JZ, you'll get no flack from me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. The Trex 450 is in a different league than the Axe no question. It's known to be easier to fly, but at this point I'm not that good a pilot and the Axe is easier to fix.

Your right the Axe has problems. The battery for one. I'm sorry your Axe has been so problematic for you. Many people compare it to the Blade and some may think it's a step up because it's bigger or whatever. I think if anything it's a lateral step.

The Axe has worked great for me in that I've learned alot about RC heli flight, but if I had owned a Blade I would've never bought an Axe. Not because the Blade is better, but because neither seems better. After owning the Axe I'm already realizing the limits of tail motors and I'm wanting a CP T/R.



Having said all that here's some reasons I like the Axe.

It's tough, it takes alot of punishment. I took it out the other day and in my perpetual rush to learn forward flight crashed it about four times. The only thing I broke was a skid support. I have plenty of spares.

It's Hiller head. This makes repairs on the head simpler. When I do break a head part not only is replacing it easier, but it's also easier to trim.

It's easy to upgrade. I don't expect to much from anything that is RTF, RTR or whatever. It's just a starting point. It works well with Li-Po's and they can be gotten at a reasonable price. The HH gyro mod is easy as well. It may be an expensive component, but as said it can be transplated to the next heli. A BL main motor is also reasonable. A motor and ESC from United Hobbies is about $50 bucks.

It's small. I like flying in the backyard and hovering in the house. I can't do that with a Trex 450. It just wouldn't be safe.

I'm looking to upgrade as well. I'd like to to stay with around a 20" rotor diameter, but have a CP tail. Right now the HB King V2 is the only one that'll work, but it's part support is sketchy.

I've heard that someone is working on a belt tail conv. and when it comes out if I'm still flying the Axe I'll try that too. I think I've also figured out how to hook up the Blade's Bell/Hiller upgrade to the Axe when the time comes. Should it be on me to try and make all this stuff work probably not, but I enjoy improvising as much as flying.