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Wow, it amazing all the things you guys have done to these little machines! If i had a soldering gun and enough skill id perform these mods as well. For now im going to focus on weight reduction and a dd tail. I also need to get it balanced and trimmed right.
Thanks for all the great info

Originally Posted by Steve_

Most of us bought these without knowing any better, and bought them
because they were what we could afford..

Too right..

Originally Posted by Fathead

Wow, it amazing all the things you guys have done to these little machines! If i had a soldering gun and enough skill id perform these mods as well. For now im going to focus on weight reduction and a dd tail. I also need to get it balanced and trimmed right.
Thanks for all the great info

lmfao yea i have the soldering gun and some skill just no any money to purchase the mod parts

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Originally Posted by Steve_

The DD tail motor and two tail blade assemblies were $6.22 shipped from Banggood.

A stock tail is at least $4.50 shipped, and the stock tail blades are at least $2 each shipped.

The mod is actually cheaper than the original parts

If you only get one tail blade, the mod is around $5.

I skipped a meal to buy mine

Yea but i have been out of a job since dec 26th lmfao and theres no work around here atm so yea im skimping on money atm

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Many great mods are free. Battery move any weight reduction cost nothing.

Hey Steve, I may have you beat on the weight. :-)

I call it saber tooth.

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Originally Posted by resago

Many great mods are free. Battery move any weight reduction cost nothing.

Hey Steve, I may have you beat on the weight. :-)

I call it saber tooth.

Holy Cow!
nothing expendable left. looks like a battered vietnam veteran sucked through a wind channel.

-mike-

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Originally Posted by Steve_

Hopefully your motors hold out until some funds come in.
It is horrible not being able to fly. It's like a drug for me.

Did you get your PCB yet?

I know how it goes... when you just spent $20 on repair parts just to
keep it in the air, any extra money is hard to justify.

I have spent so much in repair and replacement parts in the last few
months, I could have bought a V912 and a pair of V911's

Of course, most of that was spent repairing crashes, so I can't blame
the helicopter for that

The stock tail and main motors will last around 50 flights if you keep flights short.
The tail loses power after 20, but is still usable for up to 50 as long as you
go easy on the throttle and don't over-power it..
Since a set is roughly $10, we can say that it costs $0.20 per flight.

But 5 main motors and 5 tails in 2 months time is roughly $25 / month
just in wear and tear items. Keep in mind I have made hundreds of flights.

I fly the crap out of this thing.

Operating cost should go down to less than $0.15 per flight with the direct drive tail motor,
since it costs the same and lasts twice as long.

no i havent got it yet i ordered it last week it still says its some were in cali lol i did get my new xieda great wall heli that thing is horrible very unstable yea i soon hope to get some type of funds coming in or im going to be out on the street if push comes to shove with motors i have alot laying around i will duct tape one in if i have to lol

Just finished dropping the outer frame and bottom plate tonight. I took it out for a flight but there is too much wind and not enough light.
I need to trim it up again too. It was a handful, extremely responsive.
Can't wait for some good weather :-)

The PCB is zip tied to the battery pack with some packing foam in between to keep the PCB level-ish

I accidentally trimmed too much from the canopy so I use the green rubber band to keep it in place.

Like I said, the best mods are free! :-)

Originally Posted by resago

Many great mods are free. Battery move any weight reduction cost nothing.

Hey Steve, I may have you beat on the weight. :-)

I call it saber tooth.

WOW!!!! looks like something from a futur movie but hey i like it i bet it gets its nose down and flies quick as lightening gotta get some video of that wild beast in the air

Most of the mods suggested here have been beneficial and half the fun is doing something yourself. When I am finished the only original parts will be the frame and boom, I will have something that flies better and the enjoyment of tinkering for better performance.

But we have to admit the std 9116 is a dog out of the box with heaps of design and part problems, we probably all had better expectations at purchase. I read through every comment on the old thread before buying, but didn't really see too much info re the poor performance.

I am still persevering with the 9116 (also on a strict budget) and expect to get it to being a reasonable machine for calm outdoor conditions and some indoor flying at my sons warehouse (he is a keen flyer also). Steve's battery/PCB swap and trimming the flybar mods will be tried along with the better swashplate/heads etc and an Xtreme 180A. I have come this far I might as well see the full potential.