I'm considering an MX400. Convince me!

[racin06]

OK, here is my situation. I own a couple of FP helis and have been flying for about 6 weeks. I can hover in all orientations, including nose-in. I'm also flying some FF and some basic circuits. I also own FS One and have spent about 40 hours training on the sim. The thing that is frustrating is that these FPs are a handful in the wind! Perhaps this will make me a better heli pilot in the long run. Who knows.

Anyway, I now want to purchase my first 400 size heli, computer transmitter and a good lipo charger/balancer. I'm leaning towards the MX400. I'm also debating between purchasing the Spectrum DX6 or Dx7 transmitter. My total equipment budget is around $800.00. What would you recommend as far as equipment? Also, why should I choose the MX400 over the Dragonus, Trex and other 400 size helis?

One more...is the Ark X-400 the same heli as the MX400? Thanks.

[wren1702]

Do you have a local shop, and if so.....what do they carry?

[racin06]

Yes, I do have a local shop...Hobbytown USA. This store carries E-flight, Align, JR and MS Composite helicopters. However, this shop will not get my business because of their VERY POOR customer service and VERY POOR attitudes towards newbies like myself. It's a long story that I don't want to get into at this moment. Lets just say that I've already spent $200 in this store for FS One and they will not get another penny of my money.

[L0stS0ul]

Well, I'd choose the MX-400 over the X-400 just because of the Helimax support. Those guys are amazing. I had a problem with my one way bearing and I emailed them and withing 3 days of my email I had a complete main gear/autorotation gear with one way bearing on my doorstep to fix my problem. Just the support alone is amazing.

I also went thru the same kinda of choice. I had some existing items that I could use. The problem with the dragonus is that it would most likely run you more than $800 for a good setup. You need some good high torque servos for the cyclic so you're looking at $25+ for each servo and not to mention the 450 size motor and 35 amp speed controller you would need. The Dragonus is a 450 size heli. That's the nice thing about the MX-400's mechanical CCPM setup. You can use less torque servos and get very good responce from them.

They do sell a 400 size t-rex as well but for the price I'd go with the MX-400. If I were buying the MX from scratch this is exactly what I would do for the setup:

The Heli Itself: $90
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKXU8&P=0

3 HS-55's for the cyclic at $40
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTX42&P=7

1 HS-65HB servo for the tail: $25
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKYL4&P=7

If you hurry up and buy all that from tower they currently have the $25 savings so you could get the heli and all of the servos for $130. Look on the main tower page and click the $25 savings link and it will add it to your shopping cart.

Then you need the gyro, motor, and speed controller. You could go with the standard Align 430L at about $46 or you could go with something like this:

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=44&products_id=1113

for less than $40. With the HS-65HB I've been using the telebee gyro and it does more than good enough for me for only $60

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=46&products_id=494

The speed controller is hard to recommend. The defacto standard is the Phoenix 25 by Castle but that is costly at $65. There are some other options like the Dynam 25 amp speed controller for $25

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=45&products_id=1298

Any speed controller that you buy (other than the align with the 6v BEC built in) will need an external bec and this one is a great one at only $19

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/ParkBEC.htm

So all up without battery pack and Radio/receiver you're looking at: $234

With the HS-64 for the tail servo I would recommend switching to a tail mount for the servo though. The upgrade is very cheap and it fixes a lot of problems with the stock linkage (for me the stock wire was way to flexible and caused tons of slop). For my heli I bought this tail servo mount for $8:

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=38_99&products_id=2095

and a t-rex tail linkage set for less than $4

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=38_39_41&products_id=771

[racin06]

L0stS0ul, thanks for the detailed information! I certainly appreciate it very much. Regarding the transmitters, should I go with the DX6 or DX7? Thanks.

[L0stS0ul]

If you have the money to go with the DX7 then get it. I've found that it's always better to buy more radio then you need. The DX6 will definitally work well for you but you can grow more with the DX-7.

[kgfly]

Get the DX7 but you will probably want to sell the servos that come with it as they are too large for a 400/450 heli and possibly the AR7000 Rx which is overkill and get an AR6100 Rx which is ideal. There is a ready market for the servos and AR7000 so you shouldn't have any trouble selling them.

[head]

You can should also consider the MX400 Pro which comes with a motor, speed controller and some upgaded parts.

I recently purchased and setup one with the factory recommended parts; futaba 3107 servos and futaba 240 gyro. The heli flys great and is very stable.

[Dragon Soaring]

I got the mxpro for Xmass from my beautiful wife :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I couldn't be happier!!! all i needed was the 4 servos radio Lipo batand gyro. oh and a few red aluminum bits for the head just because they were there

having the motor, esc, alum swash and alum tail was what sold me.

Tower hobbies provides all the cool red bits and ever replacement part.

[darkside212]

I have one mx450, and I just ordered another...VERY nice helis, and the best part is tower hobbies has a $35 off coupon ; 010EP :D $225 shipped was what I paid :D

[shaggybirdman]

is the 450 that much better than the 400? i like the 400's price.

[darkside212]

It is comparing apples to oranges IMHO

the mx400 is decent and for the money a great heli...

[shaggybirdman]

are we talking just a size difference, or what? if the 400 is decent what makes the 450 better?

[darkside212]

I really don't like the mechanical mixing of the 400, I had one and converted it to eccpm and it was a totally different heli..


the 450 is ECCPM and is fully upgraded out of the box..


I just got my second 450xs the other day of course it is too cold to fly...

[shaggybirdman]

i know all about too cold to fly. i'm outside buffalo ny.

[darkside212]

yup....here to

I forgot to mention: the helis are the same size (or VERY close)

[shaggybirdman]

2" difference. i'm going to get one or the other. i can get the 400 with esc, and motor for $204, and the 450 for $199. thats threw my lhs. the 400 has a $25 off parts coupon, and the 450 has a $50 off parts coupon, and my lhs can use these coupons. i prefer to support my lhs when i can. i've been dealing with them for over 20 years now.

me thinks i'll be getting the 450. i'll have to get a ccpm radio, but i hear mid month next month futaba is putting out there version of a spectrum radio that's equal to the dx7 for $150 range. i'll get that for this bird :)

[darkside212]

You won't be sorry..the 450 is Sweet...

I managed to hover #2 for about 2 minutes ....too cold :p

[ZXXflyer]

futaba 2.4 Ghz 6 ch. heli radio


http://2.4gigahertz.com/


http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPZT8&P=0

[shaggybirdman]

my man zxx. i'll be getting 1 for my shuttle. considering that hawk you told me about. i do belive i'll be getting a mx450 too.

[shaggybirdman]

it's a bit more than the guys at my lhs said, but still cheaper than a dx7.

[ZXXflyer]

maybe yoyr guy can get his hands on one before the end of march...tower hobbies will probably get backordered on them fast.

[shaggybirdman]

i think your right. i think monday i'll do a pre order with them.

[kgfly]

it's a bit more than the guys at my lhs said, but still cheaper than a dx7.

Doesn't compare to a DX7 in features, user interface or most likely performance. A more reasonable comparison would be the DX6 which is cheaper and includes servos (although not necessarily ones useful for a 450-class heli).