UK guys: Ripmax GRP blades any good?

[oy2503]

Hi guys.

I'm trying to keep down crash costs (ok, I've had only one big one) and I just saw
the Ripmax GRP blades at FastLad. They certainly are cheap - but probably not
anywhere near as still as Carbon blades. So I don't think they are useable on a
Beam. But it would be nice, if anyone had tried them.

Also, they have a great price on Nexus 611 servos. But I can't see any spare parts
and that's a real disqualifier. I just had to scratch my three Graupner DES806 servos
because I can't get the upper lid ad a spare part - only spare parts are gears and arms.

Cheers
Erik

[trillian]

I had not seen those Ripmax blades before, the ones with the green strips look very nice. I really don't know how sturdy they are. You might ask Fast-Lads what they know about them if anyone there has tried them.

I can tell you what is a pretty good blade for the money is the TT (made by BBT) carbons; http://www.align-trex.co.uk/blades/t...698-6020t.html These are not strictly a FBL blade but they have a very stable chord-wise C of G and decent weight of 143 grams. These are what I used on my very first flights with the Beam and more recently I was using them on a Compass Knight 600e so I have flown them with the Total-G and Vortex FBL units.

Align-Trex still have them at 30 quid for one pair or 55 for two pairs.

[oy2503]

Hi Trillian.

Thank you - that's the kind of info I've been looking for.

I'd better get me some - how do I get the discount?
And I do hope they are reasonable postage-wise.

Cheers
Erik

[trillian]

Originally Posted by oy2503

Hi Trillian.

Thank you - that's the kind of info I've been looking for.

I'd better get me some - how do I get the discount?
And I do hope they are reasonable postage-wise.

Cheers
Erik

If you mean the discount for two pairs at Align-Trex, I went back and had a look, this is the link but it shows 'out of stock' :-( http://www.align-trex.co.uk/blades/t...k-tt-type.html

I guess he's only got one pair left. Midlands has them as well but it looks like their two-pair deal is about the same as Align-Trex's single pair price; http://www.modelhelicopters.co.uk/th...in-blades.html

[oy2503]

Hi Trillian.

I just bought 3 sets of "ThunderTiger type" BBT blades at align-trex.co.uk.

Thank you for letting me know - blades are usually expensive, but this is a very nice offer.

I also bought the last 7 ino-lab 750 servos at fast-lad. Gear sets are £1 each,
and cases come at 10 pence. So I got 12 of each.

I want my two Avantgardes to be twins. Just sharing one ESC and the VBars are black and blue.

And a battery fence for my "new" X5 plus 4 more 6s3Ah nanotechs to share between all helis.

I now feel financially exhausted, but ready for the season. Let's go have some fun.

Cheers
Erik

[trillian]

Hey Erik,

'Sounds good! I haven't flown my Beam in a couple months as I have been working with a few other helis but I will probably take the Beam out this week if the weather improves a bit. I have Futaba 9255 servos on mine because I already had them but the gearsets are very expensive so if I ever have to change one I'll just swap them all out for something cheaper.

Last time I flew it I put on a pair of standard Radix 600s and cranked the swash gain up in the Total-G and it was excellent. Previously I had been using Rail 606s but it flies so nicely on the Radix blades I think they will stay on as my regular blades now. I might try the TT blades again just to compare them.

[oy2503]

Hi Trillian.

I just got the Beam tail working again. It was the new tail thrust bearings (came already mounted in the blade holders)....

Three halves with 5.3mm hole and one with 5.0. It should've been two of each. Two new thrust bearings later, she flies well.

I had done everything else, as I have the new Beam kit. So I could exchange parts, VBar and tail servo.

It feels like my Avantgarde now has more pop than before the crash. Swash servos are now
Ino-Lab 750 instead of Graupner DES806 and the blads are BBT TT instead of Align 3G.

Now I must be a little more careful how I move my sticks. A good thing, I think.

Cheers
Erik

[trillian]

Hi Erik,

Good to hear you've got the Beam back in order. I have taken a very long detour with other helis, I converted my Rave ENV to a Ballistic, put together a Compass Knight 3D, revived a Robbe electric conversion project I started ages ago and most recently have been working to get my Faifa back in the air after the tail exploded at the beginning of the year.

Sooooooo, I haven't flown the Beam in a few months now.

Plus I just haven't been able to fly nearly as much as I'd like due (again) to very erratic weather and engineering works on the trains.

The Knight flies great with the TT blades but the grips are shorter from the blade bolt to the feathering shaft bolt and the TT blades will not fold back in the grips. This wouldn't be a big deal really and I often don't leave blades on some of my helis but with the Knight I want the greatest convenience possible, I want to be able to just grab it and go. So I have some Edge 600s on it now.

Anyway, the Beam is due to be flown again soon, I just need to see what the weather is doing and charge the appropriate packs.