Helicopter PHOTO Gallery and Discussion: Post Yours

{LMAO} That's TOO FUNNY
Didn't even cross my mind that was nexgen. Although and for what it's worth not ALL the video's are nexgen's, well not the very last video

I tried the Phoenix Update and it did fix my crashing issues. But NO this so called "FIX" is NOT what I would have expected nor wanted. Actually I'm a little MAD about it because they did indeed fix my crashing but still I can't run any of teh 3D Fly Sites. Apparently my "Video" hardware (GPU) doesn't meet the minimum requirements needed to run any of the 3D area's

The Phoenix Update was a BIG disappointment! Bla, ALL this update did (at least for me) was allow the ERROR message to RUN it's course. Although it's nobody's fault but my own as my "toasters" are WELL past due of an upgrade 

Hey Bill what's next for the little Beast?
Can I assume the inflight tuning, getting her to FLY the "straight and narrow" sorta speak 

Sorry that didn't get it going for you. I am really quite enjoying flying the quad around in FPV now. 

Yes, first a spin-up and hover to see if I can keep from dumping her over, then we'll fine tune it as needed.
Setting up the MB was pretty much a snap. I got lost once but found my way again by rereading the step in the manual and watching nexgen's video on the step.

If I can get her to hover on the test plank, I'll install the mechanics in the fuse before doing much messing around with tuning because the weight distribution is going to change vertically quite a lot.

I've read all I can find of what folks are using for throttle and pitch curves for scale birds but there are so many variables I am just going to have to experiment.

Head speed at wide open throttle is supposed to be around 2250 with the setup I have. I tried that before the gyro swap and it seemed way to fast. Part of that is having 4 blades spinning as opposed to two I think. Just looked spooky fast.    I'll try it some where 75 to 80% max on the throttle curve I think.
Pitch curve of something like -4 to +10 for a place to start.

[size=1.25em]+1 for your choice of headspeed (HS) [/size]

Least we forget the recommended (2250 RPM) is the choice for 3D flyers and more for the 3D Jockeys than for us Sport and/or Scale flyers! Certainly we can do better with much lower T-Curves ... Meh, or would that be closer to 2500 rpm

When I was playing with my GAUI ep255 I found at the extreme end I could just fly on a 60% T-Curve. Of course at 70 to 75% I found or would be more practical, more practical outside in the world. Yes what I found playing around with my GAUI pretty much agrees with you here, I'm sure you would be doing OK anywhere between 75% to 80%

Yes GET AWAY FROM the 3D numbers, yes get away from the 3D BIOS

Also some EXPO couldn't hurt, around 20% ...
... This can and will take away allot of the twitchiness out of the controls, to"take the edge off" sorta speak

Anyhow ya DON'T NEED ME repeating what you already know
      [size=1.20em][shadow=Orange,left]w00d[/shadow][/size]

Well, she is all ready to make a test flight but the weather is nasty out and I'm a little apprehensive about trying it in the garage.  :-\
I've had many crashes out there learning to hover with the old Blade CP. Not much room to correct for errors, mine or otherwise.
I'll clean up the work bench then see if I can get my nerve up. 

Trust your instincts, if ain't don't feel right then it probably ain't

WOOHAA, it flies.  ;D
Only for a little bit but long enough to screw up the tail blades.
I didn't have much clearance and without the fin back there it didn't take much rearward pitch. 
The photo is an earlier one with the 401 still on board "literally  " but you can see how easily it might happen. There's about an inch and a quarter of clearance back there, on the mat 1/2" more.
The throttle curve I started with is 0-34-70-75-80 and it still seems way fast. Not sure how low I can go on the upper end and not have things getting hot.
Any way, new blades are ordered and I think it's time to start stuffing it all into the fuse.
 

Woo Hoo Bill!  Congratulations.  Bummer about the tail blades, but that's not too bad.  When I maidened my quad I broke all four propellers.

I look forward to seeing your build photos as you progress.

P.S.  I've been meaning to ask you where you got your "H" mat.  If you made it yourself what is it made from?

Progress is progress, good to see the little Beastly working

Although we could TEST your ESC for too much heat There's NO reason NOT to be sure!

Set the T-Curve to 0-60-75-75-75 .. She will fly, in fact many run a completely flat curve ... This will get you to full speed at zero pitch (mid-stick) or full speed without taking-off ...  Run her up to full 75% without taking-off or just get light on the skids then periodically check the temps ...

I don't need to tell ya (for you and your equip) to be safe, do I? Could even do this test without blades? But certainly check the temps after ya bring the RPM back to zero! Meh, needed to be said if only for our Searchers 'n Lurkers

I did FLY my ESC at the lower throttle curves and the heat differences wasn't there, I mean I didn't see any discernible temp difference between 100% nor 75%. Even when I tested at 60% there was no difference ...

... Still, can and should be tested as I've also read the warnings about them getting HOT at the lower T-Curves. Also my ESC was a small 18a version so size maybe makes ALL teh difference!?!

PS: What's the recommended gearing, Motor Pinion(s) for the TRex 500   

Thinking the recommended Motor Gearing might be TOO HIGH for a Multi-Bladed Helicopter. It's just a thought but if the gearing then certainly the ESC would show that in it's temperatures. More to the point a lower gearing or Lower tooth-count for the Motors Pinion will bring down the Headspeed (HS)

In fact a Higher Tooth Count for the Motor's PINION is the recommended way to reduce the HS vs adjusting the T-Curves especially if we need to bring down the T-Curve that much. Also there is allot more MASS, double what we're swinging with only two! I'm also thinking given the additional MASS and the increased Wing-Loading a better pinion choice is probably the "BEST" way to go anyway!?! Thus a cooler ESC would have to follow the lower HS, well a cooler and somewhat tamer heli would be the result ...

... And would be no doubt be easiest on the Heli's Main, easiest on ALL the Bearings giving us better than "three for one" for the extra effort

Don't you mean a smaller (lower tooth count) pinion?

Yes, it's just a foam rubber floor mat that would be used in places you might have to stand for a while. Of course being a heli landing pad it had to have an H painted on it. 

That's about where I was going to give her a try next.

A 1600 kv motor is stock on the 500 with pinions starting at 12 tooth going up from there.
I purchased one of the HK 1300 kv motors for this project and have a 12 tooth pinion on it. That was about as slow a setup as I could find other than a Scorpion HK-4020-1100KV which is many times the price. 

Did you mean that the other way around wOOd? The head speed calc I am using shows a lower tooth count on the pinion gives a slower head speed.
With the set up I am running, it's supposed to have an average hover head speed of about 2090 rpm. If I were to go to 11 tooth on the pinion it would be around 1916, and a 10 tooth about 1742. Those numbers assume, mid flight at a hover.
Here is the calculator I'm using based on a 25C 6 cell battery, 162T main gear, 10-12 pinion, 1300kv motor with 85% efficiency and Align ESC.
http://www.readyheli.com/headspeed-calculator.html

Yup my mistake, don't know what I was thinking ... JAVA not up the task maybe!?!

Anyhow no excuses I'll go and FIX  [Edit] FIXED [/edit]

PIC is my 450 just if you are wondering




EDIT: Also for anyone interested the PIC is a WIN* standalone HS and Pinion Calculator,
no need to got to a website as it's for your Desktop. Also good on a Laptop at the Field
when there is no NET connection ... Check it out ---->

• Ultimate Head Speed Calculator (HeliFreak)
• Direct Download

• A few more Calculators can be found here (Southern Oregon RC)
• Yet another WIN HS Calc - Comes w/ Battery Calc, Flight Logger, Battery Logger and Tachometer

• FoilSim II Version 1.5a - From NASA, looks like FUN just to PLAY with
• Electric Motors fo Rc Aircraft - And Just a GOOD Read
• eCalc - And not to be outdone by anyone, Calc's for the FIVE major Types of Rc Models

Is my Beam E4 Scorpion motor in their motor list in that desktop software?  It's a HK2221-6

Yup just looked for ya, it's there

I've lowered the head speed a little (throttle curve) and was going to temporally put the tail fin on and go for another test flight before deciding on a smaller pinion.
Problem is, I have no blessed screws long enough to go through the scale tail fin and thread into the housing clamp on the tail. 
Anyone have a couple of 2.5x25mm screws handy? Or better yet, a source to purchase a just few.
I could pull the stock fin off the other 500 as the screws would fit it, but I'll still need to find the longer ones.

How about these guys:

http://www.rcscrewz.com/

Thanks for that link GPS.
I did find some screws the right size there but stainless, and $4.95 for two. I couldn't find their shipping cost without going through check out but assume it was probably 5 dollars or more for a minimum order as most places are. Couldn't bring myself to do it. 
After searching at the LHS and several hardware stores I found that Fastenal could get them for me. It cost me 30 cents for both, shipped to their store. 
The weather has not been spring like around here, so no more test flights yet, the weekend looks better though.

Hi Bill

Re: Screws: Have ya thought about using Zip-ties (just temporarily) to fasten your Vertical-Fin !?!

I know many use Zip-ties to fasten their Landing-skids vs screws, they say there's less damage if and when the skids take a bad hit. And I've also seen people use Zip-ties on the Vertical-Fin to get them back flying (after whatever reason) at the field. {LOL} Some have even Zip-Tied a Popsicle Stick as a temporary Tail-Fin, just to get themselves back flying. Basically they use the ole Zip-Tie for emergency repairs and fixing

Anyways I'm thinking, Zip-tie your V-Fin until you can source the NEW screws ...
This would at least GET you back testing and me back living vicariously through others 

    [size=1.20em][shadow=Orange,left]w00d[/shadow]


[/size]

I have it sorted now. As soon as the snow leaves I'll get out and get the test flights finished up.
This is about the whitest start to spring I remember seeing in a very long time. 

We're having a heatwave, been sunny and warm for over a week now

Today is again sunny 12°C now and rising, tomorrow going up to 29°C ... then 18°C, 15°C and 16°C predicted for 3 days after ...

LOL, almost ready to turn ON my Air-Con J/K

I've noticed the country wide weather reports saying the same. Record breaking warmth in the east and the opposite for much of the northwest.  ???
They are promising a better weekend.