Any breakage problems with CX2 CF tail boom?
 

I was planning on ordering one of the CF tail boom kits for the CX2 but i just had a rather epic crash where I beat up the body (luckily nothing else as it came down nose first and then bounced and hit on the tail, landed on it's side and skidded a few inches) pretty badly and I was just wondering if anyone has snapped the CF tail boom as they're pretty expensive and I'd really rather not pay upwards of 25 dollars to replace the thing.

RE: Any breakage problems with CX2 CF tail boom?
 

I certainly have not heard every story that has been posted, but the CF boom on the CX has proved to be a good part. Because the tail is not powered, the tail doesn't see much stress. If the heli is well balanced, the tail sees stress only in a crash.
Note that Carbon Fiber is, as the name implies, Fiber. The boom is stranded much like bamboo. Each fiber is like a carbon thread and it runs from one end of the boom to the other with all of the threads going the same direction. That makes a boom that is incredibly rigid if you try to bend it but it can be crushed fairly easily if you pinch it. That's the nature of CF. It is an engineered fiber and it only has strength in the direction that the application requires. That's why CF USED to be the material of choice for single rotor helicopters, but now we all use aluminum. The CF tube was very rigid and handled the torque of the tail rotor well, but one blade strike and it was done.
My Belt CP uses an aluminum boom. My inexpensive Falcon 40 uses a CF boom like my CX has.

The fact is, the boom on the CX makes the heli look authentic, but it serves no purpose. You can remove the canopy, the tail, skids and everything not needed to fly and with the battery placed to balance the CX it flies just fine. Over the years there have been coaxial helicopter drives built into some really weird contraptions.

I hope that gives you some ideas about how much you may want to spend on a tail boom.

Soloboss

RE: Any breakage problems with CX2 CF tail boom?
 

darkslategrey,

I might suggest you go to Jamie..............http://www.boomtownhobbies.com/Xtrem...4_p/esl403.htm

He sells a very inexpensive boom for the CX now. If you go to the website you will see his "existing" boom CX set up. I spoke with him this week on a parts order for myself and he told me that his new and improved boom should be out in two weeks and he said it would be worth waiting for. He has finished his new Lama boom already. If you look at the page I provided you, you will see the old CX boom and the his new Lama boom which is his new take off for the CX due to come out. Also notice the replacement parts costs, verrrrrrrrrry reasonable! Thats what put me off from getting a boom for my CX at the LHS , they cost to much and kill you on replacement parts.

Good Luck
JPee

RE: Any breakage problems with CX2 CF tail boom?
 

I was really getting the CF tail boom because I had money to use and I decided to spend it on my heli and I liked the look. I just wantedto make sure I wasn't going to be wasting my money. Thanks for the help.
(I understand that the body shell serves no function besides perhaps balance and aesthetics.)

RE: Any breakage problems with CX2 CF tail boom?
 

Whatever you do don't buy the MicroHeli boom.

It will break at the mount.

RE: Any breakage problems with CX2 CF tail boom?
 

And the Xtreme one, will throw your CG to the rear a good 3/8". Personally I like mine. But I removed the fake tail rotor, and added a flybar weight to the nose of my heli.