has anyone own / fly a HeliPro Blackhawk 500 EP

[eric tung]

any comments ?
if you own one , what sort of electronic do you use?

thanks

[jiggy]

I have the GP version. Haven't run it up yet but I'll let you know how it goes. I'm using an FMA reciever and futaba servos 3107's 190 gyro and a futaba 6eh transmitter.
Joe

[eric tung]

Thanks Joe

I am interested in getting one and GP version is what I have in mind.
But I am not sure how to break in the engine and also wondering how you can refill the tank after each flight. From the picture, it doesn't seem to have any easy opening to fill the tank up.
when you bought your, have you got any manual for this GP version about how to setup the engine and the heli ( in English ! )

[jiggy]

You do need the field kit starter and hex adapter, glo-plug igniter and fuel pump. I added a fuel filter between the tank and the carb, thats where I break the line to add fuel. As far as set up it's a ccpm bird and you need to get the servos in the right place after that it's not too bad to set up. Engine runs good I ran it up in the bird without the mains on just to see what would shake loose. Let me know if you get one I'll send some links for engine break in.
Joe

[eric tung]

thanks Joe

I eventually got mine. I bought two , a 500 GP and a 450 EP so that I can have experience on both nitro and electric heli.

with the 450EP it come with a brushless motor and a 35A ESC. and guess what , like a lot of other good chinese products, no manual for the ESC. I am still waiting for hobby shop to get me one.

so I will do the 500GP first. I'll loctite anything may get loose and try to oil some bearings if I can get into them without taking the whole bird apart, making sure the links are smooth.

I bought a few TowerPro 9g small servo (SG90) and a GY401 for both heli.
what do you use ?

what % nitro fuel do you use ? can you really run the engine the loading ( main blade ) ?

Much appreciate if you can send me the break in procedure

have you upgrade anything ?

love to see video of your 500GP flying...

Cheers

[mezz303]

Hi
I've got the 500 EP. 2 of them actually. I would definately go round the whole thing with locktite as I have had screws all over them getting lose very quickly. The wooden blades that they come with are fairly crap and very hard to track properly. also due to the "odd" size of the blades (360mm) it's hard to find any suitable alternatives. I have ordered some Helipro CF blades through my LHS i'm hoping these will be an improvement on the woodies.
Other than that (and the ugly oversized canopy), I like the size and the stability of them.

[eric tung]

Hi Mezz

I have an 500 GP and I am setting it up at the moment and having trouble of leveling the swashplate. Much appreciate if you can tell me the length of all your servo linkages.
and also what pencentage of ccpm setting do you use on your radio

many thanks in advance ..

ps : you are right about the screws, on my third tank of nitro during engine break in, I lost 4 screws from the main shaft mounting plate. and I didn't notice it until the fouth tank and the heli shake like hell...

Cheers
Eric

[mezz303]

Hi Eric,

I've only set 1 of the blackhawks up to fly and that one has been modified with a T-Rex metal head and swashplate. The original head is not bad but the swash bearing felt very stiff and just plain crap! This could be a reason why you are having problems keeping it level after movement.
I havnt measured the links on mine yet but I will tomorrow. From the swashplate down it should be close to the same as the original.
I use a Spektrum DX7 radio and all my ccpm swash mixing is at 60%.

[eric tung]

thanks Mezz

looks like I have to do the same thing.
do you have the part number for the T-Rex metal head and swashplate ?
Local hobby shop people told me that it is diffcult to return the good if I bought it wrong and have the bag open..


I also found that the vertical guide on swashplate mount is very loose. when the swashplate goes up and down, it can move sideway as well. The gap in the guide is too wide..

I also have a blackhawk 450EP, I got the gyro direction switch wrong , and it spin mad in the air and hit my lemon tree. I think the bearing on the main rotor gear is gone...

[mezz303]

Hi Eric
Sorry for this late reply.
Sorry to hear about your Blackhawk 450 also, I have found a website that caters for Helipro parts if you need them!
I'm actually using the plastic swash at the moment the rest of the head is metal.
The swashplate is just a standard one off an Align T-rex 450. I had to modify it to fit the blackhawk by adding an anti-rotation pin at the front. I used a plastic canopy bracket/pin and a small servo link rod.
I screwed the link rod into the canopy bracket using CA glue like locktite to keep it there till only about 3mm of thread was left sticking out the end. Then I drilled a small hole in the swash at the "12 o'clock" position, filled it with more CA then screwed in the pin finally adding more CA around the join to reinforce it.
It fits very nice into the antirotation bracket with probably only half a mm side ways movement each way. It seems to work well too with about 15 flights and no sign of weakening.
Alternatively if you can't be bothered with all this, check out the metal upgrade swashplate for the Walkera 60. It looks like an exact match with no mods required and the bearing feels very nice too!

[PEPETOR48]

Hello Where spare parts for this heli can be found thanks

[mezz303]

http://www.xheli.com/heblha500eps.html

[PEPETOR48]

thank you very much mezz303

[mezz303]

No problem PEPETOR48

[eric tung]

there is ebay shop in HK selling Blackhawk kits and parts. both 500 and 450
their prices are good.
the delivery to US is US$14
if you buy one or two spare parts, then it is not worth a while to buy from them as it costs you $14 on the top , but if you buy a lot ( like me, knowing I'll will crash a few times ) , then it justify the delivery cost and the wait .

you can ask them to email you a pdf of the complete spare parts price list.

RVMShop.com <cs@rvmshop.com>

[rcjames]

Originally Posted by jiggy

I have the GP version. Haven't run it up yet but I'll let you know how it goes. I'm using an FMA reciever and futaba servos 3107's 190 gyro and a futaba 6eh transmitter.
Joe

what are you running on you're blackhawk 500 gp? I got one myself having a problem selecting a gyro for it.

[rcjames]

Originally Posted by PEPETOR48

Hello Where spare parts for this heli can be found thanks

www.helihobby.com

[jiggy]

Hi guys,
I found a great place for parts and fast shipping too, BPHOBBIES.COM.
Joe

[rcjames]

Originally Posted by jiggy

Hi guys,
I found a great place for parts and fast shipping too, BPHOBBIES.COM.
Joe

Probably so, mamba from castle creation looks pretty hot with those prices!!! Looking forward, how do i close this subject? I don't think I belong in heli, a complicated hobby compare to cars. Gotta love Plane and cars heli to hard for me.

[rcjames]

Originally Posted by rcjames

Probably so, mamba from castle creation looks pretty hot with those prices!!! Looking forward, how do i close this subject? I don't think I belong in heli, a complicated hobby compare to cars. Gotta love Plane and cars heli to hard for me.

"OOPS SORRY WRONG SUBJECT thought i was in my own subject"