Anyone else buying a Belt CP soon?

[dvshooter]

Seems the new 2008 CP's are filtering out to the shops and sites. Some places are calling it the "new and souped up" CP. Spoke to a shop about the worldwide out of stock situation and was told the 2.4 ghz upgrade was being shipped.

Anyone know of any other differences? Price doesn't seem to have been affected.

[mnwizard]

The guys at my LHS told me the same thing. Said the only thing that would change is the Tx and Rx. One of the guys said the flyer he saw showed an Rx and a sub, but he didn't know if it was a production pic or not.

I do know that when they switched the Lama V3s and V4s over, they didn't change or upgrade anything else.

[jlira]

well that sucks I just bought a 72mhz CP.

What about 2.4 Ghz interference? Wireless Lan, Microwaves, and Portable Phones all operate on the 2.4 band

[dvshooter]

I thought the 2.4 ghz was to avoid interference...if 2.4 is popular for household stuff then it doesn't make much sense considering these are flown in backyards 99% of the time.

Any experienced tech types wanna chime in? The benefit/reason of going to 2.4?

[darthdecon]

yep every time i fly my belt cp while popping popcorn in microwave and talking on the phone i have to make a trip to the hospital because of my pace maker:)

no i use all kinds of 2.4 equipment like routers for computers, phones and more and don't seem to have any problem with my belt cp, using dx6i with ar6200, although i have heard of people having some kind of interference, but you get more with 72mhz from what i have read don't know the reason but would be interested in finding out why.

[helihathnofury]

Have a good think about other options before you buy a stock belt. Many of us here started with a stock BeltCP, myself included. As you will have gathered, we have made many upgrades to this heli as the slock parts are of poor quality. Yes the package is good value for money, but since buying mine in Jan this year from Hong Kong, it is more like a Trex now than a Belt. The upgrades i have made include the following
Metal head/tail £40
Heading Hold Gyro £20
4 better servos £24
Blades £12
Shaft, main gear, skids, flybar etc £30
New Tx - DX6i £110

That totals around £126, excluding the Tx, and add that to the cost of my belt [which was £120 with extras].
I could have bought a Trex for that!!!!!!!!!!! [in some ways wish i had!!] In the UK, pEsky parts are more expensive and of lower quality than those of the Trex/Align. In the US, you could get a EXI - Trex copy - for $99!!!!!!! Or an HDX450 for $325-$500 depending on package. And the Trex range is cheap there.
Your choice.

But look on the bright side. Get a Belt and you will have the opportunity of getting excellent advice from all the Aces on this great forum, and conversing with us mere mortals too !!!!!!!!

Good luck,

Mike

:thumbup:

[psilo]

The new belts also have digital servos, but being Esky I can't imagine they will be that great.

As Mike says ^^^^^^^ whilst I love my belt, think about how much it would cost you to get an EXI instead, although if initial budget is an issue then the Belt is a great starter and the learning process of doing all the upgrades and mods is great.

Gerd

[Ian 777]

If your fortunate you may get one that flies straight from the box but most of us end up modding them.

I love mine and working on it has taught me a lot. To get the heli flying as well as an Exi or Trex only cost me and extra £72 (appart from the DX6i)

But I got a bad Example. If the new radio is any good they may be Ok

Ian

[dvshooter]

For those of you who've been working with their CP's for a bit...what tools (That Home Depot does not carry and that I probably already have somewhere) do you recommend starting with? Ball crimp pliers...pitch guage? Are theser things I absolutely have to have to set it up for a relatively safe first flight.

And yes..planning on BIIIG trng gear...4 foot, 1/8 in dowels with stryo balls

[Ian 777]

2 Long reach 5.5 mm sockets for changing the feathering shafts

[muppetman0]

You will definitely need the long reach 5.5mm nut driver! I seem to have to change my feathering shaft on a weekly basis - but then again I use the stock belt plastic head and Esky shafts. You can get away with one nut driver and a pair if long nose pliers but it is a lot easier with 2 nut drivers (and is probaly better for the blade grips and lock nut).

[dvshooter]

Muppet...special tools for those hard to reach parts, learned that lesson from paintball, needlenose was hardly the way to go 99% of the time.

Another tool question...what about ball crimp pliers...have to have e'm? Something Home Depot carries?

And what about the blade pitch guage? All these industrious folks here I'm sure someone's come up with a trick for measuring that?

I'm sure these newb questions have been answered endlessly elsewhere but couldn't find it posted anywehere else. Taking the plung and ordering my Belt CP this week!

Thanks

[rpm0720]

You also need a good blade balancer. This is very useful. You can easily get one from your favorite hobby shop.

[muppetman0]

I don't have ball link pliers myself and seem to manage without them. I think if you wanted some your best bet is your local hobby store (or the internet) . I do have a pitch gauge and I use it very often. I would recommend that you get one, again your LHS (or online) is your best bet.

[dvshooter]

Blade pitch is important so the gauge sounds good.

little confused about using it. I see where the blade goes and obviously the degree indicator. But...you hold it with your hand? Doesn't seem too accurate that way?

[mnwizard]

You put it on the blade, and with the swash and flybar level, you look down the blade and hold the top of the pitch indicater parallel with the flybar. The pointer will give you the pitch of the blade.

You look really funny doing this so make sure no one's watching.

[Masterlama]

I also have been waiting for the new Belt now for too long.:mad:
Yes, it seems to have digital servos, but so do my Lama v4.

Esky must have a problem delivering as the belt has been out of stock in many shops but finally they starts showing up.
A bit more expencive thou.

Anyone else knowing about new mods to the Belt?

[helihathnofury]

DVshooter, have a look at the "Finless Bob" setup vids - really useful for this kind of stuff
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=11373

Mike

[mnwizard]

I also have been waiting for the new Belt now for too long.:mad:
Yes, it seems to have digital servos, but so do my Lama v4.

Esky must have a problem delivering as the belt has been out of stock in many shops but finally they starts showing up.
A bit more expencive thou.

Anyone else knowing about new mods to the Belt?

Esky has upgraded all their helis to 2.4 MHz and it's taking them awhile to "fill the pipeline".

The Esky suggested retail for the Belt 2.4 is the same as the latest 72 Hz. It's the LHS and some of the on-line sellers that are taking the opportunity to increase their margin.

The last 72 hz Belts sold before the change to 2.4 had the upgraded digital servos on them, so if you're gonna get a 72, make sure it's got the new servos. (They say digital on the stickers)

[dvshooter]

Helihath...yes, have been watching all the CP videos I can find here, Great stuff and a good preview for what I'll be getting into. Really hope I get lucky with a trouble free (or relatively so) RTF CP. Waiting for BP hobbies in NJ to e-mail me that the yellow/blk and the aluminum case are in stock. Wife doesn't know about all the accessories I plan to buy with it but she'll get over it. I've sold it as an "educational tool" for the kids.

Thanks for all the advice.

[muppetman0]

I've sold it as an "educational tool" for the kids.

:lolol How did you manage that?