Go Back  RCU Forums > Electric Aircraft Universe > Electric Aerobatic & Sport Planes
Reload this Page >

E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Notices
Electric Aerobatic & Sport Planes Discuss rc electric aerobatics and rc sport flyers here.

E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Old 01-25-2009, 11:07 AM
  #1851  
derek2005
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I currently have an old fuse that I repaired with the exception of the wing mounting bolt plate. The plate in my recently demised MP is in perfect shape so I may just finish the repair job, buy a new wing, and recover the entire plane in a more unique color scheme. I think I will need to do some strengthening on my repaired fuse, but it is in decent shape. I like the MP so much and I haven't really found anything I like better yet so I'll just get the new wing and do my own covering job.

I have considered the e-flite 260 as well, but it seems less durable than the MP (especially the landing gear area). I also would like to try a bipe and there are a couple that use the same electronics set-up. I would really like to try the PA 260 or ultimate. Their constructions seems well done and the performance is exceptional, but I believe they require a slightly different electronics package.

Old 01-25-2009, 11:20 AM
  #1852  
jetboy11914
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Senoia, GA
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Derek,

I personally have the MP and love the little plane. Personally, I think if you have the electronics but are looking for something different then check out 3DHobbyshop which has the 40 inch Edge that would more than likely accept your power combination. I know that the heavy setup of the Edge can take the Eflite 480 1020kV. I have thought that if I ever total my MP that's what I'm doing with all my hardware. Obviously, 3DHS is known for their excellent craftsmanship and such, check it out.
Old 01-25-2009, 11:36 AM
  #1853  
bertsirkin
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: , CT
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I have both the MPXT and the PRecision Aerobatics Extra 260. Here are my impressions: I've destroyed my MPXT fuse several times because of bad servos and very minor hard landings. I use nylon bolts on the landing gear now which helps a lot - no more fuse problems with hard landings. But landing on grass, I do have to replace the nylon screws frequently. I find the MPXT requires a LOT of space to land.

THe Extra 260 is a dream to fly - one of the remarkable things about it is that it requires almost NO space to land. I frequenly take it into slow lazy circles coming closer to the ground with each circle and end up landing in front of me stalling it a few inches above the ground. It's fast and maneuverable. I'm not a very good 3D pilot, so, although I can do a knife edge, inverted flight, etc, don't use it to it's full potential. It is very fragile and light and find that flying in a little wind isn't as enjoyable as flying the MPXT in light to medium wind.

Both planes are fun to fly, but I find the MPXT requires a much bigger field to land in.

bert
Old 01-25-2009, 11:36 AM
  #1854  
swimmer316
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DERBY , KS
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Just got a mpxt and I have a question. What length are the motor spacers when using a Park 480. I bought my mpxt used and the person that had it used a pnp 450. Anyone know and thanks in advance.

swimmer
Old 01-25-2009, 06:35 PM
  #1855  
derek2005
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I used the same spacers that came with my PNP when I upgraded. I believe others on this thread did as well. I also used the PNP mounting plate with my 480 even though it is thinner and poorer quality. I didn't want to redrill holes as the 480 motor mount is wider. I ended up flying without the spinner, so I wasn't worried about things being spaced exactly correct.
Old 01-25-2009, 07:17 PM
  #1856  
phoenix426
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fortville, IN
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

ORIGINAL: bertsirkin

THe Extra 260 is a dream to fly - one of the remarkable things about it is that it requires almost NO space to land. I frequenly take it into slow lazy circles coming closer to the ground with each circle and end up landing in front of me stalling it a few inches above the ground. It's fast and maneuverable. I'm not a very good 3D pilot, so, although I can do a knife edge, inverted flight, etc, don't use it to it's full potential. It is very fragile and light and find that flying in a little wind isn't as enjoyable as flying the MPXT in light to medium wind.

bert


I'm looking hard at the PA Extra 260... when you say it's very fragile, what kind of problems have you had with it?
What parts tend to crack or break? How does it do on grass landing strips?
How to you like the "Carbon Fusion" construction? Is is hard to repair?

I also have a MPXT and it's a great flying plane. I reinforced the areas around the landing gear mounts and have not had any trouble since.
I've landed her on a grass field at least 150 times with no issues since reinforcing.


Thanks!!!

Old 01-25-2009, 07:19 PM
  #1857  
woodbender
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Capistrano Beach, CA
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

What length are the motor spacers when using a Park 480
Swimmer, mine are about 3/8" long. I cut the stock ones in half. The shorter spacers make it easier to balance with the 480 and tp2100 batteries.
Old 01-25-2009, 07:54 PM
  #1858  
swimmer316
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DERBY , KS
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

ORIGINAL: woodbender

What length are the motor spacers when using a Park 480
Swimmer, mine are about 3/8" long. I cut the stock ones in half. The shorter spacers make it easier to balance with the 480 and tp2100 batteries.

What spinner are you using? Does shortening them cause spinner problems with installation?

First thing I will do is reinforce the landing gear mount.

swimmer
Old 01-25-2009, 08:41 PM
  #1859  
woodbender
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Capistrano Beach, CA
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

What spinner are you using? Does shortening them cause spinner iproblems with installation?
Swimmer, I did adjust the cowling a bit, but I used the stock spinner which worked fine except for having the spinner cap fall off all too easily.

If you go back thru this thread, there are lots of posts about the landing gear. I now use 1/4" cork between the lg and the fuse to give it a little bit of cushion.

I also use nylon screws. I went a size larger on the screws by replacing the blind nuts. the combination works well for me. I rarely actually break the screws off. More often if I land hard, the nylon bends, the cork cushions and we get to walk away with a plane intact except for a couple of bent bolts.

Add to that, I gooped a walnut sized wad of epoxy into the fuse area around the landing gear, and I have few problems with it now.

I'm flying an eflite extra 260 now on which I made the modifications above. Same lg as my old MPXT. Seems to work fine even on my rough dirt landing strip.
Old 01-25-2009, 08:53 PM
  #1860  
bertsirkin
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: , CT
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club


ORIGINAL: phoenix426
I'm looking hard at the PA Extra 260... when you say it's very fragile, what kind of problems have you had with it?
What parts tend to crack or break? How does it do on grass landing strips?
How to you like the "Carbon Fusion" construction? Is is hard to repair?

I also have a MPXT and it's a great flying plane. I reinforced the areas around the landing gear mounts and have not had any trouble since.
I've landed her on a grass field at least 150 times with no issues since reinforcing.

Thanks!!!
I haven't had to repair the fuse, but suspect it would be quite difficult to get it right as it's very light and the construction is very minimalistic. Any extra reinforcement or epoxy would undoubtedly throw off the COG.

I did have a problem with the landing gear on the 260 but was able to fix it. Other than that nothing has broken (yet!). I land it on grass and as I indicated, because of it's 3D characteristics, you can almost land it straight down. It requires very little space to land. The carbon fusion construction would make it more difficult to repair, but I haven't had any issues with it. There are some threads about radio interference, but I run a DX7 and AR7000 receiver and have had no issues.

bert
Old 01-27-2009, 03:24 PM
  #1861  
derek2005
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Rolla, MO
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I have begun repairs on my old broken fuse. I have some re-fab to do on the wing doublers and the wing mounting plate has some minor issues, but I think all in all, it will be an easy rebuild. I just need to get a new wing. I guess I could attempt to rebuild the wing I have, but it is very busted up. Not much left of the left wing. The right wing half is OK. It would be a lot of fabrication.

I think I have decided to get the e-flite extra 260 as well. Other than the landing gear area, there are not many complaints. I was looking at the Great Planes Reactor, but other than flying great, it has many issues due to poor construction. Too bad, my LHS has one quite cheap and I have all the electronics for it. I think it would be a waste of money and my electronics would end up broken as well after the wing breaks off in flight.
Old 01-28-2009, 10:34 AM
  #1862  
swimmer316
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DERBY , KS
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I'm ready to buy the servos, HS-55, and servo extensions for my mpxt arf. I want to leave one end of the servo extensions attached to the receiver then connect the other end to an extension from each aileron servo. How long do both these extensions need to be to have adequate slack to get the wing on and off easily? I won't be using a "Y" harness. Do the rudder/elevator servos require extensions?

swimmer
Old 01-28-2009, 01:51 PM
  #1863  
phoenix426
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fortville, IN
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Use a HS-56 (Karbonite Gear) for the rudder.
My HS-55 plastic gears stripped on a hard landing.
No trouble since putting in the tougher servo on the rudder.

And yes, you will need extentions for the rudder and elevator servos.
Old 01-28-2009, 09:43 PM
  #1864  
patnchris
Senior Member
 
patnchris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Gurnee, IL
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I actually striped an HS56 rudder servo a while back....I wound up replacing it with a generic metal gear one I had in my spare servo box.....I honestly don't know where it came from as I sometimes add items to my orders to make to make minimum weight....Pat
Old 01-29-2009, 01:15 PM
  #1865  
Fliprob17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Fliprob17's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club


ORIGINAL: jetboy11914

Derek,

I personally have the MP and love the little plane. Personally, I think if you have the electronics but are looking for something different then check out 3DHobbyshop which has the 40 inch Edge that would more than likely accept your power combination. I know that the heavy setup of the Edge can take the Eflite 480 1020kV. I have thought that if I ever total my MP that's what I'm doing with all my hardware. Obviously, 3DHS is known for their excellent craftsmanship and such, check it out.
I have been flying the 40" EDGE 540 from 3DHobbyShop for a couple months now, and honestly, it is hands down the best little parkflyer sized plane I have flown to date. It is so incredibly stable for a 40" wingspan. Great sport/aerobatic flyer, and really excels in 3D when you are ready, especially harrier and hover with virtually no wing rock. I have been flying the 47" 3DH planes for about two years now, but stuck in Southern California, the everyday flying spaces are pretty tiny unless you want to drive for a while, so a high quality parkflyer is just what I have been waiting for.

AUW varies from 25.5-30oz. depending on the battery and motor setup, and how light you go with extensions and ESC. A Park 480 1020kv, and a 2100 Pro-Lite or equivalent from the Mini Pulse is a perfect setup for it, around 29-30oz. AUW and plenty of power.

Some pics. attached and a build thread [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8333768/anchors_8415706/mpage_1/anchor/tm.htm#8415706]HERE[/link]
Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	Sq46792.jpg
Views:	28
Size:	75.9 KB
ID:	1122497   Click image for larger version

Name:	Av69353.jpg
Views:	24
Size:	76.2 KB
ID:	1122498  
Old 01-29-2009, 01:22 PM
  #1866  
Fliprob17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Fliprob17's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club


ORIGINAL: swimmer316

I'm ready to buy the servos, HS-55, and servo extensions for my mpxt arf. I want to leave one end of the servo extensions attached to the receiver then connect the other end to an extension from each aileron servo. How long do both these extensions need to be to have adequate slack to get the wing on and off easily? I won't be using a "Y" harness. Do the rudder/elevator servos require extensions?

swimmer
It's been a long, long while but I think you need (2) 12" Ext. for the rudder and elevator, and (2) 6" for the ailerons using (1) 6" Y harness.
Old 02-26-2009, 11:15 PM
  #1867  
swimmer316
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DERBY , KS
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Actually, I got four 9" extensions and they are just the right length.

swimmer316
Old 02-28-2009, 10:11 AM
  #1868  
dazzer26
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: , UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

i have ordered this mini pulse xt , im just wondering whats the best throws to make this beginner friendly.
i will be using dx6i and i have noticed there is 2 lists d/r expo and travel adj which one of these should i use? and what % should i put them all on?
Old 02-28-2009, 07:45 PM
  #1869  
ArnieMaui
Junior Member
 
ArnieMaui's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Maui, HI
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

Recommended throws in the manual are fine. Doesn't seem like it is enough throw, but it is for first flights.
Old 03-07-2009, 12:17 PM
  #1870  
dazzer26
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: , UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

i didn't get the pnp i got the arf with the e-flite 450 , i want to upgrade to the 480 will i be able to use the mount from the e flite 450?
Old 03-07-2009, 07:56 PM
  #1871  
phoenix426
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fortville, IN
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club


ORIGINAL: dazzer26

i didn't get the pnp i got the arf with the e-flite 450 , i want to upgrade to the 480 will i be able to use the mount from the e flite 450?

The mount is different. You'll have to drill new holes for the 480
I upgraded mine with a Turnigy 35-36C. It's more than half the price of the 480 and just as powerful if not more so.

There are some prior posts about this upgrade and all the how to's
Definately worth the effort!
Mine's a rocket!
Old 03-11-2009, 04:40 PM
  #1872  
captinjohn
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Hesperia Michigan, MI
Posts: 12,957
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club


ORIGINAL: ArnieMaui

Recommended throws in the manual are fine. Doesn't seem like it is enough throw, but it is for first flights.
I see you like to golf. Are you as good as Tiger Woods!!!!! Capt,n
Old 04-28-2009, 07:16 PM
  #1873  
pprussell
My Feedback: (1)
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Saratoga, CA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

I have been testing a Mini Pulse XT for the last month. As with most ARF's the kit is a starting point. First, most folks are not going to be happy with 450 power. I am on the second motor, and now power with a Rimfire 35-30-950, 3S 1800mah 25C battery and 30 amp ESC and pushing an 11-7 APC-e prop. This will get you overe 300 watts. To go to the larger engine was intermediate surgery. Basically, to get the CG right with the added nose weight, you need to add a tray extension so the battery slides all the way back over the wing. You do that with balsa sheeting under 3/8x1/2" side rails with some end rails, allowing the battery to just slide on back over the wing with the end just showing by the magnet latch. Place the sheeting with the grain cross-wise, like the bottom of an old rowing skiff. That will stiffen up the wing saddle area which needs it badly in the stock design. Then you move the speed control into the battery compartment vacated, towards the front. Otherwise, if you put the battery in the tray area the factory provided, and use a 35mm engine, you are going to be way nose heavy. I can tell you, this design does not fly well at all unless you are on the 70mm CG or behind it, for more experienced pilots. To mount the bigger engine, punch out the factory blind nuts and laminate some aircraft plywood over the front of the motor box, but first add new 4-40 blind nuts to the new plywood to handle the new motor mount template. You need to cut an airflow hole in it with a dremel. And make sure to drill out behind the new blind nuts so the 4-40 bolts don't bottom out on the old firewall.
The next issue is the prop. Unless you go to a higher K motor, and run a 4S, and use a 9" prop, you will need to do something about the landing gear. That means anyone flying 3S is going to have an issue with motors with 1100K or below, or so, as you cannot swing enough prop. The stock gear is not up to rough field use, it is stiff and it does not provide the clearance needed to run an 11" prop which you will need to do with the larger motors with 3S power. Otherwise, you will not pull the watts with 10" props, which bottom out on rough fields anyway, and defeat the use of the larger motor. My solution was to get two cylindrical spacers that are plastic and black and about 1/2" wide and 5/8 high. These were used for flat screen TV installation. But a trip to the local hardware store will find nylon equivalents. Get some longer 4-40 bolts for the undercarriage and bolt the gear on with the spacers between the metal gear and the fuselage. Now you can swing the 11-7 and 11-8 props and make the 3S setup pay off in performance. As for the wheels, tossed those and got some good foam 2" wheels and cut out the fairings with the dremel.
Now, you will notice the stock linkages are going to let the control surfaces flutter. Not such an issue with the 450, but if you get a 35mm power system setup right, as described partially above, that flutter is the kiss of death. So ditch the linkages but keep the control horns. get the nylon, snapon ball links that Dubro distributes. These are used with new .047 control rods, and you solder on the ends with the socket and then bolt the ball part to the stock control horn. All the flutter is now gone.
Once you get to this stage, you can actually put the plane through its paces, and you will notice it is a forgiving flyer and does not want to snap out of high G banked turns and has gentle stall characteristics. If you keep the CG far enough back, you can use the elevator to flare in the landings nice, but you have to descend with some power on, as she is not a glider with the larger engine setup. If you are going to fly at these higher speeds, program some exponential into all the control surfaces. Maybe 35%. Now for the visibility. Wait till you line up those blue leading edges with some dark green trees in the background and watch her disappear before your eyes. So run strips of a high vis orange-red trim sheet along the leading edges and down the top of each side of the fuselage along the cabane. Now you can see is when it is moving faster with the larger motor. I am now to the point in the setup where we can begin to fine tune the mixes to get rid of the slight adverse yaw and a few other little details and plan to do that in the next week or so. My plane now looks fantastic, with the added high-vis trim, and is drawing a lot of favorable comments at the field. And it will pass most other stuff in the air on a typical day like it is standing still. I am toying with the idea of even more power, going to a 4S, to see if we can get into the 75MPH plus area, but want to fine tune things first.
Old 05-15-2009, 06:09 AM
  #1874  
Snoopyxupery
Senior Member
 
Snoopyxupery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: montreal, QC, CANADA
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

This is a modified MPxt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGiPB...&feature=email
Old 05-15-2009, 05:46 PM
  #1875  
Snoopyxupery
Senior Member
 
Snoopyxupery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: montreal, QC, CANADA
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: E-Flite Mini Pulse XT Owner's Club

After a big crash I had to repair the wings and built a new fuse. I made the fuse with a piece of wood. Have a look on the result:
Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	Qo39245.jpg
Views:	36
Size:	46.4 KB
ID:	1198893   Click image for larger version

Name:	Cx74245.jpg
Views:	32
Size:	53.1 KB
ID:	1198894   Click image for larger version

Name:	Sx62326.jpg
Views:	37
Size:	52.1 KB
ID:	1198895   Click image for larger version

Name:	Dx66953.jpg
Views:	38
Size:	52.5 KB
ID:	1198896  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.