Will It Leave the Ground?

[Gsquared08]

I am getting ready to purchase a Trex 450 and plan to use it as an AP heli as my first attempt into the hobby. I know the 450 can't hold much but all I plan to mount under it is a small digital camera. I like the mount from Askman that's made for the 450's and if I add any sort of down link gear like http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=39, is it going to add too much weight?

[catfight]

I have a 450 with the Askman mount - using the 320 blades. Using Pentax A10 camera that weighs 146 grams. I am nt using dwnlink though - just automatic 2 sec photos to XD card. I have a digital trigger but can't remember which one :0)?

[Tonystott]

If this is your first foray into helicopters, I would hold off with any AP activity until you are totally competent flying the Trex in standard form.

Once you are a capable flier, your Trex will fly in AP guise even if it weighs as much as 1165g, which is how much mine weighs :)

Enjoy

[Gsquared08]

Thanks for the info. I have been on RealFlight for over a year and have no immediate plans to jump into AP. Just wanted to make sure it's a heli that can handle some light camera gear when I get to that point.

[Gsquared08]

Pertaining to the 450, my LHS heli guru said adding a mount, small digital camera and possibly a bigger MaH battery to compensate will wear the motor prematurely and heat up the Lipo to a dangerous level. Now I have seen plenty of peoples setups with mounts and cameras and obviously they are having success since I hear no complaints. So what is the take on this?

Thanks,
Greg

[Tonystott]

The LHS guy is trying to be realistic, but is being too conservative. In order to avoid problems, you have to accept that flight duration will be shortened. Fitting a bigger battery is counter-productive. Run a smaller pinion (say an 11), use 335PRO blades, and avoid unnecessary weight on the heli. For instance, don't bother with the canopy, and if you are running without downlink, you should be able to keep heli weight down around the 1000g mark.

Mine runs the A10 too, plus AP2000i, plus 10 channel Rx, plus downlink, plus Askman Pro mount, and weighs 1165g. Batteries are 3 year old Kokam 3S 15C 2000mAh, and they only get warm after 5 minutes or so.

Have fun!

[Gsquared08]

Sah-Weeeeeeet!!! Thanks for the good news.:woot