critterhunter
Posts: 2542
Joined: 9/24/2004
From: Brook Park,
OH, USA
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Stryker_Viking
quote:
ORIGINAL: critterhunter
I posted this over in my Bullet Proof thread as well only because anything I feel worth keeping for quick reference by Stryker owners gets thrown on that pile. That's why I steal a post or two from here to throw over there when I see something of interest.
The votes are in on the Tyvek tape. I LOVE the stuff over clear tape. Sticks better, easier to apply without wrinkling, about the same weight, etc. Price is high at around $12 but you do get 60 yards, and that's a lot. Look in the foam insulation section of Home Depot or Lowes. I'd still use Extreme for the major strength areas as covered in this thread.
Been doing some surfing on United Hobbies and saw some stuff of interest for cheapies like me. First, for those wanting a cheap computer radio along with RX, servos, speed control YOU CAN'T BEAT THIS PRICE. $59!
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5310
Some more items of interest...
They are now selling HXT motor kits for custom winding. Haven't looked at them all yet but I'm sure something should prove useful for Stryker fans...
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5344
Here's the KA450H motor. Although it's about half the price of Donsrc.com, Don has this motor custom wound to a lower K/V (2700, I think) that would prove more well suited for Stryker owners. While a stock Stryker body will work fine with it, shave the sucker down and you'll get even more killer speed. Can't remember if it'll do unlimited V but figure it will, even on my 27 ounce bird. I would use Don's version on a Stryker. The higher United Hobbies k/v version would be better for smaller platforms probably.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5246
Of course you can't pass up the cheapest lipo prices on the planet. The 3 cell 20C 2200ma packs that many of us Stryker owners use are even lower in price now at $29. Everybody loved these HXT packs last year but over the winter they seemed to have a bad batch with puffing problems. The issue is supposed to be resolved now, and if you do have one puff you simply Email them a picture of it for a replacement without needing to ship them the old one.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=2045
Here's some HS81 equiv. HXT servos that I've heard nothing but good things about. A little slower (I think) than the HS81, but considering you can buy these METAL GEAR servos for the price of a metal gear replacement gear set for a HS81MG, you might as well get these. I'm pretty sure these are the closest match to the HS81 in size and performance, though there might be another servo on there that is closer. Check the community resources forums on there and look for a thread called HS81MG or something similar. Some guy also did some testing of these two servos compared to the HS81. I haven't had steller luck with my HS81 servos. Mainly, I've had dirty or bad pots on like 4 out of 6 of mine. I still like them but it's cheapies for me for now on from UH.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3609
While not really suitable for a Stryker, I must mention these two servos which are great replacements for the HS55 from what I've read. They are the HXT500 and HXT900. The HXT900 is somewhere around an HS55 to HS81 size. I've heard of it being used in place of the HS81 on a Stryker but I wouldn't suggest it. They are good for slower/lighter birds or builds that won't be putting as much stress on the controls like the Stryker does. Note that there are cheaper copies of these servos out there, like the Tower Pro SG90 (I have these and they are good), but the HXT United Hobbies versions are said to have better components. For the price ($3 or so) you can't pass these up. Many people like them better than HS55s.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=663
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=662
If anybody has experience with any other cheap servos on there or other sites that might more closely match HS81s please post it.
Of course I've got to list the cheapest 30 amp speed control on the planet, which works well with motor Stryker motor options. $15. Instructions don't come with them and the proper ones can be hard to find on the net. Other than that I've had no problems with them. If you pay a little more at donsrc.com you'll get a Pentium speed control that has more features, easier programming, smoother throttle response, and all around better quality.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=658
Then there are receivers. I'd highly suggest dual conversion or at least full range ones for the Stryker. I admit to running cheap GWS RXs in mine and never lost control at some VERY far out distances, but this isn't smart on a brushless bird at Stryker speeds. No particular brand, though I hear the Coronas are good and very cheap at around $15 to $24.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=116&curPage=2
And then there is the motors, of which I'm still sorting them out to produce a comparison chart. But here's the current most popular cheapie for the Stryker, the 2409-12T. I'd also check into the "D" version because I hear it is built better, not to mention looking much better. Haven't heard any cons to it's configuration versus a "T" yet? Same motor specs otherwise.
https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=184&ParentCat=59
Of course some of these items can be found on other sites and at the same or near price. For instance, I think you can combo a motor and ESC from Balsa Products, aeronauts, RCHotDeals, LazerToys, or others at below what you can get them for on United Hobbies. Best thing to do is check around but for the most part UH has the best prices. Shipping was like $30 if I would have used the default one on my last order, but I dropped it down to the next shipping method and it went down to $12. Even with this shipping I got my items in four days once they were pulled. They used to have very poor picking and shipping times but it appears they've fixed that after they moved to a larger warehouse.
critterhunter
Thanks again for yet another valuable contribution.
I personally have some experiences with United Hobbies that I feel I should share with you all, experiences both on some of their products as well as how they handle support issues.
Lets start with some example of Products:
* ESC's - 80 Amp motor controller ceised to work for no appearent reason, Gryphon was present
and he noticed smoke developing while I was connecting a new battery between flights.
I got maybe 10-15 flights out of it before break down.
* 120 Amp motor controller failed to cut-off power to motor at set voltage.
One TP-Extreme 4s 3850 pack got ruined due to this problem.
Perhaps up to 20 flights out of this one before break down.
* Li-Po - Packs rated 20C-30C, they are very heavy.
Every pack I have purchased so far has been ok for about 10-20 cycles, then they have started to
swell up and now look like a balloons.
Initially cycled 3 times before use, always charged through the balance leads, never overloaded or
over heated, only used them in my 3-D plane with a maximum load in the 8-12C range.
* Power analyzer Feigao: Failed due to user error.
A 50 cent diode installed on the Power-Source side would have protected the device from being
connected with switched polarity as now was the case when using the wrong adapter...
Worked ok though difficult to get stable readings due to values in the display continusly changing.
Support:
Distance and Language are problem factors if anything goes wrong.
I have countless emails from them where they state that a defective product must be returned to them for
warranty exchange, my cost wouldn't be more then $5 (in reality $15-$25) and that they promise to ship
the new replacement product so quick that I should have it back in my hands the following week.
The reality is a completely different story;
The 80A ESC was after 3 months still not replaced.
The 120A ESC has not yet arrived at United Hobbies after 6 weeks...
Li-Po's - Sorry...
Conclusion:
My personal experience have been everything but good. I have heard them bad mouthing other vendors (Castle Creations,Mega, Medusa etc.) in stead of concentrating their efforts and energy on solving problems and turn them into opportunities.
I can't recommend them unless one is willing to take the risk in case of problems.
There was a rumor a while back that they were going to set up an agreement with an US based company to handle issues, but I have not heard anything confirming this yet.
For whatever it might be worth
Stryker_Viking
I don't disagree that they've had some very slow shipping times and almost non-existant customer response via Email in the past. They recently moved the warehouse to a larger location and doubled staff and order pullers. They claim a 24 hour shipping time now from the moment it's ordered. We'll have to wait and see if that's true, but so far the indications are good. I ordered my items a few weeks before the move and they were listed as "Sent To Warehouse" for over two weeks, resulting in me having to wait even more time while they moved to the new location. However, soon after the items were listed as "Shipped" and, despite me picking the next shipping method down at $12 compared to $30, I got the items in four days. Judging by the skimming I've done on the net, many others are getting fast shipping now, but not all. Mainly, don't order anything on backorder and it should ship quick now. I still am suspicious of the true amount of items listed "IN STOCK", but can't back up that the inventory listings aren't "live" now. Customer response is another matter. They do claim that they'll now be able to quickly respond to Emails concerning questions a customer might have, but I suspect that issue isn't totally fixed yet for some.
Which brand speed controllers were you using from them? I've had good luck with Tower Pros and have abused the crap out of them. They also now carry the Sword/Pentium brand and these are killer in quality, and also have more features you can program than many of the brand names costing two to four times as much. They also have a smoother throttle stepping than the Tower Pros. There are various other brands of ESCs they sell but, again, you MUST read the forums and find independent testing and real life use of these products to avoid the junkers.
Up until about last fall or winter the RC community seemed to love all their lipo packs. Some were even over amping 1600ma 3 cell packs with no puffing or failure problems (not smart). The supplier that makes the packs for them churned out a bad batch that had major puffing problems, even if used at a low C rate. United Hobbies has told everybody now that they can simply email pictures of the puffed packs (all in one picture and with the pack identification number clearly visible) for free replacements to be shipped out. No need to pay for return shipping on the old cells or anything. They also do now have a US warranty service center from what I've heard, though if it's opened yet I haven't checked but think it has. Are the packs heavier than Thunder Powers? Of course, everybody's packs pretty much weigh more and are larger than Thunder Power. But keep in mind that TP is the Porsche of lipo packs, and you are going to pay for that price wise. As I said, the new HXT packs are much smaller and lighter than the ones of just a year ago or so. I've compared them side by side. And, as also covered, size/weight relation of lipos to nimhs/nicads is like night and day.
Let's also keep in mind that United Hobbies isn't the only source of inexpensive motors, lipos, speed controls, etc. Whether they've cleaned up their act remains to be seen, but if you just don't trust them then shop other sources. I agree, being cheap is no excuse for poor customer service or even poor quality products.
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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Park Flyers & Backyard Flyers >> RE: F27 STRYKER -Way Past the Limits Part 6 -Go deeper in to the Dark Side... 
RE: F27 STRYKER -Way Past the Limits Part 6 -Go deep... - 
If anybody has please post a link. Anyway, just a few tidbits to peak your interest. Pictures and more info when the bird is complete... 
, huh? 
