Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird?  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       

All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> RC Helicopter General Discussions >> Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird?
Page: [1]

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/30/2008 6:33:21 PM   
DKhairho



Posts: 132
Joined: 5/14/2007
From: Moreno Valley, CA, USA
Status: offline 		This is probably one of the biggest and longest lived questions regarding the Axe CP v1. I have been reading posts and there are some great points and tips on advancing, from price to skill level.

I have been on the G4 sim for about 2 months now and have pretty much gotten familiar and comfortable with flying many of the helis. The Axe for some reason s the hardest for me to fly on and off the pc and many LHS's that I have visited said that with out upgrades it is not as stable as many others out there. I added a GY240 and got a little improvement in my hover but I want to fly around like I can in the sim without worry.

I been looking and know that an expensive bird may not be best as I am still in the learning curve but I do want a belt or shaft driven heli with a bell-hiller set up. These are some things I picked up in reading. I figured that upgrading my AXE CP would probably cost nearly as much as a new heli if I were to add a lipo w/ charger, bell-hiller set up, better radio, etc. I have already spent a good chunk on carbon parts, repairs, and personal mods to my canopy.

The $220 Falcon 3D v2 has caught me eye as a good next step and You Tube vids have shown it to be pretty stable for newbies. Any opinions on this bird or even moving on for a good price? What or some of the pros and cons? Parts being the main one I saw right off the bat as they can only be ordered on-line.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize



_____________________________

"TAME THE SKY or BLAME THE GROUND!"
HPI H''Fire/Align T-Rex 450SE/AC SV27
       Post #: 1

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/30/2008 7:04:53 PM   
blvdbuzzard



Posts: 1483
Joined: 6/16/2002
From: boulevard, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Well, I have a AXE and I am almost done with adding a driven V/P tail to it. I also have a 240 on it. I have a few aluminum bits too. I like the AXE but it can be a money eater. Take a look at jaghobbies.com. They have a RTF HBK2 you can drop your 240 in and have a good time. I bought a bare bones HBK2 and it flies pretty well. I have ordered the Esky tail parts to make my V/P tail for the AXE. If you do look at the HBK2, I would suggest getting the one that has the BL upgrade but standard gyro. You drop the 240 in and you are all set to go.

The HBK2 is a little bit more reactive then the AXE but it handles the wind a lot better. I like my HBK2. It flies well. I have buried it so hard that I ended up buying another bare bones kit for $65.00 because the parts were $50.00. I saw that as a better option then just getting the parts.

I have heard the Falcon is a good machine too. Then of course there is the CopterX, Diablo, Shark. They are a little bit more money but they are good helicopters. I have a Diablo in the box. I just need to get a gyro for it and I will have it in the air.


Dru.

(in reply to DKhairho)
       Post #: 2

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/30/2008 8:36:04 PM   
DKhairho



Posts: 132
Joined: 5/14/2007
From: Moreno Valley, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks alot for the great info. I never really got the Axe up with out a crash and just find it too be very difficult for me to fly. Since they say the G4 sim is as close to real as it gets, there's no doubt in my mind that I can fly a heli at least in a stable hover and in nose in positions. I'll look into the other heli's and make my decision. The falcon just seemed like a great deal for all that it comes with and I could just change the servos and gyro out then sell the Axe on eBay.


_____________________________

"TAME THE SKY or BLAME THE GROUND!"
HPI H''Fire/Align T-Rex 450SE/AC SV27

(in reply to blvdbuzzard)
       Post #: 3

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/31/2008 12:01:10 AM   
rc-jj


 

Posts: 260
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Dallas , TX, USA
Status: offline 		my pennies worth: .... i have an axe cp and sunk enough dough in it close to the tune of $550 (maybe even more) .... i tried my best to tame it and got very close and truly started liking it. I then got a Honey Bee King II and gotta tell you it was a night and day difference - loved it even more. I must confess that the "get a t-rex" crowd that gave that answer for everything used to irritate the heck out of me ....til.....i got a t-rex knock off - copter X .... now i know why they say that.....i have found it to be THAT much better ...very stable in hovering (and i am no great flyer)

i still believe it is a hobby - everyone has advice - take some and if you dont - no worries - you learn as you go ...part of the fun ...
to some up my rambling (for me) - the t-rex/clone is/was well worth it ...wish i had gone this way sooner!

_____________________________

I am NewB at Flying ... but a Master at crashing !!!

(in reply to DKhairho)
       Post #: 4

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/31/2008 3:57:22 AM   
Cyclic Hardover



Posts: 7218
Joined: 5/7/2002
From: New Mexico, USA
Status: offline 		I hate to bash but have no choice. Last fall, the cp was my first. After about a week, the ESC burned up. Then after replacing it. i was hovernig one day and the entire head simply exploded! Bought a Belt Cp and its been fine all these months

_____________________________

Retired Army Aviator - Excuse Me! You sold me a hair with a cake around it!

(in reply to DKhairho)
       Post #: 5

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/31/2008 4:51:15 AM   
BoysToys



Posts: 532
Joined: 3/17/2006
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I started out with an Axe cp last year. I learned to hover in all upright orientations with it and fly very basic figure 8's. I did this with a totally stock Axe running a 3S lipo. After I could do that, I moved on to a T-Rex 450se V2. Once my 450 was built my Axe sat on a bench. The 450 with a proper gyro made it possible for my skills to increase much more rapidly. It was so much more stable and predictable that I was able to focus on flying rather than "chasing" the heli around. I recently parted out my Axe CP, after having it sit on my bench for a year. Before selling it off, I attempted to fly it around my front yard. Boy was it a handfull. I was especially troubled by the tail. I did not realize how long it took to spool up that tail motor after I had given a rudder command.

If I were you I would NOT sink any more money into your Axe. Even with all the upgrades it will still have a motor driven tail flying with short blades.

I would reccomend looking into a nice cp heli with a belt driven tail flying on 325mm blades. There are many helis out there that meet these requirements. If I were in your position, I would seriously look into the Eflite Blade 400. It is a nice entry level belt driven helicopter with a very nice Spektrum radio setup. My LHS has just about every replacement part for the Blade 400 in stock. Having quick access to replacement parts is a HUGE pluse when learning. I have not flow or seen a Falcon fly so I can't comment on them.

I hope this helps.

_____________________________

T-Rex 600CF~T-Rex 500CF~T-Rex 450SE V2~3DHS Extra 300 SHP~Extra Stiffy~E-Flite Mini Pulse XT~Parkzone T-28 Tojan

(in reply to Cyclic Hardover)
       Post #: 6

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 5/31/2008 6:24:10 AM   
DKhairho



Posts: 132
Joined: 5/14/2007
From: Moreno Valley, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks a bunch for all the great advice. I did a lot of researching today and decided to go with the Falcon. The selling point for me was the shaft driven tail. We all know that motor driven tails suck big time, so it was either the shaft or belt driven. All that said, the Falcon has a good set up ( for the price) and has many of the things that a heli hobbyist should look for in a heli. The parts may have to be ordered on line but who cares because my LHS doesn't carry much of anything for the products I have anyways.

I'll drop a line once I get my Falcon and let you all know how it worked out for me. I plan on dropping my GY240 in her and saving up for a Futaba Fasst or DX6i radio. I'm so excited about moving up. Wish I would have known before my LHS said the Axe was a great starter heli. Funny how now the same crowd there says it's the hardest to fly. The G4 sim lead me to that conclusion. I fly every heli successfully except the Axe CP, just too unstable.

I plan on using my paint skills to customize the canopy like I did to my Axe, so I'll post some pics. Thinking of a black fading into a burnt orange.


_____________________________

"TAME THE SKY or BLAME THE GROUND!"
HPI H''Fire/Align T-Rex 450SE/AC SV27

(in reply to BoysToys)
       Post #: 7

RE: Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird? - 6/3/2008 5:17:06 AM   
rc.chris


 

Posts: 16
Joined: 11/13/2007
From: brunswick, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Had an Axe also, liked it when I was learning to hover around but that was it. I give it away to a freind and now have a Trex450,its the only way to go!

(in reply to DKhairho)
       Post #: 8

Page:   [1]
All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> RC Helicopter General Discussions >> Upgrade my Axe CP or get a new bird?
Page: [1]





Jump to:


Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Member Video Posts | RCU Video Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

© 2001 - 2007 24-7 RC, LLC, all rights reserved.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America

Kaango.com Classifieds

0.734RCU1