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Blink Helicopters . Fast Lad Performance . Center Stick

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e-Ark X-400 - MX400 > This thing will eat a TRex!
 
 
binkyandbrain
Heliman
Location: cosby TN unitedstates

I changed from HS 55s to HS 56s and wow what a difference.I never thought it mattered that much but it really changes the way it flies,much faster and centers better.
03-17-2008 11:17 PM
 
 
Busted Boom
Heliman
Location: Fayettville, NC

Boy, I'll bet the Trex guys on the block steer
clear of you.
03-21-2008 03:39 PM
 
 
Zaaaguy72
Senior Heliman
Location: Grand Rapids, MN

Bang for the buck, with a little mod here and there, I don't think the MX450 can be beat!
04-08-2008 11:44 AM
 
 
jeffreydc
Senior Heliman
Location: sulphur, La

Hate to burst you guys bubble but THERE IS NO COMPARISSON between the MX450 and the Trex! You obviously have not flown both....I have and the MX450 was a total waste of money. By the time i spent the money upgrading the tail and head to fly comparable to my Trex I had spent way more than just buying the se v2 from the get go. that aluminum frame was a real POS btoo. But it was a pretty decent heli to learn on just no where near as capable as the Trex. Just my humble opinion though.
04-16-2008 05:52 AM
 
 
Zaaaguy72
Senior Heliman
Location: Grand Rapids, MN

True, the MX450 needs some upgrades, but if you add the price 150.00, plus the upgrades, the price comes out to $200.00, far less than the 450SE V2. I recently flew with a club while on vacation in California that is primarily TREX's, and a few of the guys that I let fly my MX stated that it is far more stable, and performs 3D just as well. So sorry to burst your bubble, but the bang for the buck factor on the MX vs. TREX, the MX smokes the TREX if you set it up properly, and do some minor upgrades. I don't know what upgrades you put on yours that cost 200.00 more, but they must of been made out of gold at that price. And by the way, the TREX has quite a bit of slop in the head out of the box too!
04-16-2008 12:44 PM
 
 
hawkkw
Heliman
Location: Salem, Va

Horse Crap

Jeffrey had it right. You obviously haven't flown
a Trex and I seriously doubt you've flown a MX450
if you're leading people to believe it costs $200
to build one. Looks like we have another "Airman
Bob" on our hands folks.
05-04-2008 02:10 PM
 
 
Zaaaguy72
Senior Heliman
Location: Grand Rapids, MN

I am not leading anyone to believe anything, I am stating that the MX450, that is now discontinued, was recently priced at 149.00 at Tower Hobbies. The weak spots on the MX are the tail pushrod, tail slider, and slop in the head. To upgrade these areas costs around 40-50 dollars. That brings the kit price to $200.00. You still need to purchase all the other gear to make it fly! My statements are my opinions, but calling me "Airman Bob" was not warranted.
05-09-2008 08:38 PM
 
 
binkyandbrain
Heliman
Location: cosby TN unitedstates

Don't worry Zaaguy they will throw his ass off here pretty soon.He probably has never even flown a heli.Just one of those people with no life.
05-09-2008 10:16 PM
 
 
stcyr
Heliman
Location: Laurel, MD

My MX450 has almost no play in the head and the tail just needed to be set up properly and NOT according to the manual. The tail blade grips were installed incorrectly and the shaft needed to be polished. It will fly like crap if the tail isn't corrected but the parts don't necessarily need replacing. It can be made to fly extremely well so if anyone says anything bad about the MX450's performance, they haven't flown one that was set up properly. Besides the tail needing correction, some plastic parts are relatively brittle and should be replaced but they aren't related to the flying quality. Thrust bearings in the head should be added and double BB in each tail blade grip would have been nice. Tail drive gear backlash should also be corrected. Battery placement can be higher. All these things can easily be fixed with a little ingenuity. The Trex had even more serious problems in it's early developement but they were fixed to make it right. The only difference is that Heli-Max has left it up to the owner to make it right. It's sad because the MX series seem to have more potential than the Trexs. One big advantage over the Trex and most other helis is that the MX450 is MUCH lighter.
05-11-2008 04:57 AM
 
 
Zaaaguy72
Senior Heliman
Location: Grand Rapids, MN

Thank you Stcyr, stated quite well and from experience! The Align guys are so defensive about their heli's, like they are trying to hide something!! Just kidding!!!
05-12-2008 02:21 PM
 
 
hawkkw
Heliman
Location: Salem, Va

Hey, if you guys are determined to pit a MX and Trex,
don't worry about the "right" or "proper" setup and
put the SAME setup in both and see what happens. Same
motor, blades, same everything. While your at it, just
stick an old 3S 15C pack on both, something the average
Joe starting out might have. You're right STCYR, the
MX will weigh in lighter, that's one difference. But
you'll notice an even bigger difference when you try
to match up the gear ratios. That's because the MX has
a smaller main gear. Sure, the ratios will cross over
pretty well if you run one less tooth on the MX pinion
but the diameter of the main gear is what ultimately
kills the MX 450. That's the scenario that played out
in my back yard. The Trex can handle and deliver more
torque and that's a beautiful thing when you're running
12 or 13 deg. blade pitch like you need for serious 3D.
If you doubt me, just think about the rear sprocket on
a 10 speed bike. The larger the gear, the easier it is
to pedal. The same principal applies to heli's. It's
called a mechanical advantage and it by far makes up
for what the Trex loses in weight. I think my MX is
3 grams lighter, but trust me, it doesn't factor into
this comparison.

To me, the Trex is an improved 400, when the blades grew,
the main gear also grew proportionately. The MX is a
warmed over 400, re-packaged with all of the option parts
no one could afford for 150$. Actually, they're back up
to $400 so congratulations if you got one at the discount.
By comparison, the Trex jumps out of the box and the
Mx just casually makes an appearance.

Hate me, debated me, whatever. That's just the truth as I
see it. The MX is a great flying heli, its just how you
arrive at that greatness that the new guy doesn't under-
stand. It needs a bit of help and no, don't expect to
buy one and intimidate a guy with a Version 1 Trex, much
less a Version 2.

Oh, by the way Dinky, you wrote "ASS" on the internet, I'm
tellin' Mark Ryder!
05-12-2008 02:56 PM
 
 
Zaaaguy72
Senior Heliman
Location: Grand Rapids, MN

The point of this thread is a bang for the buck comparison based on the recent price reduction of the MX450 vs. the Align 450 SE v2. The fact of the matter is the MX could be purchased along with significant upgrades like a Scorpion Motor/ESC and other upgrades needed for the same price as a 450SE V2, which makes the MX, bang for the buck, a better machine. Problem is however, the MX is no longer available and the Align is!! So I guess Align wins by default. I am sorry that the MX was discontinued, because it was and still is a very stable machine.
05-12-2008 04:54 PM
 
 
hawkkw
Heliman
Location: Salem, Va

So the point is, at this point, you really have no point.
Is that what you're saying?
05-12-2008 10:15 PM
 
 
stcyr
Heliman
Location: Laurel, MD

hawkkw,
A 14T pinion with a 140T main gear deliver the exact same speed and torque as a 15T with a 150T main. They'll both have a 10:1 ratio. You're analogy doesn't apply as long as the pinion size and blade pitch can be changed to achieve the desired output. The advantage to having a bigger main gear is that there's less stress and a slightly greater range of ratios to choose from but again that doesn't matter (for helis) since blade pitch is infinitely adjustable to compensate. Also, if the heli is lighter, the stress on the gear is less so a smaller lighter gear is more desirable. I haven't actually weighed the Trex but the specs indicate well over an ounce difference for a similar setup to the MX.

BTW, I saw that too, $400? ...that can't be right! Makes no sense.
05-13-2008 03:15 AM
 
 
hawkkw
Heliman
Location: Salem, Va

Honey, a MX doesn't have a 140 tooth main. It has
a 138 tooth main. If you're making reference to my
before mentioned comparison, a 138/11 MX and 150/12
Trex crosses over best at 12.55 and 12.50 respectively.
To compare them with say a 3500 kva motor you would
use a 10 tooth MX pinion and an 11 tooth Trex for
a good low rpm setup on a 15c pack. That makes 13.8:1
and 13.64:1 respectively. The MX ends up with a lower
ratio so you can't complain there. Keep tryin'.
05-13-2008 05:38 AM
 
 
stcyr
Heliman
Location: Laurel, MD

hawkkw,
I merely use 140 as the example for simplicity which is close enough for comparison. Regardless, as I mentioned before, changes in the blade pitch to throttle programming allow infinite adjustability which effectively fine tune the overall ratio. It may raise or lower the desired rotor speed but not more than about 20 RPM. The same holds true with a 150T but with only slightly less speed change required.
05-13-2008 06:31 AM
 
 
1 page912 viewsPOST REPLY
Esprit Model . Thunder Power RC . Real Raptors

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e-Ark X-400 - MX400 > This thing will eat a TRex!
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