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mflander
08-20-2009, 01:43 PM
Well I got me a $50 Gaui 425 at IRCHA. After doing some research on what is needed to finish it, I decided to build it.

Since I have to purchase everything for it(motor, esc, servo's, receiver, gyro, etc.). It isn't going to be the cheapest build in the world. Some would even argue it would be a better deal to do a 500ESP or something similar. I decided to build it though simply because all the components needed will go nicely into a Logo 400 down the road. And after IRCHA, I was really impressed with the Logo line of heli's.

Set-up planned as of right now:
Turnigy Typhoon 500 motor ($25)
Turnigy Plush 80a ESC($50)
Align 510 servo's on cyclic
Align 520 on tail
Probably get some decent blades for it. Most likely some radix 430's if I can get them.
Not sure which Gyro yet, although most likely a mini-g.
Either going to use blurr 6s packs, or I might try some Zippy packs just for kicks. I have never purchased anything from Hobbyking, but for the price, it's hard to beat for this particular heli.

The motor/esc combo is the cheapest combo I could find that any of the forums had anything good to say about it. I'm not expecting a lot from this combo, and am planning on buying a scorpion combo down the road.


I have the frame put together. It goes together with a ton of screws and some tiny little nuts. You have to put the bearings in place in the frame before assembling the frame, which means that you have to dissassemble the entire frame to replace the mainshaft and the tail drive bearings. We'll see how this works out in the end, but for now I am not liking this.

Land gear went on easy. The canopy mount attaches to the front landing gear with 1 phillips head screw that doesn't bite the plastic very well. What do you expect for $50 I guess.

That is all the further I got so far, pics to come soon.

Jake
08-20-2009, 02:33 PM
Very cool dude, glad you're building yours. Mine went together very well. I woulnd't worry too much about having to replace bearings, if they're quality it won't be an issue. I'm guessing they're better than Align.

Here's the power system i was thinking:
http://www.helidirect.com/tonicx-z30a-1110kv-brushless-outrunner-motor-with-fan-p-6013.hdx
http://www.helidirect.com/gaui-brushless-75a-esc-hurricane-550-p-5158.hdx
http://www.helidirect.com/hyperion-222v-3300-mah-35c65c-lipoly-pack-p-12281.hdx

but: motor is $104, esc is $70

It's the recommended setup for the Gaui 550 (500-550 mains), and I guess it works just as well with 425 mains. With the stock gearing, that would give me a hs of about 2600 and gobs of torque only running 425s.

I figured I could easily sell the airframe/power system for what I'd have into it if I don't like it.

I'll have to look more into you're power system choice, as the price point is so much better.

I'm going to run standard size servos because I have them and I don't want to buy 521s because the 500 ESP is so reasonably priced should I decide to go with that later.

btw my helifreak thread ended up getting a ton of posts with lots good info:
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=157155

MikeB
08-20-2009, 02:42 PM
You need one of these for it.

http://www.eheli-tuning.de/?site=ac3x

mflander
08-20-2009, 02:56 PM
Jake: I thought about that motor also. The ESC just didn't seem like that good though. You can buy the Align 75 for cheaper, and I wasn't able to find very much "good" info on the gaui ESC. But who knows.

I might try that motor, not sure.

You can get a blurr 2600mah 6s pack for $95, and you can get similar Zippy packs for $50-$60 @ HK. I've heard mixed reviews on zippy's, but I might as well try one finally lol.

Don't you just need a longer boom basically to convert it to a 550?

mflander
08-20-2009, 03:08 PM
ESC is here:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3727&Product_Name=TURNIGY_Plush_80A_w/_UBEC_Speed_Controller

Motor is here:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9258

On another note, every single product on HK has a ton of user reviews under it. Are they fake? Some of them have to be you would think. I have found a few products though that have no good reviews under them, rather quite a few bad ones. Who knows...

Pete
08-20-2009, 05:21 PM
Mindy's is still in the box, anyone want it?

Ken
08-20-2009, 05:23 PM
She should build it and fly it.

mflander
08-20-2009, 05:41 PM
I wouldn't mind having a second for spares Pete. How much you want for it?

Jake
08-20-2009, 08:22 PM
Mike: yup, longer boom & belt & pushrod and you've got a really light 550. Kind of like "what a 30 should have been". You'll need a lower kv motor for more torque though I think.

I'll definitely have to do some more motor hunting, but I'm still pretty set on the 1110 kv because I could eventually stretch it to a 550.

As for esc, most people are happy with Gaui, and I didn't find the Align for cheaper, although if I did I'd go with it instead.

I think you can trust Hobby City for the most part. I've never had problems, and tons of people swear by them, especially on rcgroups (a mostly electric community). The worst part is the shipping time and the carrier makes you sign for the package (which I always miss).

Pete: I'd line up for Mindy's for parts.

mflander
09-03-2009, 01:50 PM
Blah, looks like this may hit the shelf for awhile. Got some other projects going on now.

Anyone wanna buy it? $60 and its yours.