johnny b
Senior Heliman
Location: Central Coast, CA
My Posts This: Topic Forum | This is great information!
I really like the way the H2 flies, but I'm wary of getting one because of its fragile nature and expensive parts.
I like the robustness of the Trex, but didn't like the porky weight.
Now these easy conversions make a lot of sense. Like in 3D planes, the electric brushless/lipo revolution has made it possible to use a smaller motor, battery, and other electronics and radically reduce weight while maintaining a great power-to-weight ratio. Almost all my flyable electric planes are sub-1lb, whereas years ago their glow counterparts would have been double that weight for the same size. Net effect? IMO better flying, and less crass damage due to less mass.
Back to heli's. THIS is what the Trex needs, to weigh in the mid-teens. Drop to a 3s 1200-1300 set-up, use a CC10 (if possible), lighter servos and rx equipment, and its right in the weight area of the Maxir, which has great 3D capabilities on 3s 1200-1320 and Axi 2208/20. Differences? Less cost of equipment, less mass to cause damage on impact, while still providing a larger blade disc area for (hopefully) more stable flights than the H2 and similar smaller birds.
On to my next question--couldn't you use an Axi 2208/20 with properly picked pinion as an off the shelf motor? That's what is used on the Maxir, which falls in the mid-teens for weight and seems to perform very well. The Axi 2208/20 is around 1.5oz weight as I recall. If the constant amps is under 10A, the CC10 can handle the load, and it only weighs 0.15oz. Also, I have a bunch of Cirrus 5.4g servos, which are rated around 16oz/in2, so it sounds like they would help drop weight off the HS56's (11g) or whatever other people are currently using. I also have good luck with GWS 6 ch rx's on 3D planes, although I haven't flown a heli yet with one (I'm only learning on an Esky FP heli and RF G2 sim right now).
This is exciting stuff. I was wondering if the Trex could be put on a diet to put it in the weight range of the Maxir. This might be the ticket to a great performing heli that achieves awesome power-to-weight and cost savings by going lighter instead of heavier. Add in that belt drive tail, solid construction, and readily available and fairly priced replacement parts, and the Trex could be a real all-around winner for both sport flying and 3D micro flight. |
