RE: axe cp thread
 

markind-- Thanks for the encouragement. I am attempting to be as patient as I can. I am not really afraid of crashing, I just want to take it slow and keep in total control. I just picked up my second TP 1320 from my LHS today so I won't need to run the stocker any more! [sm=tongue_smile.gif] So I now have three lipos 2 TP 1320s and 1 MaxAmps 1100. If I run these three out each night I should keep progressing nicely.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Glad to see everyone talk of outdoors flying, I am not the only one who has the outside as the only option. Makes this little heli so much more interesting. Never have I flown something that was so hands on, just for minimal control.

I know we have all seen real helis fly before, take off, land. It looks easy.
Even if the controls are understood.

Learning to fly this, a radio control model, I have a very new respect for heli pilots. It is VERY hands (and feet) on. I can't imagine getting the controls to a real bird.

I am still attempting to master the hover, I have nothing but praise for the pioneers of helicopter flight. What were they thinking??
This should not work, yet at the same time, it makes sense.

I guess that understanding how everything comes together and what the control inputs do is so important to learning the 'how' a helicopter flies, not just the 'how do I fly a helicopter'. I believe that a knowledge of heli flight, the aerodynamics and mechanics of the heli should be the 'heli 101' course. I can't imagine jumping into heli flight without a knowledge of throttle, collective, cyclic and anti-torque.

Learning to fly the Axe CP is a serious challenge for any newbie to heli flight. Luckily for all of us we aren't flying million dollar machines, and lives are not in danger. This is tough 'work'. We can all still get up tomorrow and order parts if we need them.

I just wanted to pay my respect to all those that have come before us. How lucky are we to have this to talk about and enjoy?

RE: axe cp thread
 

One more thing.
Mark, so glad to hear how things are going. Very encouraging, to say the least. I found that taking off with the wind behind me and the heli in front of me is very helpful. If it gets farther away, keeping the nose centered straight and using the cyclic to bring it back to the hover and original take off point, then adjusting for wind, has made it so much easier. I hope I'm not stating the obvious, I probably have less experience here than most everyone. Flying the heli outside is my only experience. Somewhat expensive experience to say the least, but I learn everytime which is most important.

I hope everyone keeps the information going, not sure what I would do without the inspiration from everyone here. Axe would probably end up collecting dust or being the conversation piece.

Thanks to everyone here that is sharing the wealth of info

RE: axe cp thread
 

Lippucci,
The axe CP is great. For $200 its very hard to go wrong. Not sure of your budget, but the Falcon 3D looks very nice for $300. Lots of extras for the $100 difference. Don't know anything about it, have the Axe CP and it has been great! Unbelievable that $200 gets a ready to fly heli!! I remember about 12 years ago that starting in the helis was an easy $1000!!! Only for rich folk!!:D

RE: axe cp thread
 

Nice post nzak. Appreciate it very much. Called the hobby shop & found that they cannot get the Heli max axe cp. Tried to get me to consider the e-flites..many. Looks like the only way I can get the Heli max axe cp is by cat. order. Hate to do that as I do like to support the hobby shop for parts & misc. Any suggestions?

RE: axe cp thread
 

order it from tower you will get it fast the have them in stock
http://www.towerhobbies.com/products...ax/hmxe04.html

RE: axe cp thread
 

Thanks..will do so. Any suggestions pre flite or first attempt?

RE: axe cp thread
 

I think following the manual is best for pre-flight and first attempt. Lots of others have the real flight 3.5 sim. This seems to help out a lot, without the fear of crashing. I am still learning, more parts should be here today, hopefully I can be back to hovering this afternoon. The weather is great today, maybe I can pick up where I left off 11 days ago. I only had 4 days with it before I was stuck waiting for parts. Normally doesn't take this long. I recommend ordering some spare blade grips and tail rotors and maybe some main rotors, then the down time won't be so long.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Hey nzak,

These are the two most popular references to Heli training guides that I could find, and I'd have to say that they were each helpful in their own respect. I'll warn you now that the Radd's site is very detailed, and that his training techniques can be a bit frustrating and slow, but, his perspectives on control are pretty good.


Electric Helicopter Beginner's Guide:
http://www.swashplate.co.uk/html/ehbg.html


Radd's School of Rotary flight:
http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

Best of Luck!

-------------------
N00b Update: I've had my AxeCP for, oh, less than a month now, and last night I brought my bird to one of my company warehouses that had about a 20' open clearing inside one.

I was able to lock onto a hover and hold it several times for easily 20-30 seconds about 2-3' off the ground after skittering and hopping around for about 5 minutes. Granted I have been trying previously to keep her stable in a 6' living room space before. By the end of the battery (a 1320mAh LiPo) I was able to float, wobbly at best, around the space touching down here and there, keep'er from smacking into the ground (altitude recovery and control) without rocketing off, and set her down several times like a pillow.

I concur with Markind's statement previously... I AM SOOOOOOOOOO STOKED!

RE: axe cp thread
 

Forward Flight - Mastered?!?! :D

Ya right! But man, you guys would heli-FREAK out at the run I just had - I had to sneak out of work to go to that vacant building again this morning heheheee :D

Oh my gods it was DEAD CALM and a bit chilly - hazy, with bright sun. I could not resist these ideal conditions knowing I have a full pack in the flight box!

I set up and spun up. Tail totally wild. Figured it out, trimmed it with the radio trim, got it steady, but of course its still got TTCS (Tail Twitch Chittering Squirrels). The TTCS is manageable as I wait for my new e-board from Tower. Fine.

I got her up into a nice hover, then floated around a bit. Then I said 'screw it! conditions perfect like this are sooo rare!' and began the circuit I have been practicing endlessly in Realflight - a lazy figure 8 about 40' across.

I could do it fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [8D]

We are talking about very pretty, flat coordinated turns. I was beside myself again! [sm=lol.gif]

At one point, I was totally nose-in, but I remembered my orientation and 'pushed to the low side' of the rotor disc - and leveled out! Nose down and a bit of throttle and she came back to starting position!

Of course, I got into some VERY uncomfortable spots, especially on the left side during the return maneuver. I AM TELLING ALL NEWBIES NOW - THE THROTTLE IS YOUR FRIEND!!

I was in a spot so bad I was SURE I was going to dump it hard - BUT then I thought 'screw it, I got nothing to loose now - eat some throttle, BE-ATCH!!' and gentle but firm throttle bought me the TIME I needed to re-orient and stabilize. This happened TWICE!!

Whew!!! I was actually FLYING this bird!!! FLYING!!! Another huge rush!!! Go nOOBs!!! It can be done!!

Ok, now back to looking like I am working heheheheeee :)

RE: axe cp thread
 

Help!!! I can't get the screw out of the center hub. The nut on the back is rotating inside the plastic! I figure it is loc-tited, any suggestions??

Nick

RE: axe cp thread
 

hello guys
have been reading you alls posts about the axe cp. I was thinking of purchasing one and was wondering a few things. Hope you can help. First i was wondering about the radio is it good and i heard alot of you talking about the dx6 and was wondering if the new spetrum radio from futaba (6ex 2.4) would work. second i was wondering about upgrades and battery replacements for the axe. I was also wondering about a brushless setup if it would work and if so what works. Thanks for your help.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Use this coupon code when you check out.

011G4

$25 off any $125+ order.

RE: axe cp thread
 

With these small CP models you do need throttle to get quick responses....good tip!

RE: axe cp thread
 

Going to try and get some FF in before sun down on the Blade....

RE: axe cp thread
 

lippucci Read through Radd's rotory flught. I did, didn't follow it though and am doing fine. If you go the Axe Cp route order extras of the blades, and brade brips, these are the most likely to break, it will take some pretty good abuse though. BUT feel free to go nuts buying spare parts if you like. If you have the coordination to fly planes, you should have good success with this hel. Just be patient. Same for Bigpapa.


Bigpapa I don't know how much you want to spend. If you want a long enough flight time to do anything with you need lipos. But that will run you at least 60-70 dollars. Flom my experiences so far the radio is fine for learning with, upgrading the survoes for about 45 dollars will give you better response. If you don't go with lipos you really should buy an extra stock battery.

This is my take on thing, anybody please recommend anything I have missed.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Well just got my main gear in and boy it is pretty easy to install without taking the heli apart.
all I did was loosen the wheel coller under the frame and remove the ball links on the swashplate
then undid the screw holding the gear and tapped it out. Then the wife held it firm in the air and i tapped out the main shaft. done Now install the new gear it has a d shape at the bottom where it goes into the gear (tight) used blow dryer and pressed it in (made it go in easy ) redid the screw and bolt and reattached the balllinks moved the coller back to the starting point and she fly's like new.

Last night I had a little scary flight.... was hovering at about 2-ft and all of a sudden she speedup (with no input ) jumped up about an inch from the ceiling and I reduced throttle and landed. Called hobbico today and they are sending me a new 3&1 board too.

I love the little beast....

Mankind Great Job on the FF I wish I had a sim but taking it slow and steady. Plus it's to damn cold here in Michigan most of the time.

RE: axe cp thread
 

If you're talking about removing the phillips screws from the inside of the blade grips, you need to brace both screws with two screwdrivers, and if you have access to it, a small desk vise with rubber grips so as to not damage the hub assembly. The process that I've found to work is to just disassemble the whole head assembly and then remove that center hub. If you put a screwdriver down on a table, bit up, and then rest the blade grip screw on the tip, and then hold both the screwdriver and the grip/hub assembly with one hand and place your second screwdriver down onto the other screw, you can essentially provide downward force as long as you can hold that bottom screwdriver and hub completely still. It's a total #$%^&@ to try and take apart the first time, and you may even strip the screws if you're not careful.

Not to mention the fact that I have ye to seperate the OTHER screw from the other side of the feathering rod. I can't grip it firm enough to hold it still and not damage it. I'll probably end up buying a whole screw kit, and bearings, and a new feathering rod at some point anyway.

Best of luck.

RE: axe cp thread
 

'tis merely a flesh wound....

ROFL, inverted flight gone wrong....
http://image.rcuniverse.com/forum/up...68/Ki19349.jpg

RE: axe cp thread
 

Has anyone had a problem flying cold. 5-10 degrees F. It was flyingfine right whenI took it out side. Hovering all over the front lawn. Fourty seconds later I was respoolling up when the just got light, then the survoes died and went to center, like I lost the radio. I could not get enough blade pitch to get lift. it was not radio interfeirencer because it was gittery or anything. When I grought it inside it ddn't get lift and then in 25-35 seconds it jumped and hovered, after worming up. This is my thought, any imput.

RE: axe cp thread
 

your battery cooled off really quick and killed all it's power. Normal thing to happen.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Ahh Tex sorry to hear about that. I don't believe it to be real. I just saw that pic with the Carbon Fiber blades on it like an hour ago. The blades made it though Proof of their strength, got to get some. Total carnage. I think I would just scrap it out on Ebay if there are any parts that made it, to get some money back.

Have you inverted the heli before? Because that is not a good insentive to try again if that was a first.


Truly sorry, I feel your pain, Had a major crash a year ago with my Heli Max Rotofly, it was caused by a tail motor failure so I just gave up and sent it back to Tower for a Full cash Refund.

RE: axe cp thread
 

I figured that but saw the servos center and not respond very well so thought it was the servo.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Tex, that sucks!

I felt like throwing my axe a bit ago after I got off the phone with Heli-max. They don't seem to care about customer service at all!! Anyone else have to take the center hub off the main shaft yet? I have no idea who put this together with so much red loc-tite. It broke the screw off in the nut. I used enough heat to almost melt the thing. Had to use a dremel with a bur bit to remove some plastic from the side of the nut so I could get a grip on it with some channel locks. So much lock tite that even after removing the screw, the plastis cub was even loc-tited to the main shaft!! Unbelievable!! The guy at heli-max told me I may have to replace it(no warranty). Bull s*#t!! There is no reason for that much loc-tite, especially the red stuff!!

Nick

RE: axe cp thread
 

I have before but I was messing around...I am not worried about it since I didn' really like the Blade. My Axe should be here early next week.

Even parting it out on ebay my prove to be a waste of time.

BTW, that pic with the CF blades on it I took months ago...