Aftermarket Trex 450 CNC parts...

[akent]

I have an Exi Squadron that I built up that had an unruly tail. The tail vibrations were incredible.

I later found out the Exi shipped it with two mismatched tail rotor blades and a bent tail shaft.

Well, then I researched and found a head AND tail in CNC that looked great on the website at www.cnchelicopter.com.

This was the black anodized Sonix brand that they sell on one of their 450's. The price was right I thought at $109 for the set.

I installed them and then couldn't get the head to setup properly.
I found that the flybar control rod did NOT have the proper offset to let the linkage line up straight!!! I took the ones out of my stock Squadron and it fit and worked perfectly. These have the proper offset machined on them.
What an oversight! The head at least is beautifully machined, but they didn't get that one part right. This would cause major interactions with fast flight, I think, as I couldn't get the pitch or cyclic to setup properly.

Then with the tail. They had a machining problem with threads apparently, as when I installed the tail blades, there was only one thread in the tail for one of the blades. It was basically pre-stripped out. I was a little pizzled at that point.
So, I bought an Align tail rotor blade holder. It fit perfectly and is nice. But that part cost me as much as the whole tail assembly!

I would love to find a source for high quality, 100% Align compatible 450 CNC parts.

Anyone found that? Copterx? I have seen those around. There are also some cheap on Ebay. Anyone tried any of those?

Also, IF the CNC head and tail at Xheli for the new Exi is the same as the new T-450SE CF that I just bought, these are beautiful, are cheap too, but I have not setup this new heli yet. The only thing I don't like about these parts on my T-450SE is they used phillips screws everywhere instead of hex screws.

Anyone found a high quality source?
Kent

[Solitaire]

Haven't found any super deals on CNC heads, but here's a tail assembly that you can't beat with a stick. Phillips screws, mostly, but quality ones. I bought two of these and put one on my Neon. Can't say enough about it and the price is definitely right.

www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15598

Here's a pic of it on the Neon



I think I'll post this up in the "Deals" thread.

[akent]

WOW Solitaire!!!

$20 for a CNC tail!!!!

WOW!!!

I am absolutely amazed!!!

I assume it works well on your Neon?

The 450 will probably have a few orders of magnitude more headspeed, though...
But that thing looks really nice!
Wow!
Kent

[Solitaire]

You'll need a host for your pics, Kent. Then use the 'image' icon above.

I can host them if you can't find one. Just PM me and I'll give you an email address.

[Solitaire]

It's not just for the Neon, it's for any 450 size heli.
BTW, the Neon has a 3800kv brushless motor, so head speed won't be much different than your 450.

[Solitaire]

Further to the hosting site. Your ISP probably has 10 meg or so available for hosting pics. Check their site. If not, the offer still holds.

[akent]

Really!
I thought the Neon's were the hugely modded HBFP's? No?

In idle up mode, I'm now running 3k headspeed with my Exi, so the tail is moving.

You are running that fast?
Kent

[Solitaire]

Some Neons, such as mine and Doozers, are FP 300 size versions of a 450, including a 12mm boom. I have no idea what the top RPM is, likely less than 3k as the Neon is lighter and needs less head speed to maneuvre, but these tail kits are designed for 450's and should work well on your EXI.

It's a Trex knockoff

[Solitaire]

Feb 7, 2009 20:28:02 GMT -6 akent said:

So, you need to post a picture to another site and then post a link to it? How does that work?
I can do that with my own website, but I've never done that before with forums.
Kent

Go to the pic you want to post up and right click it. Choose "copy link location" or whatever your browser calls it (I use FireFox), then in the message box here, click on the image link in the menu (4th from left on bottom row). This will put the img tags in the message. Put your cursor between the two tags and do a cntrl-v to paste the pic.

Voila

[Doozer]

These are the tails of my HDX 450 (Black Blades) and my Guru-Z Neon 300 (yellow blades from my Belt CP). Exactly the same tail. Not the one Solitaire got for 20 bucks though That tail is a good deal.

I use the esky EK5-0006 3800kv 450 brushless in it. The Head is an all metal version of the HBFP head.

[kiwi1080]

I was just looking at the deal extreme place and they have got some awesome prices! The battieres, servos, CNC upgrades, and a range of replacement ESKY parts are the best prices I've seen so far. Most of the T-Rex 450 stuff would fit my Black hawk too as it is a T-rex knockoff, well from what I gather anyway. Will have to put that one in the directory. Can't beat free shipping too. ;D

[akent]

This is all great stuff!

I looked at the HDX-450 stuff and wondered how they look. Those look nice!

I'll have to order a couple of those cheap ones to have on hand.

Now, if we could just find a decent cheap head, we'd be all set!
Kent

[akent]

I ordered one of those $20 tails. It will be interesting to see how it stacks up to the Trex and the Sonix parts that I have already.

I may also order that set off of fleabay for $50, if they are still around. These are the Copterx head and tail, or so they say.

Since I'm getting closer and closer to forward flight (FFF on purpose that is!), I will need some spares, I think.

I have read mixed reviews on the Copterx stuff. At some places, it is very expensive, and others, almost free. I wonder what Xheli is selling for their CNC stuff?
Kent
Here's a pic of the Sonix head. Not very good pic, sorry.

[Solitaire]

Kent

Rumour has it you got the $50 EXI deal (saw your post, actually ;D). Are you going to use that as the basis of your "cheapie" build? You could still do it up for around $150

Bob

[akent]

That's the plan, if the thing is good.

In looking at the one in HK, the Exi sure looks WAY-WAY better in the pictures.

So, yes, unless it's a total POS, that will be the basis of the build.

I wonder what the 'normal' price will be for that heli from Xheli? I haven't looked.
That was not something they had there before, that I'm aware of.

It should be fun!
I have already ordered enough parts (my wife is yelling at me as we speak!) to build both the T-450 and this one up.
I ordered a bunch of cheapo cyclic servos, two of the G401B gyros, a backup $20 CNC tail, the Xheli sale on the 400 motor and ESC, plus one set from China.
Lots of stuff.
I know, I said it would be a while, but man oh man. I'm HOOKED on heli-phonics.
Kent