Align '500' stretch to 500 !

[Van Scott]

Sitting here looking at my Align 500ProDFC thinking why couldn't it be a true 500 swinging 500mm Blades !! Really just Boom , TT and Blades required for a Stretch. The Electronics on mine are designed for a 500mm Blade machine , maybe the motor being the only stock electronic part left that could do with being upgraded , otherwise that's about it.
Has anyone had a go and done this ?
Be interested to hear your opinions !!

[Solmanbandit]

How would you stretch it is what inquiring minds want to know. There are no parts for stretching the 500. The 550 used a 600 boom

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Solmanbandit

How would you stretch it is what inquiring minds want to know. There are no parts for stretching the 500. The 550 used a 600 boom

plenty of parts..its easy to do, you just have to do some leg work..finding a longer boom that's the same dia and cut to length.. and a longer tt, same thing..
cf tail rod is the easiest thing to make.
might be as easy as buying the new 500x boom and the only thing you have to make is the tt.

[johnniechang]

Originally Posted by tonys-heli

might be as easy as buying the new 500x boom and the only thing you have to make is the tt.

The 500x boom is 19mm and won't fit 500pro.....

[HeliLust]

For a relatively easy conversion you can get the belted tail pulleys. Then find either carbon tube or aluminum stock that you can cut to fit. Finding a belt should be relatively easy as well. Make a new push rod and your home free.

The belt pulleys are on aligntrexstore, I think ebay will have the carbon or aluminum tube and possibly the belt. With the belt you will have to do some digging to come up with the right length.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by johnniechang

The 500x boom is 19mm and won't fit 500pro.....

I would think any boom smaller than 19mm Is gonna have some flex in it then.

[Atomic Skull]

Kasama Skrimok 90 uses a 19mm tail boom.

[Solmanbandit]

Btw here is one thing to consider,. Extending the tail boom is going to make it tail heavy.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Solmanbandit

Btw here is one thing to consider,. Extending the tail boom is going to make it tail heavy.

not when you put a 3300mah in it. theres plenty of tail heavy helis that fly fine..goblin 380 comes to mind.

[ic-racer]

Sitting here looking at my Align 500ProDFC thinking why couldn't it be a true 500 swinging 500mm Blades !!

What would be the advantage of this?

[Solmanbandit]

Originally Posted by tonys-heli

not when you put a 3300mah in it. theres plenty of tail heavy helis that fly fine..goblin 380 comes to mind.

I flew a 550 stretched and I personally didn't care for it.. Are you also going to upgrade the motor? I have a true 500 and I use a 4500 mAh battery and a more powerful motor. I also use 80 mm tail blades instead of 72 mm used on my T-Rex 500. The 550 is basically a shortened 600, so extending the tail boom is no issue. Just some things to consider.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Solmanbandit

I flew a 550 stretched and I personally didn't care for it.. Are you also going to upgrade the motor? I have a true 500 and I use a 4500 mAh battery and a more powerful motor. I also use 80 mm tail blades instead of 72 mm used on my T-Rex 500. The 550 is basically a shortened 600, so extending the tail boom is no issue. Just some things to consider.

the op was talking of going from 430mm blades to true 500mm blades by just stretching the boom.
a while back align 550's were coming with 600 booms and heads out of the box.
tail heavy? a little, but I don't notice it if at all.

[Solmanbandit]

the op was talking of going from 430mm blades to true 500mm blades by just stretching the boom.

I understand that, but for the 500, unless you up the motor power, you will more than likely be disappointed with the results. Just sayin

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Solmanbandit

I understand that, but for the 500, unless you up the motor power, you will more than likely be disappointed with the results. Just sayin

im never disappointed with results.. it means at least I tried..
theres always a bigger motor around somewhere..

[Solmanbandit]

Trying is great, but if you are doing it for performance, then be confident that you can do it correctly. There are true 500's out there and I have both the Trex 500 and a HD 500. I have experience with both and I know that if I just made my trex 500 bigger without a bigger motor, the results would not be the same. It would be like changing your Volkswagen beetle into a Porsche and leaving the original 1200cc motor in it.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Solmanbandit

Trying is great, but if you are doing it for performance, then be confident that you can do it correctly. There are true 500's out there and I have both the Trex 500 and a HD 500. I have experience with both and I know that if I just made my trex 500 bigger without a bigger motor, the results would not be the same. It would be like changing your Volkswagen beetle into a Porsche and leaving the original 1200cc motor in it.

confidence has nothing to do with it..if someone wants to stretch it, who cares? so
that would depend on what the person wanted to do with it. maybe geared correctly for low head speed, no need for new or bigger motor. and there are bigger motors out there that drop right in, no mod..you act like that's a problem.. and for whatever reason someone wants to stretch it, its theirs to do it with. its all fun, right? results are always different, some good some so-so, but isnt fun the end result we are all looking for?

[Solmanbandit]

I would like to be clear and say that in the first post he is asking for opinions, I am not putting him down, but just giving my opinion and offering different aspects that he may have not considered.. There shouldn't be anything wrong with me giving my opinion when someone asks for opinions. If he just wants to do it just because he can, then go for it.

[tonys-heli]

Originally Posted by Solmanbandit

I would like to be clear and say that in the first post he is asking for opinions, I am not putting him down, but just giving my opinion and offering different aspects that he may have not considered.. There shouldn't be anything wrong with me giving my opinion when someone asks for opinions. If he just wants to do it just because he can, then go for it.

nothing wrong...then quote him..

[Van Scott]

Yes I would upgrade the Motor , I do mention that in my OP.
Something I hadn't thought of however is the Blade Root . Need to check that true 500mm Blades would fit the Grips designed for 425mm Blades. Pretty sure no issue with the Root of some larger Tail Blades.
Maybe some longer struts on the Boom Support could reduce any flex issues with a longer custom Boom which I'd most likely use CF tube to manufacture. The little metal ends on the TT could be a little tricky so to go with a Belt driven Tail would be the best option , the rest would be pretty straight forward.
Don't see myself going to the trouble to tell the truth. I think my best option would be to get a 600(12S) and share packs with my '500'. Just tossing around a few ideas !!

[Solmanbandit]

I may have to get batteries for my caliper, but I can see if I can check the blade root on my 430 and 500 mm blades.