Complete beginner jumping in at deep end

[craigdiver]

Hi Everyone, Craig here from St Andrews, Fife

For many years (20+) wanted a real (collective 6ch) heli but never done it. Just recently got little co-axial for xmas, then went and bought big co-axial DH9053 and now need more!. Before you say it I know a collective pitch heli is nothing like flying a co-axial and I know it will be a steep learning curve (aided by a simulator). But need to start somewhere.

I have doen the usual impusive thing and went big(ish). I have bought the following setup (which I know is far from perfect) to get me hovering and gentle flying around;

HK-500GT CCPM Alloy/Carbon Fibre 3D Electric
Hobbywing Pentium 60A ESC + programing card
HOBBYMAT HB3650 1700KV Brushless Motor
Turnigy 5A (8-26v) SBEC for Lipo UBEC
6s 22.2v 3500MAH 35C LIPO 22.2 VOLT
RC S9257 Tail Lock Servo + G401B Digital Head Lock Gyro and receiver
500 RC Radio Heli Helicopter Training Landing Gear
3x #TGY-MG930/9391 Turnigy MG930 Digital Metal Gear Servo
deans connectors for battery
3 pole connector for ESC to motor
cable ties and cable braid

I have watched tons of youtube build videos, read tons of material and am quite happy building and setting up (never realised how riviting it is reading hundreds of articles on pitch/throttle curves!) .

I am aware that the gyro is cheap and nasty and might cause tail to wander, also that the 60A ESC will not be much good for anything more than hovering & light flying. but these items were cheap and will hopefully do till i progress beyond hovering and light flying.

Any comments on the setup gratefully received. I will post some pictures of the build as it goes and hopefully not crash it on its maiden voyage. Incidentally, any experienced rc heli pilots in Fife/Dundee offering to test drive my heli once built to check it flying ok before I attempt to make it move?

Craig

[Scotvar]

Any advice you need just ask here. There's an absolute wealth of knowledge available and people are always happy to help. Between heli forums and youtube you should be able to get the heli ready.
I have to ask though, have you ever flown anything other than a coaxial heli? If not I couldn't suggest strongly enough using a sim. I know you said it's a steep learning curve aided by a simulator. Have you got one? They're definitely worth every penny. I'm sure there'll be someone on here who will be able to put you in touch with someone who can look over your heli before it's maiden too.
Most importantly, enjoy it!!!

Paul

[craigdiver]

have you ever flown anything other than a coaxial heli? If not I couldn't suggest strongly enough using a sim. I know you said it's a steep learning curve aided by a simulator. Have you got one? They're definitely worth every penny.

Never flown a collective pitch heli, I have the 6ch dynam handset simulator (uses the free FMS sim) on it's way from hong kong. When that arrives i'll follow through the lessons from rchelicopterfun videos and hopefully be at a point after a few weeks to give the real thing a try.

Is there anybody near me? (St Andrews/Dundee)

Thanks

Craig

[Scotvar]

Anything that teaches you stick control and thumb memory is great for learning. As you will have no doubt have read Phoenix is the most popular sim on here. It gives you a huge selection of models to try and you can use it with your own transmitter which gets you used to the feel of that. Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon enough to.
I'm pretty sure I've seen someone on here from St Andrews before so hopefully they'll read this thread. If not start a thread entitled something like addicts from Dundee / St Andrews area. They couldn't miss that then!
I was in the same position as you a few years back and through this forum I got in touch with the lads I fly with now. Their knowledge has been amazing and best of all I can happily call the friends and even have nights out with them! It's a good forum this one!

Paul

[mole hunter]

Hi Craig and welcome.

I'm running that motor in my Tarot at the mo and it seems to have plenty of beans for my sport flying. Also the 930 servos are smooth, quiet and centre well. Your 3500 pack sounds pretty hefty - check the c of g and move the esc aft if need be.

You'll need plenty of space for the 500 but it's a great size heli and much less squirrely than a 450.

Stay safe and enjoy, Marty

[Sesame]

Nothing wrong with jumping in at the deep end as long as its done safely, make sure you get someone local to check it out for you, a visit to the BMFA website and you can find local clubs if your unaware of where they are.

[craigdiver]

Hi Craig and welcome.

I'm running that motor in my Tarot at the mo and it seems to have plenty of beans for my sport flying. Also the 930 servos are smooth, quiet and centre well. Your 3500 pack sounds pretty hefty - check the c of g and move the esc aft if need be.

You'll need plenty of space for the 500 but it's a great size heli and much less squirrely than a 450.

what main gear are you using, I was looking at 12 tooth to get a rotor speed of around 2500rpm?

battery I have went for is this 6s 22.2v 3500MAH 35C LIPO 22.2 VOLT RC AKKU BATTERY v | eBay I just hope I can make it fit now! not too heavy at 598g but seems long at 175mm? Any idea if this will fit? (or if it is a pile of rubbish at that price!)

Craig

[paulsouthport]

Welcome Craig!
That's a lot of heli there, be careful with it.

Do you have a radio? Didn't notice one in your shopping list.

[craigdiver]

Welcome Craig!
That's a lot of heli there, be careful with it.

Do you have a radio? Didn't notice one in your shopping list.

Missed that, I have went for the Radiolink T6EHP-E 2.4G 6Ch Transmitter cheap but gets good reviews

[mole hunter]

what main gear are you using, I was looking at 12 tooth to get a rotor speed of around 2500rpm?

battery I have went for is this 6s 22.2v 3500MAH 35C LIPO 22.2 VOLT RC AKKU BATTERY v | eBay I just hope I can make it fit now! not too heavy at 598g but seems long at 175mm? Any idea if this will fit? (or if it is a pile of rubbish at that price!)

Craig

Hi Again Craig,
This is my Tarot with a Turnigy 3300 pack, weighs in at 540g and 45mm x 43mm x 140mm long.

Tarot 500 battery.jpg
This gives me pretty good c of g and 7 to 8 mins of sporting about. However, to get it to fit under the standard canopy, I've mounted it about 25mm forward and up by about 10mm. Didn't fancy weakening the frame by chopping it down. As you can see, there's still enough room for a longer pack but you aint gona be tail heavy.

Hope this helps, Marty.

PS. Running the 12T pinion and the head speed seems fine.

[craigdiver]

Hi Again Craig,
This is my Tarot with a Turnigy 3300 pack, weighs in at 540g and 45mm x 43mm x 140mm long.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36916[/ATTACH]
This gives me pretty good c of g and 7 to 8 mins of sporting about. However, to get it to fit under the standard canopy, I've mounted it about

I like how you merged the two photos to see how battery fits, how did you do that? (and looks like my battery will fit with a bit of tweaking)

[Planehazza]

I like how you merged the two photos to see how battery fits, how did you do that? (and looks like my battery will fit with a bit of tweaking)

I'm guessing two photos from the same location (with a very steady hand or tripod) then merged the one with the canopy over the top in photoshop with a transparency added to the layer. Great effect, I see it done a lot with car bonnets!

nice set up mate. Once you get the bug and become truly addicted I recommend upgrading the radio. Will be great for learning, but I imagine you could sharp out grow it.

[craigdiver]

nice set up mate. Once you get the bug and become truly addictive I recommend upgrading the radio.

Thank you for your comments, it is worrying spending that amount of money on components that may or may not work well together - and glad you think my setup is ok. I take on board your comments about the radio and will put a dx6i on my birthday/xmas list!

[Planehazza]

To be fair, I've not heard or read abything about that radio, let alone bad. It's just that the radio is the most important part so it's always something that I'd invest in. I'm not saying go buy an 18MZ (as much as I want one), but liek you say, a DX6i (great for 6 channels, but let you use a governor etc, as you'd need a 7th channel), DX7Se, or a 8FG will see you forever.

Hope you enjoy mate, although that goes without saying.

[SamS]

Welcome to the forum


Have you got a sim yet ??


Sam