RE: Tail wagging
raptor technique will help you with the 8103, but once you have it setup you use the rudder d/r switch to swap back and forth gain adjustments. youll find the gain adjustment to be in the gyro sens area of your tx. change it rto rudd D/R, and set the rate of 0 to 80 and 1 to 70. fly with the dr switch down. if it wags, flip the switch. if it stops, adjust both to 70 and keep flying. you can also switch gains, but ill let you experiment that on your own. i dont see how people can fly with 'just enough gain'. i set my heli up, and tried with 'just enough gain'. when i swung the tail, it would piro 90 deg, then come back the oppisite way 45 deg and hold. like the tail swung faster than the input was given. when i raised the gain to what it is now (between 72 and 78) the tail stops on a dime and doesnt wag during flight. it is just below wagging though. i dont have a 9254 yet, but i am running a 5925, so perhaps thats the problem. your running 100% gain and the tail is only wagging half way into the tank? when i had 100% it would wag before it got off the ground
Posted on: 9/21/2006 10:06 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4777542

RE: auto pilots?
if you get into serious trouble you cant pull out of, chances are, the autopilot will only make things worse.
Posted on: 9/21/2006 9:47 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4777457

RE: servo sizing?
yes i agree, get rid of the 3151 on the tail and get a 9254. it will be a world of difference for you. 3151's are good for sport flying, if you can get them youll be good. stay above 60oz and under .17 if you want to keep them for awhile. best of luck with yoru flying
Posted on: 9/7/2006 10:32 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4723147

RE: servo sizing?
yes get better servos. im surprised they havent stripped yet while flying around, as they are being run right at their limit. a good servo will be one around 80-90+oz-in of torque and >.15s quite a few people use 9252's, but i find that hitec has cheaper servos of the same quality (oxymoron?). if you have the $, get 9252's. you will upgrade them again later if you dont.
Posted on: 9/6/2006 8:54 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4718900

RE: Auto rotation gear
yes to upgrade you can get yourself the white autorotation gear that comes stock with the 50 or as an upgrade if you were to upgrade from a 30 to a 50. i dont have the part number, but you can find it in a 50v2 manual or you can search for it online. it is called the white autorotation gear iirc or something similar. i wouldnt reccomend it, because you will have enough trouble trying to get it to auto, let alone with a driven tail. it would suck too much power from the blades and make it near impossible to auto. however, it can be done, though there isnt much of a benifet.
Posted on: 9/3/2006 11:19 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4706943

RE: rc heli hobby
the one big reason is cost, that and helis take a lot more skill and maintenance to fly over a plane. most people are put off by the cost of owning a heli, because of the extra parts needed. gyro etc.. most people at our field fly planes because thats what theyve always flew. i think around 12 people at our club own helis, but usually its only another guy and me who fly on a regular basis.
Posted on: 8/10/2006 11:31 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4605916

RE: Help with Raptor 50 purchase list
as for the piston locking tool, if you take off the head and stuff a bunch of fuel tubing into it, put the head back on and that will stop it from rotating as well. iirc isnt red loctite (262) the stuff that never comes off unless its cut off or heated up (melting the fan)? i think that blue (242) should be used because no matter what, it will have to come off some day. then again, maybe im thinking of the wrong stuff.
Posted on: 8/1/2006 8:37 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4572484

RE: Returning pilot
definately reflex xtr. i have afpd and g3 and ive flown xtr, it is much better imo. you cant really go wrong with g3, but afpd just doesnt feel right for helis.
Posted on: 8/1/2006 8:27 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4572428

RE: my first crash...
could you post a pic of the crack? it sounds structural, and if it is a v1 r50, i dont know you can buy the v1 frames anymore. i just crashed my v1 30 and i broke the frames, luckily i had a spare pair, but after the next crash it will likely be trashed or upgraded to a v2. look for a raptor 50v2 crash kit. it will have blades, boom, head, flybar etc... only thing is, being a v2 crash kit, the spindle will be for a v2, so you will not be able to use it. id estimate, if you can get frames, around 60-80. (frames being about 30). if you cant get frames, id go with a v2 conversion kit. it will provide you with quite a few spare parts. you will still need the boom and flybar if you do that though.
Posted on: 8/1/2006 8:23 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4572417

RE: need bigger gas tank raptor 30
well here is the mod i was talking about. if he can get 20min flights on a 50 you should break 30 mins on a 30. keep in mind you may only get 2-3 flights out of a battery pack now. Edit:: forgot the link http://runryder.com/helicopter/t31644p1/
Posted on: 7/28/2006 3:47 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4555718

RE: Raptor 90 starter shaft question.
its a 6mm hex shaft with a ball end. it need not have said ball end, but having it makes starting much eaiser because you can drive on an angle, and you dont have to worry about it slipping out. make it about 6-8 inches long. the idea is to get it above the head, but not too high.
Posted on: 7/28/2006 1:37 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4553890

RE: Newbie just bought Walkera #60
dont know about the current quality of walkera stuff, but i had one and it was complete junk. get a simulator. it will help you immensely. ditto for training gear, but dont leave it on for too long. if you can comfortably hover tail & side in, you dont need it anymore.
Posted on: 7/27/2006 1:06 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Walkera Helis - Dragonfly, etc.."
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4551365

RE: glue recommendation
ca will stick pretty much anything. one thing to keep in mind, [i]when[/i] you glue your fingers together, or to something, it will be the layer of skin coming off, not the glue. (ask me how i know[:@])
Posted on: 7/27/2006 1:04 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4551357

RE: need bigger gas tank raptor 30
ive got a 30v1 with a .32 in it and i constantly get 16+min flights with it. i ususally stop with 1/4 tank or so left because you get tired watching it that long. that being said, you can probably mod a 60/90 tank to fit. do a search, i think some people either on here or rr have done it before.
Posted on: 7/26/2006 4:14 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4546090

RE: Best chopper for payload lift - UAV
many people on rr are using electrics like the joker II or big gassers as already mentioned. fitted with mounts and cameras, they can cost between 5-20k. if your carrying a small pinhole camera then a trex will be fine.
Posted on: 7/26/2006 4:01 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter Beginners Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4546077

RE: Joyful Day! Raptor 30 v2 RTF!
not too bad in damage i guess. did the grandma see you crash?
Posted on: 7/18/2006 3:27 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4514941

RE: normal drill or starter?
im using a mastercraft 24v drill to start my heli and have had no problems. one of the local guys says it will wear out the drill fairly quick but ive known guys whove started 90's for months so far and havent had problems. for the con rod snapping issue, get a drill with a clutch. i have mine set on 19 of 25, but this will vary. that way if your engine locks up the clutch in the drill will slip and you wont damage anything.
Posted on: 7/16/2006 4:37 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter Beginners Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4508339

RE: ION-X??????
look at spending between 300-500 per battery plus a charger capable of charging something that size, and probably another car battery or other 12v power source because it will drain your cars battery fairly quick
Posted on: 7/16/2006 4:34 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4508329

RE: 1/2 or 3/4 stick hovering?
[quote]ORIGINAL: ross001 Thanks for the advice, I usually go into idle up while the heli is on the ground so there is no big drop. I've noticed on Realflight there is no drop but the hovering seems just above mid stick for normal mode... also when I did an auto the heli really came down quickly and I had to give full positive to let it float down where realflight floats without you having to do anything? Ross [/quote] yea real life kinda sucks that way dont it?[;)] when your using full positive your blades loose speed fast. the idea is to let your heli fall out of the sky, with negative pitch. that will keep yoru hs up and allow you to flare when your near the ground.
Posted on: 7/15/2006 9:36 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4505785

RE: 1/2 or 3/4 stick hovering?
imo if you like it at 1/2 leave it at half. just prepare for the heli to drop a little when you switch modes. i think one of the reasons for having a 1/2 stick hover is so that you can have 2 pitch settings after the hover point.. with 3/4 stick, you only have one. itll keep you on your toes. if you cant prepare for the drop, you shouldnt be doing 3d[8|]
Posted on: 7/12/2006 11:30 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4495333

RE: verry bad radio problem..need hellp!!
why didnt you send it in as soon as you knew there was a problem? sending it in may have costed you $50, and by the sounds of this crash it may now cost you $200+. if something isnt right my heli it doesnt fly. im not about to risk a $500 ehli for a $50 problem.
Posted on: 7/11/2006 4:23 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4489408

RE: JR XP6102 throttle ratchet
iirc if flipping it over doesnt work you might be able to slip a piece of shrink tube over it. it should stop the ratchet but leave some resistance.
Posted on: 7/11/2006 1:07 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter Beginners Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4487066

RE: simulator???
how new is pretty new? g3 needs a fair graphics card to run it. what type of graphics card do you have? i would recommend reflex xtr over rfg3 because the physics in xtr seem more realistic than in g3. just a personal preference though. i fly g3 on a daily basis, because its what i have, and it works well for training, however if your investing that much $ in a simulator, you may want to get xtr. g2 will most definitly run on your computer, as its requirements are low.
Posted on: 7/2/2006 1:03 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Electric RC Helis"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4453788

RE: New to helis.
for a absolute beginner, get a coaxial heli like a blade cx. these will teach you the basics of forward/backwards & circuits. alternatively, you could invest in a simulator like reflex xtr and train that way. crashes dont cost anything and there are many types of helis you can learn to fly that way. and you can fly during the winter. no you dont need a liscence to fly, just dont fly where anyone can be injured* * void where prohibited its up to you to get an electric or nitro. nitros will handle the wind better and more people at your club will probably be able to help you. they are also more stable, but are much mroe expensive to crash, and you will probably have to goto a field to fly them because of their size. for a beginner electric, look at a blade cx, for a more advanced electric, look at an align trex, and for a beginner nitro, go with a raptor .30
Posted on: 7/2/2006 12:44 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter Beginners Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4453734

RE: direct drive vs shaft or belt drive
i think what you are noticing is that your helis have a fixed pitch tail. to make any adjustments, the tail motor rpm has to change. since the blades have quite a bit of inertia, this is responsable for your lag that you are feeling. shaft and belt driven helis have collective pitch tails. the blades angle varies using a dedicated servo for the tail. this is much more accurate and faster than a motor driven tail. not all gyros are hh so watch out which ones you pick. if you want an electric heli, i would consider the trex or the shogun v2 but more towards the trex. it may be a bit big for your garage but it will handle wind better. a good beginner radio would be the futaba 7chp or eclipse 7, if your willing to take more of a dive you could get the 8103 and last but not least the 9303 or 9chp. if your trying to save $ you can go for the gy240, but its not much cheaper than the 401, and you can use the 401 in bigger helis as your skill progresses.
Posted on: 7/2/2006 12:33 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter Beginners Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4453705

RE: I cant get nothing right, R30 V2 Tail and/or Gyro problem
you cant use trim to adjust your gyro afaik. it has to be done mechanically or let the gyro fix it. what gyro are you using? is it the 401? how are you initializing the gyro? in hh or non hh mode? the gy401 has to be initialized in hh mode. what servo are you using? if its the 9254 you should have the ds (digital servo) switch turned on. if you are using a servo other than the 9254/3, turn the ds mode to off and set a little bit of delay. is the tail wagging? if it is, turn down your gain.
Posted on: 7/2/2006 12:20 AM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4453678

RE: over kill for raptor engines?
nah the new cat jag will have a turbo on it. it doesnt come stock but theres room under the hood. and the t660 turbos they had a good 30 hp increase or so. the reason they work on the snowmobiles is because they either run 4 strokes or they have special valves that stop the exhaust, which are too big for helis.
Posted on: 6/25/2006 8:27 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4429991

RE: BIT OF A WARNING FOR YOU...
i read through that entire thread yesterday. it has lots of conflicting evidence and no real hard facts. the son got his dad to ship the heli, but he did so without tracking or insurance. personally i wouldnt send a heli to someone if i hadnt met theim in person. i agree that he should ahve contacted his dad/kid without going through all this, but the kid made it out that he was responsable. the kid needs to take responsability for his actions, but the people that were blaming it on his age need to grow up. some people are responsable at his age. and stuff like this happens whether your 14 or 40. i dont knwo what the post is like in the us, or how long it takes, but some people have been saying 4 weeks, and hes only waited 2 1/2. the heli should have been shipped insured and tracked, not the way it was. the way i look at it, if the guy who sent it specifically specified he wanted it returned parcel post, its his problem. if he didnt, i think its up to the son/dad to rectify the problem. the problem shoul dhave been handled out of the forums away from the trolls.
Posted on: 6/25/2006 4:17 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4429190

RE: over kill for raptor engines?
this has been discussed a lot on runryder and it boils down to the fact that you cant super/turbochrge a 2 stroke using the techinque they do. theyt rely on the exhaust pressure to push the fuel back into the cylinder, but it will only bounce back a really miniscule amount, not really gaining you any power increase. imo go for a bigger engine. this would be for bragging rights.
Posted on: 6/25/2006 4:06 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "Thunder Tiger - Raptor 30, 50, 60, 90"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4429156

RE: Will these graphics cards work for G3?
ernie, yes those cards will work, but again, they are for graphics rendering. they are designed to pump out quality, not quantity. the comp your looking at is more towards a workstation than a desktop. i would say somethign like a dimension 3000 would be better for what your going to be doing. just get a upgrade to a 7600 or 6600 and youll be fine. most of the cards that come with dells will support g3, just maybe not the integrated graphics. percisions are workstations. you can tell because they offer linux as a option for an os [:D] linux = high end
Posted on: 6/5/2006 5:24 PM by Author "hydravien" in the forum "RC Flight Simulator Software"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4356311