Blade CP+ parts question

[SquelchKnob]

I just called the LHS and order a Blade CP+.I wanted something small with a tailrotor that I can hopefully get the feel for a tailrotor with by using indoors for hovering paractice.

I bought RealFlight G4 and have upgraded that to G 4.5 and am using one of the swap files of a Blade CP Pro to practice with now. I can maintain a nose out hover, guessing in a bout a 5'x5' area in the sim till the battery dies and pretty much do that over and over.

I decided on the CP+ as it was cheap and I figure it should last long enough to give me a feel for a tailrotor.

Anyway, since the decision to go with the CP+ has been made, I figured I would kick out a post to start getting some input as to what spare parts I should order to keep on hand.

I plan to order about 3 spare batteries and likely a spare Main Motor and tailmotor and a couple sets of Flat bottom wood blades as well as tail rotor blades.

So far the only thing I have ordered is the Blade CP+ as well as the Main Motor Heatsink and the Tail Motor Heat sink.

Any other recomendations as to what other parts I should likely have on hand before putting this thing in the air? It should be here this friday. Oh I guess I should add that I am hoping to keep this thing as stocl as possible to use as a hover trainer. later I hope to pass it on to my boys who are 11 & 14 for thier hover trainer.

[The Steve-O]

Landing skids, I break those more than any other part.

[SquelchKnob]

Landing skids, I break those more than any other part.

Oops I forgot those. Thanks

I take it, with some luck I shouldn't need a surplus of servos right off the bat. I should be able to hold on those until a future order I hope.

I am going to parts together an actual parts order and place it on here. I know these things are twitchy little monsters and I'll likely have a hard time with it, being my first tailrotor and I don't want to get carried away flying it unless I have the most commonly broken parts either on hand or at least on order.

[SquelchKnob]

OK. Here are my thoughts for the parts order.:

Already ordered:
Blade CP+
Tail Motor Heatsink
Main Motor Heatsink

Next parts Order:
3 - 800mAh 3S 11.1V 15C LiPo, 20GA JST/Balance
1 - Tail Motor with 8T 0.5M Pinion
1 - 370 Motor with 9T 0.5M Pinion

3 -Crash Kits



Contains:

Landing Skid Set
Flat-bottom main blades Set
Tail Rotor Blade
Flybar
I am assuming this stuff should give me a stock of the most commonly relpaced stuff to get me started so that I have enough parts on hand to get me though till any replacement orders arrive.

Look about right?

[nitrohog]

I tend to bend the main shaft quite a bit and the spindle shaft occasionally as well. I have only bent one flybar and broken one gear leg. I use 1320 mah TP batteries with great luck.

[SquelchKnob]

I tend to bend the main shaft quite a bit and the spindle shaft occasionally as well. I have only bent one flybar and broken one gear leg. I use 1320 mah TP batteries with great luck.


Great. Good to know and thanks.

For this first order I am hoping o stock up on some of the most commnly replaced parts.

I'll be doing up another order of what I would deem non-consumables and will probably keep one each of those on hand. Looks like these shafts might be better placed on that order.

I'll be using training gear and will not be going after any 3D stuff. So with my hitting the Sim very hard I kind of "HOPE" that I can get by the first couple of weeks without replacing much more than blades. After that I should have a stockpile of blades and get itno stocking up on those parts that don;t go quite as often.

Thanks again.

[zore]

I have since converted my blade cp pro to a guru-z with belt drive, but I can say that main shafts and feathering shafts. Blades are also a good thing to keep on hand. I'd avoid plastic blades until you stop crashing as they eat tail booms.

[WickedDragon]

Blade grips! Lots of blade grips....they break if you look at them wrong. Main shafts too.

[SquelchKnob]

I have since converted my blade cp pro to a guru-z with belt drive, but I can say that main shafts and feathering shafts. Blades are also a good thing to keep on hand. I'd avoid plastic blades until you stop crashing as they eat tail booms.

Blade grips! Lots of blade grips....they break if you look at them wrong. Main shafts too.

Thanks guys, I'll add these to the list. I had not thought about the blade grips. Glad I asked. I'll add these to the list for the next order.

[Kindling Maker]

Buy a B400 it will be cheaper in the long run.

[nitrohog]

I only break blade grips while running carbons, woodies are the way to go when your first getting started.

[Kindling Maker]

THe pliastiblades are ok but you will break and bend stufdf with them because they are so hard.

[SquelchKnob]

Buy a B400 it will be cheaper in the long run.

You are probably correct but I already decided on the CP+ because I wanted something I could hand over to my boys when they are ready. I have been letting them fly my 2 Blade CX2s for the past couple of months. What they don't realize yet is tha they are getting those for X-Mas so they are already flying there own CX2s with my providing tips on flight, care and maintenance. I also purchased RealFlight G4 and already have both of them practicing with a simulated Blade CP Pro 2.

So my plan is to give the boys the CX2s for X-Mas. In the meantime. I am putting together my own collection of spares and such for 2 more CP+s and the plan is that when I think each of them is ready for them. They will get those as well.

As one of the boys is 11 and the other 14 I am a prettty uncomfortable handing them over Blade 400s or the T-Rex 450 I was thinking about.

I am divorced and only get the boys every other weekend and handing them something the size of a 400 and letting them take those home and learn to fly at their mother's house isn't going to happen. The chances or them injuring themselves or someone else should be far less with the CP+ at this point.

But for the time being, the CP+ I will be picking up today will be mine to learn hovering with and basic flight. Once my oldest boy comes a bit further along. As I expect him to pick this up faster than the yongest, judging from what he already display on the CX2 and the Sim, I plan to pick up another CP+ and possibly tweak that up for a bit more advance flight. And use that for myself until the younger comes along, Then I can hand the toned down CP+ to the younger boy and give the tweaked up CP+ to the oldest.

From there, I'll be looking for something else for myself. Still keeping in mind the end goal is to hand it off to the boys when I feel their skills are ready.

So yes, I would agree that if I were only working from the perspective of buying for myself, the 400 would be he way to go or my original thoughts of the T-Rex 450 or 500. But since I need to keep the boys in mind. My plan seems to fit my particular situation a bit better.

Sorry for not having laid all that out before. Was just hoping to get some input based on the fact that the purchase had already been made.



I only break blade grips while running carbons, woodies are the way to go when your first getting started.

I see allot of similar thoughts. I am going with wood for starters. Picked up a set today as the LHS had some in stock. I will still likely add a set of grips to one of the next few orders though. I am sure they will be needed eventually since I plan to get "2" CP+s. For the reasons as laid out above.

Thanks for the info guys. :cheers

[WickedDragon]

I only break blade grips while running carbons, woodies are the way to go when your first getting started.

Really?! With the Bell-Hiller head? :shock:

I look at a stock grip wrong and the boss for the mixing arm breaks. Hell, it tipped over after shut down and broke grips! :thumbdown: I've since replaced with aluminum to prevent this. :thumbup:

[nitrohog]

Really?! With the Bell-Hiller head? :shock:


Yup, I have never broken the bosses with woodies. I have broken a few running carbons, but that is to be expected. Regardless it is a good thing to keep around, eventually you'll need them. Props to you for getting your kids into RC and giving it a shot yourself. I agree that the lower headspeed is going to be safer but the CP is a hard little bird to fly. I would recommend adding a couple of gyros to your parts list to tame them down a bit.

[SquelchKnob]

Yup, I have never broken the bosses with woodies. I have broken a few running carbons, but that is to be expected. Regardless it is a good thing to keep around, eventually you'll need them. Props to you for getting your kids into RC and giving it a shot yourself. I agree that the lower headspeed is going to be safer but the CP is a hard little bird to fly. I would recommend adding a couple of gyros to your parts list to tame them down a bit.

I did talk to my mentor about adding the Heading Lock Gyros to the CP+. Yes he did recommend it but also said they'll likely not be of any major benifit to me until I start getting into forward flight.

I still have allot to think about in regards to how I want to go about this. The thing is, this CP+ was bought strictly to be used as a training bird and I was not trying to sink allot of money into it. Once I get around to actually putting it into the air the first time it should point out my weaknesses and shine a light on what I need to go back and focus on with the Sim, RealFlight G 4.5.

If I can use the CP+ to get somewhat of a grasp of hovering with, even though I do fully understand it is going to be a monster, I have no problems about going out and then buying a couple of CP Pro2s which do come with the Heading lock Gyros and just putting the Flat Bottom blades on those and toning them down enough to let those be my forward flight trainers and go from there.

Last night I made an Excel spreadsheet up of goals I want to accomplish in the Simulator prior to putting the CP+ in the air. Also decided I might be best off going and doing the Fuse Mod as well as the Paperclip Mod.

But as far as the heading lock Gyro, I am still undecided. Yes it will make it easier but to be honest I am not sure I want to start right off the bat with the heading Gyro simply because I think I would at least like to have the experience of flying without that first off, Then later either install it on the CP+ or go with the CP Pro2s, which was always the plan anyway.

[EVBmcx]

I've been flying the CP+ for the past few weekends and now am fairly comfortable hovering it badly. I turned the gain up on the gyro and the tail isn't much of an issue at this point. I am considering adding the G90 this xmas but that hasn't really been the issue.

Several people have told me that it is a hard bird to fly, especially the LHS helo guy who wants to put me in a T-REX 500. Certainly it is not stable.

The parts, fortunately, are fairly cheap and easy to replace (see other posts).

I've been using clearview a bit but still am waiting on the E-sky controller. I think by next weekend (2-3 packs later) I will be pretty comfortable with it. If you've been flying CX2's then just jump in - I have essentially zero helo experience before this bout of insanity and the learning curve is moderating.

I am toying with the idea of adding either a 400-class or a Corsair this xmas - assume that the 400 would be more stable and wind resistant. Anyone transitioned from a CP up?

[The Steve-O]

I went from a CP to a T-Rex 450. The Rex is much more stable than the CP and can take a fair amount of wind. I have a feeling the Blade 400 would be similar with being able to take some wind, and would be definitly more stable. Setup is everything, if you have it setup wrong, 450's can be hard to fly. Finless' videos are good at getting an initial setup that you can tweak to your style.

[SquelchKnob]

Thanks guys.

I am about ready to submit my parts order for this thing. I won't fly it till I get the parts in and look into the fuse mod as well as the Paper Clip mod.

My parts order is as follows. This stuff should give me a stash of the commonly replaced parts. As well as a few extra batteries, a extra charger setup and support items.
.
800mAh 3S 11.1V 15C LiPo, 20GA JST/Balance
$37.99 [EFLB0996] - 3 EACH

Tail Motor with 8T 0.5M Pinion: BCP, BCPP
$9.99 [EFLH1119] – 1 Each

Main Shaft & Drive Gear: BCPP
$5.99 [EFLH1155] – 1 Each

Tail Boom: BCP, BCPP
$3.99 [EFLH1160] – 2 Each

Crash Kit: BCP
$18.99 [EFLH1169] - 3 Each

Main Blade Grip Set, 3BB: BCP
$7.99 [EFLH1162B] – 1 Each

Main Shaft & Drive Gear: BCPP
$5.99 [EFLH1155] – 1 Each

Center Hub & Spindle Set: BCP, BCPP
$9.99 [EFLH1145] -1 Each

Tail Rotor Drive Gear & Shaft Set: BCP, BCPP
$3.99 [EFLH1120] – 1 Each

Micro/Mini Helicopter Pitch Gauge
$11.99 [EFLH1000] -1 Each

Micro Heli Blade Holder: BCP/P
$6.99 [WGT296] – 1 Each

Micro/Mini Heli Tool Assortment, 6 pc
$16.99 [EFLA261] – 1 Each

370 Motor with 9T 0.5M Pinion: BCP, BCPP
$9.99 [EFLH1110B] - 1 Each

3-Cell LiPo Balancing Charger, 0.8A
$22.99 [EFLC3105] - 1 Each

AC to 12VDC, 1.5 Amp Power Supply
$19.99 [EFLC4000] - 1 Each


But the plan at this point is to work up the CP+. Then next month buy a CP Pro 2 as well as a Blade 400. All the while I am researching the build of a Trex 500 ESP. Should be able to get my research done on that thing and the orders placed sometime in Decenber. No hurry on that one. It's going to be my "BABY":thumbup:

[EVBmcx]

Squelch - hope everything is going well and you got your parts. I have finally removed the training gear from the CP+ and am starting to feel a lot more comfortable. I have, unfortunately, crashed enough to be very familiar with the construction of the CP+.

I added superskids - they are great - after busting one set of stock gear.

Blades are the first destructibles.

Main shafts come next. They are like $6 to replace so I haven't upgraded them yet. I think there is a tradeoff in crashing - energy has to go somewhere. For me, it's been the main shafts. I've replaced 2 so far and have an extra on hand. Next parts order will bring another- I want 2 in stock always.

Feathering shafts - also toast easily. But they are cheap and easy to install.

Finally toasted a flybar but they come in packs of two.

Keep lots of fuel tubing on hand because the tail rotor wants to pop off.

I do have several other spare items but those are what seems to break the most for me.

I also am really looking at the G90. I flip flopped on this - do I get a better heli or do I put money into this. I decided to skip the 400 class and get the 500 ESP - which is not a beater - so I think I may put the G90 and a 2.4 GHz receiver in the CP and use it as a trainer. Since I got it tuned better it is flying well. It was almost thrown in the trash - but tracking and headspeed fixed it.

I'm curious what the experienced crowd says but I would think HH would be better for hovering and 3D rather than FF. Problems in hovering is when wind twists the bird and then it's staring you in the face - ouch. I'll probably get it.

[NotEnoughTime]

Get the uH hardened feathering shaft, and Auto/one-way gear with hardened main shaft. Had 3 bad crashes and have not bent one in the slightest. Best investment parts wise IMO. Good luck!

[Phoebe]

Get the uH hardened feathering shaft, and Auto/one-way gear with hardened main shaft. Had 3 bad crashes and have not bent one in the slightest. Best investment parts wise IMO. Good luck!

Couldn't agree more. The main gear I got runs out less than .001! And since the stock feathering shaft is softer than a piece of cooked pasta it will give you fits if you want to keep things in balance and tracking properly (IMO the most important thing in learning to fly any micro). uH does a fine job and the parts are still cheap. Although I would, respectfully, still caution against building up a inventory of Blade parts for all the reasons others have stated.

[NotEnoughTime]

Couldn't agree more. The main gear I got runs out less than .001! And since the stock feathering shaft is softer than a piece of cooked pasta it will give you fits if you want to keep things in balance and tracking properly (IMO the most important thing in learning to fly any micro). uH does a fine job and the parts are still cheap. Although I would, respectfully, still caution against building up a inventory of Blade parts for all the reasons others have stated.

+1

Said well.