Sorry guys, gone to the Darkside.

[sd0]

Well, I just couldn't justify spending $250 to fix my B400, cause if you knock off the cost of the DX6i and reciever, a B400 only costs $220.

So anyway, this is not a slam on the B400, or any of you, but I got a Trex 450SA, and transferred all of my electronics into it. So far I have only done a 2 minute test hover, in the dark, in front of the house, and it hovers way more stable than the B400 ever did.


I really loved the B400, and I have enjoyed talking to all of you, and sharing info and videos, and all the help. But it is time for me to move up, I only got the SA as a beater heli, something to try new stuff with and not care about crashing. I will be getting a Trex 500 and a Trex 600 nitro soon. I have a lot of vacation time to cash out at work. The 400/450 class is way too hard for me to see anyway, so I cannot get too far away with it, I prefer a much bigger helicopter.

I hope we can all still be friends, and I still look forward to checking in on this forum everyday, and offering any help I can. You guys have been cool as hell, and I consider myself lucky to have you as "internet friends".

[eugenefelisco]

Don't worry sd0 I will never forget you. You help me alot. Now I have the courage to go out the park and zoom 20-30 ft in the air with wind HUH. I'm getting there just like your first video flying in that open lot. I know you will miss the b400 family, try to help us someday. Good luck in your new venture.

[NCBladerunner]

Hey sdo...I really wouldn't consider it crossing over into the darkside because you have chosen to fly other brands. The way I see it, a helicopter is a helicopter and as long as your flying and enjoying it...you're doing ok. I have a couple of T-rex's and Axe cp's as well as the B400...and I enjoy flying all of them...just keep flying...and have FUN :thumbup:
Good Luck!

[GenReaper]

Dont feel bad about it i just put on layby a T-REX 500 CF Kit Combo.

I agree these Blades are pretty hard to see at the best of times and are affected by gusty wind pretty bad hence why im going to something a bit bigger myself.

Nitro 700 will be in the works very soon when they are released :thumbup:

PS, i will be using my 400 for learning 3D orientation and get used to the control movements and crash it instead of my new toy i got coming :D

[JohnAu]

Nothing wrong with wanting more out of the hobby, i like my Blade 400 3D, it's teaching me how to fly,crash and build. But i have a T-rex 600 ep on its way soon.

JohnAu.

[newhelliguy]

The blade is a starter only. Its a great little heli for the money. I skipped the 500 and went to the 600 trex and I love the 600 but it is still fun to fly the 400 especially to learn new stuff on. My sugestion skip the 500 and use the cash for better electronics on the 600.

[sparx-]

To each his own :). You might consider the Trex SA and upgrade, but I consider going from a B400 to a Trex SA a downgrade 8).

I see people everyday replacing stock servos, gyros and whatever. Then in the next few posts you see that all they are doing is Hovering and maybe some slow Forward Flight. In it's stock form, the Blade 400 is MORE then capable of doing these things and quite a bit more. People just need to understand that they are new to helis and you are going to be fixing and tweaking them as you crash. I do not care if it is a B400, Trex SA, Dragonus or put in any other heli. If you think that getting a Trex SA is going to solve all your "problems", I hate to tell you, but you are wrong. When you crash, things break. WHen you crash, you have to spend the time to re-setup properly. Look through the Trex Forums and you will find people having the same "problems" with a Trex as they do with a B400. People are replacing swash plates with Beam swashes because the Trex swashes get sloppy in 20/30 flights. New flyers with all the same setup issues and re-setup issues after crashes.

Also, on the cost factor. You can get a B400 for $400. The DX6i/RX package cost $180. So basically the B400 alone is $220. That is the same price as getting a Trex SA and IMHO, you get a better heli in the B400.

But again, to each his own :). I am sure you will enjoy any heli that you fly.

SPaRX

[sd0]

To each his own :). You might consider the Trex SA and upgrade, but I consider going from a B400 to a Trex SA a downgrade 8).

I see people everyday replacing stock servos, gyros and whatever. Then in the next few posts you see that all they are doing is Hovering and maybe some slow Forward Flight. In it's stock form, the Blade 400 is MORE then capable of doing these things and quite a bit more. People just need to understand that they are new to helis and you are going to be fixing and tweaking them as you crash. I do not care if it is a B400, Trex SA, Dragonus or put in any other heli. If you think that getting a Trex SA is going to solve all your "problems", I hate to tell you, but you are wrong. When you crash, things break. WHen you crash, you have to spend the time to re-setup properly. Look through the Trex Forums and you will find people having the same "problems" with a Trex as they do with a B400. People are replacing swash plates with Beam swashes because the Trex swashes get sloppy in 20/30 flights. New flyers with all the same setup issues and re-setup issues after crashes.

Also, on the cost factor. You can get a B400 for $400. The DX6i/RX package cost $180. So basically the B400 alone is $220. That is the same price as getting a Trex SA and IMHO, you get a better heli in the B400.

But again, to each his own :). I am sure you will enjoy any heli that you fly.

SPaRX

All true SPaRX, and I never said the SA was an upgrade of any kind, just a replacement.
My LHS does not have the B400 without radio/electronics, and I did not want to wait, so I got the SA for $180.

I just got back from my first real flight and I still think it hovers a little more stable, probably because it is heavier, but it also feels like it has a lot less pop, it doesn't climbout nearly as fast as my B400 did. Overall I am happy with it, but like I have said before the 400/450 size helicopters are just too small for me to see far away, but they are good to learn on, because of the low crash costs. I have a Trex 600E also, but the crash costs of that are way too high to use it for training.

[HeliMix]

So from now on, I guess we will call you Darth Vader. :lol:

Just kidding. Hate to hear you will not be flying with us anymore, but you are still flying, so that is good. Hopefully some day, I will be moving up as well. But for now, I am still a Blader.

Keep us posted on how it goes sd0.

[Big_Daddy]

I beg to differ on the SA being a "downgrade".

The TREX is a superior machine.

That being said, my blade will always hold a special place in my heart. As, it got me into the hobby.

Crashes=$. Period. So, moot point.

IMO, the electronics: servos, gyro are the real Achilles heal for this aircraft. replace the stock units with HS65MG's for the cyclic, a DS3400G for the rudder and a GY401 for the gyro and be amazed at the difference.

[sparx-]

I beg to differ on the SA being a "downgrade".

The TREX is a superior machine.

That being said, my blade will always hold a special place in my heart. As, it got me into the hobby.

Crashes=$. Period. So, moot point.

IMO, the electronics: servos, gyro are the real Achilles heal for this aircraft. replace the stock units with HS65MG's for the cyclic, a DS3400G for the rudder and a GY401 for the gyro and be amazed at the difference.

Please explain why you feel the Trex is a superior machine. I do not feel it is. I have owned both and I feel that the B400 is smoother in both Cyclic and Collective. It is a better flyer because it is lighter. The Frame is easier to work on then a Trex all but the tail belt. The tail mechanics are better on a B400 then a Trex as it does not develop slop and require you to do the "fuel tube" mod to get rid of the sloppiness. So I am curious as to why you think that the Trex SA is a superior machine? Please do not include the electronics as part of the reason. The cost of a Trex SA is just for the Motor/Esc while for almost the same price, you get everything you need to fly with a B400.

Your take on the electronics are definatly an opinion. There are many examples of people flying the stock electronics for many flights and having no issues. What I see is, the only people having issues with the stock stuff are those who have crashed and then start having problems. This is not something unique to the B400. Look through any forum about any heli and you will see the same issues cropping up. Someone crashes and then starts having problems and do not understand why these things are not working right now.

SPaRX

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

Please explain why you feel the Trex is a superior machine. I do not feel it is. I have owned both and I feel that the B400 is smoother in both Cyclic and Collective. It is a better flyer because it is lighter. The Frame is easier to work on then a Trex all but the tail belt. The tail mechanics are better on a B400 then a Trex as it does not develop slop and require you to do the "fuel tube" mod to get rid of the sloppiness. So I am curious as to why you think that the Trex SA is a superior machine? Please do not include the electronics as part of the reason. The cost of a Trex SA is just for the Motor/Esc while for almost the same price, you get everything you need to fly with a B400.

Your take on the electronics are definatly an opinion. There are many examples of people flying the stock electronics for many flights and having no issues. What I see is, the only people having issues with the stock stuff are those who have crashed and then start having problems. This is not something unique to the B400. Look through any forum about any heli and you will see the same issues cropping up. Someone crashes and then starts having problems and do not understand why these things are not working right now.

SPaRX


How can you say it flies better than a T-Rex Sparx, you own a t-rex clone, its not a real T-rex, so you really don't know how one flies to make a comparison. All you can REALLY say is that your blade400 flies better than your crappy T-rex Clone.

90% of people replace the electronics in the blade 400 because the electronics are crappy bottom of the line items.You don't have the stock electronics in your b400 either. You already upgraded the servos, tail servo, and gyro, just like everyone else. Then again this is the blade 400 forum so I will just say this...you can get a blade 400 to fly well, its a good beginners CCPM heli and in the right hands can fly really well.

[sparx-]

How can you say it flies better than a T-Rex Sparx, you own a t-rex clone, its not a real T-rex, so you really don't know how one flies to make a comparison. All you can REALLY say is that your blade400 flies better than your crappy T-rex Clone.

Correction. I owned a Trex Clone yes, but I have flown all Trex models, SA, S, SEv1 and SEv2. And regardless of what you believe, "crappy T-rex Clone", they all flew the same as the clones. They are EXACT Copies almost down to the mm. There is virtually NO difference between a CopterX V1 and a Trex SEv1. Can you say you have flown both? If you have, then please tell me what you found to be different and that makes the Trex a better heli.

90% of people replace the electronics in the blade 400 because the electronics are crappy bottom of the line items.You don't have the stock electronics in your b400 either. You already upgraded the servos, tail servo, and gyro, just like everyone else.

Again, you are incorrect. I did not upgrade my electronics. I purchased a heli from a forum user as a BareBones. He purchased a bunch if kit, broke them up and then sold thing off separately. So I bought an Airframe, Stock ESC and Stock motor.

I have flown Spektrum DSP75's in helis before. They are the same servo as the Eflites. I found nothing about them to call them crappy. Yes, if you crash, the servos would strip. Yes if you crash, sometimes a servo would burn up. But this can be said of just about any Servo. I have had Hitecs and Futabas do the same things to me. Plain and simple, you crash things break.

The Stock Gyro is no different then any other piezo driven gyro. It suffers from temp drift. Has no Limit adjustments. Requires time to set it up properly. But when setup properly, it will be fine for most flyers until then enter into advanced manuvers that have fast backwards flight. I had an Esky HH Gyro. Some say it is a POS. I had that gyro holding the tail of my CopterX/Trex as good as my 401. The only time I could get it to blow out was in Very EXTREME collecitve changes and in backwards flight. But for standared loops, rolls, flips and punch-outs, it held very well.

I have the stock ESC and Motor. I have no issues with it and have well over 100 flights with them.

Then again this is the blade 400 forum so I will just say this...you can get a blade 400 to fly well, its a good beginners CCPM heli and in the right hands can fly really well.

"In the right hands". I always love that statement. If Jamie or anyone else can do all the advanced 3D on the Blade 400, then anyone can. The only difference between those that can and those that cannot is that those that can learned how to fly advanced 3D moves.

The Blade 400 is a Great intro CCPM heli and a Great Advanced Heli as well. It will and can do anything a Trex can do. If you say otherwise, then please direct me to the proof of it.

SPaRX

[sparx-]

And further more, because I am getting tire of this "you owned a clone" being thrown back at me all the time. The last 3 months of flying my CopterX/Trex, the ONLY thing left on it that was not ALIGN was the Rotor Head and even it had Aligns Mainshaft, feathering shaft and dampeners in it. THe tail was Align. The frame was align. The gears were align. The blades were align. The canopy was align. The belt was align. I think you get my point. The reaon all those align parts were put on was because that is waht my LHS sold. At one point I had a full Align SEv1 head sittin on my bench to put on my heli. But after inspection and consideration, I decided it was not worth the money to install it. So I sold it and kept the CopterX head. I see nothing on the Align head that would have made it any better then what I already had.

SPaRX

[misterg74]

I just bought a trex myself ......... I know ONLY what I've read but I am REALLY hopin I made a good choice after reading this thread?!?!:arggg:

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

I just bought a trex myself ......... I know ONLY what I've read but I am REALLY hopin I made a good choice after reading this thread?!?!:arggg:

Don't worry, you won't be disappointed.

[misterg74]

NICE:thumbup:

[Montana_Reefer]

I have flown Spektrum DSP75's in helis before. They are the same servo as the Eflites. I found nothing about them to call them crappy. Yes, if you crash, the servos would strip. Yes if you crash, sometimes a servo would burn up. But this can be said of just about any Servo. I have had Hitecs and Futabas do the same things to me. Plain and simple, you crash things break.


SPaRX


• When the Servo Mode selection switch is set in the Digital Servo (DS) position, the gyro is
optimized for use with digital servos that are designed to accept a pulse rate of 275Hz. Some
such servos include the Spektrum DSP60 and DSP75, as well as the JR 3400G. Again, although
the DS75H tail servo installed on your model is a digital servo, it is not designed to accept a pulse
rate of 275Hz. Be certain that the Servo Mode selection switch is set to the Standard position
when the DS75H servo is being used


this being page 26 of the blade 400 manual

I think we now know why you feel so strongly about the blade, you've never realy flown one completly stock!
I don't own one but have set up three, two of them had already upgraded to the DSP75's and a DSP60 for the tail. Those two flew fairly well the third was totaly stock. I don't care how good you think you are at setting up that gyro when a servo won't center from both directions it's impossible!

there I proved it!

[mupchu]

I have the blade 400 and I have a 450SE-V2 kit I am building now. Not sure which is really going to be better but the parts support for the trex really attracted me.

That said my blade 400 flies really well. I did make a few mods to it, but overall it's a great heli. I am no 3d pro but it works wll enough for me, even with the stock gyro and tail servo.

I wouldn't say a SA is an upgrade for a blade 400, the blade 400 is much better although parts are an issue. The SE-V2 would be an upgrade, but I don;t see how the plastic SA would really offer all that much more.

[Montana_Reefer]

I just bought a trex myself ......... I know ONLY what I've read but I am REALLY hopin I made a good choice after reading this thread?!?!:arggg:

You'll love it, just follow the finless vids on the set up. Be cautious of the black and yellow "Carbon" blades. In a hard landing they can cause a boom strike, I've also had em stuck 4" in the ground and still fly great they are tuff as nails!

[mupchu]

• When the Servo Mode selection switch is set in the Digital Servo (DS) position, the gyro is

optimized for use with digital servos that are designed to accept a pulse rate of 275Hz. Some
such servos include the Spektrum DSP60 and DSP75, as well as the JR 3400G. Again, although
the DS75H tail servo installed on your model is a digital servo, it is not designed to accept a pulse
rate of 275Hz. Be certain that the Servo Mode selection switch is set to the Standard position
when the DS75H servo is being used


this being page 26 of the blade 400 manual

I think we now know why you feel so strongly about the blade, you've never realy flown one completly stock!
I don't own one but have set up three, two of them had already upgraded to the DSP75's and a DSP60 for the tail. Those two flew fairly well the third was totaly stock. I don't care how good you think you are at setting up that gyro when a servo won't center from both directions it's impossible!

there I proved it!


I don't know what you people are doing wrong, however I run the stock gyro and tail servo on my blade and it holds well. I am not doing fast backward flight, but it holds well as is. I am no expert but after watching finless's gyro setup for the align gyro I set mine up and it flew and held great.

[Montana_Reefer]

I don't know what you people are doing wrong, however I run the stock gyro and tail servo on my blade and it holds well. I am not doing fast backward flight, but it holds well as is. I am no expert but after watching finless's gyro setup for the align gyro I set mine up and it flew and held great.

Not doing anything wrong! Try the DSP60 on the tail you'll realy like it! Probaly the best $20 you could spend on a blade 400! And when you get a a chance to try a 450 size w/ a 401 or a 2100 on it you'll know the differnce!

[sparx-]

I think we now know why you feel so strongly about the blade, you've never realy flown one completly stock!
I don't own one but have set up three, two of them had already upgraded to the DSP75's and a DSP60 for the tail. Those two flew fairly well the third was totaly stock. I don't care how good you think you are at setting up that gyro when a servo won't center from both directions it's impossible!

there I proved it!

I do not base my comments on how the B400 flys on the electronics I have in it. I am making comments on how the Airframe flys. How the head and tail respond to inputs. How the airframe carries the weight. How it moves through the air. So regardless of what electronics I put in it, I would make the same commments.

You can dig up plenty of post of people flying B400s with the stock servos and gyro and having no issues. Here is one....... http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9750619&postcount=3591
So it is a matter of, some times you get a lemon. If the servo would not center, I would have returned it for one that does. When something is mass produced, there are bound to be bad ones that make it out into the "wild". Now if every single one that went out the door did as you stated, then it would be a bad product.

SPaRX

[sparx-]

I just bought a trex myself ......... I know ONLY what I've read but I am REALLY hopin I made a good choice after reading this thread?!?!:arggg:

Please do not read my posts and think that I feel the Trex is a bad heli because it is not. There are aspects of the B400 that I like over the Trex, this does not mean I feel the Trex is bad. But when someone says that a Trex is a superior heli and offers no reasons why it is, well, I have to post something :)

SPaRX

[Montana_Reefer]

I do not base my comments on how the B400 flys on the electronics I have in it. I am making comments on how the Airframe flys. How the head and tail respond to inputs. How the airframe carries the weight. How it moves through the air. So regardless of what electronics I put in it, I would make the same commments.

You can dig up plenty of post of people flying B400s with the stock servos and gyro and having no issues. Here is one....... http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9750619&postcount=3591
So it is a matter of, some times you get a lemon. If the servo would not center, I would have returned it for one that does. When something is mass produced, there are bound to be bad ones that make it out into the "wild". Now if every single one that went out the door did as you stated, then it would be a bad product.

SPaRX

E-flight servos are notorious for not centering. As far as air frame I think it is probably fine w/ good electronics. I do know the balls and links are very substandard, they are an upgraded version from the CP! They don't even work w/ the E-flight ball link pliers! Great engineering.