Neon Blaze

[Themole]

Anyone got any experience of the Century Neon Blaze? There's not much info' about it on the Century web site.
Is it any good for a newbie?
Is it aerobatic (3D?)?

[oneredpanther]

Heya,
I got my Neon Blaze a couple of weeks ago; it's my first helicopter aside from a Picoo that I found in Oxfam for a tenner! I can't speak with any authority on the subject and have no alternatives to reference against but I for one am really happy with it. The construction is really solid, mostly metal parts and flies well out of the box.

More impressive was Century's spares service. I cracked a rotor and ball linkage on Thursday evening, ordered the spares the same night (about 10pm) and had them on my doormat before I'd even woken up on Saturday! Brilliant service and something you can't overstate the importance of while you're waiting for spares to arrive.

A couple of negative points for me so far: The canopy is very wobbly plastic, almost like thick vinyl. This might be normal for electric helis, I'm not sure. Either way, the 'clips' that hold it in place get a bit frayed after a few flights and the canopy is prone to falling off after heavy contact with the ground.

My other main issue is that the Blaze lacks a proper battery holder. You have to tightly secure it with a velcro strap that goes around the gyro and mixer and slide it underneath the main chassis. This is fine, but it doesn't have any sort of click-lock or seating mechanism so, like the canopy, its prone to sliding around after heavy landings or hops. Also, it arguably de-trims the model every time you reseat the battery. I've taken to charging the blaze with the battery still in-situ (obviously unplugged from the aircraft).

My flying is still really wobbly and limited to twenty-second semi-controlled hovers and circles but I'm improving fast and the Neon Blaze seems to be an accommodating learning machine once it has the four-balled training kit attached. The Tx comes with the usual PLT and PIT curves (I have mine on minimum) which makes me feel that there is a lot of skill overhead available once I get better. The innocent looking N/I idle-up switch means that the blaze is fully aerobatic (3D) capable should you get good enough before switching up to a nitro or other heli. Obviously I can't comment on its 3D capabilities at the moment!

For what its worth in my very short experience, the Neon Blaze CP seems to be a lovely beginners machine with pleeeeeeeeenty of intermediate-advanced capability just waiting for you when you're ready.

It can be a little wobbly after a few knocks and REALLY doesn't like swimming around in ground effect too much (I found I needed a good 55% throttle and 4-5ft clearance before it unstuck, became stable and felt properly powered). I'd say for the money you can't go wrong and if you can manage the (admittedly very steep if its your first chopper) learning curve then it'll do your future hobby far more justice than a Blade CX2 or other contra or fixed-pitched helicopter.

Nobody else seems to have a Blaze on here so if you pick it up, let me know how you go!

Panth

[Themole]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer. Since posting, I was talked into getting the Century GL450 SE, and I ahve to say I'm impressed. Like you, I'm still only at the wobbly hover stage, but I've achieved my first objective, "Don't trash it in the first week", so far so good!
Cheers

[mark54c]

Heya,
I got my Neon Blaze a couple of weeks ago; it's my first helicopter aside from a Picoo that I found in Oxfam for a tenner! I can't speak with any authority on the subject and have no alternatives to reference against but I for one am really happy with it. The construction is really solid, mostly metal parts and flies well out of the box.

More impressive was Century's spares service. I cracked a rotor and ball linkage on Thursday evening, ordered the spares the same night (about 10pm) and had them on my doormat before I'd even woken up on Saturday! Brilliant service and something you can't overstate the importance of while you're waiting for spares to arrive.

A couple of negative points for me so far: The canopy is very wobbly plastic, almost like thick vinyl. This might be normal for electric helis, I'm not sure. Either way, the 'clips' that hold it in place get a bit frayed after a few flights and the canopy is prone to falling off after heavy contact with the ground.

My other main issue is that the Blaze lacks a proper battery holder. You have to tightly secure it with a velcro strap that goes around the gyro and mixer and slide it underneath the main chassis. This is fine, but it doesn't have any sort of click-lock or seating mechanism so, like the canopy, its prone to sliding around after heavy landings or hops. Also, it arguably de-trims the model every time you reseat the battery. I've taken to charging the blaze with the battery still in-situ (obviously unplugged from the aircraft).

My flying is still really wobbly and limited to twenty-second semi-controlled hovers and circles but I'm improving fast and the Neon Blaze seems to be an accommodating learning machine once it has the four-balled training kit attached. The Tx comes with the usual PLT and PIT curves (I have mine on minimum) which makes me feel that there is a lot of skill overhead available once I get better. The innocent looking N/I idle-up switch means that the blaze is fully aerobatic (3D) capable should you get good enough before switching up to a nitro or other heli. Obviously I can't comment on its 3D capabilities at the moment!

For what its worth in my very short experience, the Neon Blaze CP seems to be a lovely beginners machine with pleeeeeeeeenty of intermediate-advanced capability just waiting for you when you're ready.

It can be a little wobbly after a few knocks and REALLY doesn't like swimming around in ground effect too much (I found I needed a good 55% throttle and 4-5ft clearance before it unstuck, became stable and felt properly powered). I'd say for the money you can't go wrong and if you can manage the (admittedly very steep if its your first chopper) learning curve then it'll do your future hobby far more justice than a Blade CX2 or other contra or fixed-pitched helicopter.

Nobody else seems to have a Blaze on here so if you pick it up, let me know how you go!

Panth

I got my Neon Blaze for Xmas (a surprise from my wife). This is my very first helicopter and even though I was very cautious, I’ve only lasted 6 days before my first big prang. So I now need a few spares to get me going, Century's spares service does seem impressive but I’d like to try and find some locally first.

I do agree the canopy is very flimsy and does require a proper battery holder. I’m using sticky Velcro to retain the battery which also allows for adjustment for c of g.

[simonpa]

Setup tips.

Hi - I'm very new to helis (like mark54c, it was a Cristmas present).

Does anyone have any setup hints? The instruction book seems very vague to me.
I'm having trouble setting up the swash plate to get it level. There is no real adjustment on the links and even with the trim on the remote set to full right, it is still at a slight angle (I think).

My biggest problem is that when it tries to lift off, it tries to bank to the left straightaway. I have to hold the controls to the right to try and counteract it, which doesn't feel right to me.
Is this due to ground effect, or is it just inexperience?

I've not spent a great deal of time on it yet, but this means I've not got it off the floor cleanly yet...

Any advice gratefully received! Thanks!

Cheers - Simon

[fatmantom]

hi simon,

first you will need to center your servo's (plug it in. center the trims. and leave the stick in the middle)

now you can machanically level your swash plate using the links. (make some longer....some shorter....untill u ave reached a leve swash)

this is only for the cyclic servo's (so everything on the stick on the right)

tell us how you get on....
cheers,

[simonpa]

..only problem is that the links don't appear to be adjustable (no threads on the rods)
The servos can't be moved, either...

[fatmantom]

ahh i see. i think the others that have this heli will have to help you out here then. with out seeing the heli....i dont have a clue!

maybe i can make the huge drive to fleet pond to have a look for u!?

cheers,

[oneredpanther]

There are threads on the ball linkages actually, they're just buried under the black sheaths at the end. If you rotate them you'll see that they get longer and shorter. Be careful when trying to prang them off the ball sockets, I managed to snap one clean in half that way!

[andrewgwood]

Yes I too got this heli from my wife and its my first.

Lasted about 5mins

As usual was playing with it indoors being all carefull throttle right off and trimmed down just in case, so I could then adjust the swash. Then disaster!

I caught the Idle up switch on the controller with the rear tail boom and whoosh! the bloody thing took off, I ended up grabbing it which in turn luckly pulled out the power lead for the main rotor phew.. but i wasent unscathed nor was the oak table i took a chunk out of, I ending up smashing my finger on the main rotor as I grabbed it, which then filled up with blood under my nail.. ouch

Suprisingly the heli was intact with a slight scrape on the rotor blade.

Got ****ed that night, pain went .. whoopee next morning .... agony ended up at A and E with a hot needle through my nail to let the blood escape so the pain would go, not pleasant

Sooo I have learned a lesson, disconnect the rotor motors from the reciever before plugging in the battery when indoors.

So since then.....

I have flown it twice.. first flight managed to get a 4ft 5 sec hover going which I was suprised at. Also did quite alot of ground flight getting a hang of the thing

second time well, made a mistake, jinked across the ground, poxy ping pong ball got caught on a stone or something, flipped it, main rotor blade struck the tail boom and damage as follows

Main rotor arm
Tail rotor assy
boom
boom support struts
Tail fin

Fitted all of that

Then discovered left hand servo gone, so back to century to place another order

Servo arrived next day and fitted

Now trying to get swash plate level very fiddly, I get it level then when I move the elevation it wont reset back level so advice please, I think i deserve it

So thought I would make sure the tail rotor works so I power up the throttle, seems fine, bear in mind main rotor is still unplugged still remember the pain !, I then smell burning, check the tail rotor and the motors smoking then stops !!!! bloody thing!!! So back to century I go! my guess is that I must have fitted the motor too close to the gear which caused it to overwork.

So there you go thats my story, still makes me chuckle, wallet is feeling the pain now

[fatmantom]

lol, thats a rough start into the hobby andrew!

good to see you have determination to master this model and ur not just gunna give up!, keep going! and to avoid any more costly mistakes i would do 2 things,

1. ask loads of questions on here, even if u think you know what your doing it always worth checking out!

2. buy a simulator, phoenix is the best. it may seem expensive to you at £80 but this is one of the cheaper simulators and will be invauluable to you for your progress through the hobby!, it will also pay for itself as crashing on there is much cheaper!

cheers,

[andrewgwood]

Unfortunatly I bought Reflex RTX the next day after getting my heli, havent had the chance to use it yet cause the model shop sent me the old version which doesent work with my controller so I am waiting for the new one to arrive.

Wish I had seen this site before I bought it now

Oh well we will see what happens

cheers for the post

[simonpa]

There are threads on the ball linkages actually, they're just buried under the black sheaths at the end. If you rotate them you'll see that they get longer and shorter. Be careful when trying to prang them off the ball sockets, I managed to snap one clean in half that way!

Doh! Should have persevered..
I tried turning it a bit, but it was so stiff, I assumed it wasn't adjustable. Turns out, they were just screwed right in.

I've levelled it up now, but managed to break a ring-link, so had to order a spare.
When that arrived, I had to undo a bolt into the feathering shaft (think that's what it's called) in order to remove the blade grip and install the new link. That sheared when undoing, so I'm now waiting for a new shaft and bolt to progress..

I wouldn't mind, but I haven't got to the stage where I can lift off (followed by the inevitable crash) as the link failed when spinning it up

Cheers - Simon

[simonpa]

Sim-link for Phoenix

Does anyone know what model of radio is supplied with the Blaze? I want to get a sim-link to go with PhoenixRC.

TIA - Simon

[fatmantom]

andrew xtr will do you fine mate! just have lots of practise onit and you shopuld be alot more confident wen flying for real!

and simon, they should carry a warning with this heli, this model comes with endless bad luck!!!

i look foward to hearing some sucesful stories!,
cheers,