Which upgrades for the Ion-x

[PDC]

The Ion-X is my best ship, flies like a dream, but maybe the dream can be even sweeeeeter.

So what upgrades can be recommended to make this bird that little bit better?

I am in particular interested in optimizing the rotor head if possible. Should I buy an other one or should I upgrade the stock rotorhead?

Also read that the belt drive might soon be out, might buy me another Ion-X for the next season, so will the Ion-X at some stage be sold with the option to be delivered fully upgraded incl. a belt drive?

Thanks!

[DebianDog]

I have heard the belt drive testing is going well and is -THE- upgrade you want. ;)

[WillJames]

THe belt drive is workign good from what I have seen of Clint's and Chris's machines.

Chris would probably tell you the Tempest Head, and Clint is flying the Stratus head.

I love the way mine flys as well. Every time I pull it out people say WOW. It is a really fun machine.

[PDC]

Thanks!

I will see if I can find some info on these heads. But what is the big difference on these two heads compared to the stock Ion-X rotorhead?

I want a stable, precise agile 3D heli ;-) Sounds like I want it all at the same time.

[PDC]

Found this.

I like the fully symmetric flybar control system on the stratus, looks like it will be the most rigid system for hard 3D where the tempest head looks more like a high precision high quality soft 3D/FAI head to me. Maybe I am wrong in thinking this?

Both heads looks like I could gain something, maybe not much, but something over the stock Ion-X head.

I don´t need a head there can be adjusted in a million different ways, don't have time for that, just need something there gives very precise control and are suited for 3D flight.

-----------------------------------------------

Stratus.

New ultimate control 3D rotor head
New flybar support system increases strength without the weight penalty of a larger flybar
Fully symmetric flybar control system
CNC Aluminum center block is pinned and clamped to the mainshaft
New mixer ratios for more precise response tuning
5mm blade bolts
CNC bell mixers
Proven ball-bearing washout design
Durable all metal swashplate
Optional Tempest 3D and FAI rotor heads

http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/support/brochures/X-Cell%20Stratus%20Brochure.pdf

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tempest.

The Fury Tempest 3D Rotor Head System

Fully CNC machined 3D style rotor head which features:
· Precision two piece head block
· Increased rotor head diameter - 195mm
· 5mm blade bolts
· Simple, yet very precise construction
· Full floating axle with variable damping
· Variable bell mixing options
· New design flybar seesaw allows variable hiller ratio
· Adjustable flybar control input - 3 positions
· Easily built and repaired
· Accepts up to 710mm rotor blades
· Proven 3D flybar paddles
· Increased flybar travel with no binding
· New 2.6 mm cyclic pitch control rods

http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/support/brochures/Tempest_3D_Brochure.pdf

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ion-X

Rotor Head

• CNC Aluminum head block
• Adjustable bell-hiller ratio
• Plastic Blade Grips with M5 Pivot Bolts
• Proven “C" Clip Blade Axle Design
• Includes Thrust Bearings
• Full Ball Bearing Design
• One-piece anti-rotation guide
• Precision CNC aluminum swashplate
• 120° CCPM control
• 10mm mainshaft supported by 3 bearings

http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/support/brochures/X-Cell%20Ion-X%20Brochure.pdf

[DebianDog]

Why not go FLY BAR LESS?

[WillJames]

As Dan says, probably the ultimate upgrade would be V-BAR, if it would work good on Ion-X. Would love to be a test dummy for Mikado, but that is not happening....

[PDC]

V-stabi, some calls it V-unstabi......Don´t know if that´s true.

http://www.vstabi.de/

Diddn´t the eskimo try that? Could be the ultimate upgrade if it works, just, there might/might not be a reason why not everybody already use it.

What is the downside of V-Stabi?

[PDC]

Ok, found this

http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=24629&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=29

Only downside should be the cost....hmmmmm

[misskimo]

hey , wish I could have worded the bugs out with my VStabi or VBar , but owell , I have it ready again next year
upgrades , Ion , belt drive, flybar bridge, VBlades , 1P TP batteries :smokin:
and thats about it , oh warm weather :badair:

[Clintstone]

Ready to get another pull on it.

[PDC]

Thanks! yes, maybe a flybar bridge is alle I need as a beginning, will look for such one. Then the next big jump where one can feel the difference could be a 3 axis V-Stabi/bar system.

Just, isn't V-Stabi taking a little of the fun out of flying heli´s if the heli ends up being controlled more and more by computers? Maybe people said the same when the first gyro´s hit the market.

Not sure if the V-stabi/V-bar system will be approved for all kinds of competition, an other factor people should have in mind.