It's been a loooong problematic road - but I'm about to start !

[R-4-L]

Some of you may recall me asking around and searching and whining about starting my (kinda) dream job of aerial videography.

its been more than a year now , and I'v gone through many obstacles before reaching my current state. briefly: shipment delays, wrong parts, wrongly cut parts, missing parts, more missing parts, custom clearance, out of stock parts, shipment durations, money, money,,,,,,,,, money.

I opted for HeliSolutions MarkIV and a predator gasser, shipping to my area was the greatest obstacle trying to convince bone-heads to clear them.

anyways, long story short, things arrived, building the predator was the worst experience ever, and "trying" to fly it was even worse. ended up scavenging the electronics and blades.etc and throwing it to a side awaiting atomic decomposition.

right now , my system that is ready (i think) for action is the followig:

Maxi Joker 2
800mm MS Night Blades
MS Night tail blades
Plettenberg HP370/40/A2 motor
Jeti Spin Opto 99 ESC (Schulze 40/160H Just arrived though)
HeliCommand Stabilization system
FlightPower 5000mah 5S x 2 (10S 5000mah Setup - initially was 12S 7400mah setup but motor over heated and cuts off with 12S and load)
GY611
S9252s
Duralite Magnisuim 3800mah Rx pack + Reg
900Mhz downlink system
Futaba 2.4Ghz FASST 14channel Rx (Radio 12Z with 2.4Ghz Module)

Approx 9KGs total weight.

I finally managed to fly more than 8 minutes 2 days ago, no vibs , I did take video shoots but non was worth posting coz i was really babysitting the thing !

I must thank everyone here for their guidance and help, and as I am about to start going to the fields, any comment regarding my current setup would also be appreciated :)

Thanks ! :cheers

[Syed Shane Raza Abidi]

WOW!

Looks like it has been a tough ride more than a joy ride!
Please update the video, if possible as I really want to see the final outcome of your system!

I wish you all the best for your future endevours.

With Regards,
Syed

[bullaculla]

Wow! sounds like a really nice setup :thumbup:
I know you have already spent a lot of money... but once you get busy and start doing lots of jobs, you will want/need 2 of almost everything. Gotta have a backup ;)
Good luck! :D

[Renfru]

R-4-L,

How have you mounted the camera, front or underslung?

[R-4-L]

bulla thanks buddy :) , already got a new motor and ESC ready for the next ship or the current ship just in case , and you are so right !

Renfru, the HCS MarkIV mount is an underslung type with 360 clearance due to retractable landing gear. beautiful mount but kinda heavy !

I'm planning to get my first still shots tomorrow.. fingers crossed !

[bullaculla]

Jodi makes some really nice mounts. They cost a little more, but fixes them for free!?!? awesome! I am thinking about buying his new E50 mount for the Trex600. If the stock 600 can lift it nicely, then my birds should have no problems hauling that thing :D
Good luck with the shoot tomorrow!

[Renfru]

You must post the results:thumbup:

[R-4-L]

Finally ! Aint nothing like this feeling !

I know the shot is faaaar from perfect, but it was my very first.. I'm still in a state of shock that I have reached this far .. :)

[Tritan]

Looks very good to me!

What camera and lens are you using?

[VanyaV]

Good Job!

Your very 1st picture looks great!
I have the same setup , well almost.
I have Joker2 with 710 blades, Airfoil pro1 , big blue , kontronic jazz.
I am also using 5s5000mah *2 and 6s5000mah *2
The motor never overheated or stoped working.
Take care!


VV

[R-4-L]

Tritn, thanks alot buddy :) , its just a Sony DSC-F828 semi-SLR camera, nothing fancy, but used it coz of the video out jack that connects straight to the downlink transmitter.

VanayaV, Thanks man :) , my 12S 7400mah setup (4x 6s3700) always reached 100C and motor cuts off, day or night, did so many tryouts always cuts off within 3 minutes of flight and the batteries would still be in ambient temperature.

got so many ideas and finally found out that 14T pinion isn't good for Pletti motors with 12S setup, so I changed the battery configuration and the temperature never exceeded 60C.

I will definitely try the 12S setup again but with a Schulze ESC, smaller pinion and lighter mount in my next heli if things go well .

[Renfru]

Well done, I know that feeling.

[R-4-L]

took the thing for a video test, discovered that the heli itself was very smooth (as in no vibs) but the mount's shocks were too light and bouncy. i cranked the expo up to 40% on the cyclicls but that dampening system is not forgiving at all ! (as u can see from the youtub vid).

I have replaced the oil of the shocks with alot more heavier one and i'll probably even discard the (savage) shocks and make the thing rigid.

BTW, that flight was the scariest one i'v ever done in my life coz i went so high i could barely see a green dot in the sky :wow2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn6QZUN4zIs

[BungeeMike]

You should tach your HS, I think your head speed is too high (1400 max) with that set up which is similiar to mine. Try a 12 tooth pinion which will lower your headspeed and allow you to run your ESC at optimum getting more flight time and less heating. 12s should not be an issue with bigblue and the pletti esc.
Aloha
Bungee