E550 FBL

[JustPlaneChris]

Tim, you'll get a reprieve from me, it will likely be a few weeks before I have much to say about it.

[Hexperience]

Stock is all gone for the first batch... Late April until the next shipment... It's like a crack dealer walked through the room... I managed to avoid temptation... this time...

----

The above comment is a joke, I do not know, nor have I ever met Rob Ford....

[cipioh]

Well... At a minimum you'll see an unboxing from me this weekend. It's actually expected to arrive tomorrow! Tomorrow night happens to be the night my wife and I are going to dinner for our anniversary. Do you think she'll mind if I bring the heli? lol!


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[rcnorth]

That batch sold out fast lol. If the reviews go well I bet the next shipment won't last long either.

My'n was shipped yesterday, but it will be 3 weeks before I can go over it since I have a 2 week work shift starting next week

Looking forward to cipioh's review (don't bring it to dinner though, lol)

[stingeragent]

I'd just postpone dinner and build the heli!

[rcnorth]

Ya......then you may not have worry about anniversaries any more.....

Give her the best day & night ever, *extra special*, & don't even mention helis, until the end of the night, when you explain how you have all these helifreaks waiting on your report of this new heli.....

You should be good for the rest of weekend

[cipioh]

well.....

I GOT MY RAPTOR E550 FBL TODAY, AND IT CAME WITH A BROKEN HEART!

[soko]

com cpo! you can fly it with no canopy

[cipioh]

Originally Posted by soko

com cpo! you can fly it with no canopy

Actually, the funny thing is, I almost never fly with a canopy anyway. I hate taking it off to change batteries. Now that I have a heli that can swap batteries without removing it...It's broke! LOL!

Seriously though, I may just epoxy the pegs back on it to see if that works. I'll save the frame replacement for when I am doing something to it anyway. : )

I decided to play hooky from work so I can do the unboxing before my anniversary dinner. That way I can do both! : )

[cipioh]

Unboxing the 2014 Thunder Tiger Raptor E550 FBL ARF Heli

Unboxing the 2014 Thunder Tiger Raptor E550 FBL ARF Heli (6 min 56 sec)

[Hexperience]

Thanks cpo! That answers the question of how the gt5 is mounted... it's not! Too bad about the canopy. Not too bad of a problem though and glad to see tower made good on it. I guess that's part of the "if any plastic part breaks we replace it" warranty but I don't think that is what they meant it for...

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[rcnorth]

Great vid cipioh, hopefully the broken mounts are not common, that's surprising to see with no damage to the box must have been on the bottom of the pile?

Interesting that TT shows a the pic of the GT5 mounted in a position that will cause the heli to crash....

Look forward to the build & flight reports

[iAdam]

Well guys I took the plunge too. Took some time away from helis and needed a way back into the hobby cheaply. Still flying a Flybar Protos from years ago on occasion, and switched to 3d balsa planes the last couple seasons, so this is gonna be great!!!

[cipioh]

I, too, was surprised to see the broken mounts with absolutely zero damage to the box. Oh well. A single block of foam right on top would probably prevent that during shipping. I'm curious to see if others arrive like that, or if I am just lucky. : )

So, good point, regardless of the shipping damage...all plastic parts are replaceable for free in the first year. I guess I better get this thing fired up and get my crash on early! : )

I was actually surprised that the ESC and FBL were not mounted at all. I figured that would be done. I was also surprised there were no battery connectors on the ESC. I thought I read somewhere that it came with deans pre-soldered. I am glad it didn't, but that does mean that whoever buys these kits still get to solder something. : )

[cipioh]

Quick battery fitment video...in case anyone else is wondering about this.

Thunder Tiger Raptor E550FBL Battery Fitment (1 min 57 sec)

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[Thorvald]

Thanks CPO, I hope your putting a Frsky receiver in it for your Taranis ;-)

Wow are batteries expensive for this size, if we want the width to fit they are like $130 and up. Oh well...

Next can you do a CG vid and simply have the Esc and GT temp. velcroed in and we can see if the HK batteries will work?

Cheers
Tim

[Thorvald]

Originally Posted by cipioh

I was actually surprised that the ESC and FBL were not mounted at all. I figured that would be done. I was also surprised there were no battery connectors on the ESC. I thought I read somewhere that it came with deans pre-soldered. I am glad it didn't, but that does mean that whoever buys these kits still get to solder something. : )

Thank god it didn't... I'm a huge deans hater from back in the 80's when it was easy to short out a nicad pack with change in your pocket or a tool in your toolbox.

Good to see the HK batteries come with HXT 4.0 connectors. I use the exclusively now on my non-race RC vehicles. Super strong and lots of room to grip so even kids can get them apart.

I'll likely do the same as you with the battery and simply put HXT (or maybe the fancy new Castle) on the batts.

[byHISgrace]

Originally Posted by cipioh

Quick battery fitment video...in case anyone else is wondering about this.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hP_wPnIm1Rc



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What are the dimensions of the battery area, accounting for the frame tabs? Thinking this may be the replacement for my Outrage 550, especially if they sell one without gear. Thanks. Matt

[cipioh]

Originally Posted by byHISgrace

What are the dimensions of the battery area, accounting for the frame tabs? Thinking this may be the replacement for my Outrage 550, especially if they sell one without gear. Thanks. Matt

I did an article on that earlier... I believe it to be accurate now that I have the heli.
http://everythingcpo.com/cpo/thunder...-battery-size/

[cipioh]

Originally Posted by Thorvald

Thanks CPO, I hope your putting a Frsky receiver in it for your Taranis ;-)

Wow are batteries expensive for this size, if we want the width to fit they are like $130 and up. Oh well...

Next can you do a CG vid and simply have the Esc and GT temp. velcroed in and we can see if the HK batteries will work?

Cheers
Tim

Yes. In fact, I just got my X6R in the mail today for it. I will be using that and a lipo voltage sensor.

CG vid coming up soon. I just got the tail assembled today.
Next will be electronics, and then CG will come with that.