Doing some research

[murankar]

I find myself in a situation that cant be helped at all. I am 300+ miles away from home, board and have an itch that cant be scratched as of yet. I have been window shopping these last 2 days and I am drooling just at the thought of being able to get something that has been wanted for some time now. My goal is to get into a 550 class, hopefully while I am here in PA. This will be the biggest I go due to cost and other things. I dont have a drive for the 700 class but the 550 offers a great flight envelope for the platform and helps keep costs down. Things like battery and blade costs are keeping me from the 700 class just to name 2 reasons.

I have been bounceing between the Raptor E550 (witch extends to a E620) or the Mikado 550sx. There are pros and cons between the 2.

PROs
Thunder Tiger: total cost of ownership
Mikado: Popular, durable, reputation for quality, low parts count.

CONs
Thunder Tiger: Repair parts have know to be expensive, high parts count, Push pull system (well I see it as a con).
Mikado: Expensive, fair priced repair parts

If I take the looks out of it I am torn between on these two kits. I like the direct to swash, low parts count but I also like the fact that T.T. is cheaper in the long run. I dont know if the Pilot in my club still has his 550 Mikado. If he does then I will order that up if not then its going to be a ground up build.

If I had $600 right now I would jump on the Mikado but in the back of my mind I would be kicking myself in the butt for not going with the Thunder Tiger. If I had the funds for both I would do both then sell the one I didnt like.

[Lee]

I'll throw another option in.
What about the Goblin 570?
Absolutely love mine.
Parts count is low, availability everywhere.
6S or 12S
Nick on RCHN reckons its the best heli ever

[murankar]

That was there also. After listening to the RCHN episode for a budget build it got me thinking. That's why I did consider a Goblin in the first place. I also like the fact that I can get a Thunder Tiger fully ready just add battery and a Neo and I am set. I just want something that flies bigger and gives me the option to auto. While I love the X3 you really cant auto it unless you are super skilled at it.

My plans as of right now for hardware are is as follows:
I want to stick with 6s for the time being.
Hobbywing 100 with external BEC
Possible phase sensor for VBar Governor
BK 7002 and 7005 servos/ Again still open
VBar Neo
Scorpion Motor more than likely.

maybe pulse packs (still not sure on this part).

[Lee]

Those electronics in a 570 will be an unbeatable machine.

[murankar]

This is going to be a one time build. I am not doing a progressive upgrade build like the Protos and Gaui. Do it right, do it once. If this does happen it will be with in the next 2 months for sure. I have one major thing to take care of but after that the sky is the limit. Thats why I am looking for suggestions on this platform. I would love to have a Goblin but only if its affordable in the long run.

[murankar]

Goblin 570: $698 USD
Synergy E5 (stretches to 600 or 700): $550 USD
Mikado Logo 550SX: $565 USD
Thunder Tiger E550 (or 620 stretch): $449.99 USD

Motor
X-Nova 4025-1.5Y 1120KV: $220 USD
Scorpion HK 4025-1100KV (For the Goblin 570): $168 USD

ESC
NO question is Hobbywing 100 amp V3: $129.99

Servos:
BK Designs: $99.99 each for all 4 servos or $400

Gyro/RX
Vbar Neo: $220 plus upgrade fees if I do that, which I might for governor and bailout. $320 for all that.

This wont be a budget build by any means but it should be don right the first time. For rough numbers before baldes and batteries going Goblin with scorpion motor looking at $1725. Now we still have blades which would ad about $80 and another $150 or so per battery. I have not selected a battery as of yet so the jury is still out on that. Blades on the other hand looking possibly Zeals for now just to keep the cost down but I could end up with something else. Like I said if this is going to be done I will do it while I am here at the school house. I may just order all the components first then order the airframe. Jury is still out on that one too.

After looking at it the Synergy could be the best compromise in the bunch. Great quality, air frame can grow to my needs, parts are available and to be quite honest a while ago I had settled on this being the one. Now that time has passed I have opened my eyes to other kits. Who knows I just may go with the synergy as my compromise between the Mikado and Thunder Tiger.

[cml001]

Do the Synergy E5... U can run that bird as the 550 on 6s-12s... 600.. 626.. Even a 700.. And it's the lights 700 ull find! Parts for any stretch u want to do in the future.. Several pinion options for HS.. Solid machines!

[murankar]

Yeah I agree with that option for the same reasons. But that goblin thing is really getting me excited. I think I may have just drank the cool aid on that one. I am building the parts wish list now. Man this sucks, first world problems what kit to get. I have till the 15th before I can buy anything so I will keep looking.

[pvolcko]

Sell ya my blade 550x pro. Great beater heli. 550 size is the sweet spot for presence, power, and cost. Only downside is that it is out of production so parts may become difficult to find eventually. Have a bunch of spare parts for it. can sell bind n fly or strip pieces off it if you want. If you're interested let me know.

Goblin kit would come with a set of blades main and tail.

If you want to go new build then my vote is for the goblin 570 or the synergy e5 (in that order).

[murankar]

If I go used it's going to be something still in production. Nothing against blade but I need parts. The heli is going to go in so it needs to be fixable. With the 570 I can stretch it to 600 or 620 and because of this I am going to go with a 12S setup from the start. It will save me from having to buy twice.

[murankar]

Today begins the ordering process for the components to the build. I am going to order everything first then the airframe. The goal is to use the bonus points to assist in lowering the cost of the airframe. Call me cheap if you want, I call it maximizing my money. Anyhow because I am getting the electronics first I should be able to get all the pre install stuff done before building.

On the order form today is going to be the Hobbywing Platinum V3 100 Amp and the Scorpion HKIII 4025-550 KV motor. I might order one or two things extra but for now thats what is on the list.