Welcome to the chaotic world of heli's Max!
The first thing I'd do, (knowing what I know now about the AXE CP), is to scrap the stock NiMH battery for a Lipo. The stock "crap-pack" is good for about 7min, if it doesn't overheat[:'(]. Adding a non-conductive piece of material between main motor & battery definitly helps keep the battery cooler, (I used a piece of circuit board material & double-sided foam tape).
Next would be to remove the heat-sink off the main motor, and remove some material off the HS, so that the vent holes in the motor are not blocked by the HS, a dremel tool does a fine job at this.
Get some plastic "trainer blades," they are pre-balenced, track great, and take a better lick'in than the stock woodies. The wal-mart knitting needles 8mm x 14" are a great upgrade to the stock tail boom, you will dent or bend the OEM boom, it doesn't take much.
Back-up parts to keep on-hand: alot of blade grips, stabilizer hubs, tail blades, and tail motor.
Then you may want to upgrade with a HH gyro for the tail, maybe BL motors next, the wish list is long, just be carefull of putting your wish list in front of your wife's "honey-due list!" I know mine got me in trouble, "it's easier to ask for forgiveness, than it is to ask for permission, especially with R/C heli stuff!"

Rick