EXI 500 CF build thread

[kloner]

The first couple flights, i had my esc on governor and it bogged like crap. Out of curiosity i turned that off and went with the throttle curve, i like it way better so yeah, my head is probably moving out a little quick.

I tried living with a 12 gear in my 450 and it drove me nuts, didn't have any balls which is why i never thought of trying anything else.

That is the tach i was looking at. cool it works, i'll grab that and a swash for everybody in my hanger

[elkmaster01]

Yea kloner,,,I just put that tachometer in a bar clamp to hold it upright and set it next to my heli,,,,just so the main blade shadow hits it,,,not the flybar paddles. The readout on the tach is large enough to read from 15 feet away!

[kloner]

Where do you live at? My buddy archery hunts the Cocopahs up near the white mountains in AZ for elk. He didn't get a tag this year so no back straps and sausage for this kid this year.

I'm way into ducks and geese. Got everything except motivation this year. Been recovering from an ankle fusion surgery for 4 months, and found out i'm gonna have to start over after Christmas so i'll be around here for a while instead of hunting.

[elkmaster01]

I live in Michigan,,,I'm a Yooper!! But I lived in Montana when I retired from the US Air Force. Me and the wife still go to Montana each year to bow-hunt Elk. I just got my 7th Pope&Young Bull Elk this year!!

Hope the leg heals!! I had a total knee replacement twice on the same knee,,,I know how frustrating that is. Hang in there,,,,,don't need an ankle to fly helis,,LOL!!


Randy

[Gerard]

EXI 500 CF - $140
3 x Align DS510 servos - $150
Scorpion 3026 motor - $75
CF blades - $40
Align 60A ESC - $93
Total: $498

The TRex 500ESP kit is $530, so my question is how does it compare to the EXI 500 since there’s not much difference price wise?

Add $60 for a Turnigy 6s 4000mah lipo and about $200 for a Futaba  GY401 gyro & S9257 servo and a good 500 setup will set you back $760 plus. Is this about the ballpark?

[to-fast-to-new]

You got it, that sounds about right.....

[mckrackin]

EXI 500 CF - $140


The TRex 500ESP kit is $530, so my question is how does it compare to the EXI 500 since there’s not much difference price wise?

Add $60 for a Turnigy 6s 4000mah lipo and about $200 for a Futaba  GY401 gyro & S9257 servo and a good 500 setup will set you back $760 plus. Is this about the ballpark?

First and foremost...a 4000mAh battery is waaaaaaaaaay too big for a 500 heli.

Align vs EXI is worth the difference in price if you ever get to own both like I have.
Align stuff is just more precisely made.

[rufus]

I was just wondering, for a cheap build could you do this?

1)   Tower Pro SG-90 Servos for cyclic http://www.hobbypartz.com/topromisesg9.html
2)   Raiden DMA-016 Servo for Tail http://www.hobbypartz.com/digital-servos------dma-016.html
3)   Esky Gyro http://www.xheli.com/esky-gyro-ek2-0704b.html
4)   Turnigy Motor http://hobbypartz.com/hobbypartz/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9258&Product_Name=Turnigy_Typhoon_500H_Heli_Motor_1800kv_(500_Class)

5)   hobbypartz ESC http://hobbypartz.com/hobbypartz/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7340&Product_Name=hobbypartz_SS_Series_60-70A_ESC

6)   425 ProTek blades
7)   2 of my 3s batteries

Thanks for looking guys
rufus

[elkmaster01]

Check out my HPI Savage X SS build thread: http://www.rcdiscuss.com/index.php/topic,15111.0.html 
I got that instead of a nitro Heli.

What the HECK does that have to do with helis???

[dditch66]

rufus, the servos you list are for a 450 heli and will be too small for a 500
RC groups in the large heli section has a whole list of suggestions for parts for the 500.

MG930 servos will work all around but your better off spending $50 on a good digital tail servo. A 500 deserves at least a good digital tail servo and gyro.

I don't like the SS ESC's for larger helis, their soft start is not soft enough. Volcano or Plush are better.

[kloner]

I was just wondering, for a cheap build could you do this?

1)   Tower Pro SG-90 Servos for cyclic http://www.hobbypartz.com/topromisesg9.html
2)   Raiden DMA-016 Servo for Tail http://www.hobbypartz.com/digital-servos------dma-016.html
3)   Esky Gyro http://www.xheli.com/esky-gyro-ek2-0704b.html
4)   Turnigy Motor http://.com//store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9258&Product_Name=Turnigy_Typhoon_500H_Heli_Motor_1800kv_(500_Class)

5)   hobbypartz ESC http://.com//store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7340&Product_Name=hobbypartz_SS_Series_60-70A_ESC

6)   425 ProTek blades
7)   2 of my 3s batteries

Thanks for looking guys
rufus

Rufus, the tower pro 9 gram are just a little light. I never weighed my 500 RTF, but it is substantialy heavier than my 450. For the gyro you can easily get away with a "working" gy48v or the mks no problem especialy if your not ready to start flying full blown 3d on it yet. I like the volcanos and the price is right. i just don't like linear bec's

http://www.hobbypartz.com/50brmofort50.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/volcano-series-60a-brushless-esc1.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/ubube.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/60p-dy-1003.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/digital-servos------dma-016.html

 has gobs of 425 blades from china for $20 a set. This would be the bare minimum i would expect to get away with and would have room for you to upgrade every servo and gyro and motor as your flying style gets better. Eventually you get good enough to really drive these things in the ground and you loose not only heli parts but it starts chewing servos, receivers, motors, etc. Then you just get better stuff if your budget allows. They are really nice flying aircraft but are expensive to crash compared to the 450's

I agree the tail on a 500 needs to be under control

[Gerard]

First and foremost...a 4000mAh battery is waaaaaaaaaay too big for a 500 heli.

Align vs EXI is worth the difference in price if you ever get to own both like I have.
Align stuff is just more precisely made.

I'm sold on the TRex, thanks.

What's the biggest 6s battery that will balance & fit the TRex 500 - the Turnigy 2200mAH is 369g, 2650mAH is 466g, 3000mAH 500g and 4000mAH 650g. Would the 2650mAH be the limit? I believe the flying weight is about 1700g.

[elkmaster01]

Gerald,

  The weight differences in the batteries you mentioned are of minor concern,,,the 500 has loads of power, I have a 2250mAh battery and a 3300mAh battery and there is just a little difference in performance.

The stock canopy for the 500 will fit over a 2600mAh or 2700mAh. You can get about 6 1/2 minutes of mild 3D on the 2700mAh.

I have a Fusuno "New Design" canopy that accommendates the 3300mAh battery and it will fly 8 1/2 minutes on that batt. H-e-l-i-d-i-r-e-c-t dot com sells those canopies.

Hope this helps!!

Randy

[kloner]

I use two 2200 25c in series and am getting 4 ish muinutes of hard sport flying in st1. They are from hobbypartz and cost 19.99 ea, ship is $4.95 for as many as you want. In my experiance that hobby city shipping is an ass kicker for the service. You can even get away with 2 of the 20c, i don't notice a whole lot of difference. Those are only $14.95 ea

I just bought this 50 nitro and have been chit chattin with the owner of the company. According to him, Trex is actually made in china and marketed sold through taiwan. Wouldn't it be something if it were all made in the same place

[UH1D]

500 Heli ON A BUDGET

EXI500 $140
3 TOWER PRO MG930 $16 EA
3 SERVO ARMS-ALIGN H50113T $3
TAIL SERVO ATLAS DS11GCB $30
GYRO TELEBEE GR302-AD $33
SCORPION HK3626 1600KVA $75
Volcano Series 60A Brushless ESC $35
13 TOOTH
BLADES FG $19
2 EACH 2650MAH S3 11.1V C30, IN SERIES $40 TOTAL

DX6i
AR6200

I also had to replace the swash plate.  The ball was very loose.  I also had to replace the main shaft slide block and cyclic levers.  All these parts had excessive play.  The cyclic levers where the swash links attach had no bushing and flopped around.  I have 2 more EXI 500 kits still in the boxes that I bought for parts.  All those swashplates, cyclic levers and main shaft blocks were no good either. I used a Microheli swashplate $35, Align cnc cyclic lever set $34 and Align main shaft block. $8. 

The horizontal fin aluminum clamp block screw holes were oversized.  The 4 - 2.5mm screws would not tighten.  I drilled and tapped them to take 3mm screws.   

Am I the only one who had these problems?

Next time I am going to use a hobbypartz 500H Heli Motor 1600kv 500 Class motor.  $23

All in all the EXI500 is a very good deal.  With the exception of the parts I had to replace.  When you buy a $500 clone kit for $139 you can’t complain.