My new Ion-X2 :D

[bob00]

http://www.teambob00.com/images.07/tbp6130054.jpg

- Actro 32-3 w/ 6mm shaft geared to 11.63
- CC HV-110 ESC
- Airtronics 94758's for CCPM
- GY611
- 5014 G3 Rx (AR9000 waiting for MZ module)
- FP 2S2P 1600 Evo-Rx pack w/ duralite 6v reg
- FP 2x 6S 3700 Evo20 packs (Evo25's on a UPS truck somewhere :D )
- 690 v's / 105 v's
- original 4 year old Ion-X canopy

This is one *sweet* conversion kit - with PEM nuts everywhere, the frame set literally falls together. The conversion kit is very complete, I was able to build mine to completion from spares and left-overs from previous builds, leaving my other Ion's intact.

The new frame is VERY rigid thanks to a couple extra channels in the front and the thick carbon side-frame stiffeners/motor mount rails - the bottom plate is not needed, but I installed it anyway for looks.

The CG is perfect with the 6S 3700's, the Rx pack could probably be mounted elsewhere to fix the CG if larger packs are used. It weighs about the same as the 2 stage Neu Ion on 11S.

The pulley setup is real nice and upper and lower ratio plates make setting the gear mesh idiot proof. The whole assembly comes apart easily and ratios can be changed in minutes and is infinitely configurable - great for testing lots of different ratios.

This kit is of the same quality and completeness as the original Ion-X- if there are no issues introduced with the belt drive it should hold up just as well.

The pushrods and bellcranks should be done later - it should be ready to go by this weekend, weather permitting.

Thanks to Tim at MA and Clint (Clintstone) for the assembly tips and gear ratio info - appreciate it guys.

Looking forward to the first flights this weekend.
There are more pictures here:
http://teambob00.com/album/v/x2/

Detailed pictures (about 70) here:
http://teambob00.com/album/v/x2more/

- Rob
Team FlightPower
TeamBob00

[DebianDog]

Hotness :smokin:

[ledfoot]

Lookin' sweet Rob. I can't wait to beat on it :).

....Mike

[DebianDog]

No double main gears????

[bob00]

There were no production pinions available when my kit was sent out, I opted to go single gear rather than wait.

I am aiming for a consistent 1950 - 2K on the head and will not be trying to purposely break the machine in the air, so I'm hoping it will hold.

My goal is to try to make this my everyday 90, with the power of a hot SZ + maybe 10%.

I'm also very picky about weight, so if the lighter single gear works out for my purposes (I hope it does :) ) I'll stick with it.

A couple of the guys here will be doing Mille/Dyna-X conversions soon - will be interesting to see how those work out.

- R

[DebianDog]

I have had the V2 prototype Ion for a while. It runs as good as any 90 I have had. Actually when I put my Predator 90 in the air last week I was thinking, "was it always this slow?" :lol:

I think it takes a "hard" pilot to rip the gears out of the Ion but MA does have some "hard" pilots! :noteworthy

[t-rexn8]

Nice job. Looking Good. I have to wait to start building mine after a show this weekend. Did Tim recommend using the double stacked main gear for 12s?

[MrMel]

Yes, doublestacked is recommended for 12s.
I will try with single though (hey, I run it now with my old Ion-X), hopefully getting my kit next week.
Im running 12s1p 5000.

[Robert Johns]

Nice job Rob!!!! You won't believe the power! Lil' Z and I are driving to XFC at the moment with his new ION-X2s for the competition. The "double" stacked gears are being used now for all setups for extra strength due to the "mad power" of the configurations. Tim said that it will be a one-piece gear soon. Be careful if you are running the single gear - it will work properly for most flying styles. Keep us posted on your flying results.

Robert

[bob00]

Thanks guys.

I'll probably take it to the field tomorrow - just waiting on some extra bits (pushrods) - can't wait to see what 12S feels like - the 11S Neu blew me away powerwise - if this goes beyond that for power then... :mrgreen:

Won't be going 'break-it' crazy, I'm looking for increased duration with SZ + 10% power (for now at least) - I want this to be my everyday practice heli.

Robert:
Thanks man, can't wait to get it in the air.
Best of luck at XFC, I'll be looking out for you guys.

Hopefully the EVO25's show up this evening or tomorrow morning so I can do a few 'break in' flights.

- Rob
Team FlightPower
TeamBob00

[cgbole]

so how much does the beast weigh?
chuck

[bob00]

10.5 lbs with 2x 6S 3700 Evo20's ready to fly

11.25 lbs with 2x 6S 4900 Evo90 (Trex600) packs ready to fly

Flew 3 flights today, all I can say is DAMN!! This thing's got some serious power :mrgreen:

I really REALLY like the light, powerful 3700 setup - gonna put some more time on it tomorrow - will post more later.

- Rob
Team FlightPower
TeamBob00

[bob00]

Ok, so I've had about 30 flights on the X2 so far and...

This is one BAD ASZZ machine.

The 32-3 pulls 710's with just about the same authority as 690's. I've been moving back and forth btwn 690 and 710 V's - not sure which ones I want to keep yet. It's got CRAZY collective pull with the 710's but the cyclics are a bit slower which changes the timing of some things.

This thing runs cool - very cool. Flying back to back flights is no problem.

Most of the earlier flights were done with Evo20 3700's and 4900's (trex600) packs.

3700's make the heli feel really light in the air - almost 10S-single-stage light, while the 4900 make it feel a bit heavier, but there's more than enough power to make up for this. I didn't bother to try to correct the CG with the 49's and while it was obvious in flight is wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would have been. This is a very flyable setup - 710's help lessen the blade loading here. While the 49's have the edge for power, the 37's are also very capable - both with aileron tic-tok all day and piro-tic-toks are no problem for either setup.

Enter the EVO25's!! These packs are a whole different ball game. We strapped on a pair of 4900 rex packs on Sun. and the power was unbelievable - I was really worried about breaking stuff. Headspeed went from 1950ish to 2080ish, climbout was CRAZY and this heli flew some of the biggest loops I've ever seen - we almost lost sight of it going over the top. I now fully understand why MA is making a double main gear :D.

This morning I 'broke-in' my brand new EVO 25 3700's - same thing - instant 100+ rpm gain on the head. These were the very first flights so the heli was flown real easy, but these brand new packs are clearly delivering higher voltage under load than the 20C packs, and, just like the EVO25 49's they were significantly cooler after flight.

Looking forward to getting the new packs worked in and wringing out this heli on the EVO25 37's this weekend. Will try to get some vids if we can find someone to hold the camera.

http://www.teambob00.com/images.07/tbp6150015.jpg

- Rob
Team FlightPower
TeamBob00

[cgbole]

so when will the rest of us be able to get one...
chuck

[misskimo]

just call and tell the lady you want the IonX2 kit ? 285 is the price

[bob00]

Hey Tony, will you be making it to IRCHA this year?

- Rob
Team FlightPower
TeamBob00

[cgbole]

did that and was told they were still working on it and wasn't ready yet.?
thanks
chuck

[misskimo]

Yep , Ill be there ,
Chuck , huh? they have them, wonder why they said that ?

[TomC]

Yep , Ill be there ,
Chuck , huh? they have them, wonder why they said that ?

Our local dealer told me that they (MA) were waiting for the instruction manuals to be finished/printed. Should not be long now.

Cheers,

Tom C

[Chachin]

Same here, I called them about 3 days ago asking for the V2 upgrade but they said it wasn't ready yet.

Bob, that bird looks SWEET!!

Chachin..

[cgbole]

just got off the phone, talked to Tim and Cindy. They're getting it put together and ready to roll.
thanks guys.
chuck

[bob00]

:D - great - if you have 1/2 the fun I've been having with mine you'll love it.

13 more flights this weekend - 7 at a funfly on Saturday. My buddy Kev took it for a spin and didn't want to give it back :D.

Flew 6 flights on Sunday with a Tempest 3D head. At 1990rpm / 13deg of pitch w/ 8 deg cyclic pitch it was fast (not quite as fast/snappy as the Extreme/Stratus head) but super locked and tracked well thru big stuff. It had no trouble pulling 690's on the bigger head either.

45 flights total and the belt drive has been working flawlessly so far, sounds great too.

- R

[WillJames]

That is a HOT machine, thanks for the report Rob!! :smokin:

[MrMel]

What flighttimes are you getting (how much mah per minute?)

[PDC]

Thanks a lot for the Pictures and the report Rob!!!

Hot machine, cant wait to get mine in the air :-)

Ordered the conversion kit plus a full Ion-X2 kit knowing that some few things with the kit are not ready yet. Thanks to Tim for the help.

Already flown the Ion-X with the Actro 32-3 direct drive on 12S, so have tasted the power....cant wait to be able to turn up the power even more with the belt drive and later even more with the thick main gear :twisted:

At the moment the power from my 12S 3700 EVO 20 is dialed a little down with the PowerJazz controller from wild to strong ;-).....can imagine how it will be with 12S 4500 EVO 30 and the thick main gear :twisted:

Very useful with the pictures Rob, can see that the bigger batteries should fit under the canopy now. Thanks.

Will use 12S 3700 EVO 20, 12S 3700 EVO25 and 12S 4500 EVO 30.

Was told that there might come a simple solution for any CG issues together with bigger batteries.

Will use my Actro 32-3 and 32-3 MAX motor with 8mm shaft....was told that standard for the Ion-X2 is a 6mm shaft as the pulleys are 6mm as standard.

Plan to install the super fast and strong KO servo´s on one of them, then flybarless EVO 30 power must be the next ;-)

I also have some 710mm blades at home....will there be any precautions to take to use them on the Ion-X2?