Woot! Got my Align 450 Pro v2 3Gx Kit

[Wesley888]

The UPS guy can't hide from me today! The box is much smaller than I expected. Let's the fun begin.

[BLAZE86DUBZ]

good luck i just finished mine last week flies great got rid of the 3gx though went with the beast x maiden flight went flawless

[crf69]

i was very surprised how small the box was too.

this thing is fun to build im still in the process.(a long drawn out taking my time process)

My first real kit.

[Wesley888]

Originally Posted by BLAZE86DUBZ

good luck i just finished mine last week flies great got rid of the 3gx though went with the beast x maiden flight went flawless

Thanks. I'm going to sell my 3Gx as well. Just going to put a SK720 in it.

More pictures...





And all of the screws are not Loctited. The bearings are not greased at all.

[Viet-Lama]

Man thats sweet! Congrats!

[dominoedge]

Congrats. Looks like you got sucked in as quickly as I did. I'm on my 4th heli now in less than a month's time. However, I couldn't find a 450 Pro 3GX in stock anywhere so I went with a 550 one. Just got it, about to start building.

[Wesley888]

Thanks. I almost went with a 550 as well, but I figure 450 would be much cheaper to fix since I'm so new at this. I'm sure I'll move up again when I'm done with the 450.

And by following Finless Bob's video, I just got the frame done and got my TX configured for the 3 servos.

[Wesley888]

Using zip tie method and re-adjusted all 5 links. Got the swash plate leveled and the blade pitch corrected. That's all for the day.

[-kenny-]

Wow that takes me back My girlfriend and friends couldn't believe that a 450 was going to come out of that tiny box. These are real nice heli's to build. The building almost becomes an addicition. I got my 450 in octobre, built it, had sooo much fun i couldn't stop dreaming of building another one. Started thinking about a 550 and couldn't resist. Got one in january. And i'm allready thinking of wich one to build next
Have fun!

[distructor]

Subscribed. The T450 + SK720 are what I had selected for my next build as well. Please keep us updated.

[Wesley888]

Originally Posted by -kenny-

Wow that takes me back My girlfriend and friends couldn't believe that a 450 was going to come out of that tiny box. These are real nice heli's to build. The building almost becomes an addicition. I got my 450 in octobre, built it, had sooo much fun i couldn't stop dreaming of building another one. Started thinking about a 550 and couldn't resist. Got one in january. And i'm allready thinking of wich one to build next
Have fun!

I can imagine. I really enjoy building it as well. I spent extra sweet time to sand down all of the edges using quite a few different shape and sizes of sanding tool, but by hand. Treating it like a piece of art. I don't think I've ever done that.

Originally Posted by distructor

Subscribed. The T450 + SK720 are what I had selected for my next build as well. Please keep us updated.

Will do.

[Wesley888]

Hmm... i don't see the instruction on installing the rudder servo. This is Trex 450 Pro V2. Quite a bit of the set up don't match what Finless Bob's video. Just want to make sure I still use the closest hole in that servo.

EDIT: nvm. It is binding on both side so it certainly needs the least travel. Even using the closest hole, I still have to set the travel limit to about 50% for the rudder control.

[-kenny-]

It should be in the manual somewhere. If you like, i'll check it for you. Never mind if it's binding now, completely normal, and DON'T adjust travel in your tx. The limits are set when you do the rudder gyro setup.

[Wesley888]

Finally found the page. It was way at the end.

I just finished putting it all together and finished doing the wiring as well. Almost everything and wires are inside the frame. Quite clean.

When I start doing the SK720 setup, I then noticed that all the calibrations, reverse, sub-trim, swash mix, etc are not needed. SK720 requires everything set up again from scratch.

One more thing, the SK720 does not come with any cable. I'm using a Spektrum receiver AR8000. It consist of 2 pieces, 1 to control, and the other one is a remote receiver. I need to have both of them connects to SK720. I don't have those tiny plug cables at home at all. Going to see if any local stores open tomorrow. If not, can't do anything until next week.

[-kenny-]

That's right, i forgot you were using the skookum. Wow that sucks for such an expensive unit to come without any cables.
I would for sure set it up with the 3gx untill i got the cables for the skookum then again, i don't have much patience

[Wesley888]

Yea, right? A $400 unit doesn't even come with the cables to connect to the receivers. I found it a bit outrageous.

[Wesley888]

Found a local store that open 7 days a week and they have pretty much everything I can think of. Got my cable and power plugs. Got the SK720 configured just now. Going to have the maiden flight in the morning.

[rbader1]

Good luck!

[Wesley888]

The maiden flight went well, other than the landing was a little rough. I was flying it in the backyard and the ground was uneven. As soon as it landed, it striped the torque tube front gears.

Went to the local store and paid $13 for the set of gears. Changed it. It was very windy outside but I just couldn't wait. And few flights later, another striped gears! Very irritating.

Now I have a blob of sponge warped at the bottom of the tail fin. And a couple of rough landing tonight and no striped gears.

By the way, the basic tuning (Section 16 in the manual) of the SK720 is pretty much done. I'm in the process of the Advanced Tuning now. It involves trimming the swash for level hover, even if it means to make the swashplate not level. Very interesting.

While doing that, I just thought of using a self leveling laser to re-tune my swash level as a starting reference. It works much better than the zip tie method.

[michael88997]

nice idea.. i would stock up on those gears cause you will strip them easy... shes a fine lady, dont be too rough with her