The Cat's EXI 450SE

[Solitaire]

Warning: Noob answer.
Can't say for sure, BT. Maybe Kent knows.
If you're going for tail parts, why not get the CNC tail from Deal Extreme? Not much more...complete tail assy for $20

[BTCat]

Apr 15, 2009 20:09:14 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

Warning: Noob answer.
Can't say for sure, BT. Maybe Kent knows.
If you're going for tail parts, why not get the CNC tail from Deal Extreme? Not much more...complete tail assy for $20

Got the Deal Extreme parts on the way. Slow boat, though ;D. I just saw this kit yesterday and thought it was a good idea for spare parts. I haven't even begun to buy any spares.

[akent]

Apr 15, 2009 18:10:57 GMT -6 BTCat said:

WARNING: Noob question! Will these parts work for the EXI? They are for the Trex 450XL

www.helidirect.com/align-new-outdoor-firstaid-partsxl-hs1185-p-4194.hdx

BT, I don't think those parts will work, for several reasons.
The feathering shaft is not stepped, so would be the old style 3mm shaft.
The bearing style is different.
The tail housing is way different.
I think that's for the Trex old style.

Exi replacement parts from Xheli are nice. They have pretty darned good prices for the Exi parts.
You need to look at the parts for the Exi 18H31.
Of course, the Align SE parts should also work.

Best,
Kent

[akent]

SE spares:

Main gears
Main shafts
Feathering shafts (Same as Align SE V2 - stepped 4mm)
Blades
Blade holders
Tail shafts
Booms
Boom supports (Hint, the Squadron boom supports are carbon fiber and way stronger than the SE)
Cyclic servos or gear sets if rebuildable.
Tail blades

These are the things that I seem to break the most.
Kent

[BTCat]

Thanks Kent! saves me the trouble of finding out the hard way on ordering parts.

Thanks for the parts list also, I will start looking into that pretty soon.

Right now I am wondering where the he// my cyclic servos are The seller says they get held up in customs. I believe him, but around 14 days from Canada?

[akent]

Apr 16, 2009 16:16:26 GMT -6 BTCat said:

Thanks Kent! saves me the trouble of finding out the hard way on ordering parts.

Thanks for the parts list also, I will start looking into that pretty soon.

Right now I am wondering where the he// my cyclic servos are The seller says they get held up in customs. I believe him, but around 14 days from Canada?

That really sux, BT. It's faster it seems to get stuff from many thousands of miles farther away!!!
I don't understand that delay.
I guess you have a tracking number and it just shows stalled?
I sure hope they get it to you fast!!

If you ordered the HS65HB's, I found a place that sells em for 19.95. I ordered 3 more for spares. I ordered them on April 14, and received them today!
Here's a link, in case you wanted to order these and then use the forever ones as spares! Ya never know!
www.centralhobbies.com/radiosNservos/hitec/hitec65.html
What's interesting is that this is the only Hitec servo they carry! This is a mostly airplane site, but that's the cheapest I've seen those servos.

Best,
Kent

[BTCat]

Well, still no servos . Pulled the trigger on an order from Central Hobbies a minute ago, so worst case is I will have a set this weekend. Best case is I will have two sets this weekend. Hitec HS-65HB BTW.

Been piddling and polishing. I got some molecular oil (think Slick 50) from the sporting goods store (make for fishing reels). Very light synthetic that bonds to the parts for a semi-perminate coating. Figured it was worth a try. Lubed everything that needed it and a few things that didn't

Balanced my blades to almost perfection. Ready to go. Mounted my ESC in the front below the battery tray and my RX on the tray below the gyro. Nothing left to do but wait for the servos......And then It hit me that I should decorate the canopy.....

[BTCat]

Okay, so now the canopy. Turned out very nice. I sanded the original and then rubbed it down with steel wool. Cleaned it with alcohol and painted it with a high gloss lacquer. Got the decals from Walmart, of all places. The canopy is now in my garage waiting a second coat of clear coat I had left over from a car project. Looks pretty sharp, if I say so myself. Won't look that way for long.

Here is the original:



Here is the transformation:

[akent]

Apr 21, 2009 20:05:46 GMT -6 BTCat said:

Okay, so now the canopy. Turned out very nice. I sanded the original and then rubbed it down with steel wool. Cleaned it with alcohol and painted it with a high gloss lacquer. Got the decals from Walmart, of all places. The canopy is now in my garage waiting a second coat of clear coat I had left over from a car project. Looks pretty sharp, if I say so myself. Won't look that way for long.

THAT'S FREAKING AWESOME, BT!!!!!!!

Wow is all I can say!!! Incredibly artistic!!!

Where did you find decals like that in the store?
Kent

[BTCat]

Apr 21, 2009 20:09:12 GMT -6 akent said:

Apr 21, 2009 20:05:46 GMT -6 BTCat said:

Okay, so now the canopy. Turned out very nice. I sanded the original and then rubbed it down with steel wool. Cleaned it with alcohol and painted it with a high gloss lacquer. Got the decals from Walmart, of all places. The canopy is now in my garage waiting a second coat of clear coat I had left over from a car project. Looks pretty sharp, if I say so myself. Won't look that way for long.

THAT'S FREAKING AWESOME, BT!!!!!!!

Wow is all I can say!!! Incredibly artistic!!!

Where did you find decals like that in the store?
Kent

Thanks Kent, Kind of hard to say where the decals normally are. They are remodeling ours and have stuff everywhere. It was near the automotive stuff, though. These were the only ones that would come close to fitting a canopy. Turns out, they were perfect.

[ranben]

Great Job BT.

Thats Pretty sharp for a Walmart decal too.

[Solitaire]

Nicely done, Bill. The decal was a perfect fit.
Or "deecal" as some Americans like to say. ;D

Looks like you can soon change your sig...again.

[prlsr]

Hello,

I just registered. BIG ERNIE saw me on RCDiscuss and invited me here. I like the forum already!

I have recently purchased a kit EXI450 as well. I was reading that others have had bad luck with ESC's in the 40A range. Bad stories of burning em up like the one above. I am inclined to get a 50A or 60A based on these testimonies.

Being a new heli "fan" I may have been presumptuous in getting the motor I did though. Sounds like I got a lighter one then I need. I have an EXCEED RC Alpha 400 outrunner. Too small for basic flying? I'm no 3D pilot............yet! Later, maybe.

I also purchased an ESKY 0704B GYRO. I read it was a good GYRO with good stat's.

I got a TX/RX combo, but from a company that I am beginning to doubt - WALKERA. It's a WK-0703 7ch. computer radio. Holds 8 models and has all accessories. Even the servo's.

That leads to a question.

I noticed that many heli owners go with different tail rotor servos. Why? Is it important?

Thanks in advance for any answers!

[McKrackin]

Put your high torque servos on the cyclic and your high SPEED servos on the tail.Most guys go with a digital servo on the tail as well.Perfect as long as your gyro has digi capabilities.

You should start a new thread with your heli and your questions regarding it.
Also,as you progress,it would be cool to post your progress and how you got'r done ;D

Welcome aboard by the way ;D

[akent]

Yes, welcome to the board, prlsr!

And please do start a new thread about your heli!
I have some comments for it already!

Best,
Kent