Looking at the Align APS Gyro
Can anyone tell me about the Align APS Gyro? I want to know if you can just leave it in one mode and fly, or do you have to keep switching from 3GX-APS or GPS. I want to be able to just simply cruze around and maybe film the ground with my GoPro camera. I want the heli to be VERY stable and easy to fly. If I want, I want to be able to let go of the sticks and the heli will just hold a hover. Thanks.
Posted on: 7/26/2012 11:19 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "T-Rex heli"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11170874

Auto pilot
I was wondering about these new $800 boxes that use an altimiter, GPS and compass to fly a heli. They say it can even fly the heli back to you if it gets out of TX. range! Has anyone been using one of these?
Posted on: 7/25/2012 2:52 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "Electric RC Helis"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11169042

RE: LiPo Batt.
I ran a ballance charge on each battery today, and they seem fine. No heat or anything. I think they are fine. Thanks for the input!
Posted on: 7/25/2012 2:47 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "Electric RC Helis"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11169037

RE: LiPo Batt.
It's the T-rex 700E, w/ two Align 22.2V 6S 40C batteries. One has the slight swell. Don't know if it has internal damage or if it just bent from side impact.
Posted on: 7/24/2012 9:45 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "Electric RC Helis"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11168140

LiPo Batt.
I had a rough landing and one of my EXPENSIVE LiPos has a slight swelling. Just on one side. Is it OK, or is it junk?
Posted on: 7/24/2012 3:29 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "Electric RC Helis"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11167733

RE: Main shaft!!
The only problem with that is, there's a raised spot in the middle of the shaft so it can't be rolled flat on glass. But that is a good idea! Thanks.
Posted on: 6/13/2012 8:37 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11117534

Main shaft!!
YES,,, you can bend a main shaft. I had a hard landing w/ my T-Rex 700E and the main and tail blades were wiped out. I replaced EVERYTHING that showed any signs of damage. When I tried to fly again, the chopper started SHAKING very hard every time the skids left the ground. I checked and rebalanced the main blades and the flybar paddles. Still shook. I took the main shaft and spun it on a device for checking straightness of hunting arrows, and it looked perfect. Finnaly, I decided to replace the main shaft. BAM! no more shake! Even though it looked straight, it wasn't. This shaft looks very strong, but even the slightest bend, .0005 will make it shake. From now on, when in doubt, I'm replacing it.
Posted on: 6/13/2012 3:50 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11117224

LiPo smoked!
Yesterday, I was flying my T-Rex 700E and had a rough landing. I had a $400 fiberglass Hughes 500 fuselage on it. One of the landing strutes jambed up a hit one of the 22.2V LiPos. It started smoking and filled the fuselage and I couldn't see inside. I ran into my house and grabed an allen wrench, ran back out and took off the front section. The heat already burnt the battery straps, so I picked up the heli and shook the battery pack out. About ten seconds after the battery hit the ground, still smoking, it burst into flames. I guess I was lucky that the battery didn't explode while I had my hand inside the fuselage, taking off the front section. I saved my heli!! I don't know what the white smoke is made of, but it smells bad. I hope it's not harmfull.
Posted on: 6/4/2012 11:54 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11106106

Radio??
If you paint the inside of a scale fuselage, will it have an effect on the radio signal??
Posted on: 5/26/2012 4:12 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11095619

RE: New guy questions
Well,, this morning I unpluged the gyro and pluged the tail servo into the RX. Took it out on my driveway and was suddenly reminded why they invented gyros. As soon as the skids left the ground, I had to rudder it to keep it straight. I trimed it and got it to hover about 4ft. high. It was too much trouble!!! So,, I'll just have to learn how to fly with a gyro. I think I might buy a "simulater" program. It will probably save me some money in the long run. Who makes a good one that isn't a fortune to buy? I have a Futaba 10ch. heli radio. On the front it says 2.4G T10CHG. Thanks!
Posted on: 5/23/2012 1:31 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11092027

RE: Gyro setup
Thank you. I will start working on this yaw setup right away. The gyro I have is the Align GP780. It can be set up for either HH or YAW.
Posted on: 5/22/2012 6:58 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11091124

RE: Gyro setup
Thanks for answering my DUMB question. I should have known that! I'm new to all of this heli electronics. My first heli had a 4 channel radio and it wasn't made for anything but planes. I'm really thinking of taking the gyro out, and flying like I used to. I see my Futaba Heli radio has a throttle/ tail rotor "mix" mode. Maybe I'll just use that.
Posted on: 5/22/2012 12:25 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11090656

RE: Gyro setup
What is HH mode?
Posted on: 5/22/2012 11:17 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11090578

Gyro setup
I used to fly way back before gyros. I just got a Align T-rex 700E. I flew it for the first time today. I hate the way the gyro won't let the heli "weathervane" the tail follow in the turns. Is there a way to have the gyro work only in a hover, and not when in forward flight? It's a "head hold" gyro. The one that came with the combo heli package. If I turn off the headhold, and leave it as a basic gyro, will that do it? Thanks.
Posted on: 5/22/2012 10:16 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11090491

RE: New guy questions
I have been hovering aroud my driveway!! This bird is WAY different from the one I had back in the early "80s. My tail gyro seems to be working very well. I learned to fly without this, and this is strange! When I go into forward flight at a good speed, does the heli "wheathervane" or do you have to give it tail rotor pitch to get the heli to fly straight? On my old one, you didn't have to touch the tail pitch as long as you were flying at a fair speed.
Posted on: 5/21/2012 7:11 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11089652

RE: Heli wobbles during flight
I'll be geting my new Trex 700E soon. Will I need to balance the head? Who makes the best balancer? Where do I buy it? Thanks. John
Posted on: 5/9/2012 10:46 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11074509

RE: New guy questions
Thanks. I'll do that. I'm a long way from setup. I won't get the kit till this Thursday.! Thanks again.
Posted on: 5/8/2012 7:51 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11072912

RE: New guy questions
Oh. Ok. This is like the mixing on my boat. When I pull the trottle trigger, the motor speeds up. When I push the trigger forward, the Killer Bee kill switch kills the ignition. Thanks. Do the heli instructions tell you how to set it all up?
Posted on: 5/8/2012 6:40 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11072823

RE: New guy questions
Another question. On my old gas heli, the throttle and colective pitch were both on the same servo. When you gave it throttle, more pitch came in. How does it work on the electrics?? Thanks.
Posted on: 5/7/2012 8:17 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11072452

RE: New guy questions
They sure have come a long way. Auto pilot, auto hover and all. When I learned to fly my Kobo Kyko 53" rotor gas heli, they didn't have any tail gyros. Hovering took me 6 to 8 months to learn. I never tryed to do any stunts, just stall turns. I used to install floats and land on water! That was fun chasing the ducks around! It took every once of consintration to fly. So much so,, it took some of the fun out of it. I'm really looking foreward to flying again. I'm 62 and want to have as much fun as I can before my batteries go DEAD! LOL Heli is going to be here on Thursday and I can start my build.
Posted on: 5/7/2012 11:23 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11071784

RE: New guy questions
Thank you. I like mechanical! I'm glad this heli is the FB type. My old one was too. That was back in the early "80s.
Posted on: 5/7/2012 5:55 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11071320

New guy questions
Which is better, the flybar head or the nonflybar head? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? I probably won't be doing any 3D flying. I just like to "scale" fly smoothly. Make it look real. I will be recieving my new kit this Thursday. It's the Align 700E f3c.Found a super combo kit w/ everthing but the Tx, Rx, and flight batteries. Comes with servos, gyro, ESC, motor and all. I can't wait!! 62" main rotor DIA.. Many years ago, I had a 53" rotor heli. This heli was $900 brand new in the box on E-Bay. I have to assemble it. I hope all of you can put up with me and all of my questions while I'm building it.LOL Thanks for your help. If anyone needs help with a gas RC racing boat, here I am!
Posted on: 5/6/2012 10:33 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11071074

RE: New guy question
Good! The Futaba I bought has a nonratcheted stick. I'm learning alot here on the forum. I can't believe the price of the batteries for this bird! It takes two 22.2V 5200mAh LiPo's that cost me $130 EACH! They are Align brand. I hope they last a LONG TIME. The charger I bought is the Turnigy Accucel 6 LiPo LiFe NiMH Nicad Battery Charger. Is it alright? Thanks for your help.
Posted on: 5/5/2012 3:02 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11069633

New guy question
What is everyone using,a ratcheted throttle stick or non? Thanks.
Posted on: 5/5/2012 2:08 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11069594

RE: Which one?
Well,,, I did it! I bought the align trex 700e f3c super combo. Then I bought a Futaba 10 ch. Tx w/ a14ch. Rx heli radio. All I need now is the batteries and charger. I feel like a kid in a candy store!! LOL.
Posted on: 5/5/2012 6:21 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11069239

Please help
Can anyone tell me if this is a good heli? Thinking of buying it. align trex 700e f3c
Posted on: 5/4/2012 9:53 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11068999

RE: Which one?
I was thinking of going with a 500 size chopper. With the three batteries you have, how much flying time is that? I don't really want to fly 3D, I like scale ships and making them look real when they fly. I'm thinking about puting a Hughs 500D body on it. I know that will ad weight to it, but scale is what I like. Many years ago, I learned (with NO help) to fly my first and only heli, a Kobe Keko Hughs 300 nitro, before there was tail rotor gyros! Early 80's. Now I have one gas hydro race boat thats running 80 MPH, but I want to get back into Helis. I'm 62 years young!
Posted on: 5/4/2012 3:34 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11068628

RE: Which one?
Well,, after talking to a few guys, and reading these posts, I'm thinking of going electric. Is the cost of good batteries much? Do I need an expensive charger? I have a Prophetsport 4 to 6 cell NiCd and NiMH AC DC peak charger. Would that be good enough? Thanks for letting me pick your brain!!
Posted on: 5/4/2012 2:53 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11068583

RE: Which one?
Never thought of it that way. I have always been a "piston" guy. What happens when an electric starts running out of juice?
Posted on: 5/4/2012 1:32 PM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11068517

Which one?
Please give me some input on which 50 or 60 heli is considered the best. SHOPING! Thanks. Are these any good? T T Raptor 50 Titan V2.
Posted on: 5/4/2012 7:23 AM by Author "wolfman01" in the forum "RC Helicopter General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11068101