

[Buzzkill]

Hey guys, for the servos DSP60's get the programer. Set to mode 1 (airplane) reset endpoints. Worked for me. Been flying one with those servos for quite sometime now no issues.

[knucklesdragon]

Hey Buzz, thanks for your response.

How come you decided to use airplane mode over the Heli/cyclic mode for the servos?


I received the Spektrum programmer last night and reprogrammed all the servos, but the one servo is still giving me the exact same issue. :mad:

Initially I called it twitchy, but this is not the best description. A better way to explain it would be to say that after nearly every swash movement, the servo moves and then "re-settles"
So if I go full collective up; the servo goes up with the other servos, then shifts back down to a slightly different position.
I pulled all my wires loose and separated all the wires and pulled the receiver out and plugged everything back in to rule out any interference issues and I get the same problem. I switched receiver channels; same problem. I unplugged everything except the one servo and the ESC, and same problem. Just to make sure I also checked it out in all 3 servo modes, still no luck...

I guess it is kind of lucky b/c I actually bought these servos at my LHS (which is rare for me b/c their prices are high and stock is typically insufficient). So I brought everything with me to work today, on my way home I plan to stop by the LHS and show them the problem. I am hoping they will exchange the servo for me. We'll see......

I will post later with my results...

On the plus side, I got the rest of my parts :YeaBaby:!!! CF landing gear & tail boom, tons of spares, a trex450 cf batt mount plate and a few other things...

[rotorhead58d]

knuck, try hooking another servo up to the channel that it's doing it on. if it still does it, i'm baffled. if it doesn't, it's a bad servo.

[knucklesdragon]

knuck, try hooking another servo up to the channel that it's doing it on. if it still does it, i'm baffled. if it doesn't, it's a bad servo.



Yeah... I did that and it followed the servo. Everything I tried, the same servo still had problems. I think I just got a bad one...

I took it back to the LHS and showed them, and they gave me a new one:thumbup: Those guys are pretty cool, they were excited to see the Gaui.

The new one seems to work great so far. I am excited to get this thing back up in the air!

[rotorhead58d]

Yeah... I did that and it followed the servo. Everything I tried, the same servo still had problems. I think I just got a bad one...

I took it back to the LHS and showed them, and they gave me a new one:thumbup: Those guys are pretty cool, they were excited to see the Gaui.

The new one seems to work great so far. I am excited to get this thing back up in the air!

awsomesauce:YeaBaby:

[knucklesdragon]

Well after getting the new servo the Gaui is SWEET!!!

So sweet in fact that I was too busy flying to bother posting:happyd

I probably flew 40 or 50 packs, kind of taking it easy. I am always careful after a new build, I hate that first crash.

Well it finally happened CRASH:arggg:

It was a stupid one too, I wasn't even flying, I was in the basement over the tile floor, just working on some orientations. I was actually just trying to run down a pack because I had used one earlier and my charger was set-up to charge two at the same time. Well it seemed like I had been flying for a LONG time. so I landed to make sure that I had started the timer, seriously I only looked away for a second, when I looked back up the gaui had crossed the basement floor and was millimeters from disaster. I hit throttle hold right as the Gaui hit the wall... DOH!!! BTW I had 17 seconds left on the battery.

The bright side is that at least it went the other way and hit the wall instead of me, and I at least got my first crash out of the way.

Damage report:
Broken plastic blades
Main shaft bent
Blade grip bent
See Saw arms bent, Both (one got its bearing all messed up)
Flybar bent
Servo gear stripped (elevator servo)
Tail blades broken
Tail shaft bent

I think thats it......

I had a bunch of spares, but none of the expensive stuff like blade grips and see-saws. so I put in a big order to flying hobby, paid for express shipping and still waited like 2 weeks for my stuff. Well everything arrived and I spent some time yesterday and the day before on the rebuild.

The Servo was easy to build, I was concerned about finding shrink wrap to replace what spektrum uses, but it turns out you can just slide that shrink wrap off and re-use it.
I also replaced the aluminum see-saw arms with the 3 dollar plastic ones to see how they are (I ordered aluminum and plastic) and so far so good. I also bought a few other upgrades, but like all the other upgrades I have bought so far I still haven't put them on the heli.

Here's a couple of photos from after the rebuild.
http://a421.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/73/l_843f8e77d5fa9dbddd41749e764d0b24.jpg
I switched to a Trex SE V2 battery tray
http://a490.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/124/l_c2a2b325b17b70bb1de10db09f59a249.jpg
http://a639.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/10/l_b145ce3e8982c85dd099e58e6aedd0c6.jpg
http://a17.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/49/l_35cc35b4d8ebf4e5d834f9d299d3bb68.jpg

I also bought a Schweitzer 300C canopy...
http://a342.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/60/l_7a06a264c97a38cb8045d3e36871f645.jpg

Ok well its nice out today, hopefully I can get some stick time... It is also my anniversary so maybe not....:P

[stoatnchips]

Knuckles, respect for having such a pragmatic view on the crash, i usually feel like throwing the TX into the dirt.. McEnroe style ;-) Let us know if there is any performance drop off with using the plastic arms... i've thought about it but been unwilling to De-bling upto this point.

[knucklesdragon]

LOL ... If you use the plastic see-saw arms. MAKE SURE YOU USE THE LITTLE BRASS BUSHING THINGS!

So far so good, even better with the little bushings, but I got no madd 3dz so I doubt I will ever notice a difference, although my pocket book certainly will!!!

Hopefully they will make a nice weak link, cheap part to crash, break, repair, and hopefully save the expensive blade grips!

[Buzzkill]

Hey man I must have missed your question. Sorry about that. I used airplane mode because the heli mode was just too fast for my skils. I would definately recommend it for the good 3D pilots though as it makes the cyclic ballistic. The gain was just too high in heli mode for me.

[knucklesdragon]

Hey man I must have missed your question. Sorry about that. I used airplane mode because the heli mode was just too fast for my skils. I would definately recommend it for the good 3D pilots though as it makes the cyclic ballistic. The gain was just too high in heli mode for me.

That is what I figured.

On the rebuild I took your advice and set them all to airplane mode. It does seem to mellow it out a bit, I may be able to tone down my expo a little now.

[knucklesdragon]

I got out to really fly the Gaui today and wow was it awesome!!!!! :YeaBaby:

I flew where I normally fly my 450 and man this thing is bad! It can really move! I brought the 450 with me too and never even got it out of the case.

**** I Know, "This post is worthless without video" sorry ****

I ran my whole bag of tricks (not a very deep bag) through it today pretty much on my 1st battery.

I ran some FFF circuits, a couple of nice big stall turns, some ugly loops, a couple of nice forward flying Aileron rolls. Stationary (a couple of them actually were) back flips, front flips and side flips (my side flips are never stationary unless I have forward speed).

But best of all... I tried my 1st ever inverted hovers today! I have been practicing a lot on the sim and was hoping for a nice day to try it. I was really planning to try with the 450, but I was having so much fun flying the Gaui I just figured I would go for it...
It went well, my longest one was about 10 seconds. felt like 10 hours. I had some incredible saves coming out of them I actually had a little grass stuck to one of my skids. all in all went really well no crashes!!! :Bang
Well I had to tell someone...my wife couldn't care less if I can hover upside down!


I did/do have a few issues...
1. I think I have some binding at full collective+cyclic. I need to actually sit down and check my pitch and my cyclic pitch, up till now I have just been eyeballin it.

2. I too get a corkscrew tendancy when I backflip. The corkscrew is always to the left if tail-in. It only happens maybe 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 tries. Maybe this is caused by the binding mentioned above.?.

3. I dont know how it is supposed to feel in inverted hover, but I think this is where some good head damping would really shine. it seemed a little floppy up there.

Thanks for listening:cheers

[Buzzkill]

Awesome. great post man.

[SurfCity]

Well I had to tell someone...my wife couldn't care less if I can hover upside down!
:rolling
I know EXACTLY what you mean! Watching someone hover is a little like watching someone practice his golf swing. You're in good company on this ward, though; WE ALL CARE! Congratulations!