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Thought I would post up a brief build in pictures post I did for my club forum. Hopefully it will be of some interest.
Kit
First impressions are that this heli although specified as a .50 sized heli, is that its big. Here is the Synergy and Raptor canopies:-
Build: Skids
These skids have to be some of the fanciest (and arguably over-engineered) skids.
However, as you can see from the photo, the skids are very skinny so I thinking i'll replace them with some Trex 600 skids for those 'hot' landings.
Build: Clutch stack
The N5 in its tradition of going 'big' component wise has a beefy ventilated clutch, as can be seen below. Thought I would show a side by side comparison against my old Raptor clutch bell
Build: Engine fan and clutch
The fan and clutch are attached using a pinch collar, which supposedly removes the need for dial indicating the assembly - we'll see on that one.
Build: Side frame assembly started
I cannot tell you how well machined this kit is - when i'm asked if the kit can justify the cost, I can tell you it can.
Build: Both frames assembled
Build: Fuel Tank in
This is the point where the manual let me down. The surround around the fuel tank is a length of rubber grommet which you work around the edge of the frame prior to installing the tank. However they don't tell you the length to cut this, so I had mine nicely measured only for the fuel tank to stretch it causing a 8mm gap to appear - no biggie just a bit untidy.
Build: Engine in
The RL53 looks a bit weedy in the frame. I believe the N5 frames are exactly the same as the bigger '.90' N9, so looks like the kit was expecting something bigger
Build: Engine shround
Home made tools
The ball links supplied with the N5, are tight, very tight, very very tight - in fact you need to remove 0.1mm of material. This sort of amount will not be worn away naturally so you need to ream - and did I have a reamer? no, so made one using a spare ball and made some groves:-
fitted to my hand drill
Build: Tail
Yes it has one, a large one
Build: Tail installed
Starting to look like a heli now
Kit
First impressions are that this heli although specified as a .50 sized heli, is that its big. Here is the Synergy and Raptor canopies:-
Build: Skids
These skids have to be some of the fanciest (and arguably over-engineered) skids.
However, as you can see from the photo, the skids are very skinny so I thinking i'll replace them with some Trex 600 skids for those 'hot' landings.
Build: Clutch stack
The N5 in its tradition of going 'big' component wise has a beefy ventilated clutch, as can be seen below. Thought I would show a side by side comparison against my old Raptor clutch bell
Build: Engine fan and clutch
The fan and clutch are attached using a pinch collar, which supposedly removes the need for dial indicating the assembly - we'll see on that one.
Build: Side frame assembly started
I cannot tell you how well machined this kit is - when i'm asked if the kit can justify the cost, I can tell you it can.
Build: Both frames assembled
Build: Fuel Tank in
This is the point where the manual let me down. The surround around the fuel tank is a length of rubber grommet which you work around the edge of the frame prior to installing the tank. However they don't tell you the length to cut this, so I had mine nicely measured only for the fuel tank to stretch it causing a 8mm gap to appear - no biggie just a bit untidy.
Build: Engine in
The RL53 looks a bit weedy in the frame. I believe the N5 frames are exactly the same as the bigger '.90' N9, so looks like the kit was expecting something bigger
Build: Engine shround
Home made tools
The ball links supplied with the N5, are tight, very tight, very very tight - in fact you need to remove 0.1mm of material. This sort of amount will not be worn away naturally so you need to ream - and did I have a reamer? no, so made one using a spare ball and made some groves:-
fitted to my hand drill
Build: Tail
Yes it has one, a large one
Build: Tail installed
Starting to look like a heli now
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