How long does it take you to build, setup and rebuild your helis?

[RcRotaryMadness]

Hi all,

As i'm in the middle of refitting my E550 it is taking me a lot longer than I expected... although be it with a slight learning curve in regards to FBL and Vbar etc..

So how long would you say it takes you to put the heli together, then how long do you spend doing the "Setting up" of it.. and of course, how quick are you at repairing prangs?

I'd say it takes me a matter of hours to build the Heli (E550)

But it takes forever to actually set it up for flight.. swash levelling, pitchs, programming etc etc!

Crashing takes seconds however :-/

Matt

[adamf]

My first heli took me hours and hours to setup, these days it takes me probably an hour to setup the v bar and get everything level, it's got to the point where I can almost do it with my eyes closed,

[Vikki]

I can repair one, assuming I have the parts, in 30 mins to 90 mins depending on level of damage

Set up has got quicker and I have the swash leveller and the digital pitch gauge to help. I don't mind how long set up takes really as I 'm learning something.

[scuba steve]

my rebuilds are measured in weeks not days....i just do a bit here and there when i feel like it so i enjoy it and do a proper job. i'm going FBL this winter so i'm expecting that to takes months
it just a hobby after all, so what's the rush i think.

[steve_b]

Depends on the damage really. If it's the usual, main and feathering shaft, boom, torque tube, blades etc then a few hours, if it's a proper job with frames then it's a couple of days as it's essentially a new heli build. I also tend to do a full check over, including engine or motor service, in these crashes so most of the bearings end up being replaced, so ends up being a fairly big job.

[RcRotaryMadness]

All sounds about right then - I thought it was just me being a slow poke.

I'm probably the same as Scuba Steve, I tend to do bits at a time over a few weeks, basicly when i've got little to do and feel "in the mood"

Does take me a while to setup the heli tho, however I have just bought a digital pitch gauge so should make it easier to set the pitch up at least!

[pug907]

I'd rather have it take me hours and hours, than rush it and bin it, eventually the "bins" will cost you more repair time than the "epic setup" times??? That's my 2 penneth anyway. I rushed getting the 450 back in the air for last sunday, and didn't notice the FB wasn't tight (nipped, but not tight). On lift off, it twisted, 450 now doing its own thing 2mm(sic) from the ground, nnneeeeeaaaawwww, game over!!! Found the grub threads on the seesaw weren't tapped right through, not saying I would have found the problem had I not rushed, but may just have "fiddled" with a few more things and turned FB in the process of fiddling!!!

[RcRotaryMadness]

Yeah true that is - I find its easy to miss something after a crash, as it takes a lot of checking to find out whats damaged and what isnt... and whats best is after weeks of build & setup, and when the heli is actually ready for flight.. the weather decides to throw a hissy fit!

[procol]

I spent about 25 hours building my 550, taking my time and thinking about wiring etc, had a couple of weeks off work so was in no ruch. Had to wait 2 days for the weather before i could spool it up for the first time, quite satifiying watching it lift off for the first time (and no bits flew off!).

[milly0812]

Takes as long as it takes ;-)