Is this a good set up for HC-500?

[Epoweredrc]

Just wanted to know what you guys thought about this set up. Considering buying this heli and I know NOTHING about this brand HC-500 and just wanted your input if this was a good set up or not.

HC-500
ace 77amp esc
trex 500 motor
Hitec HS82 MG servos
Align GP 780 gryo
Align DS520 tail servo
AR6200 rx

I do what i call mild 3D lots of continuous back and front flips, tic tocs, inverted hovers. long punch outs. (upright and inverted) want a machine that will hold up to it and more.

It is someones on here I don't want to say who and if your reading this, I trust you just wanted another input everyone i work with don't know about anything other then trex there trex lovers I never been that big of a trex fan myself.


Thanks

[Blayd]

Well, the HC in the HC500 is for Henry Caldwell.....look him up.. Grand Dad of 3D.. he worked closely with Charley Stevens.. a great heli designer who has designed other great heli's. I believe he designed the Outrage 550, and now has his own heli company called AleeS RC.. ( look for his own threads!!! )
So, with Charley and Henry collaborating on this design, it was built for some serious 3D. Theres a few videos of Henry flying the bejeesus out of it.
It can be set up to some very good pitch angles, has an adjustable head for normal flight, ( which will do great 3D ) or a more aggressive set up for killer ( fast, almost too fast 3D.) As you can tell.. I love mine....I have 2 500's, a Trex 500 and the HC500. The Trex is like the Corvette of my heli's..smooth, fast, comfy to fly, the HC500 is like the F1 of my heli's....fast, very responsive in cyclic, agile, has the potential to get really hairy if you let it...
But, as you already know... parts have been an issue at times. I, and others, seriously thought that the HC500 went obsolete at one point when HeliDirect couldnt tell us if parts were going to be coming back in for it.. but they did. Last time I spoke with anyone at Heli Direct, I was told.. that as long as the vendor ( Sonix ) keeps making the parts available, they will get them. I cant guarrentee you they will be still available years from now.. but right now, they are. As I had told you before.. I'm in the habit of buying parts when they are available, anytime I have some spare bucks. I love this heli...flys like a bat out of hell....so I want to keep it flying.
My set up...
HC500CF
Scorpion 1400Kv 3026V2
CC 100A ESC
CC 20A Pro BEC
Spartan DS760 Gyro
Hitec HS-5245MG Cyclics
Futaba 9257S tail
Turnigy 425mm CF blades.
KDBB tail blades.
Like I said...parts for this are found only in a few places.. (HeliDirect, and CNC heli as far as I know..) So you should consider this in your choice for a next heli. Basically, I love mine, and hope to keep it flying for quite awhile.

Oh.. about your set up.. honestly, I dont know much about the stuff your thinking of.. I'm not a fan of the 780gyro.. but others love it. The 500 motor will be fine, just remember to get the right pinion..I dont know that brand of ESC, but 77amps is fine.
Again, I'm not sure about those cyclic servos....I know ALOT of people use them.. just dont know anyone using them in this heli. Which servo you want to use on the tail?

[scoio]

My HC500, after a year and half on the shelf is alive again.I am just wondering with hole on the main shaft are you using?

Thanks

Chris

[Blayd]

I fly the middle hole...some have flown the bottom hole. Try each, see if it will let you tighten the main shaft collar down AND have no play up and down. I use the middle hole, and made a very small bushing to go between the Main gear hub, and the bottom of the lower main bearing. Heli Direct has a tech who has two of these heli's, he never used a bushing.. didn't need to.. I did only to move the belt up alittle more on the autorotation gear, so the belt stays in the center, instead of riding lower. But Heli direct says its fine either way. Its not a necessity, but I wanted the belt perfectly centered.

[Epoweredrc]

sorry its got a align DS520 tail servo.

this is what is in the heli the guys has right now. looking to buy just wanted peoples thoughts. Don't want to buy a $300 heli then have to change out $300 worth of electronics

Seems that http://helidirect.com/advanced_searc...=HC500&x=0&y=0 do have quite a few parts for it.
Looked up Henry C. WOW he can fly

[scoio]

I always flew with a 520 with the old GP750 and never had issue.Tail rock solid....the only problem that I faced with this kind of heli was stripping main gear.I also sent a PM to Henry Caldwell asking how this could happen and guess the answer??....

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by scoio

I always flew with a 520 with the old GP750 and never had issue.Tail rock solid....the only problem that I faced with this kind of heli was stripping main gear.I also sent a PM to Henry Caldwell asking how this could happen and guess the answer??....

Glad to read you liked that set up and what was it? to much power?
Is this heli able to do autorotations? the tail set up with belt looks different I am used to seeing two reg gears and a tail drive gear this one the belt hooks to above the main gear

[Blayd]

I fly a Scorpion 1400kv motor with a 14T pinion. Havent stripped a gear yet..if you have the right mesh and a good ESC for start up.. there shouldnt be a problem. I'm still on my first main gear after a year.
Auto's.. yes.. any heli with a one way bearing can auto..
about the belt.. I fly only belt driven tail heli's. I'm not found of Torque tubes....

[Danimal]

I'm flying my HC on a Hyperion HS 3026-1400 with a head speed around 3225 and have never had a problem with the main gear. I had my HC500 almost 2 years and its still my favorite heli to fly. The setup on the one your looking at seams to be fine. Just make sure you can setup a good soft start on that ESC and you'll be happy with that heli.

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by Danimal

I'm flying my HC on a Hyperion HS 3026-1400 with a head speed around 3225 and have never had a problem with the main gear. I had my HC500 almost 2 years and its still my favorite heli to fly. The setup on the one your looking at seams to be fine. Just make sure you can setup a good soft start on that ESC and you'll be happy with that heli.

3225 On a 500 man! that got to be insane. Love to see a video. thats the HS i run on my blade 450 its stock out of the box.

Thanks guys for the input think I am going to get it hope he still has it when I get some funds up for it.

[Tomstoy2]

I've had mine for years, plus the 450. Both are really phenominal heli's! It would be a shame if parts died off.

I'm running a Scorpion -1400 and a 100A esc, fbl with mini-V. It rocks!

[Epoweredrc]

Cool, well looks like I might have missed out on this one was trying to sell something to get funds but the guy might have found a buyer. oh well guess income tax season get here I have the cash and maybe find a great deal on something

[Blayd]

Toms is REALLY nice.. he's got, I think, a compass FBL head on his.. its a gorgeous bird!!

[Tomstoy2]

Thanks!

It really is a dream to fly. Can't say enough praise about the head. The MiniV gives it a sophistocation in flight conrtrol that is unparalleled.

[Epoweredrc]

Nice looking machine.

[Epoweredrc]

What kinda heAd are you running since its FBL?

[Blayd]

If I remember right, Tom told me it was a Compass head.

[scoio]

Originally Posted by Tomstoy2

Thanks!

It really is a dream to fly. Can't say enough praise about the head. The MiniV gives it a sophistocation in flight conrtrol that is unparalleled.

Nice Looking heli!
Which kind of LG are those?
I have the stock one, the white one, they give her an aggressive look but let's say that the bottom frame is almost touching the ground...I am not feeling comfortable with it.
I finish the rebuild few days back, I did maiden, I am using GY520 gyro.Happy with it..but.....wanna go FBL and thinking which kind of FBL head should I have.Your Compass looks awesome but I am looking something cheeper.RJX is almost un fundable...found one, Tarot, which does not look bad at all.
I have 2 MiniV and I am pushed to get one more for the HC500 but I have a BeastX and Total G on my drawer....no one gave me the same feeling of the Vbar....it confuse on this matter....

Chris

[Blayd]

I fly Align 600 skids and pipes on both, my HC500 and my T500. Nice wide stance.