hi all,

my first post here, but have been lurking here for a bit (maybe two months)


i started out on the CHEAP R/C heli stuff by playing around with the AIRHOGS (pico Z) helo's. after a few months of playing and modding with that, i figured i would step up to the next level. so i purchased the EXCEED FALCON 40. sure there are way cooler kits to get, with extra bells an whistles, and such but i figured..."why pay large amounts of money only to wreck it.i know i am going to" so i went teh economical route. and i LOVE IT!! with the falcon being same and/or nearly identical to over 10 different brands of helis offered, i knew parts would be quickly interchangeable, and within reach of local hobby shops that carries at least ONE of the "exact heli" brands.


i will say one thing about the heli, TAKE THE TIME TO WEIGH/BALANCE/ EVERYTING!! at first mine was kind of twitchy and i did the "simple" things like making sure the blades were even (by hand) and such. after a few weeks i decided that i was going to completely disassemble everything, weigh/balance/check every part. after a few slow days of taking my time, and building jigs for the operations... after assembly its is as vibration free (and predictable) as you can get it without any superskids, or any other weight/ rigidity inducing items. i LOVE IT. i have no need for "3D" flying for now, just smooth "real heli" like operation, and i got it...

anyways here is a few mods i have done, and current pics (the broken tail rotor has been fixed since the pics)

(NOTE: i do NOT know if this really helps RPM ..but seems like it should/could, and have NOT had ANY problems with it.)

the main gear was THICK and HEAVY.. so i got my dremel tool, and cut out 4 holes in the alum plate on the bottom, and i also swiss cheesed the "spokes" from the center hub. they are really thick, and wide. so i essentially made 1 spoke, into 2 thin ones by carving out the center of the spokes. (pics are old, i have sanded and deburred all material since then, these fotos were right after i did the initial carving.) teh main gear is still very tough, and inflexible! plus it is aproximately 30 percent lighter. since this is a FP heli, rotor speed is directly proportional to the lift. (had this been a CP heli, i would be afraid of over revving the motor, with little blade bite, (possibly burning it up. )

(NOTE: copper wiring visible was one of the home made heat sinks i was trying out.. my way wasnt great and has since been removed)



since a heavier item spinning is harder to move than a lighter item, you have greater forces to react against. i do not know if stress has been relieved from the motor, or not.*due to gearing and torque)but it seems like it is running longer, IT MAY be a placebo effect. i will have to compare it to a stock FALCON 40 in person and flight times.




and just for kicks here is a simple light made i made by taking apart a 3 light LED "cap light" that clips to the brim of a baseball cap. (a stocking stuffer gift from christmas)

i tore the case apart, drilled 2 small holes in the heli body, set in the "chrome" lamp shades (which are reversable. coned out, they create a flood light, with the cone pointing inwards, it creates spotlight, i went with spotlight) then i cut a small hole for the canopy switch. after that i tapped the battery assembly into the body. i little added weight to the front, but not much!









anyways, just felt like sharing... sorry for jibjabbing too much :P but she fly AWESOME, and i WOULD recommend the FALCON 40 to anyone else getting into the R/C heli world. remember, i dont plan on going to a larger heli for quite some time.