Next new heli

So, I've been wanting to get another heli bigger than my 550.  I was going to get a Goblin 700, since it could use 2 of my batteries from the 550.  But, new regulations regarding large lipo batteries have made them subject to HAZMAT shipping fees!  Thus, any 6S lipos over 5000mah will have a minimum shipping cost of almost $30!!  Yuck!

Luckily, 6S 4400mah batteries are small enough to not be subject to these HAZMAT shipping fees.  This is the battery size needed for a 500 (1 battery) or 600 (2 batteries).  Now I'm thinking of getting a Goblin 630 instead of the 700.  The batteries will be cheaper and not subject to $30 shipping fees!  For now anyway.  The Goblin 630 is also a little bigger than a normal 600 heli, so that's a bit closer to a 700 at least.

I want to set it up with a Mikado VBar, Castle Talon 120HV, Scorpion brushless motor,  and BK Servos.

Update 4/22/15

I just checked Amain and you can ship large batteries via ground shipment and are no longer subject to HAZMAT fees! :). Maybe the laws changed?  Air shipments still require the HAZMAT fees though. 

All this means is that a 700 class heli is a possibility again!

Booya!

I picked up some RC Booya quick release canopy mounts to replace the Lynx canopy mounts I had been using. The Lynx mounts worked well, but hurt my fingers after screwing them on and off for a few flights. I started using a hex wrench with them, but that defeated the purpose of a quick release canopy mount. 

AMain hobbies started carrying RC Booya quick release canopy mounts recently, which I saw other guys at the field using. Before they were only available from smaller heli specific hobby shops, which is why I haven't gotten around to getting some. But I order parts from Amain all the time, so I was finally able to pick a set up :)

They install like any other canopy mount, but I needed to enlarge the grommet mounting hole to 0.343 in, so that the larger quick release pin grommet would fit in the canopy. 

I like how much easier and faster it is to mount the canopy!  I can't wait to try them out at the field. 

Labor Day Flying!

Since I had the day off from work for Labor Day, I headed out to the field to get some flying in with my Trex 550. I also wanted to test out charging my 6s 5000 batteries on my iCharger 4010 Duo when it was powered by a 12V marine battery. 

I also pulled off some new tricks for me!  I've been doing them in the sim for awhile now but never performed them with the 550. I pulled off a tail slide, but the exit wasn't very smooth.  I also did a few half Cuban 8's, but the heli lost some altitude during the roll, since I didn't transition to positive collective smoothly.  At least I did these maneuvers with my real heli instead of the sim. 

I remembered to bring my quick shade this time!

iCharger powered by my battery. 

Charging 2 6s 5000 packs at 10A on each channel, pulling 47A from the battery!  I wonder if the battery can support a 3C charge rate of 15A?

Went flyin!

So, I haven't been out flying since February cuz I needed to change the thrust bearings and dampers in the rotor head of my 550.  I think I did the work sometime in April?  Since then I haven't felt much like flying. 

But, I got the bug to go fly, and went out to the field twice!  I got 2 flights each on my 450 and 550 earlier in the week. Then Sunday I got in 7 flights on the 450 and 5 on the 550, for a total of 12 flights!  I spent the entire afternoon at the field, but it was lonely since I was the only one there most of the time. 

The 450 SE V2 with DFC head and 550 V2 with KDE XT head. 

My pit area

Heli pad

Empty runway

It only took about a year :)

I finally got around to installing a new ESC and motor in my 450 after repairing it following a crash from December 2012!  I installed a Castle ICE Phoenix speed controller and Scorpion 3595kv 6 pole brushless motor. I also converted it to a Flybarless DFC head and installed the 3gx FBL controller from my 550.

I headed out to the field on Sunday for some shakedown flights to make sure everything was working. It flew great after a little tweaking of the gains for the head and tail. But, I decided to up the headspeed to 3400rpm, which means I'll need to tune the gains again during my next visit to the field. 

    New Castle Phoenix ICE50 speed controller and Scorpion motor. 

    Align 3gx with v4.0 firmware from my 550 and new Align DFC head.