Raging Rotors: Beware the Goblin, or, Things I Learned Building Helis

All the way back in August, I got my hands on a Goblin 570 from SAB Helidivision thanks to my friends at PrestigeRC/HeliDirect. Over the past few months, I have been diligently working on it while getting more and more excited for flying season to start this now snowy 2015. I have only built a Baja 5B SS in all my time in RC, so I was excited for this opportunity. I would like to thank my coworker Tony for putting up with me, my friend Ed for tolerating my texts, and Team SAB Helidivision pilot Mike Linko for taking the time to helping me make this heli take off and not crash in 5 seconds (that’s my job as pilot).

There is a lot that goes into any build, and RC Helicopters are no exception. Here is some advice for any builder, with a few more tips for all my pilots out there:

• Loctite saved my marriage! The Super Bowl may have surprised us with Loctite’s budget burning commercial, but there is a message in there: adhesion is important for many things, and RC building is no exception. When you’re looking at something like an RC car or helicopter, the last thing you want are screws falling out. Do not be stingy with your blue loctite when using screws on metal mounts. The excess will bleed out, dry, and fade away. Don’t forget: Red Loctite is permanent, so use only when instructed or necessary.
• So much torque! Along the same lines as Loctite, don’t be afraid to crank your screws down. My helicopter is set for around 2600RPM, and that kind of power will loosen anything that isn’t torqued down. I have to again thank Mike for saving my backside on this one, I pretty much needed some more elbow grease on almost every screw I had!
• You have questions, they have answers! I will admit, I don’t have all the skills required to do everything in RC aircraft, and honestly, every aircraft has many neat little nuances that pro-pilots or experienced builders may know that one will not find in the instruction manual. Never be afraid to ask your friends, fellow pilots, or your local hobby shop with questions. I wouldn’t be as close to done as I am without their help!

Pictures of my build process are being, well…processed and will be posted in a bit. I also have more SAB Helidivision stuff to show off, as well as some progress on my FPV Racer. As always, hit me up with your questions via kevin (at) bigsquidrc (dot) com. Until next time, Stay Shiny and Keep Flyin’!