N5, like, ok, humm , sell!

[Tripler]

Had my first very gentle test flights last week and must say it did feel smooth and quick.
I was running very rich as just fitted a new rear bearing to the 55 and wanted to make sure nothing was going to stop or fall off.
I like the heli but not quite as much as I thought I would, I think it’s a combination of the slight problems I had with the build and various things I would have done differently if designing the model.
I’m no expert and there may well be technical reasons for certain things on the heli.

So here are my thoughts on the N5 marks out of 10 so far,
All in my opinion, and brief reasons why.

Kit quality and parts: 8/10
Would be 10, if the fly bar, didn’t have a slight bit of rust on it.
One of the main gear hub bolts was striped in the hub, had to up size all four.
Good if there was grommets for the fuel line, a header tank, and skid, end caps.
Manual and ease of build, 8/10
Some photos hard to decipher and not enough information in certain areas,
Things I would like to change.
The top locking collar for the main shaft is very fiddly to access and tighten,
The skids are to narrow,
Why is the pressure pipe from the muffler into the tank the same side as fuel outlet pipe and why does it take a root through the main frame which could kink the pipe.
The canopy is very flexible and could do with another layer of glass on the sides
The front canopy thumb screw threads not deep enough,

Having to do mods on £400 + kit doesn’t go down to well and all these little things add up and take away the enjoyment of owning an N5 for me.
I know I’ve only had a few flights with the heli but unless get to like it more,,, alot more,
I know I’ll be looking to sell it,

I also know that after having built alot of rappys if I'd gone for the X50 I would'nt have had to do any mods to the kit and know I would have enjoyed building it.
Hopefully go flying tomorrow,, see if I can get to like it!

[Tripler]

Looks like i'm talking to my self here, guess I'm billy no mates
oh well here goes anyway,,
Had two more flights with the 5 this morning and starting to like it now,
flys really smooth and now with header tank fitted (stuck on to existing tank)
I'm not so worried about running out of fuel because I can see it in the header,
still trying to find the sweet spot with the 55 but in this weather its harder to find,
I think the V paddles help with FF flight as there's no "nodding" at all
The cyclick seems a bit slow, maybe still a bit tight on the head but looking to try and speed it up a bit,
Can't do it by raising the swash ARF because it hits the washout pins if you give full aileron + elivator at full pitch, the paddles are light enough, seem to remember something on here about getting faster cyclick, have to have a look,
In all two good pleasing flights, plus had two flight with the o'l rappy, only have a 50 hyper in that but flys great

[Mike W]

I think the N5 owners might be busy ... Nice write up tho .. TBh the N5 is a loverly machine and theres some posts on here about making the cyclics a bit quicker as most seem to say the same about it ... The skids I seen some align ones on them to make the profile wider ...

[waveydavey]

Looks like i'm talking to my self here, guess I'm billy no mates

No your not, I'm reading. Not an N5 owner yet but will be in a little while. It's interesting that when it came out it sold a bit but then they sold them on because they were deemed slow on cyclic. Yet you watch Matt Botos fly it and it don't look slow to me.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGc6-JzyqPY]YouTube - Midnight at the Soccer Field with the Flybarless Synergy N5[/ame]

[jamiem]

Paddle choice is critical. I initial ran mine on White Align's, but found I was really pushing the cyclics to get the speed I wanted. I changed them to Curtis Stubz and it came alive! I'd suggest trying some Stubz, if you come down next sunday Pete, I have a spare set you can try.

[Steve]

Can't do it by raising the swash ARF because it hits the washout pins if you give full aileron + elivator at full pitch

This may happen on the bench but how often do you put the sticks to this position in flight? Is it likely to be a real problem?

You might like to consider a cyclic ring on your Tx, either real or virtual depending on what you've got.

[DaveG]

Why is the pressure pipe from the muffler into the tank the same side as fuel outlet pipe and why does it take a root through the main frame which could kink the pipe.

This is so that you can access the fuel tank and remove it for changing the clunk line etc without splitting the frames etc....

I agree the kit could have done with some grommets for the frames for the pressure line but that is about it. Most modern kits are coming without end caps for the skids, note: Synergy/Avant/Rave ENV etc... The header tank would just be a waste of money, if synergy added one you would have had people shunting about it because they don't use them and would had been saying that they would have been happy to loose the header tank from the kit and lost a £10 of the price of the kit, but hay ho! You can't please everybody I suppose!!

Thunder Tiger have had there fair share of problems with parts and auto hubs to name a few things over the years so they are by no means a perfect helicopter!!!

[Disc]

My N5 is still in build... I need to get it done so got a few days off and shite weather I may just crack on with and make sure the SG90 is okay as well...

I'm no amazing builder of these machines but the quality is there and once the few niggles are sorted in build I look forward to flying it.

[Tripler]

Paddle choice is critical. I initial ran mine on White Align's, but found I was really pushing the cyclics to get the speed I wanted. I changed them to Curtis Stubz and it came alive! I'd suggest trying some Stubz, if you come down next sunday Pete, I have a spare set you can try.

Thanks Jamie
What time do you usually get there, have you moved to the new field yet?

[ROSSCO]

To be honest, when I built mine, I built it with White Align paddles and I find it more than quick enough for me!! I think I have the swash mix set around 60% if I remember rightly and don't have any binding anywhere. I did set the head to the recommended settings by Matt Boto's and I find it to be a perfect mix of stability and responsiveness! I have been tempted to try some Stubz on mine or even go FBL but I'm that happy and comfortable with it at the moment that I don't want to change anything.

Some of your points are valid, some grommets would have been a nice addition to the kit but no biggie, couple of pennies from the hardware shop. Same with the front canopy post with the threaded sections not fully threaded through, again no biggie but I suppose if you don't have a M3 tap it would be a bit more of an issue.

Again with the rust on the flybar, quick wipe over with some oil or WD40 on a rag and that's it taken care of.

Skids are a personal preference I think, I personally like the narrow profile and from what I hear they are going to produce a wider set of skid struts.

Stick with it and I'm sure the N5 will reward you!! I have enjoyed my flying more and more since getting my N5, it is smooth, precise and agile once you get the engine on song!! The 55 does take a while to get singing!! But once it does the N5 comes alive!!

If you need any help or advice with your N5 just give me a shout!! Always happy to help!

[Tripler]

This may happen on the bench but how often do you put the sticks to this position in flight? Is it likely to be a real problem?

You might like to consider a cyclic ring on your Tx, either real or virtual depending on what you've got.

I use full everything when I have to get myself out of trouble
Much better flyers than me have said the 5s slow on cyclicks,
and for me to notice it, they must be slow,,
All I can say is that at the moment my rappys quicker
Will hope fully try some stubz next week, thanks to Jamiem, and he's a man that knows!!

[jamiem]

I found that the 55 took at least 2 bottles of fuel through it before it was broken in and performing well, and even then, it took quite a bit of fiddling to get it really singing.

EDIT, will be there from about 8am til 1pm, still at the old field at the mo. Keep an eye on our forum as I'll update there if we move.

[MartinH]

I've only flown mine a handful of times and deffiantly haven't been in the position to enjoy it as much as I like and tbh I'm still settling in with it, poxy weather. Can't wait for the summer.
Initial flights are promising though.

[Tripler]

This is so that you can access the fuel tank and remove it for changing the clunk line etc without splitting the frames etc....

Why not put a groove in the frame for removal,
Finesse and detail are what make a good product great imo
Don't get me wrong,, i'm starting to like it

[DaveG]

Why not put a groove in the frame for removal,
Finesse and detail are what make a good product great imo

If you look closely this is why the N5 is a quality product!, they have put the pressure nipple on the same side as the fuel feed line so with a squeeze of the tank you can quickly remove it and change clunk lines etc without any fuss. If the pressure line was on the opposite side the tank would have to be shaped differenetly to accommodate the nipple and this would bring the tank closer to the exhaust and also would make removal a pain in the neck!! I take a reference here from the Outrage Velocity 50 in that the tank has to be built in and there is no way that I know of to remove it without a headache or two!

Glad to hear your starting to like it though!! Once you start to look at it, there is a lot of nice ideas and touches in the design.