Avios/Hobby King 1600mm C-130 Hercules

[FlyingFighter]

Nice job i like the grey version.?. F18 not keen on the blue angels,,, think I just like the military stuff I have been looking at the c130 alot of work thou if its like my mig 17 but its a great looking plane can't believe 2200 runs 4 motors 4 5 minuts

Actually I use 2600 mah and 3000 mah tunigy pack without any CG problem, get up to 7-8 min of playtime

[Arron yeate]

Actually I use 2600 mah and 3000 mah tunigy pack without any CG problem, get up to 7-8 min of playtime

Which battery are you using do you have a link?

[Arron yeate]

Have any of you installed a gyro to your hercs, and what are your thoughts on the a3-l v2? I have a micro beast in my scale heli and the micro beast is a lot more expensive but does the cost change anything?

[Arron yeate]

Actually, there are several 2.2, 4s batteries. You just have to put in the correct search parameters.
Here's the one I'm using in the Herc, weighing about 273g:

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/graphene-2200mah-4s-45c-w-xt60.html?queryID=0f9904658f625296ea0cd69ba0038c6d&objectID=45448&indexName=hbk_live_magento_en_us_products

A slightly better one is this one weighting only 20g more:

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/graphene-2200mah-4s-75c.html?queryID=08b5c59ea9fded9bcced97f97781a28c&objectID=75660&indexName=hbk_live_magento_en_us_products

So if you don't wish to carve out foam, your target battery weight is in the 270 to 290g range. An even better buy and perhaps just as good if not better battery is this one from ChinaHobbyLine from their USA warehouse. However, you need to buy 80 bucks worth to get free shipping. That would equate to 4 of these:

https://chinahobbyline.com/shop/detail/38

Because of the higher price of the HobbyKing ones, you can get free shipping by buying just one or two. When I need more of this size of battery, I'll get the CNHL ones. Actually, I just checked, I've got 4 of them coming from CNHL as I type.

Its been a while away from the hercules. Im in the Uk what are your thoughts on this battery? Weight, discharge etc

https://www.overlander.co.uk/2200mah-14-8v-4s-80c-extreme-pro-lipo-battery.html

[xviper]

Its been a while away from the hercules. Im in the Uk what are your thoughts on this battery? Weight, discharge etc

https://www.overlander.co.uk/2200mah...o-battery.html

I haven't seen that particular battery in my neck of the woods. However, the weight is likely good to balance this plane in the available space provided. Even if the 80C is exaggerated, this plane really only needs 30C or so anyway.
I use this Graphene in my Herc:
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/graphene...ucts_analytics
It lays transverse at the rear of the battery compartment right up against that first lip. It balances nicely and flies very well. 250g to 300g is about the sweet spot for a transverse mounted battery. Any bigger and it may have to straddle the lip. I am also amazed at just how long this thing can fly on 2200mah.
I do use a gyro in mine. It's been a while since I looked at it but I recall it's the same HobbyEagle A3-L you posted up. Use only the normal gain and turn the 3D gain completely OFF. Mine flies very stable with the gain at around 30% - 35%.

[Arron yeate]

I haven't seen that particular battery in my neck of the woods. However, the weight is likely good to balance this plane in the available space provided. Even if the 80C is exaggerated, this plane really only needs 30C or so anyway.
I use this Graphene in my Herc:
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/graphene...ucts_analytics
It lays transverse at the rear of the battery compartment right up against that first lip. It balances nicely and flies very well. 250g to 300g is about the sweet spot for a transverse mounted battery. Any bigger and it may have to straddle the lip. I am also amazed at just how long this thing can fly on 2200mah.
I do use a gyro in mine. It's been a while since I looked at it but I recall it's the same HobbyEagle A3-L you posted up. Use only the normal gain and turn the 3D gain completely OFF. Mine flies very stable with the gain at around 30% - 35%.

Thats great thanks you. Yeah these batteries are UK made apparently quite good. I was just looking at the gyro and theres 2 x different hobbyeagle A3's. Mines the A3'L V2 gyro and then theres an A3- V2 with also has gyro and stabiliser... have i got the right one

[xviper]

Either one will work. Neither is the "wrong" one. I use both on my planes. The A3-L has a "normal" gain pot and a "3D" gain pot. You dial the 3D to zero. The A3 splits the gain pots into the 3 separate axis - AIL, ELE, RUD. I don't think you can have 3D gain on that one.
BTW, HobbyEagle has discontinued both of those. You can still buy left over stock in various places but once that stock is gone, you'll have to buy the replacements, which will have some extra features. Just beware of "clones" from places like ebay or even AliExpress and Banggood.

[Arron yeate]

Either one will work. Neither is the "wrong" one. I use both on my planes. The A3-L has a "normal" gain pot and a "3D" gain pot. You dial the 3D to zero. The A3 splits the gain pots into the 3 separate axis - AIL, ELE, RUD. I don't think you can have 3D gain on that one.
BTW, HobbyEagle has discontinued both of those. You can still buy left over stock in various places but once that stock is gone, you'll have to buy the replacements, which will have some extra features. Just beware of "clones" from places like ebay or even AliExpress and Banggood.

ah good stuff, however mine was purchased from ebay a while ago for £17.00 this is the actual product taken by my phone

[xviper]

ah good stuff, however mine was purchased from ebay a while ago for £17.00 this is the actual product taken by my phone

It's really hard to tell a clone from the real deal. I bought a tail gyro for my helicopter years ago. It was a well known and popular brand. It came in all the proper packaging, labels and even the actual gyro looked identical. I found out the hard way on the internet that that particular seller was selling clones. I took the thing apart and found a large nut glued inside to make up the weight of having no electronic innards. I don't suggest you do that but I would strongly recommend you do ALL the required tests once the gyro is installed before the plane leaves the ground - control directions are correct, gyro response directions are correct, no odd little glitches like vibrations and improper servo centering. These are telltale signs that something is wrong - DON'T FLY.

[Arron yeate]

It's really hard to tell a clone from the real deal. I bought a tail gyro for my helicopter years ago. It was a well known and popular brand. It came in all the proper packaging, labels and even the actual gyro looked identical. I found out the hard way on the internet that that particular seller was selling clones. I took the thing apart and found a large nut glued inside to make up the weight of having no electronic innards. I don't suggest you do that but I would strongly recommend you do ALL the required tests once the gyro is installed before the plane leaves the ground - control directions are correct, gyro response directions are correct, no odd little glitches like vibrations and improper servo centering. These are telltale signs that something is wrong - DON'T FLY.

cheers bud, yeah ill make sure all of the checks as you state are carried out. If i have any doubts ill buy a different brand like micro beast or something.

When it comes to to battery the one i mentioned in the last post was 80C is this ok to use or is it better to use what the avios reccomend e.g 40 ~60C

[xviper]

cheers bud, yeah ill make sure all of the checks as you state are carried out. If i have any doubts ill buy a different brand like micro beast or something.

When it comes to to battery the one i mentioned in the last post was 80C is this ok to use or is it better to use what the avios reccomend e.g 40 ~60C

That should be fine (battery). This Herc is not a high demanding power system. It'll fly on almost anything so long as it will balance given the weight. High C is never bad but too low can be.

[Arron yeate]

That should be fine (battery). This Herc is not a high demanding power system. It'll fly on almost anything so long as it will balance given the weight. High C is never bad but too low can be.

Yeah see this battery is easily purchased for me from the links you sent me on page 23 for the Turnagy 75C battery from Hobby King. Only issue was postage to the UK was £40.00 or £5 without tracking. And this was the closest to the one you had recomended. Id be putting it horizontally in the battery tray so hopefully the CG will be good there as thats where most of you seem to be installing them?

[Arron yeate]

Ok, rear elevator installed and vertical stabiliser with rudder fitted, I've centralised the rudder servo with Turnigy survo tester, the rudder servo horn needs re positioning in order to get the control arm to fit, then when i connect the landing gear to the turnigy servobtester and clip neutral also the front noes gears slightly off center. So both rudder and no gear in neutral position but the nose gears slightly to the right. Any surgestions

cheers
Arron

[Arron yeate]

Few pics

[xviper]

Ok, rear elevator installed and vertical stabiliser with rudder fitted, I've centralised the rudder servo with Turnigy survo tester, the rudder servo horn needs re positioning in order to get the control arm to fit, then when i connect the landing gear to the turnigy servobtester and clip neutral also the front noes gears slightly off center. So both rudder and no gear in neutral position but the nose gears slightly to the right. Any surgestions

cheers
Arron

The nose gear steering is on a rod. That rod has an adjustable end. Undo the end that hooks up to the tiller arm and turn it to make the rod the length you need for a straight front wheel. Same goes for the tail rudder.

[Arron yeate]

The nose gear steering is on a rod. That rod has an adjustable end. Undo the end that hooks up to the tiller arm and turn it to make the rod the length you need for a straight front wheel. Same goes for the tail rudder.

Ah yeah i was looking at that. Ill have a look at removing and adjusting the wheel. Did you need to do this?

[xviper]

Ah yeah i was looking at that. Ill have a look at removing and adjusting the wheel. Did you need to do this?

Yes. ALL my models require some steering wheel adjustment, some more than others. You first zero and adjust the tail rudder with the trim tab at neutral. Then you go and adjust the steering wheel. Take it for a drive up and down the runway WITHOUT taking off. Trim it so it runs straight. Bring it back and take note of where the nose wheel is. Bring the trim tab back to neutral and manually adjust the wheel with the rod. Do the same with the tail rudder after the first flight. When you land, take a picture of the rudder, move the trim tab back to neutral (if you used any clicks when flying) and manually adjust the rudder to what it looked like in the picture.

[Arron yeate]

Yes. ALL my models require some steering wheel adjustment, some more than others. You first zero and adjust the tail rudder with the trim tab at neutral. Then you go and adjust the steering wheel. Take it for a drive up and down the runway WITHOUT taking off. Trim it so it runs straight. Bring it back and take note of where the nose wheel is. Bring the trim tab back to neutral and manually adjust the wheel with the rod. Do the same with the tail rudder after the first flight. When you land, take a picture of the rudder, move the trim tab back to neutral (if you used any clicks when flying) and manually adjust the rudder to what it looked like in the picture.

absolute great advice that. I will bare this in mind. For now. If i plug and zero the rudder using the servo tester. Zero and adjust the nose wheel. I should be........... he says... half way there to getting it straight on its first drive...???

[xviper]

absolute great advice that. I will bare this in mind. For now. If i plug and zero the rudder using the servo tester. Zero and adjust the nose wheel. I should be........... he says... half way there to getting it straight on its first drive...???

Pretty much, yes. The tail rudder is a lot easier to eyeball using a servo tester. The nose wheel is another matter. It's not always accurate to eyeball the wheel. It's better done driving on the ground.

[Arron yeate]

Pretty much, yes. The tail rudder is a lot easier to eyeball using a servo tester. The nose wheel is another matter. It's not always accurate to eyeball the wheel. It's better done driving on the ground.

Yeah that make total sense. Ill have another go tomorrow at getting the nose wheel more accurate. Cheers bud