Posts: 456
Joined: 1/11/2004 From: Golden,
CO, USA Status: offline
Hello , I have been flying airplanes for 15 years. Now - debating the purchase of a heli with the Helimax Mx-400 Pro. I have limited experience with heli's but do own a Hummingbird V3 FP. I can hover no problem, nose in - tail in and can fly it in circles outside. I have extensive Realflight G3 heli experience and it really helps with the dexterities. My LHS sells the MX-400 for $200.00 which includes the speed controller, brushless motor, upgraded aluminum head unit, They have most of the parts in stock. They also sell the mx- 450 for 240.00 but no speed controller or motor included. I want a good intro to CP but do not want to break the bank to start. I still need the gyro - 100.00 and a couple of hs55's. I have everything else so 350.00 - 400.00 is a reasonable price for me.
Would this be a good next step to get me going? It seems it is a love / hate relationship with them but seems more reasonable than the T-REX.
Posts: 591
Joined: 1/16/2007 From: Long Island,
NY, USA Status: offline
If I were you I'd buy the Trex. I recently read somewhere that someone that had purchased a MX400 or 450 replaced the tail rotor assembly with a Trex unit because of excessive slop. I don't claim to know everything, but I've found out the hard way that when it comes to RC helis if you try to save up front you end up getting nailed later with mandatory upgrades. JMHO anyway.
Posts: 232
Joined: 4/10/2006 From: Westland,
MI, USA Status: offline
MX400 Pro is better than the MX450XS since its more difficult to get everything set on them. The MX400 has way too many issues thats why they came out with the MX 400 Pro.
Helimax flys more stable compared to the Trex which I avoided since it seems like everyone has one.
Posts: 456
Joined: 1/11/2004 From: Golden,
CO, USA Status: offline
Thanks for the replies -
Heliko - I understand that purchasing lower grade products tends to cost more in the future but it seems that Helimax solved alot of its problems with the 400 and that is why they generated the Mx 400 pro. I have this little hummingbird with plain stock parts on, no upgrades and have crashed it about 6 times. Still flies, hovers etc... Is this not what I would get if I purchased the Heli-max 400 Pro - Can you honestly say - Is it not up to todays standards of a good economical electric helicopter that will teach me the next step or is it a money pit that I will be completed dissapointed in and should go with the T-Rex. T-rex is sweet, But every T-rex I see online that people own are UPGRADED - Carbon this and billet aluminum that, no stock ones. So it seems to me that the T-rex is not up to par if people constantly feel the need to upgrade it as well. Don't get me wrong, I understand all about the bling factor as I am into it as well with my planes and boats but just want to be sure that the reason you state not to purchase the Helimax 400 Pro is due to personal experience and research and not public opinion..
MsDarla -
quote:
ORIGINAL: MX400 Pro is better than the MX450XS since its more difficult to get everything set on them.
Do you have a Heli-max 400 Pro? Are you saying that the Helimax 400 Pro is really hard to setup or am I reading it backwards. Is it something I can do or do I need an experienced heli pilot to do it for me.(which I probably will anyway on initial testing) I have looked at the Other styles of helis, I am tired of gas stuff, don't want another Hummingbird. Common products tend to be more reliable with the community due to product comparisons and changes and availability of parts.
quote:
Helimax flys more stable compared to the Trex which I avoided since it seems like everyone has one.
If this is true, it has my vote, I need the stability.
The reason I am asking is this: I cannot fly a helicopter well, I can hover, the hummingbird is extremely mushy and has no tail authourity at all, 4 in 1 Gyro stinks I have to over correct it when turning to get it to stop spinning to have it fly straight, The gyro is pegged, and my left trim is all the way over with a full battery.
I am not buying this next stage helicopter to go inverted, 3-d stuff, I am buying it to learn how to actually fly a helicopter with basic fundamentals, learn about Collective Pitch attributes - then move in to some other stuff as I progress if I so choose.
Posts: 591
Joined: 1/16/2007 From: Long Island,
NY, USA Status: offline
I'm in the market myself right now. Most of my opinion is based on what I've read and heard as opposed to personal experience. I can say that since I own an Axe CP I'm no stranger to Helimax and my Axe has been less than ideal. Dealing with Hobbico hasn't been the best experience either. They're not unfriendly mind you, but at the same time not very knowledgable. The whole experience has left a bad taste. So part of my opinion is derived from this as well.
As I said I can't say firsthand how the MX400 and Trex 450 stack up head to head in a detailed comparison and if that's what your looking for then please disregard my opinion, but with everthing I've learned about these two products and my experience so far I would buy the Trex and believe it is the superior product. Either way good luck with which ever you go with.
Also in case you haven't come across it yet there is a sizable thread dedicated to this subject here you may find useful.
Posts: 870
Joined: 5/25/2002 From: Catoosa,
OK, USA Status: offline
jw, I own a MX400Pro, and for the record, it is a very well made heli. However, I have had to replace various parts on it, not for the bling factor, but out of necessity. The motor that comes with it tends to overheat bad. A heat sink might help, but mine started to cut out before I could put a heat sink on it. So I replaced it with a outrunner that runs cooler. The speed control is adequate, but it tends to start the motor pretty hard, and this led to the one-way bearing going out. I replaced it with a Castle Creations Phoenix 35, and now am using the governer mode and extra-soft start. The tail rotor really is a little weak. The aluminum hub on mine was not running true and caused a wobble. I replaced it with a Trex unit along with some carbon tail blades, as one of the plastic ones was warped. This mod really was the one that made this heli shine. Any kind of problem with the tail will affect many other areas of the setup. I also replaced the wire tail rod with a carbon one and moved the tail servo to the boom. This makes for a shorter and more stiff setup that helps tremendously in setting up the gyro. The gyro is the most sensitive part of setting up the heli. Any kind of vibration will upset the gyro and this shows up as a constant tail wag or drift. I replaced the plastic vertical and horiz. fins with carbon ones, since the plastic ones were vibrating so bad. Looking back, I believe the vibrations were coming from the out-of-balance tail rotor, but I replaced the fins anyway. I already have many Li-po battery packs and was intending on using some 2100 mah 3-cells. The problem is that they are too long and won't fit under the canopy. (I have the mechanical mix version and not CCPM). I had to make a battery tray that puts the battery outside and underneath the canopy. Now I can use any size battery pack and not have to squeeze it into the canopy. The only thing I added extra as a "luxury" is a Revolution whip antenna. I didn't like to wrap the antenna around a tube, or let it hang underneath. I think this heli serves its purpose as a "transition" heli between the micros and the 30-size birds. It is very stable, once it's set up and I have been hovering it in my living room within a 9 ft. square area. The weather hasn't let me take it outside yet. Should I have gotten a Trex instead? Probably not. The MX400 is not as twitchy on cyclic and it is more of a trainer than a 3D machine. I'm happy with it, in spite of its shortcomings. The more difficult thing you will see if you buy one, is the transmitter setup. You will have to setup the curves and all of the trims within the transmitter, so I would try and get someone to help you with that part of it. The gyro set up can be a nightmare if the mechanicals are not set up correctly first. If anything, this heli has been one hell of a learning experience for me, and now I know that I can set up even a large nitro after going through the MX's set up. (I will use governers from now on... ). Good luck, and I hope I don't scare you away from getting one. No matter which brand you decide on, they all have their little quirks and problems you'll have to troubleshoot and resolve. That's half the fun with these birds, I think...
Jesse
< Message edited by whstlngdeath -- 2/4/2007 6:01:47 AM >
Posts: 648
Joined: 8/9/2005 From: Orlando, FL, USA Status: offline
jw,
Not sure exactly sure if you're set on either the MX-400 or a TRex but another one you might consider is the Falcon 3D, distributed here in the States by Hobby Lobby, http://www.hobby-lobby.com/.
Posts: 456
Joined: 1/11/2004 From: Golden,
CO, USA Status: offline
Thanks again,
Heliko - Thankyou for clarifying on your first statement - I understand what you are saying and it makes sense as I am a huge reader as well. Also Suberb info on the other thread, Thankyou - as I had not seen it yet
whstlngdeath - Great info, you actually supported heliko's comment of hearing someones bad experience with the tail hub and upgrading it so it might be a common problem.. Also interesting to hear about the motor and speed controller because that is one of the big influences in my purchase as it is a package deal. If I decide on the Mx400 pro, I will definatley get a heat sink mounted.
quote:
The MX400 is not as twitchy on cyclic and it is more of a trainer than a 3D machine.
This is what I am looking for, nothing to fast in response...
quote:
I have had to replace various parts on it, not for the bling factor, but out of necessity.
Just meant that the T-rex's I see have all up carbon and blue aluminum, put 1200 dollars into a 300 dollar heli. I was at the Jeffco R/C auction yesterday in Golden Co. and there was a T-rex, all carbon, blue aluminum everything, starting bid was $600.00. Not sure what it sold for?
quickster47 - I have looked at the falcon and it was was actually my third choice, awsome on video - but decided against it because of the package deal. I have to many radios as it is. I have numerous radios - I don't need any more.
Which brings me to my next question:
Look out, it is a newbee one.
I have the Airtonics rd-6000 heli compliant radio - I will not buy another radio: If you are familier with this radio, please let me know if it will work with these mentioned helicopters as I do not know what CCPM compared to mechanical includes.
Just for everyones reference, Tower is selling the original MX-400 EP for $89.00.
Posts: 870
Joined: 5/25/2002 From: Catoosa,
OK, USA Status: offline
The MX400 Pro is a mechanical mix heli out of the box. The Airtronics radio would have to support the correct swash type which is independent servos for each axis. Futaba calls this SWH1. If you convert the heli to CCPM, then the radio has to support a 120 degree swash setup. The manual for the radio should tell you this. I also saw where the MX400 Pro is now something like $229. I paid about $279 from Tower, and now it's cheaper. With all my mods, I probably have about $600 in it now. If you do get the MX, put the heat sink on the motor as soon as you can. I also put a heat sink on the stock speed control, as it does have a thermal cutoff on the BEC and it was getting pretty hot. Eventually, I went with the Castle esc, as it has tons more features like governer mode and a super soft start up. The extra amps it can handle will keep the esc cooler also.
Posts: 74
Joined: 4/25/2005 From: , OR, USA Status: offline
I have both a helimax mx 400 and 450....you cant beat the price of the 400 (around 79.00 or less) ..if you add a metal center hub, its a great heli....great to learn beginning and advanced....easier set up than 120 cpm....love my 450 but is way harder to set up.....but more heli and a super bargin at 249.00.....
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Mx-400 purchase - 
