HDX300 Pics

[Rhumba555]

Well she's finally finished and flying quite nicely. Here's some pics:


http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=17276

http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=17273

http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=17274

http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=17275

http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?pic_id=17272

See anything that needs work? Comments are appreciated!

[slikrx]

Very nice!

I'm considering getting that head for my CPP.

What motor did you use?

[Rhumba555]

The one listed on HeliDirect for the HDX300. I think it's a 3200Kv brushless outrunner. It has more than enough power for this heli (at least hovering it seems to) I'm not ready for any 3D so I haven't pushed the motor yet. Keep in mind that if you get this head you'll have to order a shaft that allows the use of this head with the stock main gear. See the Helidirect web site for details.

[joker0720]

That looks like a 4-in-1 on there. Is that what you used? The guys over at helidirect are telling me to get a new gyro/reciever/ESC/BEC.. but I have the one that came in my BladeCP... what do you guys think?

[Awais]

How is that main shaft holding up for you. Does it fly better comparing to the v1 head.

Thanks,
Awais

[Rhumba555]

I've never had the V1 head so I can't comment on that but I'll tell you this: the shaft is HSS (high speed steel) and as a machinist I can tell you it is very hard and stiff. I have a small wobble in the head due to what I believe is a non-concentric hole in the main head block that the shaft inserts into and I tried to bend the shaft while in the heli to try to eliminate the wobble and it wouldn't bend! HSS, when ground properly, can actually be used to cut steel in a mill or lathe, and is what was commonly used in machine shops before carbide came along. Most of the drills you buy in the store are HSS as well. On another note, I ordered a backup shaft from HeliDirect and it was blue/black instead of silver. I don't know if they forgot to heat-treat it or what but I bent it with my fingers, quite easily. So if you order one make sure it says HSS.

[Awais]

Thanks for the info. Does the heli fly like a mini trex.

Can you tell us which shaft you got from HD. I got the black one and I'll probably return it now.

Awais

[Rhumba555]

I've never had a Trex either so... But it does hover well. I'll try to post a video and link you to it later. It took a lot of work to dial everything in and I had to make a few mods. I started out with a HoneyBee CP2 and tried to upgrade it with the Blade TX CNC head...that led to a complete HDX300 seperates build. After I was done and tried to hover I found it a lot easier than the CP2. Better components and a HH gyro. I can now hover and keep it in a 4 foot circle. :wink:

As for the shaft, if it is black, try to bend it. It shouldn't take much effort if you got a bad one. If it bends easily enough, straighten it out and send it back. If your shaft is silver and if you know it is supposed to be HSS then try to bend it with the same force it took to bend the black one. It shouldn't bend and should stand up to much more effort before it bends. Another way to test the hardness of a shaft or any metal for that matter is to try to cut a small portion of it with a file. If the file digs in and removes material, it is soft. If the file glides over the metal as if the file had no teeth then it is hard.

[Awais]

Thanks man. I'll test out the shaft. It did say HSS but its black.

What headspeed are you running.

Thanks,
Awais

[Rhumba555]

I don't have a tach but I just increased the headspeed until the wobble disappeared. I'm guessing at about 2300. I also took out a couple of the dampening shims so she flies pretty stable with a low head speed (I think).

Hope this helps.

[Rhumba555]

Well, I had a blade strike a wall corner in my basement yesterday (plastic blades) and the whole head popped off and the heli was laying there in two complete pieces. The main shaft snapped in half right above the top bearing. This is what happens when the shaft is hard. Desireable in my opinion because the softer shafts may be able to be straightened but it will never be as straight as it was originally. Bent the feathering shaft as well but they are cheap. No other damage (the fiber blades are very durable). Ordered two more main shafts from HeliCorner. (HeliDirect was out of stock).

[slikrx]

THe rest of the aluminum parts held up in the head? Very cool!

If I end up keeping my HDX head, I'll be gtting rid of the main shaft. (I'm getting an autorotate gear w/ different shaft) Anyhow, if that comes to pass, you can have the stock shaft. (it's the silver one - not black)