T-Rex600E plus 3G FBL system

[DangerousDick]

Hi everybody,

I picked up a new 3G Flybarless system from Align the other day to try out and for some reason I decided to fit it to
my Henseleit 3DMP model first - it worked out brilliant apart from the tail which I couldn't get to stop wagging

I think I know what the problem is - that model uses small 'Volz' servos and I don't think the tail servo is up to the job of keeping up with the nice new 3G tail system (it was fine with the old GY401 on).

This morning I thought I'd transfer the system over to my trusty old friend the T-Rex600E which has been a loyal servant since 2006.  Trouble is, I didn't realise - and it doesn't tell you anywhere on the packaging - that the shiny new mechanics supplied with the 3G setup won't fit to those early 'original' 600 models without swapping some things out.

The kit comes supplied with posh shiny silver metal blade grips and head and new pitch arms with new ball ends - which are larger than the ones on my kit - and new balls for the swashplate - which are a different thread size to my swashplate ones - and new antirotation parts - which are again a different size.

So I can't get on with the installation until I get my arse back down to the shop to buy a new swashplate and new linkage rods.  Looking further into it I think I'm going to need new arms aswell as the ones which come with the kit are for Align or Futaba servos and I've got JR's on there now - double Doh 

The system flew great on my 3DMP apart from the tail wag bit and I can't wait to try it out on the 600 aswell 

So just as warning then, if you want to go for the 3G thingy, just might be worth checking out which version of 600 you've got 

Cheers,
Richard.

[harry]

You might have the same issue on the 500. Earlier swash plate version have a 2 mm ball link threads while the newer one have a 2.5 mm thread.
 
Please also check your power setup for the servo on the 600. It turned out that the single power cable that goes from the 3G unit to the RX might not be enough if you are using high-performance servos.

(hate do do that here but it's worth)
There is a very active thread on HF explaining the Servo Power problem and possible solutions to fix it.

[DangerousDick]

I've only got a single cable from the regulator to the receiver in the first place so can't see any reason for the 3G to suffer due to the same 'weak link' as the whole system currently?

I'm not really into the severe 'pumping' manouvres, preferring the smoother 3D style    hopefully I won't be needing to make up any special connectors to power the cyclics independently - and even more hopefully I won't find out the hard way  either.

Cheers,
Richard.

[DangerousDick]

Picked up a new swashplate assy - only trouble is it's extremely tight on the main-shaft!!   

Please don't tell me they changed the mainshaft sizes aswell as swashplates from the original  .

It's so tight the servos are only just able to move it on pitch change.  I've cleaned up with shaft with Inhibisol to make sure it's clean and used tri-flow oil to see if I can get it any smoother but it's just too damn tight.

The old swash moves up and down just fine so I put that back on with the new flybarless head and went on to complete the mechanical installation.  The electronics are still in my 3DMP and as I've been reading up on this flybarless lark I've notice some are not using any stabilising help at all from gyros etc but just running the mechanics so I thought I'd give it a try 

Taking it very easy indeed, I lifted gently into a very smooth hover and tentatively moved around the air taking extreme caution as this was very much a first for me.  After a couple of minutes of getting used to the levels I went ahead and flew a small circuit building into simple figure eights, confidence growing all the time 

Not saying it's easy or anything or that I won't be fitting the rest of the 3G kit eventually but I'm glad I tried it, and I'm surprised at how little the electronics actually have to work to keep the thing in the air.

I flew without a Gyro a good few years ago just to see what it was like and without any stuped 3D'ing or anything survived but have never done it since as it's so nice not to have to worry about the tail doing silly things when you least expect it.

Cheers,
Richard.

[harry]

Hehe - Yes going flybarless without electronic help is a real experience.

This that with the 450/500MD and a 5 blade head. The head quality was very sad that's why i finally went back to the flybar. Hoovering was easy but as soon as I went into FF I experienced all kind of silly behavior.  With that week head up to a level where I was at the max of my cyclic controls.

However, won't miss that experience D)

[DangerousDick]

Still no electronics required here  I'm sure the shops are all keeping quiet about being able to fly these models without all the gyros for stability so they can keep selling ££££'s worth of kit 

Couldn't resist the scale option for my bird and now find myself with the 500E fus - a very nice piece of kit which only took a few hours to complete!