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RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 5:50:57 AM   
osterizer


 

Posts: 1545
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Sykesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		I know, but I can't delete a post, only edit it into insignificance.

here's to the weekend!

(in reply to []TEX[])
       Post #: 201

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 2:37:07 PM   
sammy64


 

Posts: 174
Joined: 1/27/2007
From: Garland, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Trex feathering spindle works great in the 450 and they are cheaper and you get 2 in a package

(in reply to osterizer)
       Post #: 202

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 5:27:23 PM   
sammy64


 

Posts: 174
Joined: 1/27/2007
From: Garland, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Well i do have to say that i now have the up-most respect for the Heli .. i was finally able to get out to a park and fly this thing .. the wind was blowing but i was able to find some tress that helped block 90% of the wind and for the other 10% coming back at me .. not bad . alot of Thrust and power this thing produces .. did some 360's / nose in and some side to side sliding both R/L .. flew around some power poles (never had a glitch about 70' away) i did run into a little issue when i got up to high and the Heli started to "ride" the wind .. was almost @ 1/4 stick and the damn thing keep rising up .. floated around for 30+ seconds and the control was very weak.. once it was back down to a safe height the heli came back to control .. that gets the heart racing .. i believe its a great Heli .. the weight is good .. i did bring my AXECP but it was just to windy for that to even fly ..

(in reply to sammy64)
       Post #: 203

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 7:13:16 PM   
osterizer


 

Posts: 1545
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Sykesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Ha, awesome, sammy64. I was flying mine in some honking winds a couple of weeks ago, and it was a LOT of fun . I have about 4 deg negative pitch in the collective to keep it down in the wind, or it would have been even more exciting.

Couple of other things of general note while I'm here:

Rollingball showed the align motor heat sink on his motor, and mine was getting a little toasty so I got one and put it on. It keeps the motor quite a bit cooler, and I like it. I have mine facing back into the cavity in the frame where there should be good airflow, and so it doesn't keep me from threading the battery leads back past the motor.

Tex-- got a couple of the GPMP0613 batteries, and they give the MX quite a boost in maneuverability over the 2100, more than I would have thought from the 50g diff in weight. It remains to be seen what the difference in flight times will be (I get about 9 minutes from the 2100 taking it easy) but so far, pretty good.

Last thing I've been messing with, only interesting if you're using Castle ESCs, is the CastleLink software and USB interface. It's around $22, and I wish I'd gotten it a long time ago. To start with, it gets you away from the $#@#@!! stick flipping to program the ESC. That was the one thing I don't like about ESCs period, and with the CL, you plug in the receiver lead from the ESC to a computer and then use the Castle software to pick all the settings in a Windows program (I don't think they have Mac software). Click update and all the settings are sent to the ESC. You can even save different sets of settings on your computer to switch between them easily, and the program will update the firmware in the ESC (the onboard software that runs it) as new versions come out; this was really nice for me because I hadn't gotten governor mode working on the 450, but with a firmware update it works now, and the 450 is flying a lot better (governor rocks!). If you're using the Phoenix and have a computer, get the CastleLink.

(in reply to sammy64)
       Post #: 204

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 7:44:50 PM   
rollingball



Posts: 149
Joined: 2/24/2007
From: Amsterdam, NY, USA
Status: offline 		What is the website link so I can program my future Phoenix the easy way.

_____________________________

Trial&Error - Repeat - TRex 700N umm E, TRex 500, HDX 500, Century Hawk Pro, TT MT, MX450XS.

(in reply to osterizer)
       Post #: 205

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 8:00:27 PM   
osterizer


 

Posts: 1545
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Sykesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Ha, would have been smart to put that here, but you're dealing with me instead . Here you go: http://www.castlecreations.com/downloads.html. Tower has it for $21.99 here: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGVR8&P=ML

[edit] meant to say that I didn't think to include a link, not that you should have put a link up. I just realized that could be taken either way. oops. [/edit]



< Message edited by osterizer -- 4/21/2007 8:04:49 PM >

(in reply to rollingball)
       Post #: 206

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 8:08:08 PM   
rollingball



Posts: 149
Joined: 2/24/2007
From: Amsterdam, NY, USA
Status: offline 		This is great because I was flipping through the manual and MY GOD there are a lot of programming let alone all of the beeping to listen too and stick flipping. too get what one wants out of the ESC.

_____________________________

Trial&Error - Repeat - TRex 700N umm E, TRex 500, HDX 500, Century Hawk Pro, TT MT, MX450XS.

(in reply to osterizer)
       Post #: 207

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 8:16:34 PM   
rollingball



Posts: 149
Joined: 2/24/2007
From: Amsterdam, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Another thing. I had no idea that and esc could be programmed via computer until today so with that said on the WL it goes along with esc and batts.

_____________________________

Trial&Error - Repeat - TRex 700N umm E, TRex 500, HDX 500, Century Hawk Pro, TT MT, MX450XS.

(in reply to rollingball)
       Post #: 208

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/21/2007 9:40:53 PM   
osterizer


 

Posts: 1545
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Sykesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Yep. I didn't get the governor working mainly because I couldn't motivate myself to go through the whole process more times in order to sort it out! I like this a lot better.

(in reply to rollingball)
       Post #: 209

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/22/2007 3:22:51 AM   
[]TEX[]



Posts: 9500
Joined: 6/27/2006
From: Glencoe, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I think the Align ESC is easy to program, only five steps and very easy to program modes.

I agree, I also like the CC link. I have a 5700kv and 7700kv system I use in my cars and being able to quickly program the esc is brilliant.(Link and software is included)

Osterizer, I have both the 1500Mah and 2100Mah packs and the 1500 makes the 450 tail heavy. I can get 12 minutes easy flying on the 2100 with an 11T gear/3550kv set up. I messed around with the radio settings and it's quite resposive now. I have a feeling I had my initial pitch set up wrong trying to chase the tracking issue.

< Message edited by []TEX[] -- 4/22/2007 3:24:26 AM >

(in reply to osterizer)
       Post #: 210

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/22/2007 3:58:53 AM   
osterizer


 

Posts: 1545
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Sykesville, MD, USA
Status: offline
Ja, I had to trim it forward a bit to make up for the weight loss with the 1500s, then back when I used the 2100s. It didn't seem excessive.

I was flying it, ahem, aggressively today so I was only getting about seven minutes per battery, but hovering and simple FF I only get about nine or ten-- I've never seen 12 mins on the MX. I'd guess that your Align motor is more efficient than the GPMM one? Both battery sizes were giving about the same flight time, but it seems more lively with less weight.

With either one, the governor makes it a lot more predictable. Even with a flat curve I've never been able to reliably take off smoothly, straight up. With the ESC governor on, I can consistently just lift it gently off the ground with no sliding. It could be I'm just getting better at it, but.... Takeoff is almost "stately" now and it's easier to fly smoothly, too. It's slow and deliberate if you fly it that way, but it still moves out when you don't. Nice.

Experiential note, the CC starts flashing the LED as it approaches cutoff. I kept going a bit too long after I saw that, and even though I have it set for soft cutoff, as I was approaching landing the ESC just cut the motor completely. I can chalk up my first auto in real life (though it's being generous since it was only from a few feet off the ground), but it surprised the heck out of me to have it cut out like that.

Whatever-- all's well that ends without needing repairs. My tails have a lot more grass stains on them, and I also learned that the MAH blades not only fly well, but they are great at slicing through dead bushes (with no leaves, I couldn't see them at a distance. The MX sliced cleanly through 1/4" of wood, and I mean cleanly-- sobering). Note to self: be even more diligent keeping heli away from body when spooled up or flying! The blades were undamaged-- wow.

Had a great flying day today, if you couldn't tell , and except for using it as a pruning shear, I still haven't hit hard with the MX. The crash, when it comes, is probably going to be impressive!


(in reply to []TEX[])
       Post #: 211

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/22/2007 4:34:08 AM   
[]TEX[]



Posts: 9500
Joined: 6/27/2006
From: Glencoe, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Ha, cutting bushes huh?

I got two packs in this morning and it really zips in FF. I really enjoy that, I am not much for 3D, but I do plan to do some inverted flight.

Ya, I just trim fore and aft when I flip packs, I rarely use the 1500 as I have two 2100s. I use the Align ESC and Align 430L...maybe more efficient, but I cannot prove that.

What I like about the Align ESC is the cut-off modes. There are three modes, I leave mine on the highest one to have more reserve power. Once it begins cut-off mode it goes into a cyclic throttle setting. Basically speeds up and slows down in fast repetitions allowing you to still fly it with control to land.

< Message edited by []TEX[] -- 4/22/2007 4:36:30 AM >

(in reply to osterizer)
       Post #: 212

RE: MX450 XS Discussion Thread - 4/22/2007 5:18:46 AM   
osterizer


 

Posts: 1545
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Sykesville, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Hehe, just practicing for the inverted grass cutting .

I think we're proving the diff in efficiency. We're using the same blades, same drivetrain, and you're getting 30% longer flight times. What's left to prove? Whatever, yes, I'm really appreciating the MX-- it's very soft and docile sitting around in a hover, but #$!, tilt it forward and give it some up... I have zero TRex envy.

I like the bouncing cutoff, but I'm sticking with the Castle .

(in reply to []TEX[])
    &n