Feedback for someone thinking about a lepton

[houstonrevo]

I am flying a 600N now but I am not flying enough due to the time it takes and the size of the field required to fly a 50 size nitro. So I am thinking about getting a Lepton but I need some feedback. I know some of you have both the 600E and the lepton. Can you comment on the differences in flight characteristics between the two. I am not looking for comments about quality or which one is better. Just want to know how they fly diffently. Also, I have heard numerous comments about having to pay special attention to get the tail right. What do I need to do to get the tail dial in (or it is always going to be par or sub-par when compare to a normal 50 size heli on the tail)?

Thanks

[kgfly]

...and the size of the field required to fly a 50 size nitro
Same amount of room is needed for a 50-size eHeli like the TRex600 so if that is a problem your choices are a little limited. Lepton, QJEP8v2 and maybe sometime this year, TRex500. I guess also maybe the Hurricane550 with a shrink kit ?

[Jafa]

They do fly differently, the Lepton is a little terror, very quick
Obviously you can tone it down with dual rates
It's different to look at too, small, can't fly too far away
Lepton feels very light and agile and ready to tear off in an instant

You need 68mm tails to get tail auhority

[toyturbo]

Yes the lepton is a very suburb little piece of helicopeter bliss! It is very collective and cyclic responsive if you want it to be and rock-stable in a hover.

I have heard/read and experienced that the reason the tail isn't so great is because when the head bogs down, the tail loses authority all too easy.

Some have suggested changing out the stock flybar paddles for gorrila pro-programmable paddles from rc-hover. Since they weight less than the stock ones, it allows the head to bog less during maneuvers therefore preventing loss of tail power. I am about to try this solution myself and will let you know how they fare.

[Rocket Man]

The Lepton is a small heli that flies like a big heli.

I have both the T-Rex 600 and the Lepton. I cannot fly the 600 in the same field I use for the Lepton (or my little T-Rex 450). The Lepton will cover more ground faster than the smaller T-Rex, but it's easy enough to control and flies like a dream - smooth and quiet.

The flight performance of the Lepton is superb. With 4s batteries, mine has all the zip of the 600 and is very easy to follow compared to the smaller 450.

Hirobo gives you quality components, especially in the head and control areas. I changed the tail rotor blades on mine and run JR blades. These give me plenty of tail authority with a 401 gyro and JR3400 servo.

I only have about 20 flights on my Lepton and am just starting to really get the feel for it. I made a mistake in using 3s battery packs at the start. It's a dog on three cells, but a very good flying machine on four cells with a Hacker A30 motor.

Ron

[3secondsToImpact]

I have over 150 flights on my Leppy with still all the original equippment.
Very well built and flys like a rocket, sometimes scary agility. :D

[Flying Cat]

I agree that it is a lot more stable than the T-Rex 450, yet it is still very agile and responsive.

Another very good thing about the Lepton is that you can fly it in the same field you would fly a T-Rex 450.

Also, if you get the 68 mm carbon fiber tail blades from readyheli, tail issues go away.

Enjoy! :D

[houstonrevo]

Thanks for the feedback. Just picked up a lepton (used). It has a Jazz 80 on it. Do I need BEC or not? Sorry, I am new to electrics. Also, can I get some feedback about Hacker vs NEU vs Hyperion 10 turns. I need a 10 turn motor. I would like to get one that is reliable. Where is a best place to get them?

Thanks

[Rocket Man]

Wish I could help you on the Jazz. You might check the web and see if there are any specs listed. The Castle ESC I use requires a BEC when you go over three cells.

I'm using a Hacker A30-8XL with an 18 tooth pinion on four cells and it's a super motor. You could get the 10 turn version if you wish and gear it accordingly. Neu motors are great, but much more expensive.

I also use Hackers on my little T-Rexes. They are smooth, quiet, and very reliable.

Ron

[Flying Cat]

I am using the Jazz 80 ESC as well. It has a VERY good quality BEC, so there is no need for an external BEC :D

Regards,

[xircom]

I cannot compare with a TRex, but with an EVO50 - but still what people say is actually true, the Lepton for me feels very fast and light - but still not twitchy, but rather solid in hover. It somehow feels as if the air is thinner flying the Lepton, in addition using good 4S set-up it's letting any 50 behind in climbs ... it reacts quick, but for good flyers still very precise.

The only thing I regret with the Lepton, is that I bought it before my EVO50 - after learning aerobatics now with the nitro, the Lepton starts to make fun even more ...

And then of course longer tail-fin as well as blades (68mm) are absolutely needed, also better use MHA or SAB or even MS Composit, rather than stock.

That is my experience.

[Finless]

The Lepton is a ROCKIN electric heli for sure! But it is also expensive to crash which I think is why it is not that popular. I crashed mine once at it cost me over $200 to fix (blades included). People coming from a Trex will have sticker shock but this heli is WORTH IT.

Bob

[dcbinkowski]

Agreed on most of the above posts, especially about it being a little terror. I initially referred to mine as a "little beastie" after flying it a few times.

I think the Lepton is an acquired taste. On 4 cells its definitely powerful, mine climbs out like 20 feet in the blink of an eye. My pitch is a hair under +/- 9 degrees, I think I bent a spindle in flight when it was +/- 10, and initially I did some hard collective changes in my first few flights. It occurs to me that when running about 2750 headspeed on 425 mah blades, you'd better be easy on pitch reversals because it will respond ... hard. And the whole 3 pounds of heli will be pulling on that spindle.

I have Jazz 80A, Hyperion 10 turn, 3150's, 401/9254 on tail. That seems to be a pretty good 3D setup, and so far I've flown it about 20 times in 3 weeks. Despite the price tags I've been hearing some people complain about, I think I'm in love. Copters are often expensive, and cheap copters often dissapoint, so I don't care much about initial cost if it is built like a brick s$!*house and my costs only increase based on my screwups. And this thing is built that way. I feel perfectly confident in it, after fixing the short tail blades and weak tail fin issue.

I do think it could benefit from a longer tail boom/belt, with stretch carbon tail fin to keep the 68's from dragging. I temporarily zip tied the stock tail fin (a very floppy little piece of plastic) to extend about 1" below the carbon tail fin I have mounted on it. I had planned on running some thin ply through my bandsaw and making a more suitable looking extension but haven't yet gotten around to it.

Long story short. Visibility = pretty good, on a sunny day very good. I can fly it quite high compared to my T-Rex 450 even though side by side it doesn't look too much bigger. Air space = It will 3D in a smaller space than a 50 but it does take more room than a 450, its about proportional between a 450 and 50. Don't get the Lepton with dreams of doing snakes in your back yard. You need a nice size school yard or park without a lot of trees to really get on it, because it moves pretty fast. Power = Power to weight of a souped up 90, in a 3 lb. copter. Price = If you're worried about this above the other aspects you're in the wrong hobby. Quality = Top notch

[kgfly]

Anyone had both the Lepton and the HDX500 and wish to comment on the comparison ?

[houstonrevo]

OK guys, finally got a Lepton. Still setting it up. So I have a question for all you seasoned lepton owner. I am going to run Jazz 80 with 10T hyperion 4s 3700 Evo pack. The Jazz comes with a 4a BEC, should I just stick with that or do I need to have a seperate BEC just to be safe? Also, I am going to be running the Jazz in governor mode, so will the 24 Tooth pinion be best or do I run the 23 (I have one).

I also have a GY601 9250 sitting around and also a GY401 9254. I already have the 68mm tail blades here. Do I need the extra holding power for the GY601 or can I get good control with GY401. In that case, I can sell the GY601 to fund the stretch lepton tail when it comes out :wink:

Also what are you guys running for idle, idle up 1 & 2 for throttle curve? I am thinking 0 -65 65 65 65 for normal, and then a flat 80 to 85% for idle up 1 and 2.

Thanks for helping me with the decision. I am looking forward to flying this bird.

[Jafa]

The Jazz BEC is excellent - no need for an external one
(I don't think you can turn the governor off)

GY401 works

0 55 55 55 55 for normal
You're on the money with the idle ups