sheerider1026

hahaha. whats funny is that i think i remember you saying you weren't into the whole 3d thing, just a scaler.. pshhh!! 3d is just too much fun.. sounds like the bug has already got a bite on you.. lol.. once you get tossing it around you seem to learn pretty fast.. its all downhill from here vic.. have fun ..

babyhuey

Nice bird sheerider!

Crash,
Yeah it's really hard to keep track of things when you do them all at once! Saving it did help my confidence level and taught another lesson about flying in the wind.[]
I'll be trying a loop or back flip by this weekend though.

crashcrash

The ONLY real trick...keep that sucker as high as you can get it and still see it (retaining orientation). Tonight was actually a back flip because forward speed was gone, so I'll run 'er out tomorrow for another "real loop". I found that doing "warm up laps" around the field gets you mentally ready AND if there's a problem BEFORE you do a stunt, you'll see in in the warm up. I still like scalers ALOT....but I'm starting to like throwing this thing around too. Thinking aileron roll tomorrow...1200 ft up should do it (LMAO). Once you got nose in, and a couple loops under your belt, the confidence really kicks in.

babyhuey

Keep her at least three mistakes high!

sonicj

My Feedback: (2)

figured i'd snap some pics before she gets twisted into something less heli, more pretzel shaped. this is my first heli build so parts selection & assembly was tedious & slow. i was expecting something to go terribly wrong, like underpowered, over current, doesn't fit, etc... but to my surprise, only a few minor roadblocks arose during the build.

gear list:
exi 450 (some aluminum model)
turnigy sentry 40a
turnigy 2835-3900
zippy 2200mah 3s1p 20c
3 x hxt900
towerpro mg90 (tail)
telebee gy201 (i think)
spektrum 6100e
spektrum dx7
hobbycity hk450 alum tail assembly
hobbycity hk450 alum see-saw, control levers
450mm carbon tail blades
325 fiberglass main blades
cf tail push rod
cf hk450 boom supports

so far, im completely impressed! this thing has far exceded my expectations and its not even setup 100% correct yet! i can hover in a 4' square for about a minute or so before i panic and lose it. my dad (who has a lot of experience smashing rc helis) can hover it pretty tight and hold a straight line up and down the sidewalk so im guessing the setup is getting close. i personally think its still way too squirrelly and i know she'll get better as i learn more of the radio setup and mechanics.

*update* i started this post the other day and couldn't finish due to time constraints. well, since then she pretzeled. blades exploded at about $30 high (3ft). it sounded like a damn bomb went off in my driveway! blades flew about 30' each and at 90° from each other. they didn't become the deadly projectile missiles i imagined they would be... instead, they kind of flipped / floated away at a semi-high rate of speed. fast enough to possibly hurt you, but slow enough your reaction reflex can take effect.

after closer inspection, im not 100% sure it was the blades that were at fault... the tail was bent, but no sign of a strike. the belt was pinched and pulled TIGHT, almost severed! im wondering if somehow the belt got caught in the block and the blades ejected as a result of the sudden change in speed...??? either way, it was violent and a damned impressive way to give up the ghost! battery was ejected and somehow avoided a single scratch! total carnage: belt, main shaft, flybar, blades, tail boom. not bad! i'll post some carnage pics a little later. cheers!
-sj

crashcrash

I have two guesses....

1. the fiberglass blade failed outright.
2. the fiberglass blade over flexed causing a boom strike...then failed.

In either case....I think those blades poked you in the wallet.

Hint...run either ALign 315mm woodies OR real carbon fiber blades. SInce you got training wheels...go with the Align 315mm woodies...better buy 3 sets.

sheerider1026

sounds like a boom strike to me.. hey man, its part of the hobby. get her fixed and keep flying..

crashcrash

+1

I think the blade flexed (cheap blades), and smacked the boom, then all shiolia broke loose.

babyhuey

Sounds like Walkrera blade syndrome! The Walkera foam or FG blades regularly do that. I have experianced it with the align woodies too. If you run anything but CF make sure that you glue the plastic spacers to the blades.
Makes them a little safer anyway.

crashcrash

I buy the Align blades...I can tell you they put a drop of superglue on the plastic spacers. I havent had the align 315mm woodies blow apart on me.....I beat 'em pretty hard too.

sheerider1026

lol.. i buy my woodies in bulk off of ebay.. 325's.. so far so good.. and i give them a hard way to go also.. if u get them balanced and tracking right, they will live a lot longer..

crashcrash

I got a set of cheap 325's layng in the tool box, barely used. I could never get them to track right no matter what, so I don't use 'em....paid like $5 for the set...they're junk.

sheerider1026

i will agree.. i sually end up with a set that will not track,. sometimes i can mixmatch them and get them to track right.. i have a new set of CF blades from HC i need to try out.. just gotta get my birds back together soon.. i am missing out on flying..

crashcrash

I've been down for weather...my heli is perfect. I could fly it right now (winds 5-8mph), but it isn't as much fun when you're fighting wind. Besides, if wind ground speed is 5-8mph...it's blowing a bit harder above tree level and that causes carry away's, I don't want to have to fly it back after being blown 3-400yds.
I've looked at those CF's from H/C....I know they're lacking in quality by the reviews, so I'll stick to woodies for a while....cheaper.

sheerider1026

i will be happy to get my heli back and running, or flying i should say... for the sport flyer heli, i tried to be somewhat conservative, but build a tough and decent machine at the same time.. it has the mg 14 servos on the cyclic, and that ds480 on the tail (.068 @ 5.0v) paired up with the g401b gyro.. the motor is a alpha 400 i got from xheli.. i have an align esc im gonna throw on it.. and of course a spektrum rx.. i added the white skids, fins, and supports on for vision purposes.. they are parts for the cheaper hk450 that HC sells.. as for my 3d bird, it is in need of a complete frame and a bunch more stuff.. i will probably retire the old bird and start over..

babyhuey

The TIG carbons from HC are some of the best blades that I've ever seen. The cheaper ones are OK but much more flexible.

S_Mackey

My Feedback: (1)

EXIBuild
I am looking to build a cheap EXI450 to learn more on after moving from my Falcon 40. Too many noise issues and glitching problems.
So far Ihave chosen:

XHELI
EXI450
ALPHAOutrunner 3700kv
30A Volcano ESC

Hobbyking
4@HXT900 Servos

Which gyro should Igo with (preferrably from xheli so I can get free shipping). Also can you recommend a decent cost effective transmitter or should I just bite the bullet and get the DX6i.


0704A
0704B


It is $50 unless you can recommend something cheaper.

or

G401B (where to buy?)


Which battery would you recommend for this setup?

crashcrash

I would use the G401B...no question on that:

http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet...o-G401B/Detail

You need a good transmitter.....DX6i is acceptable and an AR6100E RX

The heli is only as good as what you put into it.

Batteries:

Zippy 2200mAh 20c @$17 ea from Hobby City, it's the ones I use.

Everything else looks good.

victorzamora

I'd spring for the 25C or 30C batteries. Believe it or not, extra capacitance gives you a noticeable increase in power.

S_Mackey

My Feedback: (1)

xmhobbies New 11.1V 2200MA 18C/25C (Guaranteed) Top quality Li-poly battery for 3dx450 trex 450 hdx450 ALl 450 400 size rc helicopter

This battery any good? What does 18C/25C mean. 18C continuous 25C Burst?

S_Mackey

My Feedback: (1)

So far Ihave

EXI450 - Plastic V2
Extra Blades
Volcano 30A ESC
Alpha 3500kv motor
4 cheap hkt900?servos

Buying
DX6i
G401B
Battery, 11.1V 2200mah 18c/25c
Charger of your recommendations

Anything else I am missing

sonicj

My Feedback: (2)

the c rating tells you your battery's safe maximum charge & discharge rates. you can safely discharge that pack at 39.6a constant and at 55a burst. all batteries charge at 1c unless noted otherwise. 1c for that battery is 2.2a.

this charger is a good value [link=http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028&Product_Name=Turnigy_Accucel-6_50W_5A_Balancer/Charger]link[/link]

S_Mackey

My Feedback: (1)

Is there any preference for having the receiverpins on the side or top for the EXI450?

crashcrash

It's WAY easier for you to have end pins like the AR6100E, but the upright pins are workable too, just not quite as user friendly. In other words...I prefer horizontal pins to vertical pins.

sonicj

My Feedback: (2)

i prefer the end pins as well.