Lepton Competition

[Finless]

UPDATE

Well folks here is the deal.

I am cutting ties with this project for several reasons.

1) I am not getting the input or ability to do designs as I wanted to. They just want to spend time copying helis and not R&D. Too bad :(
I DONT really want to be involved with a heli that is nothing more than a stolen design or a copy... That was NOT my initial intent!
I wanted to use this as a way to design or have input into a design of something new yet based of a solid platform! Realize most helis out today are based off of designs that have been around for 20-30 years (Schluter comes to mind). But this just was not happening and any time I asked to change some drastic that would not allow them to sell CLONE parts that was the end of the convo!

2) This entire thing has caused me a lot of flack! I have tried to be NEUTRAL (as I DON’T work for ANY heli company) but being "associated" with a copy of a well known manufacturer has not been good for me and certainly will not help my credibility or my association with Halifeak. The Lepton is a GREAT heli and I have always said that! Sheesh do you think I would have done a video on it and praised it as much as I have without believing in the heli? Even though I picked on the slower head (which is still true in my opinion), I will always own one! I still fly mine as much as any heli I own! But.... this entire clone thing has been bad for me to get involved in for many reasons I will not go into and was not my initial intent.

In the end I am cutting ties with my association and involvement with this heli which really has been next to NOTHING... Again I was hoping to actually make some serious design changes and using a good platform to build on, ultimately make a NEW heli. Alas... this was not in the cards this time and in fact I feel my name was used and I was somewhat manipulated to believe I would be able to do what I thought I would be able to do... I got fooled and in the process fooled some of the people that trust me the most. For that I am truly sorry….

LIVE AND LEARN!

Anyway, I am sorry to all that were wanting this to happen. It wont happen this time but hopefully as I go on, one day I will get a chance to make a heli or work to participate in the design of a heli you all will like and I will be proud of participating in. That is my ultimate goal and was my initial intent 

Sorry to all that were following me on this... I will eat crow and now tell you to stop waiting and go by a Lepton or whatever heli you want... It aint happening this time around.

Bob
_______________________________

[eheliflyer]

Bob is this just a larger Lepton?

[Finless]

Nope..... not at all.... Same size and yea the frames are a copy but... I am hoping ot make some changes on this prototype and when it comes out a BETTER heli....

Bob

[Finless]

I would like to see the frame shorter in length and the tail servo out on the boom... We could loose about 3" of mass and frame...

What do you all think?

The head design ideas I have in mind will be VERY different then the Lepton now which I think will make a BIG difference in performance.... No offense to Hirobo but the head is a "old school" design..... You dont see the synergy or the Aurora using this type of mixing and the DELTA's suck on the Lepton in my opinion....

Again testing thoughts here from others for "maybe" a new design building on good stuff.....

Bob

[toyturbo]

What do you not like about the stock lepton head?

[eheliflyer]

If you can design a head similar to the Avant programable head that would be awsome. :smokin:

[Finless]

What do you not like about the stock lepton head?


No offense but it is OLD SCHOOL... the delta's are all wrong and it is SLOW in comparison to the Synergy, Trex600, Vibe90 etc.... Time for a better head in my opinion and to retire the "inside" mixing of this head....


If you can design a head similar to the Avant programable head that would be awsome.


Well thats all cool but this heli will be intended as a cheap and new upgrade from the Trex450 which is what I was hoping the Lepton would be!
Dont get me wrong the Lepton ROCKs but you dont see SWARMS of Trex users jumpng on it.

Middle ground is now needed and better performance than this head.....

I am going for it and going to help this manufacurer make a upgrade as well as a new heli....

No offense to anyone but time for me to go from making vids to actually making a difference in this hobby... I may fail and thats OK... but at least I am going to give it a shot! Should be fun....

Bob

[wcc963]

hey bob how much do you think this is gonna cost. is it gonna be an upgrade from the SE RTF price of over 1000.00 or the XL of about 750-900. if you dont know thats ok and the middle ground is exactly what im looking for. I dont have the room for a 50 size heli but i want something bigger than my rex, but still keep the performance. and I have yet to see any heli approch this size except the lepton. the only problem with that was the price.

[TMoore]

Yeah right, old school design and the Synergy, Avant and Min Air are all copies of the Schluter Champion mixing system with floating axle which was sort of rooted in the Heim Star Ranger. Yeah, I love this new school stuff.

Go ahead and make all the after market parts you want. It's a tribute to the design of the machine that makes this sort of thing viable. I mean, let's face it, you wouldn't spend a bunch of time making parts for a machine that wasn't selling now would you?

No offense but it is OLD SCHOOL... the delta's are all wrong and it is SLOW in comparison to the Synergy, Trex600, Vibe90 etc.... Time for a better head in my opinion and to retire the "inside" mixing of this head....


No offense Bob but you don't exactly set the world on fire when it comes to 3D. C'mon, you mean to tell me that this machine is too slow and won't do 3D?

Like I said, make all the aftermarket parts you want. It just gives me more to choose from. I like variety.

TM

[Finless]

hey bob how much do you think this is gonna cost. is it gonna be an upgrade from the SE RTF price of over 1000.00 or the XL of about 750-900. if you dont know thats ok and the middle ground is exactly what im looking for. I dont have the room for a 50 size heli but i want something bigger than my rex, but still keep the performance. and I have yet to see any heli approch this size except the lepton. the only problem with that was the price.

I dont know price yet as the above pic is a one off prototype...... but I KNOW it will be much less expensive!

Bob

[Finless]

No offense Bob but you don't exactly set the world on fire when it comes to 3D. C'mon, you mean to tell me that this machine is too slow and won't do 3D?

TM

OK Terry... No need for personal attacks..... Get pissed if you want as I know your a Hirobo supporter but no need to attack my flying skills! This post is not about that.....

AND the head will be NOTHING like this current head when I am done... Did I say it would be something new? NOTHING is completely new and all these head designs come and go and change and... etc.... But I will USE something that I know works well and I know the 3D pilots I fly with will like when I am done... I dont need to be a HOT 3D pilot to KNOW the difference and you know that damn well!

Sheesh Terry.... if you dont have something to contribute rather than trying to TEAR someone down.... then maybe you shouldnt respond to my posts.... Might be better for the both of us.

BTW show me WHERE I said it wont do 3D.... Sheesh... you READ far too much into things and are way to quick to get into "attack / defend" mode....

OK I am off my :soapbox

Bob

[hkb817333]

I would like to see some cool designs of the head. Go for it Bobby

[Finless]

I would like to see some cool designs of the head. Go for it Bobby


I will!
And the beauty is.... I can change it as it is tested until it is right.... Thats the idea anyway :)


Bob

[marcelino]

I actually don`t see a need for a "better" head now, but go on Bob!

My experience from my job is: usually people are happy with existing things, because they don`t know anything "better"

What we need are guys thinking forward, to show us something different. I am sure we will buy your parts if they improve that bird...


Marcel

[hkb817333]

and make it cheaper :lol:

[nogod]

I will be working with the manufacturer on a new and what I consider BETTER head design.....

Time to STUR the pot on 500 sized helis


which manufacturer?
hirobo ?
align ?

[Trooper Sam]

Well, I might have to delay the T-Rex 600 purchase a bit longer to see what develops. I hope I'll be around for some of the test flights...:)

[TMoore]

Bob,

It's not a personal attack. Look at it from the standpoint of your post.
You said:

<<<Quote:

What do you not like about the stock lepton head?



No offense but it is OLD SCHOOL... the delta's are all wrong and it is SLOW in comparison to the Synergy, Trex600, Vibe90 etc.... Time for a better head in my opinion and to retire the "inside" mixing of this head....
>>>

Surely you're smart enough to know that all of these machines can be set up fast or slow. The Lepton is a much smaller machine, in the early days without too much in the way of aftermarket support. The issue is that when someone objects to what Lord Finless says it's a personal attack but when you speak it, it's gospel. Have I got right?

Before I sit in judgement of Hirobo's creation, speaking for myself alone, I intend to give it more time before I pronounce it "old school" and decide that I need to create a new head but you go right ahead. I thought this was the "Lepton EX" forum and not the "How do I hack the Lepton EX and make some jack on the side forum because Hirobo is selling a ton of these right now". Every machine out there with very few exceptions has aftermarket parts available for it but this thing hasn't even been out 3 months yet. If I were the forum moderator I would have to distance myself from something like this and let whoever is making the parts stand on their own.

I'm going flying and I'm going to hone my skills just a little sharper than yesterday.

TM

[Finless]

No offense Bob but you don't exactly set the world on fire when it comes to 3D. C'mon, you mean to tell me that this machine is too slow and won't do 3D?


What do you call this?
I call it a blantant attempt to discredit..... AND a personal attack....


The issue is that when someone objects to what Lord Finless says it's a personal attack but when you speak it, it's gospel. Have I got right?


And here ya go again....

You just cant post without crap spewing from your keyboard can ya?
Seems a common thread with you when someone doesnt have something GLOWING to say about an Hirobo helicopter.

Considering I have had mine a lot longer than you and have probably flown it more than you, I think I can say WITH experience and give an opinion without being called "lord Finless".
Oh and I am not just a Hirobo flyer either. I fly several different helis so again I think I know the difference between how they fly and which has a better cyclic feel. Vibe 90, Evo 50, Trex600 (awesome cyclic response by the way), My lepton, etc...

So please if you want a discussion fine but refrain from the personal attacks it's getting old.....

Bob

[eheliflyer]

Bob will the parts be compatible with the Lepton?

[Inertiatic]

Bob will the parts be compatible with the Lepton?

Uhhh...

[Cryofix]

I would love to see a VERY cheap(but well made) version of this as it would complete my collection!

looking forward to more progress.

[xStatiCa]

It would be nice if all screws were hex head. It bugs me that I strip out a screw head because I am not at the right angle or something and sometimes you have to order the entire part to get a single screw :/. I wish the world would forget about flat head and phillips screws and only use hex. A better head was created so lets use it! :).

[ArthurKnowles]

Just my two cents worth here, but if the parts do not fit the Leptop then I really have no interest in it. Nor would I think that the discussion should contiune in this forum if it is not Lepton compatible.

FWIW, companies will always make clones of a successful competitor's product. That's just the way it is. Doesn't make it right as there are intelectual property rights, money spent on R&D, etc. that makes copying a product morally wrong. I personally would not buy a "clone" product, but would buy aftermarket parts.

[TMoore]

Bob,

Fact, I got my Lepton EX well over a week before you got yours. Threads on this forum will confirm that. I can even scan the invoice and post it. The ship date was 6-13-06 and I ordered the machine on 4-19-06.


Here's the post you wrote on June 13, 2006 in this thread:

http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=14092

"George... Jeff was flying 3S2P 2100 APEX packs (the yellow 18C ones)... Guess what... I gly those on my Trex so all I have to do for 3S is make up a Y connector to put two packs in the lepton!!!!

For 4S 3700 20C packs seem to be reccomended but I think 18C's may cut the mustard too.

I get mine in about a week so I am told

Bob
_________________
Quick!! Where's my video camera
Vibe 90, Sceadu Evo 50, Trex 600, Lepton EX, Trex SE, HDX 450

I've flown my machine enough times to know it isn't slow on cyclics, will do piroflips, hurricaines in all orientations, piro funnels and just about everything my old fingers can do with it and comparing it to a 50 size machine just isn't fair.

It's not about being against anything that is anti Hirobo, that's not it at all. I'm just asking for you to be accurate. You said the tail blew out and started a big ruckus which five oh perpetuated and I admit you retracted your statements but you didn't go back and edit the posts to reflect your change of heart did you?

Be accurate Bob. If the machine isn't fast enough to suit you, then say so but to put a blanket statement out there that the head is old school is to ignore the history.

BTW, thank you Arthur for your insightful comments.

TM