Atom 500 Build

[Jaguar_5]

This is a reposting of my thread under the Compass section at www.helifreak.com

Hey guys, I just got my Compass Atom 500CF kit in the mail today, it's brand new kit from Common Sense RC's first shipment! For those that don't know, CSRC recently became the U.S. distributor for Compass!

Before I start I'd like to thank Bruce and the rest of the crew at CSRC, as well as Bobby at RREModels!



Components are:
Included outrunner motor and Hobbywing Platinum 60A ESC
Hyperion Atlas HP-DS16FMD's on cyclic
Hyperion Atlas HP-DS20-GMD for the rudder
Spartan DS760 Gyro
Spektrum AR7000
CSRC 5A XBEC



First impressions of the kit was "Wow!" This is a nice kit! Very complete, all the parts are very well packaged, the frame is already built, the motor and ESC already have bullet connections, and a deans connector, soldered, heatshrinked, and ready to go! I will add an extra piece of heatshrink over the bullet connectors, and remove the Deans connector. I will be using Powerpole connectors for this Heli.

Carbon main blades and a set of tail blades are also included

The head is already mostly built, links are pre-assembled, there's hardly anything to do!! I might have to take it all apart just to make it last longer, I love the building stage :happyd

All the parts look very well engineered and machined, I can't wait to put this bird together!!

[Jaguar_5]

An updated picture before I go to school: (note these batteries are just for show I have not recieved my 6s packs yet, I will not be using 2x3s)



ESC and Gyro are temporarily mounted, I still need to mount my CSRC Bec. I plan to use Aux2 for the BEC to retain an open bind port.

I also still need to make adjustments to the links in the head, things are close, but not quite right.

Using the Spartan USB Flash link I configured my DS760, and using the Hyperion USB cable, I centered all of my servos, without using subtrim

[Jaguar_5]

One tip I discovered while assembling:

Installing the rudder servo with the included plastic servo nuts was a PAIN. Heres what I did: prethread the nuts. This was still exceptionally hard until I used some heat from a candle in 5 second bursts, using the screw as a conductor just until it became easy to turn, this worked PERFECTLY!! Don't use too much heat though.

[Jaguar_5]

Maidened the Atom tonight!!

All I can say is WOW

Whoever said the Atom has a strange mix of being stable and quick is spot on, I couldn't describe it better myself, I had to dial the cyclic mix down 7% and bump my expo up to 28% plus swash expo on, and it was still extremely quick on cyclic!

I am extremely happy with both the helicopter, and my Hyperion servos and Spartan gyro!!

I did notice a wobble in the tail, not a gyro gain wag, but a wobble, my flying buddy thinks It's due to the dampening and / or the fact that we discovered I have a tiny bit of play on the spindle, that is you can move the two blade grips back and forth about a mm, this doesn't seem normal, is anyone else's atom like this?

[Jaguar_5]

Apparently the play in the grips is not uncommon, and not an issue.

The heli has bee flying absolutely GREAT and my confidence and flying skills have improved tremendously with the Atom! After a flight I found myself say "Wow I didn't know I could do that!"

This is an excellent helicopter to learn to fly on, it flips nice and true, and has plenty of power to keep from bogging. It is very precise in the air, and while very stable, it also picks up speed quick!! What a fun helicopter this is!!

[Lappster]

Hey Jag,, what packs you using?

I've been using the CSRC 2650's, just thinking of a bigger pack, looks like you are using either a 3000 or 3300?

I put the lighter paddles on mine yesterday,, BIG difference,, this thing is rocking. I havent tried the 10t yet, next time out :}.

Thanks,,
Troy

[Jaguar_5]

Hey Lappster,

I'm using Zippy flightmax 20c 3000 6S packs, they probably don't put out nearly as many amps as the CSRC packs, but for the cost they are a great pack to learn on, and they balance the heli perfectly

I might have to order some of the lightened paddles soon and try those out

[Lappster]

hey Jag,, how did you attach pics?

thx,,
t

[Jaguar_5]

use the img tags:

[BenHeli]

Learned a thing or two while assembling the Atom. To program the esc, I'd to use a 6s battery instead of the 2s rx battery.