Posts: 164
Score: 100 Joined: 1/26/2007 Last Login: 1/6/2013 From: WEST MELBOURNE,
FL, USA Status: offline
The manufacturer's market name is Heli Pro. We have a solid, open and honest relationship with them. After long term testing of the 450SE helicopter, we have made substantial progress improving a couple of the key components and in being able to provide our customers with a solid dependable electric line of RC helicopters. We are in the business of customer satisfaction. These are now sold at www.ka-planes.com
The following are the results of the review we went through to determine if we would sell these helicopters as your potential better Kopter.
VISUAL
The first thing I notice is silver/gray tail boom (450S). It has the visual look of being very thick and sturdy and the effect of the silver coloring on all of the metal parts and screws is really quite appealing.
The second area that I spot, is the head. It looks very thick and sturdy and the design is quite solid. Bearings are added to crucial points in the linkage system to add more responsiveness and smooth movements of the mechanisms.
WEIGHT
The weight of the 450S is 675g including the canopy and battery (weighed it with a 11.1v 2200mAh battery 161g) - excludes 34g for stock 310 mm blades
DIMENSIONS
Though the dimensions are listed by my manufacturer, I always like to measure a heli myself and these are reflective of my measurements.
Length: ~550 mm with canopy 650 mm = 25.5" Width: 112 mm = 4.5" Height: 240 mm = 9.4" Main Rotor 675 mm = 26.5" Main rotor blade length: 310 mm ea. = 12.2" Tail rotor blade length: 55 mm ea.
ELECTRONICS
3200kv outrunner brushless motor, Powertech 35A ESC HobbyPro head lock gyro 11.1v 2200mah Lipo battery and charger. (charger does have the charge-finished light) 6 channel receiver WFly ( seems like a manufacturer for some big brand labels) Tower Pro 9g servos
TRANSMITTER
The RTF includes a 6 channel FT06C WFLY helicopter transmitter also has features for an airplane. The feel as with most radios is good and suitable from an ergonomics perspective. The Tx has a pitch dial on the face, idle up (3D), throttle hold and dual rate toggles. This is a very nice radio receiver system and the more I use it the more I like it..
QUALITY CHECK
Ka-Planes accomplishes prior to selling
1 visual, nothing bent or broken 2 screws randomly checked for tightness and head looked at for adjustment 3 wires neatly tucked and connected properly 4 fly into a hover and adjust Rx, gyro or Heli as appropriate 5 forward flight and figure 8 to check for adjustment We use our batteries in the radio and heli
OPERATING MANUAL
The manual is certainly a weakness and I plan to rewrite it or at least tweak it. The photos help clarify different things but the words are not always clear as they could and should be.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
The Black Hawk is easy to work on and it seems to be a heli that not only has a great appearance, but it is also very sturdy with reliable electronics. The initial helicopter we tested starting in the March 2007 timeframe has withstood numerous tests.The electronics, now that the gyro has been upgraded, have all been very reliable. No complaints or failures.
The Black Hawk is assembled with phillips head screws vs hex head screws. Normally thiswould be a detriment and bother me, but the screws are not the cheap, flimsy, easy to strip head screws, they are a good gauge and I have not had a problem with them.
FLYING CHARACTERISTICS
The Black Hawk revs up smoothly and efficiently. The power combo (battery, ESC and motor) are powerful and the heli went into a hover with no trouble whatsoever. She is rock solid out of ground effect. Forward flight and rolls is smooth and effortless. Around the back yard and in the field the hawk is easy to navigate and is easy to see. The system is very responsive but not at all sloppy.
Upon landing, even a little hard, the heli seems very solid when hitting the ground, pavement and the garage floor. Overall, this heli is a flyer!
SIDE-BY SIDES - not a debate, just my opinion
Black Hawk and the Falcon 3D Price - both list for $299.99 BH is longer, wider, taller and more stable (BH is the same size as a Trex and the Falcon is more petite) BH motor and ESC are more powerful, durable and dependable BH gyro is more reliable BH quality is slightly better Falcon Canopy is more appealing though paint jobs quality suffers. Hot Pink has come out of the factory, BH canopy is much thicker and sturdier. Falcon cardboard box is better, has a handle and can be used as a case. The outer box of the BH is thin and does not have a handle. Parts availability is better on the BH. Not restricted like with the Falcon's. Trex compatible in lots of areas. However, Zoom 400 parts common to the Falcon are being discovered and is taking some pressure off of the buyers. More online support for the Falcon, as far as owners Falcon tail boom and tail mechanism is inferior Falcon head and linkages is flimsy BH transmitter is superior
OVERALL - BLACK HAWK SAME PRICE, BETTER APPEARANCE,
BETTER QUALITY, BETTER SUPPORT, BEST INCOMING INSPECTION
Black Hawk and the Trex
The price of a Trex RTF (SE) varies, depending on installed options, from about $699 to over $1,000. The Black Hawk S , nicely equipped, ranges from about $400 to $699 for a Thunderbolt 450Z Black Hawk is less expensive in all models BH and Trex sizes very similar BH motor and ESC are not known names (HobbyPro) vs Align BH gyro name not internationally recognized as with Align BH and Trex quality, no apparent difference BH canopy is longer but Trex canopies fit the BH nicely BH box includes styro inside but box is not a case with a handle BH parts available and Rex 450 compatible is some areas. Trex parts availability superior. More online support for the Trex, as far as owners Trex head is similar Transmitters vary depending on options selected some parts thickness measurement comparisons (metal version)
carbon frame - same
metal head - B Hawk thicker
tail - B Hawk thicker but has a plastic slider
OVERALL - BLACK HAWK QUALITY SEEMS THE SAME OR SIMILAR AS TREX's AND IN SOME AREAS BETTER
Posts: 77
Score: 100 Joined: 5/11/2007 Last Login: 2/23/2009 From: , TN, USA Status: offline
I am posting around trying to determine if the DX6 will be a good system or do I need to go to a DX7? Poeple are saying the 6 is for park flyers but I have seen them advertised with TRex as well.
Posts: 43
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 5/14/2008 From: Farmingville,
NY, USA Status: offline
the RCU review says the DX6 is real good for the helis though range is short for the long distance glow airplane guys and
"One of the “killer features” on the DX6 is its helicopter program. The DX6 can handle throttle and pitch curves, CCPM, and revolution mixing. This allows you to use the DX6 for micro helicopters like the Blade CP and also larger electric helicopters like the T-REX."
Posts: 80
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 2/26/2010 From: milledgeville,
GA, USA Status: offline
yes, nice little plane but if its windy might have a problem. I like helis because you can go just about anywhere. When you get to the 450 and 500 sizes, they are fairly good in moderate wind and dont have to have a big field to fly. With that said, I do have a couple of park flyers and I do enjoy them when I can get to a good sized field.
Posts: 77
Score: 100 Joined: 5/11/2007 Last Login: 2/23/2009 From: , TN, USA Status: offline
Hey Mr Mike. Thanks for the pictures (twice LoL). I also set my falcon next to my black hawk but mine is a 450. Do the 315mm blades you sell work well on the 450?
Posts: 77
Score: 100 Joined: 5/11/2007 Last Login: 2/23/2009 From: , TN, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Helihap
I bought some 315s and they did fine. Havent tried the longer 325s though.
thank you - Mr M sent me a message as well and suggested that I try 325s as well. Cheap blades are a big deal and at least you can use them with this heli.
Posts: 80
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 2/26/2010 From: milledgeville,
GA, USA Status: offline
I have been playing with the radio some. If you unlock it and adjust the pitch, you can get some pretty cool throttle lift action. I mess with it some then put it back to the settings Mr Mike used. Jr told he Sr keeps them fairly calm for the average to intermediate flyer.
Posts: 77
Score: 100 Joined: 5/11/2007 Last Login: 2/23/2009 From: , TN, USA Status: offline
Helihap, you seem to be closing in to intermediate/advanced. How long have you been in the air? 3D will be really cool and I hope to someday do aerobatics. I fly with idle up most of the time to get head speed and keep things running cool but have not tried to turn it over. Not really sure what the steps are. Anyways, would like to save on crashing for a while longer.
Posts: 80
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 2/26/2010 From: milledgeville,
GA, USA Status: offline
there does seem to be quite a bit of better air float, so to speak, once you go from a 300 to 400 size to a 450. Seems like that is where the real heli flying begins, at least IMHO. I moved up from blades and falcons to 450s and it is much better flying plus I can see it better while in the air LoL
Posts: 21
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 12/25/2008 From: manassas,
VA, USA Status: offline
I am going to get the align spindle shaft that goes between the main blades to see if they fit. Not busted yet but have read on other helicopters this might be something to replace once I get a little more in the air or rather when I eventually crash from higher than a few inches. Hopefully I am airborne this week. I don't use training gear and I wonder if it would be a wise thing to do.
Posts: 43
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 5/14/2008 From: Farmingville,
NY, USA Status: offline
Blaze, as far as gear there are multiple schools of thought. They certainly take a bit of the force when hitting the ground and take some pressure off of breaking blades and different heli parts. However, they make the flight characteristics much different and they can create more instability and make the helicopter wobble. When I first stared I used them and a pro told me he learned without them and they made the heli unstable. So I took mine off and within a day was hovering then shortly thereafter flying around. Later, when I was in the yard and was trying to advance to other flying techniques, I added the gear back to the heli.
Posts: 43
Score: 100 Joined: 8/1/2007 Last Login: 5/14/2008 From: Farmingville,
NY, USA Status: offline
I reneg on the training gear. When I want to try something that stretches my abilities I stick some on just for the confidence boost. Question, I stripped a servo, Can I replace one servo and leave the stock servos in place?
Posts: 77
Score: 100 Joined: 8/21/2007 Last Login: 12/16/2009 From: CHICAGO, IL, USA Status: offline
I have done that before but I think a matched trio is the right way to go so the response is exactly the same for all of them. I didn't really worry about that and I didn't have a problem. However, woith that said, it is recommended to have the same servos specs. I always put a really good servo on the tail.
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