B400 gyro?

[ualdrivr]

:hug: Hi guys,

I am new to the forum and I must say you guys are great. I have learned a lot just by reading the postings on this forum about the Helicopter that I do not even own yet.

I am planning to purchase the e-Flight B400 in the coming week. I was torn between the Venom Night Ranger 3D XL RTF, Heli-Max MX450 XS ARF and the e-Flight B400 RTF.

Well to my disappointment the Heli-Max MX450 XS shows discontinued at the www3.TowerHobbies.com :(. Which is strange, since the Heli-Max sight still show the Heli in production, I can not figure this out.:arggg:

Anyhow, I think the B400 has a great frame structure and it comes with a lot of goodies, plus I found a distributor that offers a free crash kit! Now that is something I would consider since I am not up to speed yet....LOL.

The Venom looks great also, so I am still a bit torn on which one to choose, what do you guys think?

The question I have for you guys is:

What about the included gyro? Not good enough? I read a lot of threads mentioning that a lot of you have replaced the stock gyro with the Futaba GY 401. Now I know this is a better gyro, but what's wrong with the stock one? Also, if you install the GY 401 do you change the stock rudder servo or just the gyro?
What about the cheaper GY240 by Futaba, will that be a good substitute?

Please advise. Thank you.

[brookshay]

What is your previous experience with heli's? What do you want to do with it out of the box?

[ualdrivr]

Brookshay, thank you for your reply.

Not much experience with RC helis, besides flying a lot of two channel ones, but I am an A&P mechanic that has worked on Helicopters and I am an airline pilot flying the B757/767 aircraft.

I know R/Cs are totally different but I do have knowledge of aerodynamics. What I want to do is to buy a Heli that comes RTF with good mechanics and equipment. I was thinking to get an Axe CP-L but why waste money on something that I am going to outgrow in a month or so.... Thant's why I am looking at the Blade 400.
3D flying is on my list also.

What do you know about the gyro questing that I posted. Thanks

[BKF]

The gyro is probably fine for just hovering and forward/reverse flight in no/low wind conditions. In mild wind, the G110 couldn't hold back the tail from wind gusts, often piro'ing 30-45 degrees from where it was.

After adding the GY401, that was no longer an isse. Even hard throttle changes don't seem to affect the GY401, but it used to cause issues with the G110. It's possible I didn't set the G110 up as well as I could, but after trying for a couple weeks I gave up and got the GY401... it's been great ever since! But I also added a JR DS3400G high speed digital gyro servo for the tail, which I'm sure probably also helped.

[widower]

I've had one small crash with my b400 and stripped the elevator servo so I moved the tail servo to the elevator, and put a s3154 on the tail. I find the g110 gyro usually has a bit of drift after initialization so what I usually do is set my rudder trim to 0, power up the b400 then trim the rudder until it doesn't drift anymore. All in all, I'm happy with the gyro after trimming, but I'm no were near 3d yet. I think that the g110 is good for getting your feet wet and once you've replaced all your servos (due to breaking them in crashes), and you advance to real 3d, then you can get a 401. I expect it wouldn't be much longer before you move to a more expensive heli with an aluminum head for higher rpm. Then you can use the 401 on that machine.

[brookshay]

My opinion is the 400 would suite you well for quite a while - you can upgrade the tail servo and gyro as needed. I am not to 3d yet, but the impression that I get is changing the tail servo alone can make a huge difference with this heli / gyro combination.

Good luck with your decision - if it were mine to make, I'd get the 400.

[ualdrivr]

John
Thank you for the reply, good advise. I think eventualy I will upgrade the servos and gyro, because when I get involved with something I alway upgrade it, you know, never happy with the stock stuff. I've alway build my own computers and I always beef 'em up, so why not Helicopters....:lol:

[ualdrivr]

brookshay,

That is what I was thinking. I think the 400 will be a good learning platform and a fairly good investment for the future. When I get like those guys you see on YouTube I'll go for a T-Rex 500 or 600 Nitro, until then the 400 will do. What about the Venom 3DXL, any thoughts on that?

[JimLerch]

I'm still learning, but I'm doing fast forward figure 8 with Loops and hard banking turns using the stock gyro. I really don't feel as the gyro is a problem for my skill level.

Flips, Loops, rolls, and fast forward flight all no problems.

As you crash and break servo's, do upgrade them however. Currently I have HS-65HB on the head ($25ea) and a Futaba DS-3400G on the tail (with the Gyro in Digital mode).

Flies nice for the type of flying I do (Sport, aerobatic, no "true 3D yet)..

BTW, I'm also using the transmitter from this bird to fly my recently purchased Raptor 60 with no problems. Here's a video of my first flight in the raptor (mostly to demonstrate my "level" of flying capabilities)

eoWCTWBVe20

[The_Russian]

ualdrivr,

My second helo was the B400 and I love it! It will cost you 50% less than a T-Rex for MX and initial purchasing cost. The DX6i is excellent and I use it in my fixed wing RC aircraft, too.

I am still running the stock gyro because I only perform basic flight at my current skill level. After my first crash I stripped out two of the servos and replaced them with HS65MGs. The helo flies much better after the swap, as well as being virtually bulletproof now. If you need help with the swap, I can guide you through the process. I plan on getting a better gyro for complex maneuvers (eventually).

:thumbup: If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going! (727 FO)

[ualdrivr]

Jim, thank you for the great advise. I think I'm sold on the B400, can't wait to place the order.

[sokal]

this is my second as well very good heli for the not quit new heli flyier
good platform in this size

OH IT's A BOEING
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36138&d=1200890672

[ualdrivr]

This is the Boeing I'm talking about...:lol:

[hcopter51]

Thanks to all 4 helping me make up my mind too... Will stay with stock until parts break....

[sokal]

This is the Boeing I'm talking about...:lol:
true but can it do 0 kts at altitude

[ualdrivr]

true but can it do 0 kts at altitude

It's more like 10 to 11 miles a minute if the wind is right...:smokin: :lol: at .82 Mach. which is about 460 kts True.

[The_Russian]

.90 :YeaBaby:

[sokal]

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36582&d=1201224017
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36583&d=1201224017
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36586&d=1201224422
PURE BOEING POWER:thumbup:

[ualdrivr]

hey sokal, do you fly the CH-47 Chinook? or you just love the machine?

[ualdrivr]

.90 Mach but you can't even hear your self thinking because of the wind noise in the '27...I'm I right?:lol:

[The_Russian]

What?




:P

[Wolfpackin]

sokal,

Awesome pics.
Any chance I can see some of that when you're out here?
I figure it's the least you can do since you guys are always flying over my house and rattling the windows.;)
Don't forget to let me know when you're coming.

[sokal]

sokal,

Awesome pics.
Any chance I can see some of that when you're out here?
I figure it's the least you can do since you guys are always flying over my house and rattling the windows.;)
Don't forget to let me know when you're coming.
no prob man will be in town 9-15 mar im sure u will hear us coming lol