Hello all,

I'm moving into 3D and I have a 33% hanger 9 extra 330l that I need servos for. I've asked almost everyone I know for their input. After almost a month of asking I'm no closer trying to figure out what servos to get than when I started. I'm really hoping that you guys/gals can help me figure out what I need. I need 6 servos: 2 rudder, 2 elevator and 2 ailerons to work with my dx7 controller. I'll list below the things I'm taking into account.

1. I want servos strong enough to do 3D
2. I want servos that are going to hold up
3. I don't want to break the bank on servos
4. Do all the servos need to be the same?

I like the jr ds8711 but at $139 each it's a little more than i have budgeted. Also isn't this overkill Do I really need 403oz torque servos on every control surface for a 33% plane? I've also thought about the Hitec 5955 servos. At roughly $90 each thats more inline with my budget. However I've read and been told that I might have centering problems with the Hitec's.

With all the different servo choices my head just feels like it's spinning. I want to buy the best I can afford but at the same time I don't want to waste money. It might be easier to just ask if this was your plane what servos would you use and why?

You dont need anything more than HS5945's or their new replacement the 5985's. That being said the 5955's I think are only $5more each so why not go for them. The 8711 is overkill. You want to spend more money go ahead but you dont need to.

I fly 3D mainly and have setup airframes using those servos with no problems. Centering was never an issue.

1. I want servos strong enough to do 3D
My Carden Cap 40% flew with 5945's and with 3D! My 40% Extra 300 flew with 5955's with two on the ailerons and one on each elevator.

2. I want servos that are going to hold up
TG gears and the gears in the Hitec's last longer than JR. I know I fly both.

3. I don't want to break the bank on servos
Hitecs can be had cheaply, $86 each at servo city.

4. Do all the servos need to be the same?
If you run more than one on a surface then yes.
However, you can certainly use different servos for your elevators, rudder, throttle, etc.

Thanks airborne, I do like the 5955's I was just worried about centering. Would you use 5955's on every control surface or would you use different servos on the elevator and ailerons? This is my first 33% not to mention the first plane I've owned that can do 3d. So I'm playing catch up on the hardware/setup learning curve.

Hi TxDive: I fly the 5985 on rudder and 5625's on everything else for 3D planes, I am yet to try the 5955 so cannot coment on it's centering but do know the 5985 is better than the 56 series. Am yet to have a Hitech fail and I have a drawer full right down to HS55's on sub 16oz park flyers. Whatever you decide do not scrimp on servo's or the power supply for your airborne system.
You have a lot invested in the plane saving $200.00 at the end and posibly ending up with a failure does not make for a good day.
You have to have absoute confidence in your set up, if you feel that the JR servos are required do it. At the end of the day it's your time and money on the line not ours.

Go have fun Eric.

I've been using HT for years and love them, never a fail or centering problem. I used the new titaniums on my 25% WH Yak, Yes that's a lot of overkill, BUT, when I move up I won't be buying another set of servos. It's an investment, and still cheaper.
If you go to http://www.hitecrcd.com/servos/list open the PDF with the entire line, I suggest first going down to "digital", next go down to min. torque/speed. FYI HT is the only one whos 6Volt specs I trust, many do not even provide them. And there can be NO reason for not running 6 V on anything over 60 size (maybe a pylon racer).
As said, the decision is yours, but this is my experience.

I just installed a hitec 5645 on the rudder of my Extra 260, the center is a little sloppy, but a great servo none the less.

If you have the money go ahead with the 5955's all around. You can use a standard or a metal geared non digital on throttle. If you want get a super fast digital on the throttle and be prepaired to replace it every couple of years.

This plane I am flying has 5955's all around except for the rudder which is a Seiko servo.

Manny

Thank you very much guys. I really do appreciate all of your input. At 86 and some change I can afford (and keep the wife happy) to go all the way around with 5955’s and a standard digital on the throttle. Man that’s a heck of a lot cheaper than the 8711’s and I’ll have them for future planes as well (fingers crossed). I’m pretty lucky I have a budget for this hobby and as long as I stay within it my wife stays happy. Wife happy=me happy-Wife mad=well you know.


P.S. That’s one awesome photo btw airborne. I hope to be able to do that at some point.

You should see me fly sometime I really only fly 3D. Now if I actually got to practice more often I might be a decent pilot!

LOL, Yeah I'm trying to do just the opposite cross over from pattern style flying to 3D. Well at some point I want to try and combine them both. I’ve watched a few guys that have managed to do it and in my opinion it’s some of the most amazing flying I’ve seen.