Mini-Review Eflite Blade CX3 modifications - Part 1

[kodak_jack]

Originally Posted by erdnuckel2

Morning all,

it's me again Jack ... are you sure about the dimensions of the CB180? Because I read everywhere the rotordiameter it 44cm which would bring it a lot closer to the BIG Lama or the HBFP (V2) ... this is one reason I am more and more tempted to go for the Kestrel500sx once I dare the step up from the CoAxes (again) because it needs to be as close to indoor size as possible due to the fact that I don't HAVE a place to go to fly outdoors ....

Sven

WOW!! You've got me again, Sven. The crazy Walkera random number scheme bites me again. I thought the model number was reflecting the size. If it were, that heli would have been the size of a Lama 4 or CX2/3. Now, that does put it at the same size as a HBFP and, in my case, out of the running. If I wanted an FP heli the same size as a HBFP (300 class/ size), I'd just buy the new HBFP, not the Walkera. The shaft driven tail has lousy reviews from about two years ago on another heli. The larger CP heli's use a belt driven tail and you can build a belt driven Guru Z FP heli too. Now that Esky has given you a better frame and you would use HBFP drive parts in your build anyway, the new HBFP is about the same heli, but with a direct drive tail. You can start with the stock motor and then change to brushless later. It's always debatable if the belt driven tail is better.
I find it next to impossible to fly in my house with anything bigger than a palm size heli. If I went for an msr, I'd have a hard time opening it up in my limited space available. I envy those who can get into a large indoor area. Winter/ bad weather here is easily 7 months long.

[erdnuckel2]

Originally Posted by kodak_jack

WOW!! You've got me again, Sven. The crazy Walkera random number scheme bites me again. I thought the model number was reflecting the size. If it were, that heli would have been the size of a Lama 4 or CX2/3. Now, that does put it at the same size as a HBFP and, in my case, out of the running. If I wanted an FP heli the same size as a HBFP (300 class/ size), I'd just buy the new HBFP, not the Walkera. The shaft driven tail has lousy reviews from about two years ago on another heli. The larger CP heli's use a belt driven tail and you can build a belt driven Guru Z FP heli too. Now that Esky has given you a better frame and you would use HBFP drive parts in your build anyway, the new HBFP is about the same heli, but with a direct drive tail. You can start with the stock motor and then change to brushless later. It's always debatable if the belt driven tail is better.
I find it next to impossible to fly in my house with anything bigger than a palm size heli. If I went for an msr, I'd have a hard time opening it up in my limited space available. I envy those who can get into a large indoor area. Winter/ bad weather here is easily 7 months long.

So even though you say you hardly can't fly anything in the house larger than an msr, have you taken a closer look at the kestrel 500 sx ?? And if not that one, did you check out the new walkeras that are just a little larger than an msr, but still clearly smaller than the L4 (despite 30cm main rotor) - and you can get them hopped up and blinged out to the max, already from the factory (one is a blue double brushhless, all aluminum version that looks like a Lama3 - but it has a pretty hefty price tag ... yet then again, maybe not all too bad considering what type of package you get )

Here is what I am talking about:

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_...oducts_id=8273

Any thoughts?

Sven

[Stumblebee]

Originally Posted by erdnuckel2

Morning all,

... this is one reason I am more and more tempted to go for the Kestrel500sx once I dare the step up from the CoAxes (again) because it needs to be as close to indoor size as possible due to the fact that I don't HAVE a place to go to fly outdoors ....

Sven

The 500 SX is a nice heli. You say you don't have an outdoor space. Do you have access to a larger indoor space? I ask because I went from the CX3 to the 500 SX. The 500 SX likes a bit of elbow room to fly in. You might want to check out the parts availability at where you decide to buy it from. There were some issues in the supply chain this summer. I found it was a good idea to bring in a small "inventory" of parts since it takes about 15 days for parts to be shipped from BP in New Jersey to where I am at in Western Canada.

You probably already know there is an entire Nine Eagles thread on here as well.

[erdnuckel2]

Originally Posted by Stumblebee

The 500 SX is a nice heli. You say you don't have an outdoor space. Do you have access to a larger indoor space? I ask because I went from the CX3 to the 500 SX. The 500 SX likes a bit of elbow room to fly in. You might want to check out the parts availability at where you decide to buy it from. There were some issues in the supply chain this summer. I found it was a good idea to bring in a small "inventory" of parts since it takes about 15 days for parts to be shipped from BP in New Jersey to where I am at in Western Canada.

You probably already know there is an entire Nine Eagles thread on here as well.

Hi Stumblebee,

Yes, I know there is a 500sx thread by itself - already read in it, but I am not up to date.
I do (at least at the moment, but who knows how long) have a "pretty decent indoor space, about 85 to 90 ft. long, about 30ft wide (maybe slightly more) and a good 12ft high ... that should be fine for starters ...
And as far as BP hobbies is concerned (if it is the only store with parts ... ) - I am a lucky guy, as I live more ore less "just across the river", in the city of brotherly love ... good old Philly PA.

So I guess my "preconditions" are reasonably decent, but thanks for the concerns ..
Sven

[Stumblebee]

Well Sven, you are already set up for the 500 SX and a lot of other things. That is a nice flying space you describe.

[erdnuckel2]

Originally Posted by Stumblebee

Well Sven, you are already set up for the 500 SX and a lot of other things. That is a nice flying space you describe.

Thanx

[Razors edge 29]

How would someone best go about leveling the swash on a CX3?

[kodak_jack]

Originally Posted by erdnuckel2

Hi Jack,

forgive me for being so direct and blunt: but - man, I really can't figure you out - and I don't understand you ... or your problem.

On the other thread you wrote

"I never said I didn't like tinkering (?), but with 6 heli's, I'm not about to plunk down a lot of money unnecessarily."

and in the mean time I gave you a bundle of hints that are just that: some tinkering, but not "plunking down" money unnecessarily.

How about you just go an measure the diameter of the flyrivesud boom - if it is 5 mm, SCRAP THE WHOLE O-RING STUFF and attach it with the Xtreme adapter ... will cost you about 6 bucks with shipping and is for sure way more secure and stable than the O-Ring solution ....

Watcha say??

Sven

I'm planning on the Xtreme bracket, but the only place that has spare parts that I've found(from your link) is in Hong Kong and I need a big order to justify the S&H, don't I?

[kodak_jack]

Originally Posted by erdnuckel2

So even though you say you hardly can't fly anything in the house larger than an msr, have you taken a closer look at the kestrel 500 sx ?? And if not that one, did you check out the new walkeras that are just a little larger than an msr, but still clearly smaller than the L4 (despite 30cm main rotor) - and you can get them hopped up and blinged out to the max, already from the factory (one is a blue double brushhless, all aluminum version that looks like a Lama3 - but it has a pretty hefty price tag ... yet then again, maybe not all too bad considering what type of package you get )

Here is what I am talking about:

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_...oducts_id=8273

Any thoughts?

Sven

Again, Walkera comes out with so many heli's in so many configurations that you can't keep up with them all. I've never heard of or seen that heli. There are a lot of wants and wishes, but I already have 6 heli's now and don't want any more until the dust settles and everybody finds out the weak points of what's being put out there. As far as a heli for in the house, I have a 5G6-1 and a Lama 2. I'd only get a small heli if it had a chance of being able to fly outside and the msr and others of that size and weight won't cut it. The heli's that hold my interest right now are the Lama 4 and newly acquired CX2. Unfortunately, the time to fly those heli's is rapidly diminishing.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by erdnuckel2

So even though you say you hardly can't fly anything in the house larger than an msr, have you taken a closer look at the kestrel 500 sx ?? And if not that one, did you check out the new walkeras that are just a little larger than an msr, but still clearly smaller than the L4 (despite 30cm main rotor) - and you can get them hopped up and blinged out to the max, already from the factory (one is a blue double brushhless, all aluminum version that looks like a Lama3 - but it has a pretty hefty price tag ... yet then again, maybe not all too bad considering what type of package you get )

Here is what I am talking about:

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_...oducts_id=8273

Any thoughts?

Sven

That's a reskinned 4G3. You would have to be a real glutton for punishment. There's nothing like rebuilding and setting up the 4G3 CP head.

[kodak_jack]

Originally Posted by Balr14

That's a reskinned 4G3. You would have to be a real glutton for punishment. There's nothing like rebuilding and setting up the 4G3 CP head.

Unless you have a BIG indoor space, I guess I don't get what to do with some of these heli's. They have the ability to go like a bat out of hell, but what do you do with them in your average size house? They're small enough and light enough that you're only asking for repairs trying to fly them outside. At least the Lama 3&4 and the CX2/3 are decent outside in low wind.

[Razors edge 29]

Is there a forum for this somewhere else? lol

[Razors edge 29]

Please keep it to CX3 conversations in here as I was hoping this thread could help newby pilots such as myself.

[Razors edge 29]

Well boys, my aero nuts motors arrived today from Hong Kong. Got shipped last week which is pretty fast from Hong Kong considering the US takes 3-4 weeks for stuff to get to me. I don't understand the mail systems, but oh well, My mod will start soon, will be time consuming though as I am transfering everything over to a new main frame. Will prob start tomorrow night!!

[erdnuckel2]

Originally Posted by Razors edge 29

Well boys, my aero nuts motors arrived today from Hong Kong. Got shipped last week which is pretty fast from Hong Kong considering the US takes 3-4 weeks for stuff to get to me. I don't understand the mail systems, but oh well, My mod will start soon, will be time consuming though as I am transfering everything over to a new main frame. Will prob start tomorrow night!!

Hi Razor,

reading this makes me XTREME-ly curious ( I love those plays on words )
You are transferring everything to a new main frame I hope one of those NICE Microheli CF frames! (like me )...
Got my new Canopy today from Stamp ... with matching AFC Blades ... and I can only say it again ... A - MA - ZING !!! This man is truly an artist and I will make my heli proudly wear his art
Also got to do the video-ing in the old airline club ... but I have only 7min of RAW and uncut material ... so the movie is going to be pretty short after taking all the crashes out !!
Will still take a while until it is going to be possible to watch it, though !
Project for today (this night):
take some pictures ... and start taking the CX3 apart.
After a number of crashes the fuse is significantly more banged up than it was when I got it - and my verdicts about certain things I already said got confirmed. (ie - those blades are total crap and the 49$ extended shafts/folding blades kit from Sonny will pay for itself in 4-6 weeks !!! - Except of course you are one of those veteran magician pilots that crash only every 300 or 400 batteries once

I am going to get a bit more detailed in my thread about the Blue&Green Machine - which will be (slightly) renamed (I know this since I got the canopy)

Regards and have fun modding !!
Sven