RunRyder - Is the conversion from stock to bling worth it?

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e-Ark X-400 - MX400 > Is the conversion from stock to bling worth it?

whodaguy
Heliman
Location: Saskatoon, SK - Canada

For what it's worth:

I just..well for two months now...completed the ccpm upgrade of my MX400pro. Basically it is half T-Rex and half helimax. From the Tailboom back it is all Trex, and Rotor head and frame is HeliMax. I use a Futaba 401 gyro and JR digital tail servo with standard servos for swash. It flys awesome and is very responsive something that I needed to adjust to and re-learn. I am pleased no doubt about that.

My opinion:

I don't know if I would do the conversion again. The heli flys very nice but was somewhat of a pain to setup. When it was non-ccpm It flew very stable. why? I could only get a max of +9 to -4 collective which made the throttle/pitch curve very easy to setup and it flew very nice. It is a good starter heli very gentle to handle.
With ccpm conversion I get +/-13 degrees collective which made for a radical change in throttle/pitch curve. It was something I was not used to nor was I expecting. The heli became extremely responsive and I had had to make many adjustments to the expo rates etc. to get comfortable. When the snow leaves and I am able to fly outdoors I'm sure I will get more comfortable with it and get back to where I was before the conversion.

If I were to do it again? I would keep the MX400 in it original state and bling out a TRex...why not? I think the quality and ability to get TRex parts is easier than MX parts is what leads me to that train of thought.

Not trying to Dis anyone or anything, these are just my thoughts and others are free to express theirs.

Whodaguy.......................

02-20-2008 12:09 PM

hawkkw
Heliman
Location: Salem, Va

You've got a descent setup dude. If you're just free/sport
flying you're good to go (assuming you have the aluminum ctr.
hub). I wouldn't spend any more though.

I like eCCPM myself because I use 3 point curves on a DX6. My
max. pitch is 11.5-12 deg. The heli lifts at 3/4 stick and I've
got a little extra punch at full stick. My 400Pro had a tendancy
to fall in it's own wash with the short blades and the extra
pitch helped. You have to be careful about bogging though.

I'd just do the 450 conversion if you haven't already. Honestly,
I've spent more on my MX than on my Trex SE. I like the way it
flys but it doesn't hold a candle to the Trex. The irony is, I
haven't "blinged" the Trex. It's box stock.

To answer your question, no, it's not worth it. I'm eating my
own words at this point because until I owned one, I thought a
SE Trex was something extreme and it's not. I can just as easily
set one up for a beginner, it's already upgraded, and the parts
are durable and cheaper than Helimax. It really pays off when
you deside to try the advanced stuff.

If Tower/Great Planes stops selling MX parts, blinging won't
be a consideration for most I'd say.

02-20-2008 07:03 PM

BENTDABOOM
Senior Heliman
Location: kenmore wa. usa

dont mean to hack anyone off but got my MX 450 xs NIB for $100

thats the blinged version " not that I care for bling' but its thier..... flying a nonccpm gas model for a few yrs am having a hard time adjusting to the very responsive ccpm type, altho have added expo......anyone out thier using 325 blades on thier 450s?? I tried a pair and noticed eveything got a little warmer, altho the glas blades that came with the model seem to run kooler and thier also 325s hummmm..... am using the helimax type motor which seems to run very well! but also have a JGF 450th waiting for placement..... so the experimentation goes on

doing my part to piss off the oil tyrants>>>>93 geo metro 49 MPG

02-21-2008 02:08 AM

h2xmark
Heliman
Location: beaumont tx.

i have a stock mx 400 pro with alum. head , it flys pretty good, also have another 400pro i bought for parts, but i have bought a eccpm kit, long carbon fiber tail boom, and a mx450 canopy, i also bought the all metal kit for the head, and metal tail slider, have not finished it yet but soon i hope. You know this hobby is something you will most likely never get your money back on, but if you having fun its all worth it

02-21-2008 03:03 AM

whodaguy
Heliman
Location: Saskatoon, SK - Canada

I started with the 400Pro. Then slowly started upgrading. TRex Tailboom and tailrotor system with 325 Curtis Youngblood mainblades. The longer blades allowed for higher head speed which allowed for increase stability ...IMO. I moved to CCPM to get a change and start to increase my flying ability.

I guess I have to add up all the bills over the last 2 years and see if I made a good investment or if I should have just waited and bought a TRex. With youngins' in the house the dollar has other things to be spent on ....but

I am happy...I was mainly interested in others experiences.

Whodaguy.........................

02-21-2008 11:45 AM

hawkkw
Heliman
Location: Salem, Va

450 th

Bentdaboom, If your happy with the Helimax motor,
you'll piss your pants after you install the JGF.

02-22-2008 01:52 AM

BENTDABOOM
Senior Heliman
Location: kenmore wa. usa

have yet to find out