RunRyder - SJM 500...First impressions...

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e-New & Emerging Electrics > SJM 500...First impressions...

drdot
Elite Veteran
Location: So. California, Orange County.

fwiw...

Got a chance (thanks to a friend!) to fly an SJM 500 Pro today...

Very interesting heli...undoubtedly the fastest head I've flown on any heli...Very quiet, fairly light...

If development continues on this heli, it will be a world beater...Very nice machining, excellent carbon work..Very nice design features...Extremely quiet in flight..
Best of all, it actually flys for 6-7 minutes on two T-Rex packs, something the Align 500 won't do...
Some of the things that need work imho are the canopy, which is extremely heavy..There is a number of places that could be lightened, but the heli comes in at 1505 G rtf . The supplied blades are a little small and flexible, and seem unable to absorb all the available power.
I'd like to see 400 mm blades with a slightly wider chord, and a tail boom about 2" shorter..The head is responsive enough that heavier blades could improve auto capability, and still be faster than most would be comfortable with...
That said, I'm gonna get in line for one!!

John.

12-03-2007 07:12 PM

drdot
Elite Veteran
Location: So. California, Orange County.

fwiw..

Update..

Got another flight in on the 500 this week...Cut the swash throws to 70% from 100..Almost too slow now, but very predictable..I'm fighting the T/R setup, but was able to do some backwards maneuvers with the heli, and even wihtout a good gyro/servo, tracks like a much larger heli..
I'm hoping to get some 400 mm blades on the machine soon,and the owner is installing a 401 and better digital t/r servo...More soon...

JOhn.

12-16-2007 05:17 PM

gp125racer
New Heliman
Location: BAY AREA, CA

good info

keep us posted!

Im considering one of these birds as you can get one for around $300 shipped from china, and they work with the rex packs.

12-17-2007 07:00 AM

TonyTypeS
Key Veteran
Location: New Orleans, LA

Here's a clip of mines in action

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xFM7sHNgvzU

gp125racer
Just be careful because the ones in China does not have the upgraded head to get more pitch and the tail boom is not the longer one as the ones in the States. Hence that is why the ones from China cost much less than over here

But I bet both would fly just as good unless your a 3D flyer and love to have that extra pitch range and more tail authority

Must have more POWER!
Avant FX
Fueled by addiction

12-21-2007 11:32 PM

bigdog714
Senior Heliman
Location: Chardon, Ohio U.S.A.

I have been keeping track of the heli through RC-TEK and the new blade grips for blades up to 440mm with standard root thickness are ready, along with a tri-tail rotor, and a new canopy, should be available in kits the begining of the year.

EVO 50
Logo 14
Align T-Rex 600EP
Align T-Rex 600N

12-22-2007 04:21 AM

drdot
Elite Veteran
Location: So. California, Orange County.

fwiw..

Looks like this is getting better by the day...I asked if RC Tek would exhibit at the AMA show in January, they said both the 325 and the 500 s/b on display....

John.

12-23-2007 04:31 AM

rsalazar
Key Veteran
Location: Florida, USA

Very nice Heli!!

01-07-2008 11:55 PM

Scott_RC-TEK
Heliman
Location: USA + Germany

Due to the recent death of someone close to me and the company, we have cancelled our showing at the AMA convention this weekend. I apologize.

You can still see some RC-TEK helicopters in the Scorpion booth. We will make every attempt to show the SJM500 (and new SJM325) at some other upcoming shows.

Regards,
Scott

01-09-2008 09:00 AM

drdot
Elite Veteran
Location: So. California, Orange County.

fwiw...

Scott...

Sorry for your loss..

Thanks for the update.

John.

01-10-2008 01:38 AM

rsalazar
Key Veteran
Location: Florida, USA

Scott, I am sorry for your lost.

01-10-2008 02:21 AM

drdot
Elite Veteran
Location: So. California, Orange County.

fwiw..

Here's an update on the SJM...Flew it twice today, now set up with 400mm MAH blades, 9657/401, and TT Mini Titan t/r blades...Heli flies much better than with the stock main blades, and the TT t/r blades made the tail lock much better than stock...
All in all, this is becoming the heli I hoped it would be...RTF it's right at 1500 G, and looks like 5:30 to 6:00 on two T Rex packs is easy to do..Stock motor and esc are working well.

Best of all, We shot about 5 autos with the heli, and it autos well..I feel better than the T Rex 500, and actually has some predictable hang time...425 blades will fit fine, and might extend the auto capability even more.
Not finished with the setup yet; belt was a bit tight, and needs a shot of silicone...Some weight could be lost, and we still have a bit of collective interaction..But it's coming right along..
Heli has a good presence in the air, was absolutely unaffected by the occasionally gusty conditions, and has a nearly unlimited ability to adjust the head for flying characteristics...

More to follow.

John.

02-24-2008 03:59 AM

rsalazar
Key Veteran
Location: Florida, USA

John!!

Thanks for the update

Any photos?

02-24-2008 04:04 AM

P-Rex
Heliman
Location: Eugene, OR - U.S.A.

Man, I've had nothing but problems with my SJM 500. The stock tail rotor blades came apart on the first flight at about 5-8 feet in the air. It happened so quick I didn't do everything I could normally do to minimize or prevent further damage. Bent the flybar and main shaft, destroyed the stock blades.

Second flight it crashed as well, but this time it was my dumb thumbs getting a little eager for some aerobatics.

Third flight, a little bit of flying, then set down. Went to spool up again and the motor and main gear just spun. I figured the one-way bearing was toast, so I took it home. When I got home, the bearing was miraculously working again.

So, I decided to try hovering in front of my house. As I was starting to lift off, one of the main blade grips separated from the rotor head and sent the grip, linkage, and blade flying away. The other one made the heli tumble and break. The tail boom, both boom supports, main shaft, flybar, vertical fin, and a few other things were broken. It turns out that the feathering screws that keep the main blade grips attached were stripped from being over-tightened at the factory, (the whole head comes assembled). So, one of them failed.

I've tried to get some customer service from Hobby City with very poor results. I'm hoping that someone out there starts to stock parts for these things, and preferably in the U.S. I've gotten a few things from RC-Tek, but they don't stock all parts and now they're taking their SJM 500 off the shelves for some patenting and other issues.

I can't recommend this heli at this point. If they get their quality control and some of their other issues taken care of, maybe it will be more worthwhile, but for now I'd steer clear.

Sorry guys.

02-25-2008 07:51 AM

HOMEPAGE

Scott_RC-TEK
Heliman
Location: USA + Germany

Well, I hate to tell you, but it doesn't pay buying older/early stock from overseas. Who knows what kind of blades they gave you or where some of of your parts really came from. Our customers have not had these issues and if they did, we would handle them immediately. The current SJM500 V2 that we have been shipping are GREAT helicopters and perform well.

More V2 complete kits will be available as soon as the enhancements are done and we are about 10 days away from getting A LOT of V2 spare parts from the factory so those will still be shipped world wide as we are doing daily right now.

If there is something specifc you need, we may just have it (even if it isn't listed on the public site yet). Just drop us an email and we will do our best to hopefully get you up and flying again... and feeling better about your heli.

Regards,
Scott

02-25-2008 08:49 AM

P-Rex
Heliman
Location: Eugene, OR - U.S.A.

Thanks Scott. I ordered some parts from you last week, before this incident, and they arrived quickly and the order was exactly what I paid for. I really wish I had waited a week to buy the heli from you instead of overseas, but like I said before, it wasn't in stock. In hindsight, I would have saved myself a lot of frustration AND MONEY by waiting a week and paying a little more to get the one you sell. Yes folks, it's true, despite how much more I would have paid for the newer RC-Tek version, it would have cost me LESS when you factor in shipping from China for the heli and the subsequent part orders, not to mention the hard-to-find parts.

I sent RC-Tek an email a few days ago, but it may have been after you left for work Friday night, so I'll look forward to hearing from you when you guys get to it in the cue.

Thanks again.

-Pat

02-25-2008 04:27 PM

HOMEPAGE

drdot
Elite Veteran
Location: So. California, Orange County.

fwiw..

Since Scott is checking in here, Are the new wider throat grips available?..I'd like to get a set so we can
.try 425 blades without milling the roots down...Perhaps 425s and AT packs with the stock motor will be the ticket...My goal Is 6min 3D with two 2200 or similar packs...So far looks like it will work, especially if we put it on a little diet...

John.

02-26-2008 04:12 AM

Scott_RC-TEK
Heliman
Location: USA + Germany

Pat-
Please let me know if you haven't been replied to yet. My direct email is scott@rc-tek.com.

John-
Yes, the new main blade grips are standardized to accept anything between 390mm and 440mm with a 9.XXmm root. We have some 430mm FG blades in SJM white or black and yellow for under US$29 we are shipping now.

The part number for the V2 grips is AL5007P2. We have one set left in stock at this time, but you also need the V2 AL5010P center hub as well for everything to fit properly and we just sold our last one. However, as mentioned, we are expecting a FULL inventory of SJM500 parts shortly and will have everything needed for this beastie; including the upgraded 3mm flybar system parts, all canopies, all tail systems/blades, screws, bearings, booms, and even the new SDG502MG metal gear DIGITAL cyclic servos.

We also started shipping this week the new Air Thunder 6S1P 2200mA 25C LiPo for those that want to use one battery instead of dual 3S.

Regards,
Scott

02-27-2008 08:25 AM

Scott_RC-TEK
Heliman
Location: USA + Germany

We appreciate everyone's patience while the final tweaks and enhancements are made to the new SJM500 V2. To clarify and get everyone up to speed, these are just a few of the new V2 enhancements:

- New 9.1mm root standardized main blade grips w/ thrust bearings.

- New 430mm main blades included standard.

- 3mm flybar and supporting control system (control arms, copper ball, flybar stand, CF paddles, and retainer rings).

- New longer main shaft collar to support various size servos and to enhance the pitch range.

- New V2 pro painted fiberglass canopy.

- New top frame board.

- New larger side frame/skid boards.

- New skid reinforcement cross member board.

- New tail boom support/frame attachment.

- New self adjusting belt rollers.

- New heavy duty tail housing w/ belt rollers (Dual-Blade Tail).

- New 4mm tail shaft (Dual-Blade Tail).

- New 4mm root tail blade grips (Dual-Blade Tail).

- Polished finish on many parts.

- Numerous other updates to fasteners, bearings, and supporting parts.

Regards,
Scott

03-05-2008 07:05 PM

rsalazar
Key Veteran
Location: Florida, USA

Scott, thanks very much for the update

03-05-2008 07:16 PM

Rhino
Heliman
Location: down under

Scott,
how are things going for spare parts availability? I noticed most parts on RC-Tek are out of stock and that Flying-Hobby only has crash kits.

03-19-2008 02:40 AM

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e-New & Emerging Electrics > SJM 500...First impressions...

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