Moving up from a T-rex 450

[Naruto28]

Well, I've only been flying helis for a few months now, but I'm wanting something bigger than my rex. The Swift looks like a great move up for the price. Easier to see in the air, more stable, handles wind well, etc. So, what sort of setup would be ok for a noob just learning some mild 3D?

My Triton charger only charges up to 4S, so if I go 5S or 6S I will have to budget in a new charger as well, so I'm hoping I can stick with 4S and still have decent performance?

I guess the only gear I can transfer over from my T-rex is the 401 and the rx. What would be a decent (read cheap) motor and servos for a 4S setup? I've seen the Maxamps 4S packs getting some good reviews also. Or should I not even bother with 4S? Sorry for the rambling and thanks for any suggestions!

[Tim Tompkins]

Guys seem to have a good sucess with the century 550 and 4S maxamps pack. Check out Ezonemag.com site and go to electric heli talk in the discussion section. There is a good thread on that very setup. TimT

[Naruto28]

Thanks Tim, I'll check it out!

[RAV50]

I have seen a friend do some very impressive 3D with the previous inexpensive Century 600 motor (now replaced by the 550+) on a 13T pinion, their inexpensive 55 amp speed control unit and the Evo 4S1P 3700 battery pack, using the stock woody blades. Pretty inexpensive set up - yet performs very well. He now has well over 200 flights on it and it is still going strong.

[Naruto28]

Thanks RAV50. I just watched the video "Box Stock Swift 16 on 4S flown by Adam Turner" posted in this forum. I think I'm thoroughly convinced now that I will be very happy on 4S for my ability (or lack of :mrgreen: ). Thanks all!

[Finless]

Only thing I noticed of the vid was the flight was only a little over 3 minutes?

On the 6S setup and 5S setup I have tried I get 6 minutes easy.

I may get a 13T pinion and try 4S for the fun of it but if flight times are really 3 minutes I think I will stay 5 or 6S.

Bob

[Naruto28]

Hmm I didn't think about the flight times being that short. Hopefully it's typically longer than 3 minutes with that setup. Looks like he's using the 600+ motor as well, I wonder if the 550+ would be more efficient since it seems to be recommended for 4S? Or maybe the 12T is doable? I'll spend some more time digging around those rcgroups threads.

Or maybe I just need to bite the bullet and invest in a new charger and spendy batteries! :D

[Finless]

Put it this way... I am running the same setup (same motor, ESC, and 550mm blades) on a 6S setup and I get 6 minutes on Flight Power EVO 3700 6S1P packs. I am not putting back 80% so I might be able to go 7 minutes.

I tired 5S on the same hardware and got 5 minutes but the motor was hotter.

4S is going to be a reduction in flight times based on my flying and testing thus far and I bet 3-4 minutes is going to be it.

Bob