Think I may have over done it a bit

[Gravious]

Hi Folks,

I joined about 6 weeks ago ( http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/new-member-int ros/97387-greetings-one-all-newbie.html#post1027293 ) .

Having sort of gotten over my fear of flying and wishing for something more stable in the wind I started looking for something a tad larger.

Initially I was going to get a 450x but then read reviews and thought maybe a 500x would be better and then read more reviews and thought 550x would be better still, as it's a kit and would fill in the blanks regarding setup and suchlike. It's quite pricey for a beginner, especially when I had told the domestic authorities that the 300x would be as large as i needed to go for quite a while.
I debated, internally, for a week or two which model to go for next. Having had a few beers I eventually managed to convince myself that the 550x would be the best next step.

It arrived today. Missus has sort of got over the initial shock, not sure I have though. It's huge.

Would like to say at this point that Johnathan at RC heliguru is an absolute diamond geezer. He wasn't happy about the stock ESC so at his own expense has supplied a castle phoenix edge 130 ESC. I gather he will get something back for the stock ESC but not enough to cover the replacement. Anyhow kudos to him, and thankyou, it's much appreciated.

I've had a brief look through the boxes and it all looks pretty damn awesome, hoping to start the build this weekend. Mechanical side looks fairly straightforward not so sure about the electronics side though.

Anyhow will get on with it and hopefully will be able to give a newbies perspective on the build.

[debrooker]

build thread

I've been taking lessons with Flyin' Fish and this is the model i'm using - really good, like it a lot

[Ritchieme]

Re: Think I may have over done it a bit

Good luck and hope it goes well, i personally prefer my 450 fbl over my 600 fbl, being fbl it can handle just as much wind at my skill level and it doesn't have the intimidation of the 600. I'm very new to the hobby but i think i would have died on the spot at spooling up a 550 as my first heli. Hope it goes well for you, let us know how you get on.

[Gravious]

One of the benefits of going for a larger heli, for me, is that this will most definitely not be flyable in the garden so will require me to join a club, which I intended to anyway, this will just make the requirement more so.

[Ritchieme]

Re: Think I may have over done it a bit

I'm not slating your decision more admiring it :-)

[450man]

You will get over the intimidation thing pretty quickly I expect. I started with an MCPx, went to 450X then 550 now 600. I find the bigger helis easier to fly. They are much more stable in the air and handle wind so much better. They are also a lot heavier which means they aren't so twitchy and are slower to respond to control inputs... all things that are handy when learning.

In fact, the only thing against larger healis is cost of repair. When you crash it can be over a hundred sometimes instead of just a few tens as with 450s. Of course the answer to that is DON'T CRASH!!!

[tomatwalden]

Think I may have over done it a bit

You'll love it! The 550x flies really nicely. I went for the same ESC too (CC edge 130) on mine.

[tomatwalden]

Wow Gary - just read your "newbie" post - you really are cracking on with moving up the sizes aren't you? 120SR -> 300x -> 550X.

The Blade 550X is (IMO) a really good first-build heli. It's certainly one of the simplest to put together and the manual is really clear unlike some. Do yourself a favour though and check out Edsel's build videos on YouTube : Blade 550X Step by step build videos (Links) - HeliFreak

DON'T FORGET TO THREAD-LOCK any metal-on-metal screws. Take particular care with the high-velocity parts (ie. the feathering spindle). You really don't want a screw coming loose in a rotor head doing >2000RPM!

Don't rush the build - get it right and you'll have a fantastic heli. If you've never done a build before, there's some basic stuff you'll need like a swash leveller (I used the Align one for my 550X), a pitch gauge (digital is best) and a good set of hex drivers (again, the Align ones are very good I've found).

Good luck!

[Ian_R]

Nothing can prepare you for when you spool it up for the first time, but its worth it for the elation you will get every time you fly it. I remember feeling intimidated going from a honeybee v1 to a 450 a year ago. But that was nothing compared to how intimidating it felt when I maidened my 700e last month. Now I'm 10+ flights in I still feel nervous!

[AndyThilo]

Nothing can prepare you for when you spool it up for the first time

Especially if you spool straight up into governor mode . Did this on my TREX550, first spool, normal mode and 2300rpm .

[Gravious]

Do yourself a favour though and check out Edsel's build videos on YouTube : Blade 550X Step by step build videos (Links) - HeliFreak

DON'T FORGET TO THREAD-LOCK any metal-on-metal screws. Take particular care with the high-velocity parts (ie. the feathering spindle). You really don't want a screw coming loose in a rotor head doing >2000RPM!

Don't rush the build - get it right and you'll have a fantastic heli. If you've never done a build before, there's some basic stuff you'll need like a swash leveller (I used the Align one for my 550X), a pitch gauge (digital is best) and a good set of hex drivers (again, the Align ones are very good I've found).

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice Tom, I've already watched it several times. Tbh it was one of the reasons I went for the 550x as having never built a heli before Edsel's videos really are a valuable resource.

[Gravious]

Bit of an update:

Started the build this weekend just passed. Headblock has gone together ok, I think. Blade grips seem quite notchy but not excessively so, hoping they will bed in (as per Edsel's video).

Frame assembly is continuing, got the 3 bearing blocks and servo's installed and loctited. Question, how essential is it that frame assembly is undertaken on an entirely flat surface as per Edsel's reccommendation, given that mainshaft is installed in bearing blocks and side frames are all square?

Also seem to have issues with parts bag numbering and contents because they don't seem to add up, although that could be down to me. Currently got a few bolts, screws and tiny washers floating around that don't currently figure in the build. I'm aware that bag F3 figures in a number of build steps, even so starting to get a bit paranoid about it. As far as I can tell all fixings have been used where and when required.

Also got questions later on with regard to setup. What order does it take. AR7200bx, ESC, swash levelling. If someone could point me to an idiots guide or talk me through it would be much appreciated.

Could be I'm overthinking things and seeing problems before they arrive and before I've actually thought it through properly.

Asking for help is new to me, have always just muddled through and done research to find answers but I figured, given the wealth of experience and knowledge on this forum, it would be foolish to not ask for help.

Anyhow will keep you informed of my progress. Apologies for lack of photos/video but I'm sure it would not actually be of any benefit to anyone given that I struggle to mutlitask and don't have suitable gear anyway.

[gobby550x]

Can't over do it - started learning 2months ago have a trex 500, 550x and goblin 630.

Scale next - fancy a Lama 315

[highlightshadow]

Its a great kit for a great price .... a lot of heli for the money .. i got one recently myself.

The reason the ESC was changed is that Horizon Hobby themselves (maker of Blade) did a recall of the included ESC in the kits because they were dying mid-flight.
The 130a should be more than enough though

They go together pretty straight forward, take your time, re-read every step and you'll have no problems ... i'd probably get a club to give it the once-over before you fly it though if you have access to a club.

Enjoy!

[helijohn]

One of the benefits of going for a larger heli, for me, is that this will most definitely not be flyable in the garden so will require me to join a club, which I intended to anyway, this will just make the requirement more so.

I have a small postage stamp backyard but it is fine for spooling up and maiden testing.

You will get over the intimidation thing pretty quickly I expect.

And that's the thing, just like once you've watched a big screen telly there's no going back to titchy ones.

You are gonna love the size.