Introducing my HDX500se Redux

Tonight I finished the HDX 500se rebuild. Te new frames look awesome, as does the new Turnigy Trex 500 canopy. I set up the gyro and tuned the CCPM, then spun her up at low speed to see she was well balanced and vibratn free, and that her disk was flat and true. She is ready for high speed spin up and test flight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gang is all here!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Just a few more steps!

Today I managed to put in all the electronics in the HDX 500 after completing the build of the frame. I spun her up and she runs sweet and smooth. Last step will be to fine tune the CCPM and the tail servo/assembly. This went much better than I expected!

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Well, the difference a few hours make...

Started the build, and a few hours later, here's where I've gotten! All that is left is to install the mainshaft and gears, in the process set up the tail boom and tail controls, install the electronics (BEC, ESC, receiver), install the tail servo and program it, replace the fly bar (its a longer one than the stock, as its for a Trex 500, but that should just increase the stability), then set up and fine tune the CCPM. Then the fun begins! A flight test. This one will also get a Trex 500 canopy from Turnigy.
 
At this rate I may have this thing done in the next couple of days.
 

Posted with Blogsy

We can rebuild her! Eventually.

Back in September I had a bad day. Part of that day was taking the HDX500 up, losing power and watching as her frame split in half. I knew there were some cracks, but they were mild, so as it happened I knew what was going on. It was an old frame, maybe 5-6 years old, and it was brittle. Needless to say, she did not land well.
 

Split frame held together by the wires and skids.

 

Back half.

 

Front half

 
I have spent some time, from time to time since I really wasn't looking forward to the amount of work this is going to take, taking the HDX completely apart, piece by tiny piece. I had purchased the new frames a couple of months ago. I LOVE this heli, and really want her back together. I finally have everything apart.
 

All the parts pieces.

 
Today I will start putting the HDX back together again, piece by piece... I really want to make sure each piece is clean, and plan to rinse everything in acetone, and re-lube the moving parts with silicone. That part I am looking forward to.
 
But for now, a cozy blanket on the couch and some NCIS episodes I will watch for the hundredth time...
 

Posted with Blogsy

A space for the HDX500, but no HDX500 in the space...

Well... I have three months to get the HDX500 back together in its new frames before I move.
 

 
I start tomorrow. Actually, I started when I deconstructed much of the old frame (the cetner part with the servos, shaft and shaft bearings is still one big chunk in the upper right), but tomorrow I start the new frames.
 
Until then, there is still one hole on the wall!
 

 
The purple lanyard where the HDX lives...
 

Posted with Blogsy

Return of the HK500

Back at the end of September 2012 I described how I dumb thumbed my HK500 into a hard crash with a devastating boom strike. Of late, with my overly busy schedule, I just haven't had time to put her back together in one fell swoop like I used to do. So its taken a bit of time because I did it one small step at a time, but I finally have her back together. The frame was fine, as was the rotor head, but I had to replace the tail boom, tail blades, the boom supports, the servo control arms (the servos had no damage but a couple fo the amrs snapped off) and the canopy (the original green one was cracked, easily repaired but everytime something stressed it the paint cracked and chipped, so I opted to just replace it).

 

 
I have given her a Trex 500 canopy. She is still ginormous and beautiful! Once I tune up her CCPM again, she will be ready to fly. I can't wait to get her up on a test flight!
 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Lookin' for that lovin' feeling...

As I scrolled through my blog I realized I haven't done much of anything related to flight. Getting tucked into a new job with a lot less free time, weather windier than down south, and a general funk. This adds up to a pokey attitude and a whole lotta nothing going on. I've lost that lovin' feeling.
 
I went looking for it today. I put the EXI450 FBL on the lab table and let it sit there for a few hours this morning, waiting for the return of the love.
 
I thought I had mentioned that I had taken the EXI450 FBL out, was flying it and it started to spin down despite high throttle, and I had to auto to land in a thick weedy field. (I think it was on the same day I dropped my HK500 being stupid). Bent a swash control rod when a weed wrapped around it, and stripped a few teeth on the main gear. I hung it on the wall for several weeks during the funk... I took it down today and inspected it. I found out that, as I suspected, the main motor pinion had come loose and was spinning freely. Replaced the main gear, rolled the main shaft (no bend), reset and snugged the pinion, put it all back together.
 

The pic shows it displaced. Fixed the heli. Rezeored the blades. For giggles, I spun her up about 10-20% in my living room to check the disk, flat, vibration free, flight ready. Yeah, I was bored, glad it didn't get any more exciting.
 
Flew the sim today. Flew great. Now if I could just duplicate the hand shaking that accompanies real flight I would have the whole experience.
 
Stlii lookin' for love in all the wrong places. Noticed later my badly wrinkled HK500 found its way onto the lab bench.
 
Maybe I'll get lucky tonight?
 

Posted with Blogsy