I bought a flight pack a while back that consisted of a Hitec 555 receiver, and 3 HS-81 servos. I originally bought it for my GWS slow stick, but have since abandonded that project. I am in the process of gathering the parts for my first SPAD airplane. I have heard that the HS-81 servos are a bit too small for this purpose. (Buhor 25). However, I am thinking of using the Hitec 555 receiver in the SPAD. Is this as good a receiver as any other? It is small and limited to 5 channels, but is the range the same as the regular receivers? How does it compare to the Futaba R127DF besides # of channels?

Also, can I use Futaba S3004 standard servos in this hitec rx, or do I need Hitec servos? And if I go /w Hitec servos what is the direct substitute for the Futaba S3004's?

Thanks.

Hitec 555 is a great receiver, range just as good as any. Futaba servos will work fine with the receiver.

Andy

I've used a 555 in a .46 size SPAD no problem.....
I think it is in my Zagi now......

Works great

The 555 will work very well, but you may have to trim the little tabs off the side of the Futaba servo connectors to plug them in.

I think the 81 servos would be fine on ailerons and throttle on the 25 size SPAD, just use a standard servo on the elevator.
Dennis-

The 555 is one of the greatest receivers Hitec has made. This is reflected in the price as it has a higher price than the 8 channel Supreme receiver. As above you will need to carefully trim the plugs on the Futaba plugs. The HS81 servos are great as long as you pull from the long end. Do not try to mount one side ways. Look at how it's made and you will know what I'm talking about? There's just two screws holding it down and it will rock back and forth.

The HS81 would be an ideal servo for the ailerons and engine. Hitec makes another HS 225 servo that is small and has four screws that people are using in the ailerons of the Kobras with the 30 size engines.

Enjoy,

Jim

The Hitec 555 is a great receiver.

What is the concern about the HS-81s. I have 6 of them in my 3M sailplane and use them in some of my other planes. No problems!

I think my 555 count is now up to around 23. I use them exclusively for my pylon aircraft (currently a total of 11), one Spad combat ship and few other sport airplanes. They are full ranged and perform very well in the racers at speeds to 165 mph and extreme vibration environment of rpm's up to 22,000. All this with antennas that are coiled on a fourteen inch soda straw.

Steal my money, run off with my wife but stay the hell away from my 555's

John

The 555 is probibly the most popular RX in combat. They work great, even with 12-13 models all up, and in very close proximity (sometimes, a bit too close). The only RF envrionment that I think matches combat for stressing RX's is some of the glider guys who fly WAY WAY out there, and with many up at once.

I've even had one keep working when half the antenna got cut off in the air (don't try this at home). Landed after the round to find a prop cut through my tail and antenna that I never even saw happen! The antenna wire is thick stuff, and the card inside is strong. (Other RX's in that size that I've seen have much thinner guage wire on the antenna). I've had 555's survive multiple head-on mid-airs, where both planes were going 80+ mph. They are the gold standard for durability in an RX. (I did actually manage to scrag one though. It got hit directly by a prop. But Hitec's service center had it back to me in no time flat).

If there's one thing combat pilots know, it's how to durability test equipment . If you want a 6th channel they make a 6 channel that's just as good. I think I have about 10 555's. (I need to clean up the shop and count gear)

I also use HS-81's and HS-85's. I have piles of both (don't ask me how many. I don't know. I lost count a long time ago. My wife just asked me the other day how many I had. that wasn't pretty. Now I have to clean up the shop this week and count them all. Sheesh. Just for starters, 5 2610 class scale combat ships, each has 4 servos, all HS-81 or HS-85). The HS-81 is a fine servo for all kinds of uses. You want to watch for 2 things though. The plastic gears on them are fragile, and easily stripped. (the HS-85 has a stronger gear train). I bought a pile of HS-81's with plastic gears, and a some spare metal gear sets. When I strip a plastic one, I replace the gears with metal. The ones that don't strip obviously don't need metal gears . So, if you have plastic gears, be careful bumping it, and don't put it on the elevator or anything that might flutter, or that is a major problem if it does strip on you. With metal gears, you can put it anywhere the the torque numbers work. I have them on the elevator and ailerons on 3.5lb, 90mph scale combat planes. No problems. (I do usually use HS-85's on elevator, and a pair of 81's, one on each aileron, plus a plastic gear 81 on throttle. But I do have some flying with an 81 on elevator.)

The other "issue" with the HS-81 is that some of them seem to have a pot that is a bit prone to wearing out faster than the HS-85. But every time I've sent in a Hitec servo with a flaky pot, Hitec sent back a brand new servo at no charge, and fast. And it doesn't happen often.

Btw, the HS-81 has been cloned by a number of companies, or Hitec is making them for other labels. The Hobico CS-12 is an HS-81, if I recall.

Anyway, the Hitec HS-81 and HS-85 are a bit more expensive than other micro servos, but worth the money, espeically the metal gear variants.