Aframomum

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Back now, but with some unfortunate news...my son has tested positive several days ago.

We have all been quarantining at home since finding out. We made calls to his school, our jobs, and all the people we came in contact with. My wife and I got tested and are waiting 2-3 days for the results. The health department also contacted us yesterday.

We first thought he had strep as the symptoms came quickly - fatigue, fever, sore throat and naseau. What a surprise to find out not strep, but covid.

Just wanted to keep you updated...

Mark

JPEE

Hello Mark,
That’s quite and update, may the Lord Bless your entire household and that you get through this with minimal discomfort and of course that you and your wife escape without contracting and George comes through with as much ease as possible with Covid. We deeply shocked and moved that your facing this problem.
We will bless your family in our nightly prayers. Thank you for letting us know, there’s strength in numbers pulling together for you.

John n Judy 🙏🏻

Aframomum

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Hi JPEE,

Just wanted to let you know that things are looking better now and to let you know I sent you a PM.

Thank you for all your warm wishes,

Mark

Aframomum

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I wanted to extend my belated birthday wishes to both you Nick and John - hope you had a nice one and got some interesting stuff!

Mark

Aframomum

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And some updates...

Now that things are slowly returning to normal and everyone is recovering, my wife and I have gotten back to our jobs.

I forgot to mention but our hospital has gotten a completely new computer system. We had to attend several classes (4 and 6 hour long classes online) to help us prepare. What a fiasco! Its like starting all over again and having to deal with all the little bugs that creep up during Beta testing - what fun!! But we are slowly getting through this and starting to sort of appreciate the new software.

I finished gathering all the parts for the Goblin repair and came to a screeching realization - this is an expensive heli to crash. So after giving it some thought I think I may put it back together and sell it. I could use the 3700's on a 500 and get double the flights I get now. That would be nice. Plus I could get a heli that has a TT and get away from the belts. Was never a fan of them. So got some research to do as I've been out of the heli market for some time.

JPEE, will reply to your email when I have some time off - okay?

Mark

JPEE

Hello Mark,

What wonderful news to hear that the family is on the shirt tails of 19 and that life is starting to come back for you to resume some type of normalcy.

I am at a loss for words where you have to attend those classes for four hours plus that must’ve just been horrific I can’t even fathom doing that. And you’re absolutely right a new roll out is always fraught with bugs and issues. GEEZZZ

I had charged six batteries to fly with the guys on Saturday morning at the park. They throw their hand launch no motorgliders and I take my big radian glider with motor and a battery. Saturday morning got up didn’t feel very good so I had to cancel. So today I went out to burn through the batteries and three of them were for the little 230 helicopter and man on top of having dumb thumbs in the sky being a bit gray in the helicopter being small in my old age I had a hell of a time trying to fly to packs. I can see what father time was stealing from me clearly. At some point I guess I’ll always be able to fly scale in my big red Heli’s because I can keep track of it. We’re trying to keep track of the 600 and the 500 may have to give way to just flying planes that are slower and a little more forgiving. Don’t misunderstand me I’m not saying I’m old and throwing in the towel by any means because there’s guys that fly the snot out of a plane and even a helicopter small ones that are almost 80 years old, so I’ve still got some fight left in me. I guess I’m bringing this point up because if you talked about how expensive it was to crash that it does sneak up on you. I was all hot to buy that second 700 or 800 and I ask myself do I really want to spend $1800 on another helicopter at this point and I’ve never move forward. Like the old military saying for a footsoldier, smoke them if you got them! I’m getting to the point where it’s fly it if you got it! So when in a sense it’s just like your goblin. The best part is, is that you can reuse the batteries on other aircraft when you sell it and IF you get anther heli’s w/TT you might be happier.

Thank you for the birthday wishes it was great one. My daughters came by spin a couple of hours when we sat in the big garage with both doors open 20 feet apart with masks 😷 until we ate lunch. They made me rice n beens with cheese enchiladas, I even sneaked in a cold beer too. #73, but who’s counting?

Ok that’s it from my end, I hope I cover all the due topics. Your get well and get to where you were time, good food and happiness 👍

Aframomum

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Hi JPEE,

So I had an interesting thing happen to me last week - my car didn't want to start. Just a few clicks then nothing. Checked the battery voltage and got 12.6 so thought maybe the starter was going. Took my wife's car to work that night but first disconnected my cars battery just to make sure nothing weird happened overnight. Next day hooked it back up and car started right up. Put the car on ramps so I could take out the alternator and starter to have them tested at O'Reilly's.

Turned out to be a bad alternator. I really thought the starter was going but it tested out just fine. Car has 159,606 miles on it, and is a '03 - so 18 years. Not too bad for an alternator. I also had the chance to clean up the starter (have a slight oil leak so things were a bit gunked up) and clean up all the electrical connections. Wire brushed a few of them to get them shiny again. So now my car has a new alternator and a cleaned up starter with good contacts so should be good to go for a while longer. I have to say removing the starter was a fun experience with lots of interesting body contortions to get to the back bolt. I was tempted to just replace it after it was out but couldn't justify the 250 price tag for a part that still works (esp after the 260 for the alternator) so will have to deal with it when that time comes. Everything is working again and life is good! lol

Our spring is quickly approaching - going to have temps close to 90 this weekend. So time to get the yard ready. Bug spray, weed killer, fertilizer, fixing any sprinklers, and replacing any dead grass spots. Also want to scrub some of the brick pavers as they have gotten moldy. And want to redo some of the brick paver driveway as some of the filler sand needs replacing. I also need to finish building the last above ground garden for my wife - already have one from last year that is currently being used to grow pumpkin seeds from last Halloween. The other one my wife has plans for...something?

Picked up a Lemon rx for my Stinger, so hopefully can get a maiden flight this weekend too. Still looking for a 500 heli - looks like everyone is keeping theirs. lol

Have a good weekend,

Mark

JPEE

Good morning Mark,


Well we’ll, you have had one very special week haven’t you, just chuck full of surprises! A very smart move disconnecting the battery. If there had been a short and the wires started pulling deep amps, can you spell FIRE or at minimum totally killed the battery. Wait a minute, that car only has a mere 159k that not time for a new starter, come back and tell me when you have 259k. For now replace the alt, dump the ashtrays, wash the car and she’s is good for the next 100k my friend! I think that made good sense while you were under the car to clean up your starter making sure you’re good contacts it’s grounded properly so you don’t wind back up under there in the next month or two. Seems like when you fix one part and then one next to it goes so this preventive maintenance I support 100%. Can you say OUCH on the $260 on the alternator. I agree once again with you and not replacing the starter for another $250 when it still works. You know the car and you know what it takes to do that starter in a jiffy and at worst tow truck can always throw at home in the next day you can get a starter and throw it in and see yourself a ton of money on labor and get use out of it while it’s working. If you go to the reverse logic and say well it’s out I better change it while I’m here then when you get a flat tire you might as well buy three other new ones to go with it, that would be foolish so again I think you made the right move.

How wonderful to have a garden. Jason you’ve heard me speak of my buddy he’s got an avocado tree and orange tree they have potatoes and he’s kind of a prepper so they’re getting some staples that they can survive on if necessary. I remember horticulture class in school and it was fun I really enjoyed it. When I went to work for the college in 1970 it was in a rural area it was a fairgrounds owned by the University. So we had to duct to lay eggs and we had a garden areaI am going to say 20’ x 40’ and we had bell peppers carrots tomatoes Wazoo and other stuff I can’t remember and there was three of us to tend it every day so nothing slipped away. The worst way ever had to deal with where those doggone nasty scary looking tomato worms, ick!

Pavers look nice and they’re easy to repair when necessary and that is the upside but there is maintenance involved as you’re pulling out. Just a tip I’ve stopped using round up for the obvious reasons for the cracks and weeds coming up and you can look this up on YouTube I don’t have it in front of me but it’s out on the garage but we now make a mixture of vinegar Dawn soap and Epson salt and it works pretty darn good. I do have to go back from time to time and give it a second dose but it’s all organic and that’s the best part it doesn’t fall the soil or the applicator… Dot me! just thought I’d share that little piece of information.

Not familiar with the lemon RX but I’m glad your stinger is coming together. Hey when the time is right a 500 Heli TT drive will be right there in your face and you’ll be able to jump on it. All good things come in time as the old adage says.
I’m sure I have said this before, but pound for pound of all the helicopters I have the 500 (mines old) is the fastest most powerful most agile and is the perfect match of components to do anything you want to do whether it’s hard 3-D or just cruising. I would never let mine go. My 600 is old too and it flies very well but but being old and only one success pack it just doesn’t do even inverted trying to hold it without the battery bogging down. And of course my 500 MD is also a cruiser so those are all the reasons I love my 500 if I’m feeling a bit spunky or good day LOL. There may be others that feel the same way I do and that’s why they’re holding onto their 500s.

JPEE

Aframomum

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Hey JPEE,

Those were some nice pics you sent me - were they Texan T-6 planes? Nice formation flying over your house - what great timing to be outside with your phone at that exact moment! I always seem to miss a great opportunity as I usually hear the engines of some plane and by the time I run inside to grab my phone the plane has already passed overhead.

Okay, I have been waiting for a 500 to come for sale but my patience is wearing thin. I may break down and buy a new kit - already been hovering on the buy button at Amain for several days now. Yes, have one in my cart waiting... Oh the agony!!

Gotta go now,

Mark

Aframomum

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Well, the wait is over! I finally pulled the trigger on a new 500 - couldn't wait any longer for one to show up on the for sale threads.

JPEE - I did take a look at Grandrc and Onlyfineheli's but one was out of stock for most of everything and the other only had the upper end kits for sale. Align has many kits to sort through which makes figuring out what is what rather - taxing. One kit has metal servo case w/ metal servo horns, while the other has metal servo case w/ plastic servo horns. A basic one has plastic servo case with plastic servo arms, etc. etc. In the end I was happy to get a basic kit with plastic servo case, plastic servo horns, and an Align ESC with a 10amp BEC instead of the 5amp BEC. I did submit to getting the one with the belt but bought the TT upgrade kit to install during the build. It still came out to be about $100 less then TT kit from the get go. Overall I'm happy and rather excited to be getting a new heli to enjoy. I'll post some pictures when it gets here!

So tax time is upon us again. I dropped off our paperwork to the tax office this past Friday and we'll see how things go when they get back with us later this week. I've done mine in the past but with the solar rebate and not wanting to mess stuff up with whatever changes were made since last year I figured better to have a professional take care of it.

That's about it for now.

Mark

JPEE

Hello Mark,

I never got a notice email that you posted this last post re new heli. Will write a proper reply tomorrow Thursday.


John

Aframomum

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Hi JPEE,

Looks like things are working again with RCU - yes!

I did receive my new 500 last week. Had a little hiccup with UPS but I was able to finally pick it up at the local UPS store. I ultimately went with the 500X basic kit from Helidirect. They sent me a nice little coupon enticement to help with the decision. I also purchased the TT kit so when I build it it will be with the TT and not the belt. I also sold off the Microbeast Plus FBL that Align includes in all their kits, so in the end it cost me $559 for a new kit.

I have to say there is something about a new kit - my 2 previous heli's were used and although I do a near-total teardown, a new kit just has that newness that you don't get with used.

Looking forward to getting started on it over the next few days...after I finish up with a few priority projects first (a second above ground garden to build and my cars front bearings need replacing). Glad I have 2 days off!

Mark

Aframomum

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Also wanted to post some pictures of my shinny new alternator, my front bearing project and my starter all cleaned up:

Aframomum

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And of course, my new heli...



Mark

JPEE

Mark,
As promised it is Thursday morning and here I am!
Congrats on your NEW 500X and updated TT. That's great you were able to sell of the FBL unit, I forgotten but you must have a upgrade. Yes when you buy something, anything "pre-owned" or flown LOL of course you want to go thought it 100% so you know she's right and ready to fly...safely!
It's like buying new car, that NEW SMELL is undistinguishable from a preowned, yes you pay more but the hay......we deserve it right. yes building it from the ground up with no one else's Koodies on there, am I right or what?
Your new kit all laid out is Poetry!
* Be sure to re-grease the new bearings. I don't know if you got a Greaser like I have but I always grease every new bearing, after all they coming from China.
https://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/forum...ussions/33304-
This what mine looks like, I even one for my RZR side by side wheel bearings. Point is, have NEVER had a bearing screech in flight or cause a ship to come down. Do bearing wear out, of course. But when you do your prefight you shake you main shaft, tail shaft ect. so you'll know where they are going. Some food for thought.

On the garden, when I had my business I did work for a notable actor on his home. But outside he built and above garden about 30'X40'. He used redwood and they were about 2 1/2' feet high. He lined the boxes Newspaper and said that what his book said to that. Seems the new paper had some properties for the editable plants he had there, go figure?

My my my, that's one shinny new Alt and Starter and lastly.... Hub assembly. There's alot of work there but we both know to a degree YOU LOVE IT........just not the $$$



You take care and keep me posted on your progress

Aframomum

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Hi JPEE,

So far a little work on the new 500. I'm hoping to get more done this weekend. I remember you mentioning the greaser tool several times throughout the years but I don't think it is available any longer. I think they may show up from time to time in the classifieds but are a rarity. I've actually had good luck in the past with stock bearings not going bad - they usually last until the first crash when I will probably need to replace them due to crash damage.

I think we bypassed spring this year - as soon as daylight savings came so did the warm weather. Already hitting into the low 90's this past week. Yikes! Glad I got most of the yard stuff done. Interesting about the paper on the bottom of the above ground garden...I've heard that mentioned several times. I just may try it and see what happens.

Hope all is well over in your neck of the woods and have a good weekend,

Mark

JPEE

Hi Mark,

I love that frame with the aluminum reinforcement’s. Also the front landing gear shorter to give that “squat” look like it is an animal ready to pounce! She is looking good my friend, a slow build provides you the insurance that the build will be perfect, no......rushing allowed.
I think your right, we never saw a really California Spring either. We had COLD wind wind wind and now today it is 79.7° and yesterday it drizzled, go figure.

The guy had a winner with the GREASER but he made them at home is sounding like after a time I called him and his wife took the call. Your right I guess no one makes them anymore when I did a search. Go with what works for you.......

Thats all I’ve got for now. Stick with your build.

JPEE

Aframomum

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Hi JPEE,

I think spring snuck in as we had some cold weather Easter weekend (58'ish) and now the uppers are in the high 70's. I actually mowed the lawn this past Friday for the first time this season. The ol' lawnmower started right up with a few primes - glad its been trouble free for the past few years. Just change the airfilter and pull the spark plug to check its condition. Of course here the lawnmower only gets a break from November - March, so no winterizing needed. I just empty the gas tank by running it until its out.

I've also been catching up on little projects inside the house. Mainly hanging up pictures and plaques for the wife. Everything has its place to go, you know?

My wife got her first Pfizer shot a week ago and I have my Johnson/Johnson shot scheduled for this Thursday. Florida opened it for everyone over 40 last week so it was a bit difficult to get a time scheduled, but I was lucky to grab one. I saw yesterday Florida has it open for everyone over 18 now. I guess between the 3 (Pfizer, Modera, J&J) there is enough to cover all the age groups.

In space news - Space X is planning another manned crewed flight to the ISS on April 22. The crew up there (they launched on an earlier SpaceX crewed flight on November 15) are planned to return to a splashdown in the Atlantic in their Space X capsule on April 28.

Kennedy Space Center got a new exhibit - a Delta 2 was donated by ULA and was placed in the "Rocket Garden" for display.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/2...-space-center/

And lastly, NASA was able to redo the engine test firing for their core stage of the Space Launch System (Artemis moon program) for the entire planned 8 minutes. They had 2 earlier unsuccessful test attempts, but this one was problem free. The core stage will now go to KSC and be mated to the Orion capsule and solid rocket boosters inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. The first test flight will be unmanned and will be announced at a later date.

That's about it for now!

Have a good week,

Mark

JPEE

Hello Mark,

Honestly I don’t recall our Easter beyond it was very nice out. Yes, of you did care for your mower properly you’d be pulling that rope stater 50 times arggggg. Glad she doing you well.

Hey, I do whatever my lady wants, she asks for so little that when she does, a I am “Johnny on the spot”!

That’s good news that your both on the road for completion for your vaccinations, never leave home without it. Seriously you want to make copies of your vaccination card because it’s going to be mandatory to use it in numerous places here in the immediate future. God for bid you lose it at least you would have a copy. I took a picture of them and we carry them in my phone and my wife’s phone too. We got ours seems a like a month plus ago. While it gives us comfort, we DO NOT foolishly think we are wearing a suite of armor. We carry our daily life as if we didn’t have the vaccination just for the extra safety margin. Now they tell us after you’ve had both shots you’re covered for six months per Dr. Fauci. That means the whole United States of America has to go through this again every six months till her no longer or very few cases left in the country? His lips to my ears Fauci said that we could be wearing our masks through the beginning of 22, ICK....

Thanks for the Space X update, I will enter that in my calendar right now, consider it INKED in my iPad!

Holy Cow, now THAT ’s a space and air museum if I’ve ever seen one, I am surprised at their line up of rockets, wow!
I did remember them having some engines and having failures. Wouldn’t you like to go for a ride in the Orion Capsule someday?

How the heli coming?

heli’s Direct sent me an email saying that because of my lack of purchases they were removing me from the their emails and customer list! I wrote them back I had some health issues but how to be flying and buys soon. They wrote a nice letter back saying, I have been extended. You know I haven’t purchased “any” RC items since winter 2019. When I left AZ March 18, 2019 it’s fair to say I have not flown since.

Hope you had a grand Easter and family time.

JP