New Upgrades for the TREX 450Pro Available from KDE Direct!

[KDE Direct]

Hey HeliFreakers,


We just released the first upgrade for the TREX 450 Pro series of helicopters, the Aluminum Battery Mount and Canopy Clip Upgrade! Check it out at: http://www.kdedirect.com/450SeriesProducts.html.

The new AT450P-BMU upgrade provides a new Aluminum Battery Tray that serves as an excellent ESC mount underneath, as well as a LiPo Anti-Taco Protection design utilzing a fully-supported LiPo along it's entire length. Included in the upgrade is an Aluminum Canopy Clip, which incorporates the front landing skid mount as part of the design for accurate alignment and strength.

My favorite part of the new design is the open front section, which allows the pilot to tuck the ESC and LiPo wires underneath before replacing the canopy, as well as added front slots for an additional LiPo strap for hard 3D.

Thanks again for everyone's support of the KDE Direct brand and there are more to come, so keep checking back with us on a regular basis.

[Cameron_S]

That looks awesome.

[haha101]

i want that tail servo mount!!

[NotEnoughTime]

What is the weight increase?

[fixxxer]

Originally Posted by NotEnoughTime

What is the weight increase?

http://www.kdedirect.com/TREX450PBMU.html

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by fixxxer

http://www.kdedirect.com/TREX450PBMU.html

Thanks for the weight of the KDE parts.....I was asking Weight Increase/Difference.
And no, I will not take the stock parts off my heli to weigh, lol

[Wizzard]

Weight of stock parts.....

Battery Mount 12.2 Grams
Anti-Rotation 5.5 Grams
Tail Servo Mount 5.4 Grams


Hope this helps when making new parts...

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by Wizzard

Weight of stock parts.....

Battery Mount 12.2 Grams
Anti-Rotation 5.5 Grams
Tail Servo Mount 5.4 Grams


Hope this helps when making new parts...

Thanks!

Do you have the weight of the stock canopy clip?

[Wizzard]

Originally Posted by NotEnoughTime

Thanks!

Do you have the weight of the stock canopy clip?

It is part of the stock battery mount......

[NotEnoughTime]

Oh thats right...

Thanks again.

So only about a 7g increase then with those 2 parts.

[CeeveeSiN]

You do know the ESC fit perfect under there even before the mod so its really not a huge benefit of the new part.

in fact there is a factory hole cut for the ESC battery wires in the curve down.

Its a nice piece and all but looks heavy when fireups design was perfect and still light.

[NotEnoughTime]

Yea, I just ordered the original ATD from fireup and it seems great for me.

KDE parts add to the bling a bit more if that's what your going for.

Saying that, I will most likely get their anti-rotation bracket when it comes out.

[haha101]

ill probley get the anti and tail servo holder when they come out

[KDE Direct]

The overall weight addition is actually less than 7 grams versus the stock unit, as the canopy clip incorporates the front aluminum landing skid mount as well. I've been waiting on my gram scale to arrive from the manufacturer this week, so I can start providing everyone with weight comparison information on all my designs. Overall, the new 450Pro design is extremely light in comparison to the significant strength advantage and LiPo protection the new upgrade provides.

[KDE Direct]

I finally received the precision gram scale tonight and here are the weight differences:

KDE Direct TREX 450P Battery Tray: 13.61 g
KDE Direct TREX 450P Canopy Clip: 5.75 g
Total: 19.36 g

Stock TREX 450P Battery Tray: 12.12 g
Stock TREX 450P Front Landing Skid Mount: 1.56 g
Total: 13.68 g

Overall, there is a 5.68 g difference between the new upgrade and the original stock parts - an insignificant amount of weight increase for a significant increase in strength and the added benefits of the Aluminum frame structure.

[mahbouni]

Are you paying fireup any royalties for use of his idea?

[KDE Direct]

When the first pictures of the prototype TREX 450 Pro were released by Align, I right away saw the opportunity for a battery tray with full support of the LiPo for crash protection and better hard 3D support. I also wanted to improve upon the front area, by allowing the pilot to be able to tuck the wires underneath similar to the TREX 500 design. Kevin (fireup) also saw the opportunity to improve upon the stock battery mount and produced this concept from carbon-fiber as an additional nose-cone design, which is a great idea as well. Due to the time-lines in reaching full production for AL 6061-T6 CNC material, I could not get this to market as fast, so it may appear his idea was "copied".

This is not the case and I support his brand as well (I have his frame supports on my TREX 500), so this is an occurrence where "Great Minds Think Alike". The debate between carbon or aluminum will always be in the RC Helicopter world, so we are both producing upgrades targeted at slightly different markets and personalities. Due to the limitations of the design space in the RC helicopter market, these types of similar upgrade concepts will commonly occur as it already does with other competing brands (such as Kasama, Microheli, etc.).

[bsetiawan]

Any plan to release the bottom bracket upgrade for the 450 Pro? If you do, any time line?

[mahbouni]

Originally Posted by kegerator

When the first pictures of the prototype TREX 450 Pro were released by Align, I right away saw the opportunity for a battery tray with full support of the LiPo for crash protection and better hard 3D support. I also wanted to improve upon the front area, by allowing the pilot to be able to tuck the wires underneath similar to the TREX 500 design. Kevin (fireup) also saw the opportunity to improve upon the stock battery mount and produced this concept from carbon-fiber as an additional nose-cone design, which is a great idea as well. Due to the time-lines in reaching full production for AL 6061-T6 CNC material, I could not get this to market as fast, so it may appear his idea was "copied".

This is not the case and I support his brand as well (I have his frame supports on my TREX 500), so this is an occurrence where "Great Minds Think Alike". The debate between carbon or aluminum will always be in the RC Helicopter world, so we are both producing upgrades targeted at slightly different markets and personalities. Due to the limitations of the design space in the RC helicopter market, these types of similar upgrade concepts will commonly occur as it already does with other competing brands (such as Kasama, Microheli, etc.).

Fair enough.

[nasukaren]

Originally Posted by kegerator

When the first pictures of the prototype TREX 450 Pro were released by Align, I right away saw the opportunity for a battery tray with full support of the LiPo for crash protection and better hard 3D support. I also wanted to improve upon the front area, by allowing the pilot to be able to tuck the wires underneath similar to the TREX 500 design. Kevin (fireup) also saw the opportunity to improve upon the stock battery mount and produced this concept from carbon-fiber as an additional nose-cone design, which is a great idea as well. Due to the time-lines in reaching full production for AL 6061-T6 CNC material, I could not get this to market as fast, so it may appear his idea was "copied".

This is not the case and I support his brand as well (I have his frame supports on my TREX 500), so this is an occurrence where "Great Minds Think Alike". The debate between carbon or aluminum will always be in the RC Helicopter world, so we are both producing upgrades targeted at slightly different markets and personalities. Due to the limitations of the design space in the RC helicopter market, these types of similar upgrade concepts will commonly occur as it already does with other competing brands (such as Kasama, Microheli, etc.).

Great answer. Makes me feel good about supporting you guys knowing you're not out to screw the smaller competitors.