Things needed to build a heli

[Streeter]

So as i know very little about helicopters i wanted a basic list of things i need to build and maintian a RC Heli, I have the all the basic tools from flying planks but need to know any heli specific ones, i will be looking at the 450 to 500 size heli possibly the T Rex but not made my mind up yet. It will be in kit form so need a list of tools glues lubes sprays and such that i would need, i would rather spend a few pounds here and there getting bits i need now rather than having to spend more and have to wait once i have a kit. There seems to be so many different tools out there just need to know what are the nessasary ones.

Thanks in advance

Jason

[GravityKills]

warning: This kind of thread usually ends up in a list of 99+1 tools, most of which are essential for somebody
Here's my take:
- Proper hex drivers. You need a pair for the screws in the feathering shaft, 1.5 mm for 450 size.
- Ball link pliers (can do without, but they are convenient)
- A clamp for soldering, so that you can keep both parts in place. Maybe the most important of all.
- a small lighter-like gas torch used with shrinking tube, for connectors
- I don't need a pitch gauge
- I don't need a tachometer
- I don't need a thermometer
- I don't need a data logger
- I don't need telemetry

[Flat Eric]

A good selection of hex drivers/allen keys, pliers, screw drivers, loctite, glue etc to build the heli and you will also require a pitch guage for set up.

[Mslater]

A good selection of hex drivers/allen keys, pliers, screw drivers, loctite, glue etc to build the heli and you will also require a pitch guage for set up.

Yep thats about all you'll need - If you get a Trex buy the align hex drivers. Get all the other bits as you need them. The all in one kits you see in various places tend to bit a bit lacking in quality and that will drive you mental as you strip the heads of everything.

You WILL however need a pitch gage if you don't want to do some really cleaver maths to work out your settings.

[Streeter]

Ok so pitch gauge or no pitch gauge, two conflciting answers already :-) are pitch gauges nessasary for a beginer and is it a case of through experience you dont need one as you can tell by just eyeing it up ? Im a electrician by trade so have lots of hand tools, probably will buy some more, just as i love buying tools :-) and some of the sets come in fancy colours :-), got a gas torch and soldering iron but no clamps so will look into that. Balancing the blades, is this important? and swash lever? again are the needed or something you can eye up?, hmmm maybe my laser level will come in handy lol :-)

1) Hex set, two 1.5mm
2) Socket set
3) Glues
4) Pitch Gauge
5) Swash Leveler ?
6) Blade Balancer ?
7) Soldering Clamps
8) Gas Torch for heat shrink tube
9) Ball Link Pliers

Thanks Guys

Jason

[Eckchaz]

Hello mate

Get
a set of Hex tools (the Align gold set is good, it has a hole on the grip to insert a hex for max leverage and the hex are hardened) Screw Driver Set HOT00002
Ball Link Pliers Ball Link Pliers - 140mm - VNR0852 (handy but not necessary)
Pitch Gauge K10390A Dial Pitch Gauge (bigger size for future heli's too)
Thread lock red and glue Fast Lad Performance
Grease, oil Fast Lad Performance
Swash Leveller DELUXE Swashplate Leveler Rave 450 TREX 450 Pro / Sport EDN-1211-5PRE

Fast Lad Performance have a wide selection for you to gander at

[J-S-Q]

Well, as you are discovering, different people will always have different views.

re: the swash leveller, I would definitely recommend one of those. You can do the setup without one but it really makes it much easier (and more accurate in my opinion).

Blade balancer -on a 450 or 500 you will PROBABLY be fine without balancing the blades if they are a decent quality brand such as Align. Or you can find various DIY ways of balancing them without a specific tool, such as bolting them together on some threaded rod and then balancing the rod on two glasses for example.

For heat shrink I just use the mrs' hair drier.

Ball link pliers -definitely easier with those and you are less likely to damage the links if you have the proper tool.

No need really for a socket set on a 450 or 500. You can just use pliers to hold what few nuts there are when you tighten up the bolts.

[J-S-Q]

Oh yeah.... and a pitch gauge... I would get one if I were you.

[sacko]

Align Hex Drivers do the job well.

Red and Blue Loctite, only the real McCoy seems to work properly imo.

Tri-Flo grease.

Personally, I would get a pitch gauge (align one is fine). Without any experience of setting pitch etc, it definitely helps.

[Eckchaz]

Ok so pitch gauge or no pitch gauge, two conflciting answers already :-) are pitch gauges nessasary for a beginer and is it a case of through experience you dont need one as you can tell by just eyeing it up ? Im a electrician by trade so have lots of hand tools, probably will buy some more, just as i love buying tools :-) and some of the sets come in fancy colours :-), got a gas torch and soldering iron but no clamps so will look into that. Balancing the blades, is this important? and swash lever? again are the needed or something you can eye up?, hmmm maybe my laser level will come in handy lol :-)

1) Hex set, two 1.5mm
2) Socket set
3) Glues
4) Pitch Gauge
5) Swash Leveler ?
6) Blade Balancer ?
7) Soldering Clamps
8) Gas Torch for heat shrink tube
9) Ball Link Pliers

Thanks Guys

Jason

I would defo get a pitch gauge and defo a swash level as previously posted.. you cant get it perfect without one! As for the others

1) Yes
2)No (unless nitro)
3)Yes but Expo (not 100% needed)
4)Yes
5)Yes
6)No.. as you can do it through other ways and I actually sold mine
7)No but are handy.. I use a pair of pliers with a rubber band round the handle
8)No - Use a hairdryer.. gives even heat without burning the heatshrink - 100% better than other things I used
9)IMO Yes.. as it saves ruining the ball plastic grips with a pliers when removing them!

[sacko]

9)IMO Yes.. as it saves ruining the ball plastic grips with a pliers when removing them!

...but marks the ball, which in turn ruins th ball link

I would still get them and use mine all the time though, surely there is a better solution out there though.

[J-S-Q]

And of course you'll be needing one of these to screw your ball links in. It's quite reasonable at 85 quid!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtdVN...layer_embedded

[Milamber]

What do you use RED loctite for on an electric heli please ? I primarily use BLUE, but sometimes [very seldom] GREEN ? Hope this isn't viewed as a thread hijack - if so, my apologies.

M.

[bikerflier]

And of course you'll be needing one of these to screw your ball links in. It's quite reasonable at 85 quid!

YouTube - LM9K1.wmv

If you can't afford one of those then a pair of these will do. saves the sore fingers.

Ball Link Driver T014

Silicone grease for the head dampers.

One way bearing grease.

It's never ending, you will be back and forwards to the Hobby shop more times than you've had hot dinners and you always buy something else as well, so the last thing is

VERY DEEP POCKETS WITH A FAT WALLET AT THE BOTTOM OF THEM.

[GravityKills]

>> pitch gauge
LOL I don't talk religion anymore, it always causes fights
Maybe I'm special, but I was born with built-in pitch gauge Mk 1 "eyeball":

Set up with a linear pitch curve, 0..100.
Then fold back the blades as in the picture, and observe the angle (the "V" that is formed by the blades)
- at min. stick
- at mid stick
- at max. stick
IMG_1713.JPGIMG_1714.JPGIMG_1715.JPG
Properly set up, it should look like in the pictures (this heli is flybarless, hold the flybar with the other hand parallel to the tail boom).

The full pitch range as shown is pretty hardcore 3D. But this is how the heli was designed and how it "should" be set up (unless you want to make it fly worse than it could).
If the shown pitch range corresponds to a 0..50..100 pitch curve, set for example
35..50..75 to get started.

About the clamp, the picture shows what I meant.
IMG_1717.JPG
If you know how to solder properly, use whatever gets the job done. The point is, you don't want "cold" solder joints on a heli for obvious reasons.