RE: axe cp thread
 

Stryker,

That Night Light stuff is Awesome. Tell us more about it. Where did you get the lights? How are they powered? Did it cause any problem with vibration on the blades? Did the flight time decrease?

Please share some info, thanks.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Part List:

Venom CF Night blades, 245mm :90$+/-
--Charger :15$
--Power Pins :7$
** Tower Hobbies
!!! --Blades are not a perfect match for the Axe, they need to be sanded down about a millimeter to fit in the grips.
!!! --Will then have to be nicely balanced. I used a scale accurate out to .000 (thousandth) of an oz.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXMGL4

ALIGN EL wire, Blue and Lime Green :8$ ea. x 2
--ALIGN EL dual-wire driver, 11/12v :8$
**Heli-Hobby.com
!!! --There are notations about 100mah ratings
!!! --I note that the driver makes a slight hifreq hum, presumably the generation of current waste noise (i.e. 60-cycle hum-esque)
http://helihobby.com/html/extras.html

Photon II LED keychain lights w/switches :16$ ea. retail (I pulled off 8$ ea. x 4)
--Red, Blue, White, and NightVision Green
--each unit powered by 2xCR2016 button cells
--Will have to reglue / reattach each light as needed to change batteries (not hard at all)
**Private sale, I've heard that there are multi-light kits that may be lighter and run off main battery.
**See Heli-Hobby web link above for other lighting options

At this time I have noticed little to no excessive vibrations from the copter.
I'll have to give more accurate hover times later, but for my needs I have seen little to no 'significant' changes in hover time.
The marker lights have individual switches. The EL wire has been tapped into the main harness wiring behind the chassis switch I have, through an Ultra-Deans connector so I can pull the lights during dayflight.
The EL wire has been hot-glued to the canopy seperate from the green wire for the tail, and rigged for easy disconnection from driver as canopy is removed.

If this puppy crashes, it'll be a small nightmare to redo all the EL wire work, but everything else should take significant punishment without failure.

Night flying definately takes its own type of practice, but running RFG3.5 with the Axe in 'Night Mode' (edit the copter once you've loaded it into a night park, and add the CF night blades to it)

:)

RE: axe cp thread
 

Not necessarily. I have a bone stock Axe and a Axe that has micro retracts, Outrunner, esc's etc that are both being controlled with a 6EXHP radio. I have to agree with your statement about lipos though, Probably the most bang for the buck when first getting started.;)

RE: axe cp thread
 

Well, I've just about given up on my Axe CP. I've tried everything I know and it is just so uncontrollable that even an expert would have a hard time. I do know how to fly even as a beginner, as my real helicopter is the T-Rex 600 and I've flown that sweet thing quite a few times and haven't even come close to dinging it. Back to the CP....I have checked all the rod lengths, changed out the servos to hi-tec, made the modification change on the blade grips and feathering spindle, and tweaked here and there. When I try to lift off, one time it will tilt way forward on the training gear. Without changing any trims, it will try to tilt over backward the next time. The next time it leans hard to the right or left. I have flown it one time since I got it and didn't hurt anything, but everything since then has just been impossible to control.

I did notice that at zero throttle, there is a fair amount of positive pitch on the blades. I have shortened the tracking links to the bare minimum and tracking appears to be fine. Is that normal for there to be positive pitch with the collective/throttle at the lowest setting? If I can't get some help on this thing, it's going on the market CHEAP (along with a fair number of spare parts I had bought at ridiculous prices.) Any ideas/help would be most appreciated!

RE: axe cp thread
 

Make sure you have zero pitch at half stick in idle up. If not adjust for zero pitch and then check again in normal mode.

RE: axe cp thread
 

First problem is that training gear. If you look at the training gear the balls sit smack dab in you rotor wash. Add to that the lack of weight the Axe has and you get a a heli that isn't as predictable without training gear. TAKE OFF THE TRAINING GEAR!!

Since I just got a Trex 450 I find that I can hover it about 5 inches off the ground and it flies EXACTLY like my Axe at 5 feet off the ground!!!! It drifts and bounces all over the place. So I go to wondering why flying the Trex is so much easier. SIZE AND WEIGHT!

Heres the proof: Add some weight to you Axe (make sure yoy keep your CG) and try to fly it. You will be way up on the throttle before it lifts off but once airborn it will go where you point it. I did this by putting one of the Trex LiPos under the frame on my Axe and it was MUCH more stable.



P.S. Since You are a Trex owner.... Any advice or tips for a new Trex owner? I have the 450SA

RE: axe cp thread
 

Thanks, guys! Good advice. I'll do both and see what happens!

RE: axe cp thread
 

Sounds good. However, it is going to put a greater strain on the motor, battery, and ESC so you might want to keep an eye on the heat buildup. Plus wear and tear on your moving parts, and your flying time may be reduced drastically. Just a thought...

IMHO,

Bill

RE: axe cp thread
 

Hey anybody I just got the DX6 and was wondering if I can hook it up to the axe using they're E-board to control the rudder for now, till I get a gyro?

Any advise would help

Thanks
Chaseman81

RE: axe cp thread
 

Chaseman,

I have the DX7 and I'm using the E-board. I don't have a separate gyro yet either.
Here's what I did:

[ul][*] Plug the 3-wire throttle lead from the E-board to the throttle channel on the receiver[*] Plug the single-wire orange lead from the E-board into the rudder channel (make sure it's plugged into the SIGNAL connector only)
[/ul]

That's it! Works perfectly.
Now I'm not 100% sure it's the same for the DX6, but most likely it is.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Happy flying,
-Vince

RE: axe cp thread
 

Thanks Vince, I was'nt sure if the orange wire went to gyro or rudder. Thought it might be rudder.

THANKS
Chaseman81

RE: axe cp thread
 

What are the pitch curve and throttle curve set at? Anybody have any idea? New to this DX6 & AR6000 recv. Also Vince have you used the REVOLUTION MIXING yet?

Revolution Mixing is only used with conventional (non-heading hold) gyros. The Revolution Mixing function combines tail rotor input with the throttle/collective function to counteract the torque created by the engine. When properly adjusted, the helicopter will climb and descend without a tendency to yaw in either direction. Revolution mixing is for use with non-heading lock gyros only. Since the torque created by the main rotor blades varies with different throttle/pitch settings, it is necessary for the tail rotor blades to change pitch in unison. The “U” or up mixing adjusts the tail rotor compensation from the mid to high throttle stick setting. The “D” or down
mixing adjusts the tail rotor compensation from the mid to the low throttle stick setting.

Does this mean it will work with the Axe E-Board Gyro too???

Chaseman81

RE: axe cp thread
 

Chaseman,

Glad to help!
Here are my settings (I still consider myself a beginner pilot, so my settings are to tame the Axe until my skills improve):

Throttle NORM
- L:0% 1:INH 2:75% 3:INH H:100%
Idle up 1 & 2 are set the same as Thr NORM. I did this in the event that I accidentally hit idle up, nothing bad would happen, since every point is the same. With this curve, I can hover around mid stick.

Pitch Curve NORM
- L:34% 1:INH 2: 58% 3: INH H:72%
That translates to -3 to +10 pitch range on my setup, with +5 degrees pitch at mid stick.
Pitch Curve 1 & 2
- L:18% 1:INH 2: 58% 3: INH H:72%
That translates to -10 to +10 pitch range on my setup, with +5 degrees pitch at mid stick. These settings won't work well with my Idle up settings right now, but they'll be fine when I'm ready for Idle up mode...

I also added +5% expo to both the Aileron and Elevator channels to help with hovering.

Yes the REVO mixing will work with the Axe E-board gyro.
I have put 15% up and 15% down. But honestly, I haven't really played around with REVO enough to get the correct settings...

Remember, my settings are to tame the Axe until I get better... You'll have to program your's to fit your skill level and flying style!

-Vince

RE: axe cp thread
 

Hey Vince, thanks thats a great place to start and I am no expert either. I will try your settings in the AM and test it.

Thanks Again

Chaseman81

RE: axe cp thread
 

Well Vince, couldn't wait till this morning I installed the radio last night and it seems to be ok.
I will test her today and dial her in a bit. Seems like I have more head speed than before. might need to adjust the pitch curve a little bit more PLN maybe 36%???? instead of 34% What do you think??

Thanks again for your help.

Chaseman81

RE: axe cp thread
 

well, after successful flights all day saturday and sunday (in the wind too) I pulled the plug yesterday and put my MX400 Pro on order... wooo hooo!!

anyhow, I did really good flying this weekend till this morning, a gust of wind put me above the neighbors car, didn't like that, so I moved it to catch another gust and get me real disoriented (probably shouldn't be flying at 4:30am anyhow) but it all comes down to I lost control, parked it in a bush and broke a blade holder, then it was time to come to work :(

RE: axe cp thread
 

4:30am (still dark right?) Man! HOW BAD DO YOU GOT IT? HELI FLYIN:D [>:][X(]:eek::)[8D]

RE: axe cp thread
 

hey man, the lights from the parking lot gave me enough to fly :D

and I get it when I can with this... yeah, I got it bad :D

RE: axe cp thread
 

Today the tail rotor motor screws came lose and the gear disinguaged. I was landing and only about two inches above the ground. The last time this happend I was about one foot high and broke both blade grips. This time everything was ok except a one turn to the left as it set down!!!! Have to find a way to keep the screws tight. Has this happend to anyone else?

RE: axe cp thread
 

With Heli's they viberate alot and tens to make things lossen up. Check your screws and nut's and bolts every few flights. Just to on the safe side. Nitro is worse for viberation.

Good Luck
Chaseman81

RE: axe cp thread
 

Locktite!
Your favorite auto parts house.
Caution: Don't use the maximum strength if you ever wish to take it apart.

Bill

RE: axe cp thread
 

Thanks chaseman81 and btamxx. First I found the right phillips screwdriver. 2 mm I did find one more screw on the landing gear lose. Today I will buy some locktite. A good set of mm screwdrivers if a must.

RE: axe cp thread
 

Use the BLUE locktite.

RE: axe cp thread
 

use blue thread locker locktite

and use the same short screw, I used a longer substitue screw, forgetting the tail motor has its wires going through the boom.

the longer screw was in contact with the wires to the tail motor, when I throleled the heli up I shorted out the E Board, what a fire and smoke display.[&o]

80.00 for a new stock E Board, I am looking into a cheaper or better way to fix it.

RE: axe cp thread
 

tower hobbies has a free upgrade to solve this problem

I am not sure if you had to but the heli from them