500 Size AH-64A Apache build

[Gravythe clown]

I originally went with a shorter shaft but then went back. I lost to much movement with my swash.
There are things I’m making concessions on so it flies better. In the end I want to fly the crap out of it.

Gravy

[PawPaw]

Got my mechanics in the fuse for the 1st time and think I will take F106’s lead...again...and work on a shorter main shaft. Just too much sticking out the top to suit me. Maybe if I stare at it long enough it will look better?

[DCORSAIR]

https://youtu.be/wwji8KQUR5U

New 78mm tail feathers did the trick. I’m going to stick with the two blade tail rotor setup as it feels liked in during hover.

I need to pull her out one more time to move the microbeast and re-bind it to my external module, clean up some minor body issues and attach the weapons. She will be ready for full flight this weekend.

4s 5000, 1210kv, 16t pinion,72% calibrated throttle. 1900rpm head speed.

sound good and feels good, lifts off right at mid stick.

Gravy

Looks awesome Gravy, nice and smooth, still wonder why that 4 blade tail won't work, curious to see if PAWPAW gets his to work properly or not, also your old big 700 Apache is waiting for its little brother to fly some formation flights, just don't get to close and under my rotor wash, this 700 moves a lot of air..........

[PawPaw]

Bought a 10 pack of 4mm x 100mm shafts from Amazon. Got plenty if you decide to make one. In fact, I have all the parts to make another one except I’m short 1 grip assembly. We’ll see how it flies when the blades arrive this week.

[Gravythe clown]

Where did you get the longer shaft?

[PawPaw]

No hurry on the parts...I’m bouncing between several projects trying to get caught up. I think I have the same 4 blade tail hub from Ebay (China) that you were using but mine was drilled wrong on one ear so tracking was impossible for that blade. I basically duplicated F106’s 4 blade setup with a few minor differences. Just waiting on the new 70mm blades now.

[Gravythe clown]

Good news. Can’t wait for the pics and report. Got my cascade tail finished and waiting for new blades.

Hope you have better luck with the multi blade tail than I did. If you do I might hit you up for info on how to make one up.

on another note. I have not started printing anything yet. Tomorrow after work I’ll change out the resin vat and start your parts. I need to print out a new MD500E landing light lense in clear before I can swap out resins.

so if I don’t have any issues with my FEP again, I should have them done this week.

Gravy

[PawPaw]

Good news. Can’t wait for the pics and report. Got my cascade tail finished and waiting for new blades.

[Gravythe clown]

https://youtu.be/wwji8KQUR5U

New 78mm tail feathers did the trick. I’m going to stick with the two blade tail rotor setup as it feels liked in during hover.

I need to pull her out one more time to move the microbeast and re-bind it to my external module, clean up some minor body issues and attach the weapons. She will be ready for full flight this weekend.

4s 5000, 1210kv, 16t pinion,72% calibrated throttle. 1900rpm head speed.

sound good and feels good, lifts off right at mid stick.

Gravy

[Gravythe clown]

Tonight she flew in the fuse. Just a small hover but it was strong. I need a little more tail authority, which I have more to give, but other than a small adj she’s almost ready for full flight.

Gravy

[PawPaw]

Thanks!

[Gravythe clown]

I just started print again this week as my fingers finally healed up. So if my MD500 landing light lenses print out fine I’ll start working on printing those Apache bits.
I’ll PM you when I’m done.

Gravy

[PawPaw]

Looks great. I have my longer tail shaft in the DeWalt lathe as we type to fit the 4 blade tail I gotta make.

[Gravythe clown]

Still waiting on new tail shaft to wrap it all up. But all test flights have been fantastic.

here is a video I just took to show a buddy how smooth my belt drive is now.

https://youtu.be/VPG-q_xRnZs

Gravy

[PawPaw]

What’s the latest, Gravy? Suspense is killing me.

[Gravythe clown]

Yeah That are hit and miss. The one on my cobra is smooth, the Apache needed some work, and the black hawk I have not spooled up yet to see.
I did hover my mechs last night with the 1210kv motor and 16T pinion reinstalled. Hovered no more than 2' off the deck running 1800 rpm for 3 minutes on a 5000 30C 4s pack. After the 3 minutes my Pack was at 86% and both motor and ESC were cool to warm.
Now I just wait for new tail shafts and pitch control to come in so I can hopefully wrap this bird up.

Gravy

[PawPaw]

The tail pushrod control setup could definitely be engineered better. I like your bearing shaft solution. Looks like I will be following F106’s lead and fab my own 4 blade tail hub...way too much vibration with this Chinese hub.

[DCORSAIR]

I'm trying to figure out your last paragraph, I think it contains some spelling errors??

[Gravythe clown]

If I read everything correctly, it flew well before you modified the tail transition unit with the added bearings?

yes but then the triangle control rod piece started to act up as the mount hole got oblong. This started all the tail control issues.

my guess is that because I changed out for a metal triangle piece that really brought to life the issue with the pulley section. To me it’s just a bad design. That pulley should ride free on its shaft, not be the shaft that the triangle piece screws onto.

but I’m really happy now with my bee set up and honestly it’s never felt smoother. The whole drive assemble is just tits right now.

gravy

[Gravythe clown]

Yes she flew. Mechs only on 4s, 900kv with 14t pinion.
I’m back to my standard gyro settings. Things are looking up.

yes it’s low rpm but it was only to test. After trying to fly in the fuse and having loss of power I decided to go back to the 900kv and use 6s with the 14T pinion. I tested it yesterday before all my other findings and it still had power issues but now my motor and ESC were warm to hot.

now that I got all my drive issues resolved and have no power issues, I’m going to go back to the 1210kv with the 16T pinion on 4s. She flew good with this setup and had plenty of power before I started having tail issues. And she was just sipping power, coming down cool both motor and esc.

so now I just need to wait for the née tail shafts and pieces. Then I’ll fly her again as Mech only a few more times. After that I’ll stuff the bird and say a few hail Marys.

Gravy