MikeS

Looking good there Phil.... I do like the nose wheel setup over the tail dragger. Nice build photos and info. Mine has not flown since its maiden crash. It is ready to go but needs the new engine running in. Should really go out and face the task but its my first os abc type engine and I only have some optifuel 20%?. Not sure which fuel to use.

Sounds like the same problems I had, My tail fin threads were also damaged and the nut would not hold so best to remove the film a little and epoxy the tail and rear wing in place but check it is all square first.   Have you tried undoing the control rod nut a little in the body by the servo tray where the rods come through and allowing the rods to settle that helped me with my rods.   I found my CG was spot on but some people have found it to be a little forward and needed to use weight in the tail.   I found it best to set it as a tail dragger as the nose wheel is a little weak as well as pointing the nose down a little to much for me when on all three wheels allowing the prop the catch to dirt/grass

Well i think even though my kit had just arrived in the shop that day which was only four weeks ago it must have been a 1st gen kit with the control rod tubes reversed.   I found many problems on my kit such as in my post above. My tank was a 200cc but I put a 270cc in but you could get a 300cc in there.   To be honest I should call ripmax and point out all the problems I had!!    

I have not flown mine yet as our trainer flew it for me and crashed it on a dead stick landing. Same thing with my Raptor SE titan that was also crashed on its maiden by our heli trainer.   Seems anything I build seems to crash on its maiden even though I have been told I build them very well.    

Check the location of the control rod tubes in the manual and the plane before installing as mine were incorrect and I did not notice until after I had installed the rods and could not work out why they seemed back to front. You may also need to undo the screw a little that holds the control rods in the fuselage by the servo tray to allow the rods to move free. I also found that the rods very very tight and the servos buzzed when trying to move which is not good.   The servo that controls the throttle is a little to close to the the control rod exit so use the thinner wire for the steering control as the larger rod is too stiff in the pipe   Next check the balsa on the side of the fuselage by the tail as mine was split and I have replaced it.   At my club our trainer took it up for the first time and he loved it but on landing he ripped off the undercarrage on a light landing and there was quiet a bit damage so I would suggest getting some nylon nuts and bolts and drilling throught the metal undercarrage leg between the current bolt holes and using these bolts instead.   You may also need to cut down the wing tube a little by about 1inch to fit and use some wax on it as mine was very tight to fit then might be a good idea to epoxy the wings together but that depends if you have the space to carry them joined.   Next check the rear wing is straight as the small bolts do not have enough power to hold it as to tighten them enough started to warp the tail fin so you might want ot epoxy this straight but this may cause more work if you crash it.

Hi.   I had this when bulid my old 600 ESP, turned out to be the pinon screw had stripped and the pinon was moving around. Pulse came when the pinon mesh became to tight. but maybe on your heli the mesh is to tight and binding a little and needs re-setting.   mike