Belt or dual motor heli?

[piepiepie0]

I am looking into a micro rc heli. I was wondering what are the pros and cons of belt driven rotors and two motors. Any advice for me? Thank you in advance.



by the way, this will be my frist expereince with helicopters if that makes a differnce. But I want the best still ;)

[Straick]

You'll be better off starting with something bigger. My own experience taught me that. I now know that I should have started with a 30 or 40 glow size heli instead of going small. Doesn't make much sense, but it seems to be true.

[kingsnake93]

The bigger ones are more stable

[zairegates]

Two motor if you go small, better control and less maintenance(especially after a crash :eek: )

[rocknbil]

Welcome aboard piepiepie0, if you have never flown a heli, the E-Flite Blade CX (http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/showthread.php?t=213115) will get you flying same day for under $200. I hear the Lama 2 is a similar design, but haven't flown one.These do not fly the same as tail-rotor helis, but will be a good starter to find out if you want to invest the big bucks in a good one. The Blade CP is also a good starter, but it has a tail rotor and is more difficult to learn.

[OutFrontFrames]

The difference is night and day. I learned on a Blade CP and have now switched to an Align T-Rex. The Blade used a 2 motor setup while the trex uses a belt driven rear. What I noticed is for the Blade to maintain a non rotating hover the tail needed constant adjustment. The trex however, does not. Set it and forget it. What happens is as the battery drains lower and lower the ratio of power between the main motor and the tail motor become way different.
Bottom line is that if it were me, I would start on a Blade CP. The CX is a good machine but, you will have to learn all over again if you decide to go to a full collective machine such as the Blade CP or a Trex or something similar. You can have a Blade CP for $220 ready to fly. That comes with everything you need except radio batteries. It is an exceptional deal and parts are cheap.

[rocknbil]

...The Blade used a 2 motor setup while the trex uses a belt driven rear. What I noticed is for the Blade to maintain a non rotating hover the tail needed constant adjustment.....

Not sure if you're referring to the CP or the CX with the second statement - but in BOTH cases the problem here is not the heli design, it's that damn 4-in-1 control unit. The one in the CP is almost the same as the CX, and probably has the same difficulties. I've just learned to live with it on the CX and am always wrestling the right stick, but it's definately an easy flier.

[OutFrontFrames]

We have a couple of CX's in the shop that people play with from time to time. As they wear one motor will lose power faster than the other and then things start to get uneven. I agree the 4-1 unit is great for those Christmas day flights, but it needs more IMO. When I went seperates with my Blade CP, the heli became a dream to fly. I still had the issues with the tail but, like they say a Blade CP will teach you tail control.. lol

[rocknbil]

I still say it's the 4-in-1, not the motors. :D I've had my CX since Christmas, and run **at least** 4 packs a day through it, sometimes more, so what's that, about 200 flights? Motors still fine but still wants to yaw right at times. But not always.

A lot of other owners hypothesize (and appears to be true) that the 4-in-1 heats up during a run and causes the yaw to return even if you started with it perfectly trimmed out. One solution is to cut out the canopy around the motors so some air can get in there, then cut open the 4-in-1 case so a good air flow gets through. Some just mount it without the case. Seems to help, but still the right-yaw drift never goes away.

I've got 3 BCX 4-in-1's here, and switch them out from time to time, and can tell you this does vary from one unit to the next. Separates are the waaaaay to go, just can't afford it yet :D

Pic of the 4-in-1 case mod (http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/showthread.php?t=213115#post1949372)

[pkmeyer]

One of you says, "When I went seperates with my Blade CP, the heli became a dream to fly." Another says, "Separates are the waaaaay to go." What seperates are you guys using?

[rocknbil]

So far I'm not. But here's a couple ideas:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456909
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447808

Second one looks promising, BRUSHLESS MOTORS! :D

Basically you need two ESC's, a gyro, an RX that can do mixing, motors and new powwer source. New power source because this would not limit you to the stock battery, and in combination with the brushless motors you would get more sustained power and be able to carry a payload. See pic below, I've been experimenting with a spycam and with the added weight it wants to come down in about two minutes. Will post a vid when I get my capture card. :D

[OutFrontFrames]

GWS-50 ESC for tail
GWS-100 ESC for main
GWS PG-03 Gyro
Spektrum DX6 Radio

All in all sans the radio thats a very inexpensive method. The speed controls were $12-$14 each adn the gyro was $35. The radio was $189 but I use it in my TRex as well.

Edit: That main ESC is for nickels like what come standard. They have another version (same price I think) that is for LiPo's. I think it has a built in voltage cut off.

Rocknbill - I like the camera mount sir.. Very trick!! :D