Good suggestions there.
I was thinking about using a 200mAh 1s LiPo and a dropping resistor. Simple, self contained, and portable so I can use the camera elsewhere at any time. The LiPo pack should run the camera for approximately 45 minutes, maybe longer if I get the voltage low enough that the on-board voltage regulator isn't clamping voltage and wasting power.

 

These are really good options!

 

If I were planning to keep the camera on permanent, those options would work out great. It's intended for occasional use.

 

Frequency analysis of the audio track shows 2921 rpm at full charge dropping about 100 rpm at hard pitch.
Running the numbers through an app puts motor at 85% efficiency with 11.8v running voltage.
That's pretty close to what I was after, but minimal gain from 11t to 12t pinion. I may go ahead and install the 9/121 helical cut gears.

 

yeah get some good optical tach to verify it as close as possible. they are cheap now days.

 

On 450's I get 4.5 minutes, not sure what the HS is. maybe >3500. Fly what you like, it was just an observation @Beaver. I remember when I started flying I had flight times like yours, then they reduced as I up'ed the HS. Do what you feel is right for you, the journey is beginning - enjoy the journey and love every moment of your heli in the air
Simon

 

At my current skill level, I'll be keeping it between 2800 and 3000 for now. It has enough pop to get me in trouble if I'm not careful.

 

I'd say dun get too worried about keeping a higher hs, it'd actually be more stable getting it in the 3k+ range. Just program a lower pitch range if you want a softer collective to begin with. You already have CP experience with the Nano so I'm sure you've a good understanding of how collective works. What esc are you using? Have you tried flying with governor mode?

 

I'm running Align RCE-BL45X tried Gov mode, but doesn't seem to function. Yellow K-Bar has no Gov function either. There is an ESC I'm looking at that has programmable Gov. If I keep gear ratio as is for now, I can run just fine without Gov.

 

Give it a try u might change your mind What throttle curve do u use? I'd think a 10T pinion would be a better option for ur 3400kv on the 121 slant main.

 

I'll be running 9t/121t to get back to around 2800. The motor seems to be more efficient at around 13:1 gear ratio.
The ESC I want is cheap enough that I'll most likely go ahead and buy it soon. I may try the RCE-BL45X Gov mode again.... I might not have set it properly last time I tried it.

 

62mm CF tail blades enroute. The original plastic blades are getting a bit ragged.

 

Oh yeah! I can feel the difference in a well balanced set of blades. No weird shakes on spool up or shut down, the cyclic feels like it has tighter response, and it's a bit more quiet........ the new Align helically cut gears sound smoother as well.

 

mmmm looks good. matching colors nice

 

Nice blades! running the same myself. Love em. As far as headspeed goes I govern mine at 3200 with 13 degrees collective and I'm still learning to hover. Find it too mushy any slower. Keep a low cyclic and 30 expo however.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

I am really enjoying this Bluetooth adapter for K-Bar.
I installed new 62mm CF blades (up from 56mm plastics)..... and ended up with a nasty little tail wag. VStabi was already engaged and ready, so it only took all of 30 seconds to knock the gain down to 60 and reset the tail optimizer. No more wag.
The bigger blades were obviously causing the system to overcorrect, but with the new blades being balanced better than the old ones, I think the reduction in vibration let the gyro work more efficiently- therefore more sensitive.
Between the new CF main and tail blades and the new gears... bird flies real nice now! I'm waiting for a not so windy day so I can give it a proper run in open air.

 

Sorry to hear of your crash Beaver, by the looks of how your 450 went down, you planted that 450 hard. What's the damage? Bearings ok?

 

Tail rotor shaft bent, tail boom slightly bent but salvageable, notched tail shaft bearing, new blades trashed, left cyclic and tail servos acting weird now, still running damage inspection......

 

........ still trying to get over the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach......

 

I'll try to make you feel a bit better. At least it wasn't a mini protos.

I remember reading an article awhile back about Tareq Alsaadi, his first hover only lasted for 10 seconds. Kinda like how my first hover went down.

Tareq has crashed a lot, most you don't see at all. I've had my fair share of crashes too. What I learn t, the harder I fly, the higher the probability of crashing.