Lepton is on the way! (UPDATE: It's built and flying!)

[docjoe]

I've taken the plunge for the Lepton. Should be receiving it today or tomorrow!

I've enjoyed my T-Rex 450 and 600s so much that I really wanted something in between and couldn't wait a few months for an offering from Align (if in the works) for a 500 sized heli. Plus, I was planning on a Lepton prior to getting the 600.

Here's my setup so far:

Lepton EX
MAH 425 carbon blades
Hyperion 3025-10
Evo20 4S 3700 x 2
Futaba 3150s on the cyclic
Futaba 401 with 9650 on tail
Align 75A ESC
Sky&Tech BEC
Stretch Carbon fiber tail and horizontal fin

I'm sure that I'll be getting more accessories for it! I seem to be an upgrade whore.

Any other suggestions? Tail blades? I did order some of the carbon forward frame braces

[xircom]

yes carbon tail blades 68mm

[eheliflyer]

Use the 9254 servo instead of the 9650. It is night and day difference.
Get a set of Rappy 30 upgrade boom braces and cut them to fit the
Lepton because the stock boom braces are too weak if you are going
to use the 9254 tail servo and 68mm blades.
Also get the MJP base plate.

[docjoe]

I still haven't seen the heli up close. Does the 9254 install without problems into the frame? What about cutting the T-rex 600 carbon boom braces. Those are nice on my T-Rex 600. Thanks for the info.

[eheliflyer]

I drilled two holes for the back holes of the 9254. I haven't seen the Rex 600 boom braces but they should work fine.
I forgot to add that if you want to speed the cyclic up do the bell-hiller mod. It wakes up the heli. Look for the thread by Kovi and you will see the mod.

[toyturbo]

Another way I found out that increases the cyclic is to mount the ball links on the servo horn a little further out than the recommended 12.5mm or so that the manual suggests....

[wicked_n_raw]

The Trex 600 boom braces works great, they are carbon and you can get them for $11.99.

[Finless]

Another way I found out that increases the cyclic is to mount the ball links on the servo horn a little further out than the recommended 12.5mm or so that the manual suggests....

Be careful with this becasue the the servo output shaft is not exactly straight across fromt he bell crank pivot point you can have geometry issues.

Why do this anyway? If you want more throw just increase the swash AAFR mix percents for ail and elev????

Bob

[eheliflyer]

Just do the Bell-Hiller mod. It is easy to do and makes a night and day difference in the heli.

[rotodingo]

Just do the Bell-Hiller mod. It is easy to do and makes a night and day difference in the heli.

Easy, are you sure? As far as i remember you have to drill 2 new holes. And they have to be drilled EXACTLY at the same position on the 2 levers. Some very good tools are needed to be sure you have the exact same distance on the 2 parts. I just have my hands an eyes and i may not be accurate enough with just that... Am i wrong?

Nicolas

[eheliflyer]

I guess it was easy for me because I have a drill press and a tap set. It was the best and fastest mod I did to make this heli come alive.

[docjoe]

I missed the drop off by USPS this weekend. Damn! Well, the wife will be picking it up today!

As for the Bell-Mixer mod, I've been wondering where I can get more info on this. I've briefly looked for it but haven't been able to find it. Any help would be good. Would the upgrade be good for someone just doing mild 3D...flips, loops, rolls, inverted hovers, starting to learn inverted circles and funnels?

[BGStewart]

My Lepton is coming via the brown truck on Friday. I can't wait to see it up close.

Hey DocJoe,
I'm also in Stockton, is there a good flying site for heli's in the area? I'm currently flying my Rex 450 at the school behind my house.

[docjoe]

BG,

I fly at several places. During the week, I'll fly near my work. After work, I'll go to a school near my house called John Muir which is by Spanos park. It's on Whistler near Thornton/Davis. I also fly at a flying field in Lodi.

Cool! Maybe we could go flying sometime. Sucks during the winter. I know a bunch of heli flyers in the Stockton area.

[BGStewart]

DocJoe,

Cool. I would love to hook up with some local heliflyers. I live on Five Mile Dr just off of Ben Holt west of I-5. Send me an e-mail and maybe we could hook up sometime. Let know what you think of the Lepton kit, Friday seems so far away right now. :mrgreen:

BryonGStewart@aol.com

[docjoe]

Bryon,

Knowing me, I'll have the Lepton up and running by this weekend. We'll see.

[HeliExtreme]

Hey Bryon, I used to fly over there in Grupe Park when I used to live by Feather River and Brookside. Joe and I go flying every weekend and you are welcome to join us when you can. We go night flying too whenever we can with our TRex 450s. There are actually quite a few of us heli flyers here in Stockon. Join us this weekend if you can.

Nick

[eheliflyer]

I missed the drop off by USPS this weekend. Damn! Well, the wife will be picking it up today!

As for the Bell-Mixer mod, I've been wondering where I can get more info on this. I've briefly looked for it but haven't been able to find it. Any help would be good. Would the upgrade be good for someone just doing mild 3D...flips, loops, rolls, inverted hovers, starting to learn inverted circles and funnels?

Here you go scroll down a bit and you will see the mod.
http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=18683&start=0

It's worth doing. It makes the heli more responsive.

[BGStewart]

Hey Bryon, I used to fly over there in Grupe Park when I used to live by Feather River and Brookside. Joe and I go flying every weekend and you are welcome to join us when you can. We go night flying too whenever we can with our TRex 450s. There are actually quite a few of us heli flyers here in Stockon. Join us this weekend if you can.

Nick

Thanks Nick! I plan to meet up with you guys this weekend if all goes as planned.

[docjoe]

It's here. I started on the build last night. Hopefully it'll be up and running by the weekend.

Alvin, Thanks for the link. I haven't been able to download the hi-res pics for the mod. I'll consider the mod after it's up and running. Thanks for the info.

[eheliflyer]

No prob Joe. It still flys awesome without the mod but after flying it in stock form for a while and when you do the mod you will feel the difference, the heli "wakes up".

[docjoe]

I was able to get my Lepton into the air. Had 4 flights on Sunday. It flies awesome!

I'm running a 4S setup with the Hyperion 3025-10 with 24Tooth pinion.
Align 75A ESC and Sky & Tech BEC
Futaba 3150s for the Cyclic
Gy 401 with 9650

Here are some pictures:

http://docjoe.smugmug.com/photos/108455895-M.jpg
http://docjoe.smugmug.com/photos/108456436-M.jpg
http://docjoe.smugmug.com/photos/108456472-M.jpg

Thank you to all of you for helping me get my bird in the air!

[Finless]

Lookin good Doc!

Bob

[BGStewart]

Having seen it fly on Sunday, I can tell you it flies as good as it looks.

Awesome, DJ!

[toyturbo]

NICE! How did you paint the canopy? Many people here seem to have problems with the paint flaking off..