Damage Report:

Main Blades
Canopy
Flybar
Main Shaft
Feathering Shaft
Tail Boom
Servo Gear Set for a HS65

About $60 worth of repairs as I have only a flybar in the parts drawer.  I'm stunned the main gear didn't stip as I tried to recover and didn't hit throttle hold till she hit the ground. One thing for sure is I'm tired of the flimsy E-Flite canopy, it breaks fronm just the slightes bump. Also, since it went in inverted, I did not break the landing skids or the tab on the fram tehy attach too. That certainly helps keep the repair cost down.

Still thinking on what to do... I've wanted a metal head/tail for awhile and the V2 clones are cheap enough. May need to sleep on it.

Jim

Hi Jim,

This is the oneIhave been looking at. A guy here took it off the Flasher he had and put these on his Blade 400. You use the 400 main shaft BUTTTTT you have to grind them down at the top so the head comes down and meets the Eflite hole in the shaft. Now Eflite shafts are 3.50 each and the head my buddy got that I mentioned above cost 6.00 eachYIKES.
http://www.snhobbies.com/product_rev...roducts_id=474

Replacement parts
http://www.snhobbies.com/index.php?cPath=23_77

PS: the tail box is another 30.00. So $60.00 for the head, $30.00 for the tail PLUS tail shaft and blades grips I foget how much you can buy the Flasher ARF for 130.00. Giver a look.

I am trying to work a deal here with the guy that has the Flasher so Iwouldbuy the ARF and take the head and tail and sell him the frame, boom, canopyetc.

JPEE

HK450 Update -

Just finished rough assembly of the HK450, and I must say that I'm very happy and pretty impressed with the purchase. The design and engineering has already been proven with TREX 450, it is an exact clone based on design. For $35, you can't beat it! Frame assembly went much easier then expected, it took me about 2 Hrs. However, seeing how I've built about a half dozen TREX 450 I pretty much knew what I was doing.

The main difference between the HK450 and TREX 450SA is it's in kit form. Both the battery mount and motor mount are plastic instead of metal. I also noticed that the materials used in the HK450 are of less quality. Another note of difference was tolerance in quality of manufacturing. Things that caught my attention were some of threads on the hardware were not perfect. A couple of parts the CNC machining was misaligned. Also a couple of plastic pieces had some blemishes from the molding process. The quality of plastic is much softer, this is particularily noticeable in the bottom plate which is much more pliable (which might be a benefit during a crash, having some give instead of breaking). None of these issues affected the building process. I'll let you know when it comes to flight characteristics. Another major note in construction materials are the Main Blades. The 325 supplied blades were balanced, but very heavy compared to the Align's.

to be continued.....

Thanks JPEE, I've looked at those before.

Actually I'm leaning to the Flasher 450 that uses that heah. If I got $60 in repairs now, $60 for a head/tail combo I'm lookingat $120. For jus $15 more, I get an entire CF frame and tail boom, glass blades, and a glass canopy. Being Trex V2 compatible all parts are carried by my LHS.

http://www.snhobbies.com/product_inf...roducts_id=461

My LHS has an original T-Rex V2 left with the 430XL motor, 35X ESC, and 2200 battery he'd sell to me for $350. I just don't think that's worth it at this point.  The Flasher will run me $135 and a scorpion-8 and 55Amp commander ESC will hit me for another $115. So for $250 I now have a V2 with a better motor and ESC.

Decisions, decisions.......

Jim

Dave -

I'm glad to hear your Telebee has been trouble free! I knew it's limitations before the purchase, however I was curious and wanted to see for myself. I had the Eflite G90 on my CPPro and had nothing but problems, so I wanted to try the Telebee which is also a fraction of the cost. I'm very interested in tail control on this build, as I have the Telebee paired with the Turnigy TG9. At $35 it's the least expensive tail setup for a 450 size heli. Curious how it holds up. I have a GY401 and 9650 standing by.

the XMHobbies 401B looks like a great gyro, but even better is the Assan GA-410 It's a replica of the Futaba GY401 and is even a few dollars cheaper then the 401B.http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbycity/s...ail_Lock_Gyro_

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJtdtneDCSU

that's a great tip on the tail gear. I want to see how this heli holds up prior to any mods. I have some extra metal gears for the belt drive I'll probably end up using when I start practicing the 3D with this heli, along with changing out the plastic mounts on the battery and motor, and ditching the supplied main blades.
<br type="_moz" />

Jer...I converted my Futaba 7c from 72Mhz to Assan 2.4 with their hack module. It's awsome, Assan puts out some good stuff....I thought about checking out their gyro. I know their recievers cost a LOT less than Futaba recievers....that's a big plus there. Before long....all my RC will be run off the Futaba/Assan radio system.

Vic -

I've heard nothing but good things about Assan so far. From what I can tell it's Futaba with out paying for the name. Interested to see how they hold up in the long run.

Jim,

Know this though, the Flashers framelooks like FG not CF. It is silver in color and is kind laminated it looks like, I did not really study it but if he there in the morning I'l let you know and snap a pic.


Jer, that heli looks great!

JPEE

Gimme a year...I'll let ya know. I just purchased a second 8XR6 reciever, and I'll be buying a 3rd before summer end. Wiring the hack module into the 7c was straight forward and simple. I moved the initialization LED off the Assan board and it's now on the front of the TX....I can see it as well as an audio indicator I can hear....no doubt you have a a working module. The RX has two LED's red and green for status. Glitch free 2.4 Ghz AND Futaba...without the $$$. TrueRC out of Chicago carrys Assan stuff. Price is a little higher but ships in 3 days....I can live with it. Once again.....I'm in "test monkey" mode.....LMAO.

Jim,
OMGosh! You did that one in good! Looks like your getting good ideas to run through on a good sleep

Jer,
I may have messed up my Telebee myself so I won't blame it for glitching. It still holds but will kick out 90 in a hard collective and I have the gain set really high. I've heard more good than bad about the Telebee. They all can't be that bad if a lot of people are using them. I noticed that the lower frame was pretty flexible as well but wasn't sure if that was normal as my SA has all kinds of crap strapped to it.

Blessings,

Jay<br type="_moz"/>

Jay -

The HK450 is definately a different blend of plastics, much more pliable. I wonder how consistent this will be between production runs. I've noticed some variation between batches with the Align products over the years. The TREX 450SA was a different animal as well, for that model was affiliated with Horizon Hobby.

I'm not sure how this will affect the mechanics in the head assembly especially in more extreme manuevers. But as far as the Canopy, Vertical &amp; Horizontal Stabilizers, Bottom Plate, and Landing Gear, I'm hoping it's a benefit to take some of the impact from a crash. It's something to think about.

another concern of mine with the HK450 is the quality of the bearings. Seeing evidence of cost savings in the materials used, wondering how this will effect the performance of the bearings.<br type="_moz" />

That would be great if you could, thanks for the input!

Jim

Jeremy and Dave,
I just took out the tail gear assembly to get it ready for some green locite and found that mine would not budge and upon closer inspection I believe the shaft is now grooved. I'm a drywaller with some pretty though hands and I tried my best to get it to move at all. Maybe they fixed it or by some manufacturing thing mine just stuck better... who knows. See the attached picture.

Another thing as you mentioned Jer, the rear fin is so fexible and weak I'm not going to use it. I can see myself trying to land with the tail low and it bending out of the way for a tail rotor strike.

Blessings,

Jay

Hey Guys,

Just a quick note.

I got my GREASER and my new 1.6 RX's hoo-rah, finally. I snapped a pic or two of the greaser. You put the grease in the billet aluminum base and when you push down the grease comes up through the beveled base and through the bearing because you have the tapered shaft pusing down so it can't come out the middle.

Now I can rebuild my 500 FINALLY.

JPEE

Jay,

On the rear fin, ya might want to try and CA some carbon fiber rod, on each side, front and back of the fin and give it a shot of white spray paint. I'm cheap. LMAO
Dave

JPEE / Greaser Boy,

Now that's the ticket right there, I know for 600 size and bigger heli, the GREASER is recommened for all bearings. A dab for the 500 wouldn't hurt either.. Looks like a good piece of gear ya got. Great idea.

PS... Those pictures are VERY good, clear, good color and all. What type of camera are you using???


Dave

Was Jpee a Marine[sm=50_50.gif]

hoo-rah + dogtags = Marine

Kyle,

I'm betting that what looked like dogtags, is a flybar paddle. I'm in for a Buck! Nice Greaser Machine though.

Dave
================================================== ===================================

Jay,

Here's a couple pictures of the Modified tail fin, with carbon fiber rods. Oh, so much better. One on each side.
Adds contrast too, LMAO!

Dave

I want one of these,

Chopper,

Here is the camera. This it what I put on the 600 and take my snaps with. Most of the stuff I take inside are from my web cam like these attached.




Vic,
Dad was a decorated Marine but not me, those are my Medi Alert dog tags. WOW this must be a sign. As I posted the pics below of my camera there was dads in his Marine uniform picture I have on the wall from 1945...................I think he is speaking to me, I pray so.


PS: It pays to befriend the guys that maintain the Park. He brought me a ParkZone 20C 3 cell 2200 mah pack today but he wasn't sure what it was. He found it in a trash can there. It did have a slight bend from a crash but it looked fine, and when I got home it charged perfectly!.

JPEE

JPEE,

Thanks so much for the info, I never would have thought it was a web cam. The pictures of your Dad in the back ground are awesome and something to remember him by. My heart is out to you. You're a great guy. You lucky guy you, a free battey. LMAO!

Later "Greaser",

Dave

Tip of the Day.


See picture.... I CA'd the servo wires to the frame.. Yikes! Works great.. A couple drops on the the frame just above the main shaft and a couple drops just about 1 1/2 inches to the left of the main shaft. One spot at a time.. Looks great and won't move.

Dave

Hahaha LMAO that's an awsome tip. I can't believe that I never thought of that before. I'm always looking for ways to zip-tie stuff to make it look cleaner. Thanks

Joey,

That's what it's all about, sharing information. Glad to have ya checking in.

Dave
================================================== ===============================