tail blades difference

[SilentScope]

hey guys,
i have a pair of kbdd tail blades and a pair of align carbon tail blades, wich one would have the best performance you think?
cheers

[belcom]

After seeing a set of Align carbons being completely destroyed after a very slight grass touch down, I personally wouldn't use them. KBDD perform on par with good quality CF tail blades like Edge etc. And they are tougher and cheaper.

[SilentScope]

and what about the mainblades? i have the standard ones now.
are those edge blades better? what difference will 600 vs 615-620mm make?

[skunkworx]

It depends: Aligns do well at lower speeds/ratios and do hold the tail very well for what they are. I definitely like them a lot more than the CY tail blades, but for the money I like the Outrage tail CF's more. Being that they are CF's of course means they'll shatter or splinter on any kind of impact, so I don't really like to fly them that much (especially if I'm shooting autos or goofing off and trying new stuff because I know I'll likely plant it or have some close calls!). As to the KBDD's, they do perform extremely well, but it depends on what version you get (regular, TWEE, or EE). The regulars will still perform great, but are noisey and not quite as locked in as the EE's are. They're especially good at higher tail ratios and headspeeds like on the Compass machines. I fly both CF's and KBDD's on a regular basis and can't tell a difference in performance, but I like the colors of KBDD and have been flying them for years. Never failed to impress me. :)

I don't personally feel Edge main blades are any better than the stock 615 sets. The Edge flap a bit more, so they have more bark when you get into hard stops and direction changes, but the Compass ones are stiff and really efficient, so they're excellent for 3D (they're currently my absolute favorite in 600mm-630mm). Edge are very nice blades and it's not a knock on them whatsoever, just a different flight characteristic that I don't like much, but they are excellent overall. They are a little better than Radix SB's for the same reason I like the Compass over the Edge (Radix flex too much for my taste but are great blades overall). The SAB blades are really good. I'd just prefer not to pay 690 prices for a set of 600 sticks. :wow2:

The difference of 600 to 615/620 and up to 630 is how it makes the model react to changes. On an FB ship, the shorter sticks make it yank and bank quicker (same with FBL, but you lose a bit of your stability). In some cases, the longer length can prevent the heli from having a nice feel because it slows down the reaction times or will make it feel too "floaty" (as is the case with 630's). However, the longer blades give you more hang-time in an autorotation and can move more air overall, so if you've got a good, powerful motor as it is in the 6HV it might be better to go with the longer sets. I really like the feel of the 610-620's. The extra length is a good compromise of both snap and float and is a lot like a 325 blade on a 450 (compared to 315's and 335's). Edge 623's are pretty much identical in length/dimensions as the Compass 615's. I think it's just a difference in the way they measure them (from the root hole or from base of the root to tip, etc..)

[Ah Clem]

I run the KBDD EE's on my 6HV (I run them on everything they will fit on).

These blades work extremely well-very sharp, crisp control-very positive and overall excellent performance.

I no longer bother with CF Tail Blades (no performance benefit and fragile, IMHO).

The stock Compass Main Rotor Blades work extremely well, I have them on all of my 600E's, regardless of the brand of helicopter.

[TheBum]

I've flown KBDDs after they've been pretty chewed up from tail scrapes. They may lose a little authority, but they keep right on going. Try that with a CF blade.

[Andy.Kim]

and what about the mainblades? i have the standard ones now.
are those edge blades better? what difference will 600 vs 615-620mm make?

Align main blades are pretty good. Edge is better. Difference between 615 and 620mm is very small. I doubt you'll notice the difference. IMO, the stock compass blades are pretty good and the price is right.

[John Cook]

pretty much ditto for what most people said.

the compass stock main blades are my favorite on the 6hv/3d+ heli. On Flybar, I liked the Align 600D's too, but on FBL I prefer the compass 615's as they suit me better, and on FBL they load similar to what the 600D's did on flybar.

For tails I run only the KBDD extremes. The old KBDD's I wouldn't run, they load alot in sideways flight and make a ton of noise. However, the new KBDD extremes are IMO as good as carbons and a TON more durable. They reverse awesome and just are everything I want in a tail blade performance-wise and like I said super durable.

[TheBum]

I'll +1 all the comments about the Compass 615mm blades. They're efficient and inexpensive. I've also had more than one comment about the white ring they produce in flight looking pretty cool and being a good orientation cue.