Excuse me... I've got Gas! Trex 600 Helibug Gasser

[Doozer]

I was really going to try and get most of the build done tonight, but it wasn't happening. Work was long, and I wanted to repaint the frame. I wanted the flame style to be the same. I'm using twisting flames, and I'm comfortable that the style is the same... I just can't get the color right....

So I'm a little off schedule.

[Doozer]

I had some set backs yesterday that had to do with the wrong parts sent by Ron's Heliproz South. Their Nitro parts page has a few mistakes in it and they sent me electric parts instead of nitro parts. If I had it to do all over again I would just buy a used 600N airframe. So, anyway... I had to do some fabricating.

The manual has many holes in it, including the section on plumbing for the gas conversion. You have to have a vent tube and fuel return and some check valves along the way, and you don't get those parts in the kit. I'm kind of wondering why not. So I'm finding that part somewhat difficult. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't feel like I'm going to be in the air anytime in the next couple of days. Todays the last day of my weekend so my time will be limited.

[akent]

That is surprising that the 'kit' is missing so many parts. Bummer deal.
I hope it all comes together for you soon!
Kent

[Doozer]

I don't think it would be such a big issue if I was converting a 600N. When I asked Ali if this was "doable," I got a "sure, you just need to buy a few parts." (paraphrased). The ESP iteration was a change and upgrade from the normal Align 600E, and the Helibug is based on the conversion coming from a 600N. I've now purchased close to 200 dollars in parts beyond the cost of the the engine, the kit, and the "required parts package" (sold by Helibug). I'm sure, I could have picked up a used 600 airframe for much less than that. That's why I'm not going to recommend converting a 600ESP, unless you don't mind buying a ton of parts. Instead buy a used 600N and use the ESP for a spare parts bank.

[Doozer]

I'm going into my work week today and this is where I'm at:




Well, actually I'm a little further along than this. I took these last night.
Right now I have the tail, elevator, and aileron servos installed. I'm working on the throttle servo (which is proving to be the most tedious).


I worked out my plumbing issues. This kit comes with a 10 oz Dubro tank. According to most that fly this heli, that's close to 12 minutes of flight time. However, the "plumbing" fixtures were inside the tank. They aren't the same as the fixtures used in the manual, but the manual wasn't written by Ali. It was written by an end user Carey Shurley, and those fixtures he used were "optional" parts. So I was mistaken, but it was because the manual was a touch confusing. Really, I've built most of this by just glancing at the manual as a guide. I read it front to back when I first got it, but have only used it when I've run across something I didn't understand.

If I can get the electronics finished this evening, I could most likely get in the air by this weekend. It is unusually cool for this time of the year, and that would make it easier to break in... on me and the engine. This won't last long, and we should be pumping out the 100's pretty steady in a few weeks.

[Doozer]

Burning the candle at both ends. I'll be tired tomorrow. But I've been working hard to get this finished. I'm almost ready! I'm kind of nervous. This has been such a fun build and I want a maiden to go well. I had to adjust the travel on the servo quite a bit. I was also setting up my radio (X9303), I was setting up my starting normal throttle curve per the sticky in the HF forums. I have a 7 point curve and for Normal mode I left Low at zero and 2 at 20 and just inhibited "1." So it looks like this 0, inh, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 100. I'll explain more in the build as to why these numbers are so low.

I don't have a Gov yet. I was thinking of getting a rev limiter for overspeeding since I'm not a 3D pilot. I like loops, rolls and flips, but not the chaos of 3D. I PLAN for My fuel to be 87 from the pump, and lawnboy ashless for the first gallon at a 25:1, then switching to blue marble. I'll be closing the needles then reopening both to 1 3/8 turns.

[McKrackin]

A rev limiter is more consistent than a governor.
I prefer it.

I just set the max RPM and run a 100 flat throttle curve.
That way the throttle has all of it's range to maintain speed.

[Doozer]

You've got to build one of these Ernie. But you should build a 90. You can build a Frenzy 90 conversion (airframe is cheap). I thought about trying the Frezy 50 head on this build. I like that style of head much more than the Align head. But in the end I decided to build it the way it was meant to be built first.

This is hands down the build I've enjoyed the most. I've never had a heli be more solid. It was like building a brick wall. I'm not going to lie, its a heavy beast. My nitros feel balsa airplanes in comparison. I haven't weighed it, but I don't see much surviving in a crash. It may be heavy but I've heard the 50's don't perform heavy. I'm hoping this is the case.

[Doozer]

Done!!! very fun build! I'm going to start slowly posting up build photos and at least one more video. I'm also going to attempt to discuss a few build decisions I made. I want to make sure I do this build justice. I've taken a lot of pics and it's going to take some time. I'm working tomorrow, then I want to come home and get some break in time. I don't want to fly for long because its supposed to be in the 100's. I should have some time to start after.

Here's a few finished photos until then:

[McKrackin]

Wicked looking.
Lets hear it.

[Gabe]

Wow! This should be a fun one. Video Doozer!

[Doozer]

Ok... here's a teaser.



I got home a little later than usual from work and it was getting dark quick. I changed out the CC 10A BEC because I was scared of it. I read some sketchy stuff about them today. I have no way of knowing whether its true or not, but my feeling was why risk my time and money trying to prove that it works. I have one in the frenzy and it works fine, but vibrations can be bad in these gassers.

Anyway... yes it's frickin loud. It sounds like a dirt bike, but as you can see... no smoke or raw fuel on the ground. Bad thing is, I have to keep it in the garage because of the gas smell. I'm pretty tired... I might post a few pics tonight, but I promise I'll work on the build in the morning.

[McKrackin]

Suh-weet!!!

Ring duh ding ding ding ding

[Doozer]

Ha ha. That's it exactly. I'm definitely buying a pipe. I'm pretty sure I want the Hatori. It's really expensive, but it's very quiet (from what I've read). This thing sounds like a 125 (dirtbike) or a chainsaw. I think my neighbors thought I was trimming trees last night... and it wasn't 9 o'clock either. It was 8pm. My son was shooting the video and thought he was being funny. He also shot video of my ass, which I edited out... you're welcome. I started it at dusk and let it idle for 15 minutes before I started giving it gas. It was dark by then.

I'm adding new pics and a few videos to the build thread. It's taking a while for the videos to render so give me a few hours.

[Solitaire]

Do they build a four-stroke for those things? Or would it be too large for the heli?