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Post by sgmason on Jul 17, 2012 14:05:50 GMT -4
So now that I have decided to let my helicopter sit till I can get a good radio, I suddenly have 4 sets of CF blades After the first crash I ordered 3 sets of the cheap Hobby King blades and they came in today for less than $30 each set I wont feel as bad about smashing them into the ground quality on them is OK but nothing to write home about, there is a 13.1g difference from the lightest blade to the heaviest so I don't think there will be and mixing of blades. The blades in the sets themselves were on average .5g off of each other, but the CG was really bad on one set. We will see how well they work for me in about a month if everything goes as planned.
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Post by sgmason on Jul 23, 2012 7:16:28 GMT -4
So an hour or so ago I ordered the stuff I need to get the helicopter flyable again, plus a couple of extra small things to take advantage of the free shipping. Unfortunately my Chaos 600 is getting a lot of Align parts on it At the moment I have an Align main gear, shaft, and motor on it. Once the parts I ordered come in I will be adding an Align tail boom and flybar, I think I will have to black out the Align writing on the boom just to hide its true origin I think we need to set up a Canadian distributor for RCA so us frozen Canadian boys can keep our Chaos' pure without the extensive customs wait times ;D I also ordered the CC Phoenix Ice 100A, the Castle Link kit, along with a set of 32mm QR canopy mounts, some cable weave for the servo wires and an Align aluminum stabilizer brace to replace the plastic one that came with the kit. I am not sure why but my stabilizer would never grip the boom, no matter what I did to it. I tried tape, some adhesive backed abrasive, pieces of zip tie and CA, but it would always work its off 90° just sitting on the table. I chalk it up to the plastics ability to stretch and get deformed an hope that the aluminum will have better grip on the boom. What this all means is that by the end of the week I will be back to rebuilding my helicopter and getting it ready for the new radio in a few weeks so I can try again. My goal is still a controlled hover, I really hope I get it this time
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Post by Valkman on Jul 23, 2012 7:48:21 GMT -4
I had the same issue with the tail brace. I wrapped the supports in a bit of black insulating tape and it has not moved. You can't even see the tape. Us heli guys are fussy! The Ice 100 is a good move. The data log is great and has many uses.
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Post by sgmason on Jul 23, 2012 8:07:42 GMT -4
The adhesive backed abrasive I tried was 400 grit, it held the longest, but it would still twist over a couple of degrees over a week, with nothing on it you could watch it move I just finished installing the software for the Castle Link, and there is a crap load of data logged more than I think I will ever need. Now I just need to find out how many poles my Align Bl600MX 1220kv motor has so when I get the ESC I can properly program it and set the governor.
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Post by osidak on Jul 23, 2012 8:46:13 GMT -4
Maybe I am odd but flying with a governer takes a little getting used to but I am coming to the point where I like it. I also went with the Ice100 as my stock ESC would over heat and shut down after 3 minutes. With the Ice100 I am getting 8 minute flight times which is right at 80% discharge on a 6S 5A battery.
I have been flying my Erazor in circuits while still hovering with the 600 - the damn thing still scares me a bit. Lost the belt on the Erazor yesterday and some how managed to bring it down with zero damage - didn't even tip over. Working on getting my newly aquired Chaos 450 up.
Good luck - if you need any help with the CC ESC let me know - I can share my setup info.
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Post by sgmason on Jul 23, 2012 9:14:48 GMT -4
Right now my return to trying to fly is on a 3 week plan. This week I am waiting for parts to arrive, should be here before Friday as they are coming from 4 hours west of me in Toronto and no borders to cross. I will spend the following week getting things back together and checked it over once again. Then its off to Ottawa, only 90 minutes to the north of me, to pick up the Tx/Rx, and another week to double check the work I do next week and set up the radio. At least with more mainstream equipment it will be easier to get advice on the setup. I have my fingers crossed that I have good weather to try again when its ready. I have been suffering a bit of anxiety too about flying the 600 too . Its not so much physical damage to me or others that s getting me, its another $200 to fix it a third time that is getting me
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Post by sgmason on Jul 25, 2012 15:51:53 GMT -4
My order didn't get delivered today I was so sure that it would make it on the projected delivery date when I saw that it had been processed in Ottawa at 3am this morning, but it didn't get here . Thing is I can't even joke about Canada Post using Pony Express to make the 90 minute drive from Ottawa to Iroquois because it would have made it here today Oh well it gives me something to look forward to tomorrow, because there is no way that even Canada Post can screw up so badly that it takes over 48 hours to make the 90 minute trip, I could be wrong though ;D
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Post by sgmason on Jul 27, 2012 9:01:01 GMT -4
Well I got everything back together yesterday, and all the wiring rerouted. Today I am going to go through all the bolts and screws, and reattach the tail push rod. Once that is done I will program the BEC PRo to 6V, and this afternoon/evening it will be time to tackle the ICE 100. I couldn't blackout the Align on the tail boom because despite them looking black in the pictures online they were actually a greenish color . Oh well I know my helicopter is a Chaos and that the Align parts are only there because of convenience After today it is just a thing of waiting for the new Tx/Rx and doing the setup on that side of things.
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Post by sgmason on Aug 4, 2012 0:52:56 GMT -4
So I basically have everything ready to go on my 600, I just need to get that new radio. The only thing is that after two failed attempts to get it into the air, and $400 less money in my pocket I have to admit that I am kind of scared to try again Right now I am undecided on whether to get my DX7s radio next week or buy a RTF Novus Nano CP and get some stick time flying a small, cheap to repair CP heli for a few weeks. I am looking at the Heli Max Novus over the Blade MCPX RTF simply because the $50 saved can go towards the DX7s or DX8 2-4 weeks down the road. SO what does everyone think micro CP and get the new Tx for the 600 later, just jump back into trying to get the 600 in the air. I am so on the fence on this that I need a little push one way or the other
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Post by Dr. Evil on Aug 4, 2012 6:40:44 GMT -4
A micro cp heli is fun to have even thou the Novus isnt exactly a micro. It'll be nice to have especially for those bad weather days were you just can't go outside to fly. I say add another heli collection to your hangar.
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Post by sgmason on Aug 4, 2012 7:46:06 GMT -4
A micro cp heli is fun to have even thou the Novus isnt exactly a micro. It'll be nice to have especially for those bad weather days were you just can't go outside to fly. I say add another heli collection to your hangar. Compared to the Chaos 600, its a pimple on a gnats arse ;D It is a shade larger than my little FP, but unfortunately I don't have the room for indoor flying, hovering yes, flying no I live in a split level bungalow and the 2 largest rooms are under a slow renovation. I am kind of hoping that the larger rotor disc and being CP will make it a touch more forgiving to outdoor winds, the FP can't handle much more than a gost whisper of a breeze before it becomes unflyable. I am still on the fence about this, but I am really leaning towards getting it. If I do jump, I will head into Ottawa on Monday to pick it and a couple of batteries and other spare parts to have on hand, and still come in under the cost of my last repair on the 600. I think it will help get my confidence back too. I can even do a brushless conversion on it for $35.
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Post by osidak on Aug 4, 2012 8:21:41 GMT -4
I didn't have the crashes like you but that is why I went for my erazor 450 (trade work for it) but mine cost $160 with the crappy radio. I just totally demolished it and it cost me $50 in parts to rebuild (still waiting on the slow boat to show up from china)
The 450 is twitchy compared to the 600 and I have never flown anything smaller except on a sim and I very quickly crashed the tiny ones as I lost sight of them quickly
Good luck on your choosen path
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drev
FUN FLYER
Posts: 198
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Post by drev on Aug 4, 2012 11:06:35 GMT -4
George, I'd go with the MCPx BNF for 2 reasons. Parts are everywhere, if a LHS sells helis, they're probably Blade, so parts are easy to get. If something breaks on the Novus CP, do parts have to come from China? (long wait times for parts when you could be flying) You're getting a Spektrum radio that you'll have to get used to & the MCPx will get you into programming the Tx. (just my $.02). Good luck on whatever decision you make. Drev.
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Post by sgmason on Aug 4, 2012 11:19:30 GMT -4
George, I'd go with the MCPx BNF for 2 reasons. Parts are everywhere, if a LHS sells helis, they're probably Blade, so parts are easy to get. If something breaks on the Novus CP, do parts have to come from China? (long wait times for parts when you could be flying) You're getting a Spektrum radio that you'll have to get used to & the MCPx will get you into programming the Tx. (just my $.02). Good luck on whatever decision you make. Drev. The BNF MCPX is out because I would have to buy a radio to go with it so I could use it, that would make 2 helicopters sitting here not getting any air time. The Novus would be coming from Great Hobbies and they carry the spare parts for it, not to mention I would pick up a few spare parts at the time of purchase. The Tx for he Novus is programmable, but its old school with dip switches and a pair of rotating knobs, not a nice fancy digital screen I could go with the RTF MCPX, but that would take money away from the future Tx purchase I need for the 600. Like I said the 9X is relegated to my FP, and maybe a park flier plane in the future
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Post by Valkman on Aug 4, 2012 18:43:49 GMT -4
I agree with Drev. I had a look at that Novus heli it will still be blown around by any wind and it may be a bit to big to do anything indoors if your in a small place. I had a couple of flights on my MCP today indoors just practicing circuits and nose in stuff. I got my fix! I think you said you are getting the DX7 anyway. I have well over 70 flights on mine and all I have damaged is a set of blades. Not too say I have not crashed. The wall marks prove that!
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