Hurricane 550 build videos

[Finless]

OK I am starting!
Special thanks to HeliFreak user broke-again and his company WWW.SUBTRIM.COM
For sponsoring this build series!


UPDATE!!! 6-13-2007 - Fix your tail for higher head speeds:
If you plan to run a more powerful motor and head speeds above 2200 the tail will probably give you toruble and may even FAIL! See why and how I fixed it.
VIDEO -> Fix the tail for higher head speeds (25 Megs)


NEW - Metal Head upgrades:
This is a vid showing and installing the metal upgrades for the head.
VIDEO -> Metal Head Upgrades (58 Megs)


Build Videos:

Special FREAK Props to the following people that provided me invaluable input to making this build series the best it could be for you all:
- Piranha from Russia for is actual user experiences.
- Smity777 for providing the large JR servo wheels FREE of charge!
- X30PILOT for his user experiences.


First up is my usual intro of "what's in the box"
VIDEO -> Whats in the box! (18 Megs)

Frame Dissasembly and re-assembly in 2 parts!
VIDEO -> Frames Part 1 (50 Megs)

VIDEO -> Frames Part 2 (30 Megs)

Servo Install and Servo Setup! This is a BIG video (85 megs) due to all that needs to be talked about. I am showing use of the DX7 servos that come with a DX7 and I use JR heavy duty arms. I found some neat tricks and some things you should absolutely DO even if you use Futaba or other servos and use servo wheels.
I want to thank all that gave me ideas and opinions. This is a different setup than any other heli I have ever done and you should do your best to get this right.
VIDEO -> Servo Install and Setup (85 Megs)

Servo Setup Alternative. Special thanks to Smitty777 for send me the large JR Servo wheels. These make servo setup real easy!
VIDEO -> Servo Setup using JR large servo wheels (25 Megs)

Head disassembly and reassembly! I think you all should go through your head. Mine needed a bit of work to get right. This is another big video due to the amount that needs to be covered.
VIDEO -> Head go through - disassembly and reassembly (75 Megs)

Head setup with the radio.... WOW! this is big guys and gals (90 megs)... A LOT to cover and get right.... I show how to set up stock and then make some mods to set up what I believe is correctly!
If you think I should break this up into 2 parts let me know.
VIDEO -> Complete Head Setup with changes (75 Megs)

Simple one.... Installing the paddles
VIDEO -> Installing the Paddles (15 Megs)

Tail disassembly and re-assembly. Some stuff I think you REALLY should do with the tail assembly!
VIDEO -> Tail disassembly and re-assembly (42 Megs)

Motor Install and setting the pinion.
VIDEO -> Motor install (28 Megs)

Sorry for the delay folks... WORK got in the way.... ANyway it continues.....

Tail assembly Install and Control Linkage setup
VIDEO -> Tail Assembly Install and Linkage Setup (37 Megs)

Tail Servo and 401 Gyro setup
VIDEO -> Tail Servo and 401 Gyro setup (42 Megs)

Landing Gear
VIDEO -> Landing Gear (15 Megs)

Electronics Placement (Final build). Sorry shot this at the flying field as I really wanted to fly it this weekend.
VIDEO -> Electronics Placement (12 Megs)

FIRST FLIGHTS

Very first flight with temps at the end. Nothing special and it was a very gloomy day today. Video was shot with a CVS camera by a friend so no zoom closeups.
VIDEO -> First Flight with temos (38 Megs)

2nd flight... a little more 3D but still took it easy testing the ESC which ultimatly had no issues.. Shot with a better camera.
VIDEO -> Second Flight (30 Megs)

Well.... thats it for now... I will probably do a vid on some of the upgrades when I get them and later as I play with more powerful setups show the progress of this heli. I think this one is a keeper

OK for those that asked... Here is a vid showing ther size difference between the Trex450, Hurricane550, and Trex600
VIDEO -> Size difference of 3 helis (5 Megs)


Bob

[Finless]

OK all, we now have our own Hurricane 550 forum.

I have moved the LARGE discussions from this video build topic to the Hurricane 550 forum.

Bob

[Finless]

You all should NOW be posting questions about the hurricane 550 in it's forum here:

https://www.helifreak.com/viewforum.php?f=116

Bob

[Finless]

I just added a new video (at the top of the list) showing the Gaui metal head upgrades.

I find the metal grips a little wierd in design... Seems the thrust bearings cant do thier job because of how tight the first bearing fits int he grip!

Enjoy!

Bob

[pete47]

Thankyou Finless for the great videos they are very informative and I will refer to them when I receive my Hurricane, I have also been looking at the forum for the HURRICANE ON RC GROUPS and there have been some very interesting coments about what mods will be beneficial, I am sure you have read the coments and will soon address some of these issues and I will lok forward to reading your solutions to various problems and applying the fixes, This looks like a great helli for the price but I wonder how much all these upgrades will end up costing. when you put an align motor, ESC metal upgrades and other incidentals it will raise the cost but maybe it wil still be half the cost of a Rex 600. Thankyou again for all your hard work.

[Finless]

In my videos I pretty much address all the issues. In fact these guys listed almost the same ones.

Watch the vids and you will see.

Bob

[RaoulvdHeuvel]

Am receiving my Hurricane 550 in a few days and thank you for these video's /

Before only flown the Walkera 4#1 FP heli, this will be my first CP. And as a newbie in CP this is all the help u want.

Greetings

[Finless]

I just posted a new video on how to fix the tail to support hjigher head speeds and more powerful motors! It's at the top of the list of videos on the first post here.

Enjoy,
Bob

[X30PILOT]

Bob,

It’s good to see you working with the Hurricane again.

X30

[jonny_volts]

Hi guys
I'm all the way from New Zealand just want some honest reliable advice. I really want to get a larger electric of the Hurricane 550 or lepton ex but I'm not sure which one. I'm doing sport flying and will be moving into 3d soon. I like the idea of using two trex batteries but from what I read it sounds like you need a bit more punch I can't afford a t600 however much I want one but I don't mind paying extra for the lepton, unless its going to end up in the same league as the 600. What are your thoughts should I wait a bit longer and get a 600 or would I be better off on a lepton or hurricane and if so which one. Also what upgrades if any are mandatory in these birds? Currently flying 450trex s just sold a cal 3 -not enough power anymore.
Thanks

[Finless]

Abo, ask this question in the Hurricane550 forum. There is a thread about this very subject going on in there now. You will get mucjh more responses int he forum since it was created a week ago.

Bob

[jonny_volts]

Sorry I thought that was what I was doing my mistake - that aside I'm very interested to hear what you have to say

[Finless]

heheheh read my tag line... I dont like giving opinions on what people should buy.

Bottom line right now the hurricane needs some improvements and some upgrades. But with metal grips, metal elevator arm, and Adrian's new gears all the issues may be solved. I just dont know yet as I have some testing to do...
Gaui is also turning out improvements very fast. Like any new heli there always seems to be changes to make the heli better.

BUT all that being said I think this heli has a lot of potential and I am sure it will be a solid heli!!!

Bob

[JesusFreak]

Bob:

Could you compare the Hurricane to the HDX500? Pros/Cons?

Thanks,
Lee

[Happy|Harry]

Bob a quick question, are these the correct size of rocket city links you mention?

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/mer...ct_Code=ROC100

as this is the only store i've found that has the large JR wheels, the threaded rod for the links and the rocket city ball links in the same place. i just want to be sure before i press the buy button

thanks in advance
phil

[Finless]

yep those are the ones!

Bob

[Atty]

Hello,
I'm a new owner of the Hurricane from Romania. I have a short tech question :
The heli is coming in the kit with a Gaui BEC . Is there any problem using this bec with GY 401 and S9254?

Thank you very much

Attila

[Finless]

The BEC is the same as the Align BEC used ont he Trex600 but GAUI does not suply a tail servo stepdown. You will need to buy one and ue it for the tail servo.

Bob

[Atty]

Thank you very much.
Last question.
Do you think the BEC will handle well 3xDS821 and GY401+S9254 ?

Best regards,
Atty

[Finless]

It should but you might want to consider the Align 6amp BEC for $17.

Bob