Considering HC500

[schucb]

I am considering buying the HC 500 with G10 frames. Is there a benefit to getting the CF frames. I have heard the g10's are stronger and don't make static.

How about the motor and blades? Are they both good quality?

Will a standard size servo work on the rudder? I have one, but will get the smaller (S9257 size) if necessary.

Are there any upgrades this heli needs or that are recommended?

I am looking at 6s 2650mah 30c packs and S9650 for cyclic.

The esc I am going with has bec.

What else would I need?

I flew a Trex 500 cf for a year. How will this compare to it?

[jacquesjb]

Is there a benefit to getting the CF frames.
- I don't think

I have heard the g10's are stronger and don't make static.
- I have some little issue with static but for the moment it get rid of with a bit of StaticGuard.

How about the motor and blades? Are they both good quality?
- Both motor and blades are good quality.

Will a standard size servo work on the rudder?
- You can use the standard size or the smaller size (S9257).

Are there any upgrades this heli needs or that are recommended?
- Maybe the KBDD paddles and tail blades but the original are OK.

I am looking at 6s 2650mah 30c packs and S9650 for cyclic.
- I use InnoLab HGD digital 260MG for cyclic
- I use Zippy 2650mah 20C packs and the CG is perfect with them.
- I have about 9 to 10 min of sport flying

The esc I am going with has bec.
- I use the Turnigy 60A with the bec with success.

I can't compare to a TRex 500, I don't have his heli

The HC500 is very stable in hovering and very agile in FF

[rpheliman]

Go with the G10's. They are much more crash friendly. I have them and have crashed it a couple times with no damage to the frames. As far as the static issues-none. I run a separate BEC on a Hobbywing 60 amp Platinum SC, no issues and much safer, I also run my servos (Hitec 85mg's) at 6V (not the tail of course) too and this lets me do that. The stock main blades are fine for 3D, although I run the SAB's CF. Both of these blades are much beyond my capabilities can throw at them. I did switch to Trex 500 CF paddles. Tail blades are stock plastic Trex 500 too. I run 3000mah 6S 40C batteries with 6 minutes of fly time with a good 25% battery left when I land. Stock motor has held up fine, no issues at all and plenty of power for me. I have tried the KBDD tail blades and absolutley HATE them. I have tried them on all 3 of my 500's and get a tail oscilation that cannot be cured no matter what I try. (I even tried different Gyros and servos) I have heard that you can cut them down, but what's the point then of having them then other than the "pretty" different colors that you can get. I am in the process of converting another one of my HDX 500SAH's into an HC 500 so you can see I really like them. I have heard guys talk about the difference between the HC and Trex and have heard the HC fly's lighter. Besides that the Heli Direct service is worth buying it anyways. Hope this helps.

[schucb]

what do you mean by oscillation? And why is a BEC safer? Is that because of the amp draw from the servos?

[rpheliman]

The tail would wag back and forth. I could set the gain anywhere and it would not help. Like I said, I even put a different gyro/tail servo just to try it out, nothing seem to totally cure it. Yes, to the seperate BEC, If you get higher amps draws you could brown out your speed control to all of your servos. For the extra 25 bucks it is worth it to me to have. I flew without one for a year, but have since converted over to external BEC's on all but my Blade 400 and King 2's just for the safetey factor.

[B2TheEYo]

I love my HDXSAH and I love it even more now that it's an HC500.

The quality of material and design and overall flight is fantastic (as to be expected from being designed by Charley from Outrage and flown and tested by Henry Caldwell). Definitely a great 3D and sport flying machine. Docile to responsive at the flick of a stick.

No upgrades are necessary the model is pimp'd and bling'd out of the box, just treat it right with some great electronics. The stock motor holds up and operates great. Though like many Trex 500 owners, we all do the Scorpion upgrade when we want that extra "mule kick", I'm dying to make the jump myself.

G10 is the way to go, I've always went with G10 because of what I've read and the facts about and it's much more inexpensive. I've contemplated the carbon alternative but from what others have told me after crashing both the G10 and carbon is the G10 is the best route. Inexpensive and seems more rugged and less problematic with common issues such as static.

As far as flight characteristic. Everyone I've read that owns a Trex 500 and an HC500 says they like the HC500 over the Trex. I haven't met anyone that's said one negative thing about the kit.

As far as crashing this bird, I've done her in a few times, full-idle-up speed into the dirt (I know stupid, I haven't gotten into the habit of using the TH, use to lowering my collective when I know it's game over) and the the usual's are the main gear and blades and boom that break/bend. The HC shafts seems to NEVER bend. I've never bent a spindle shaft and never bent a HC main shaft. Worst case you'll bash up your frame sides.

I crashed the other week doing some experimental 3D maneuvers, got wise and hit the TH and walked away damage free with the exception of a broken blade.

Can't say enough good things about the kit. It's a lot of heli for the money!

[jacquesjb]

Originally Posted by rpheliman

I run 3000mah 6S 40C batteries with 6 minutes of fly time with a good 25% battery left when I land.

How do you place your electronic to achieve your CG with this battery?
I use the second upper tray hole for the battery support and my CG is correct with a 410 gram battery(Zippy 2650mah 20C) and my ESC is under the battery support. I use a 9257 tail servo.

The weight of your battery(3000mah 6S 40C) should be about 520 gram.
Do you add some weight to have a good CG?

Do you use another battery with your separate BEC ?

[schucb]

Does anyone make aftermarket canopies for the HC, or is the stock one good. I just think I may want a higher visability canopy.

[schucb]

Originally Posted by jacquesjb

How do you place your electronic to achieve your CG with this battery?
I use the second upper tray hole for the battery support and my CG is correct with a 410 gram battery and my ESC is under the battery support. I use a 9257 tail servo.

The weight of your battery(3000mah 6S 40C) should be about 520 gram.
Do you add some weight to have a good CG?

Do you use another battery with your separate BEC ?

Does the 3000 fit under the canopy ok? I used a 3000 with my Trex 500, and it fit, but was tight.

[jacquesjb]

You can use your TRex's canopy without any modification, just add a foam shim between the battery top and the canopy.

I don't know for the 3000, I use a 2650 20C 6S

[schucb]

Do I have the main block backward?

[schucb]

What is the best way to route the two front cyclic servo wires? It looks like there are some spots on the frame to mount them. I found a picture on another site and will post the picture. I drew a red line on it. Is that the line to use?

[spootman]

That's the route I used on mine. At first I ran both wires on one side but have changed to one on each side due to static problems and it's easier to work on.

[B2TheEYo]

I ran my wires on that line, but on the inside, and they all have servolines on the wires, it was tight but doable.

[schucb]

Originally Posted by spootman

That's the route I used on mine. At first I ran both wires on one side but have changed to one on each side due to static problems and it's easier to work on.

Is yours the CF frame? Is the static an issue with the g10 also? Where did you get the braided lines? I like them.

[schucb]

I found the braided wraps at Ronlund.com

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/mer...t_Code=FMP1106

and the instructions

http://www.fortunemodelproducts.com/...ectionkit.html

[B2TheEYo]

G10 is suppose to be better with static over the CF.

The braided lines can be found at Helidirect, their called "Servo lines".

They got for $1 for 1M.

[schucb]

What length should my Pitch linkage rods be? Mine are 27mm and apparently too short? Also how long are your stabilizer control linkage rods? I put these in red on the attached picture.

The manual is a little lacking. Someone should do a detailed build thread on this heli with vids.

If Helidirect would send me a kit, I would do it with my video camera.

[spootman]

Originally Posted by schucb

Is yours the CF frame? Is the static an issue with the g10 also? Where did you get the braided lines? I like them.

It's the g10 frame, and I'm still not sure if I had a static problem or something going south in the electronics. Knowing my luck it's probably both . As for the servo braids I think I got them from helidirect or readyheli, most shops seem to carry em.