Update: Twitchy tail rotor

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coustanis - 13 Feb 2008 14:38 GMT

One thing I was NOT going to do was buy another stock tail motor.
Thirty bucks every few flights was not going to cut it. After looking
at various options ranging from dual tail motors to brushless I found
a mod kit to convert it to belt drive so I ordered it. Cost about a
hundred bucks including shipping but not including a required new ESC,
servo and gyro. Just the mechanical parts.
No more tail motor.

I hope to have a bit longer flight time because I'll be driving one
motor, not two.

Because the ESC type depends on whether it's used with a brushed or
brushless main motor, I'll think about it for a few days. I may get a
nice powerful brushless main motor and ESC.
What do you guys think of brushed vs. brushless?

Has anyone else done this to an Axe CP, or any other heli? What did
you think of it?
It's a done deal because I ordered it but would like to hear your
thoughts.
Hopefully they will be positive but be honest.

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The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 13 Feb 2008 18:58 GMT

>One thing I was NOT going to do was buy another stock tail motor.
>Thirty bucks every few flights was not going to cut it. After looking
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>nice powerful brushless main motor and ESC.
>What do you guys think of brushed vs. brushless?

There's no contest. Brushless is more powerful, lasts longer and runs
cooler if geared properly.

>Has anyone else done this to an Axe CP, or any other heli? What did
>you think of it?
>It's a done deal because I ordered it but would like to hear your
>thoughts.
>Hopefully they will be positive but be honest.

Honestly, these micros aren't worth tossing the money into. I have a
Blade CP (Well, it started out as one) that's worth as much as a
Trex450 because of all the upgrades I threw at it to get it to fly
worth a sh.t. CNC frame, CNC direct drive TR, high voltage TR motor,
TR heat sink, Brushless main motor, ESC, receiver so it'd "talk" to a
real Tx, metal parts in the head etc etc...

I'd have been further ahead buying a 450XL and upgrading as I crashed.

Your belt drive kit is $100. You're looking at about that much more
for a brushless motor/ESC. Add another $70-100 for a gyro/servo if
you go cheap. Now you've got a $500 Axe CP.

I bought a ready to fly 450SE a couple months back for $225. Toss in
$150 for a used DX7 or even $100 for a DX6 and you're in the air for
less than $500.

FWIW - each of my purchased new 450s cost me about $800 to get in the
air using top of the line electronics and they fly worlds better than
the CP ever will.

My $0.02

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Beav - 14 Feb 2008 20:09 GMT

> One thing I was NOT going to do was buy another stock tail motor.
> Thirty bucks every few flights was not going to cut it. After looking
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I hope to have a bit longer flight time because I'll be driving one
> motor, not two.

There are no free lunches and the power required to hold the heli straight
with a tail rotor hasn't changed in your favour bt going to a belt drive
using a single motor. In fact, it could be argued that you've added weight
and drag to the transmission, so you're flight times will be slightly less.

> Because the ESC type depends on whether it's used with a brushed or
> brushless main motor, I'll think about it for a few days. I may get a
> nice powerful brushless main motor and ESC.
> What do you guys think of brushed vs. brushless?

Brushless every time.

Signature

Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

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coustanis - 15 Feb 2008 14:07 GMT

> > One thing I was NOT going to do was buy another stock tail motor.
> > Thirty bucks every few flights was not going to cut it. After looking
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> Zed 1000
> OMF# 19

Ah well, this is how we learn. I'm going to stick with my plan for
now because it is in motion.
After while I'll sell it and upgrade.

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / February 2008

Update: Twitchy tail rotor