Bens HK500GT build!

[dash8brj]

Well guys, I've been practising on and off in the sim and been able to hold a stable hover quite well (but in the beginning, I wrote off quite a few trex 500!). Next weekend we are going camping, and a mates bringing a video camera. We'll be conducting the maiden then. That is, provided my metal mixing arms turn up.

Two turnigy 3000mah lipo's are inbound, and a bit of stuff to make some training legs.

I set the sim up to closely match how I have set my bird up, that is, docile for a beginner, and can have it hover for a few minutes. I've even had a go at the autorotation training, and landed 90% of the birds without damage.

I am now looking forward to trying out the real thing, so this weekend will be its inaugral flight, videotaped by a mate off the ham radio.

The first battery will probably be trimming and adjusting the heli, and the second will probably be me doing short hops and getting over the initial intimidation of those 430mm blades whirling around at 2500rpm :)

Initial preflight will be a full inspection of my craft with the video camera, installation of the training legs, one more practise on the sim on the laptop, then the testing, tuning, and finally the first hover.

[pinguin6218]

 

You must be so excited for the maiden flight

[dash8brj]

yes I am - look what rocked up today :)



Need to solder on the EC3 connectors, and I'll be ready for maiden. All other work is now done, apart from ensuring the motor turns the right way!

update

it appears there wont be a maiden this weekend, as I dont have funds for the hydraulic press required to put the EC3 connectors together. The wire guage on these turnigy batts is huge :)

Am going to get EC5 connectors which are hopefully easier, and more suitable to the task, and if that doesnt work, I'm just gonna sell the lot and leave it.

update again: the ec5's should fit nicely so now just have to wait till I can buy some, then go thru the hassle of removing the EC3 from my ESC/Bec, and rewiring with EC5.

[Gene T]

I have a bit of trouble soldering big wires onto EC3 connectors as well. Have you considered Anderson Power Pole?

[dash8brj]

I dont have problems soldering the connectors, its getting the little buggers into the plastic shell. The EC3's are too small for the turnigy battery wires anyway, I've ordered some EC5's off ebay from a local seller and will use those. :)

[pinguin6218]

Dean's connector also work well.

[Gene T]

Hmm, if they are soldered already and the solder hasn't leaked all over the outside of the bullet, it should snap in. Usually you have to get a small flat blade screw driver on the side to push it in until it snaps in place. That's usually the easy part.

[dash8brj]

The wire insulation is too big. Also if I have to cut away some of the conductor for it to fit into the bullet, the connector type is too small for the job. I'll use them when I make a couple of 450 size machines.

[FatDaddy]

Pengiun ir right, Deans Ultra work great..

[dash8brj]

EC5's will tend to contain the spark when connecting up. If I do a 600 sized machine, or a electrified .50, I want to standardise on connectors. besides, I've never really liked deans connectors.

[dash8brj]

Just been playing with pheonix again. I've transisitioned into moving the heli around, and also managed to hover nose in, and keep it rougly over the middle of the netball court (its an aussie field I am flying in).

Much more relaxed on the sticks then when I first tried flying the silly thing :)

All I gotta remember is to fly the nose of the heli

[dash8brj]

Well no EC5's at my local hobby shop so I have ordered some genuine E-Flite EC5's off ebay. Since I am lazy and ordered a training gear set from ebay earlier this week, not having the connectors on the battery yet is a good thing, I cant be tempted to go out and hover the heli in the driveway until after both items arrive (and I'm guessing the TG will turn up b4 the EC5's!)

[dash8brj]

Its DONE! the helicopter works! the motor spins the right way and all that stuff.

I just tested it on my coffee table without any blades attached. Now its time for me to put it on the shelf, buy ab E-Flight MSR and practise with that, and the sim, till i can fly inverted. Then I can put this piece of plastic and aluminium into the air and turn it into my own personal Air Wolf :)

[Gene T]

Dash, what are you flying now? You KNOW a mSR can't fly inverted right, or were you referring to the simulator. And an mSR flies NOTHING like a 500 CP.

[dash8brj]

Gene, I never intend to fly inverted. Since when does a real helicopter do this. I'm NOT looking to ever touch the boundries of 3d. My airwolf, MD500 and A109 models will be just what they are, scale models.

Not everyone is interested in flying inverted. I may build a "thrasher 500" for this very persuit, but if I am not good at it (and I lawn dart it) I'll pick up the model, place it aside and show off one of my scale birds.

sorry to be one sided about it, but I have to get this off my chest. Not everyone wants to throw model helicopters around as if the model is a demented dragonfly on crack.