BeastX on a 130X... Am I nuts?

[aamacgregor]

I know the 3-in-1 unit on the 130x isn't the best... and I have a spare 3gx unit sitting on my heli shelf... the thing is, I've read that the 3gx unit doesn't work well with the 130x. So, I'm considering putting the 3gx on my 450 pro and taking the BeastX from the 450 pro and putting it on the 130x along with a DSMX satellite from my spare AR8000. Basically, I want to see if the BeastX makes a good difference (obviously I'd take the case off it to save weight).

The thing is, I'm not convinced it's a good idea... it could just be a waste of time, but then again, it could make a massive difference to the 130x, and since it is winter, I'll be using the 130x a fair bit at the indoor club (the 450 not so much). That said, I'm looking up at my heli shelf wondering if I can really be bothered to give it a go.

Anyone here done anything like this? Either way, opinions are welcome.

[r4nd0m]

Am I nuts?

Yes

if i were you I would reconsider this idea - I personally think its a waste of time. What you probably want is a small machine that can be used indoors but is as stable as a bigger machine?
So you want rotary servos, a rigid frame and head, responsive tail, a flybarless unit or flybar head so we are currently looking at at 250 size machine

Align will come out with the 150 shortly which doesn't seem to have much difference to all existing micro-style helicopters, so I would assume the issues may be the same ...

if you are purely looking at possible crash costs, I suggest more stick time ... electronics dont make you a better pilot, its the stick time and automatic, subconscious decisions that will

thats what i think ..

[jimmyhorns]

doesnt the 3 in one have a speed controller in it as well, hence it being a 3 in 1? fbl unit, receiver and speed controller?

[Bhujang]

I'm doing this with the ZYX fbl controller but it's early days yet as I've only just started. I intend to use the MicroHeli rotary frame for the 130X with the digital Hitec servos for cyclics. Not sure on the tail as yet but may be the ELFR7100
ive read really good reports from across the pond about using ZYX and beast X on the 130X both with the stock linear servos and the rotary servo idea. I'd say go for it as I love the size the 130X is. It's the perfect indoor direct drive tail flyer and works great outside too. I fly the 130X more than any of my other helis and will be buying another stock one soon they fly great and the parts slowly deteriorate but then I'll upgrade that one too But one at a time! I will use a talon 15 esc the spin 8000 motor as well as the triple bearing boom. Still waiting on some of the parts but got the Orange rx R100 to bind ok so far so good

[aamacgregor]

Yes

if i were you I would reconsider this idea - I personally think its a waste of time. What you probably want is a small machine that can be used indoors but is as stable as a bigger machine?
So you want rotary servos, a rigid frame and head, responsive tail, a flybarless unit or flybar head so we are currently looking at at 250 size machine

Yes, that is exactly what I am after. The problem is, a 250 is too big for our indoor club - it's basically the size of 1 full size basket ball court at a school - the 130x is about the size limit. What I am after is a 130x that will do exactly what I ask it to do without the tail playing catch up (I find that a distraction that invariably results in a crash) during 3D manoeuvres.

I have a 130x with a spin 8000kv motor on an 11T pinion (bags of power). I also have an Xtreme carbon fibre frame in the post, so it should make it a lot more rigid. I'm also considering the Lynx stretch kit (makes it 150 size). If I put the BeastX board in it with an XP12A esc and a DSMX2 satellite, I'll be adding weight, but I'm hoping that the power of the spin 8000kv together with the stretch kit (150mm main blades [stock are 135mm] and 33mm tail blades [stock are 29mm]) will over come that problem. The only thing then are the servos. To be honest, the cyclic servos seem reasonable, but the tail servo probably needs an upgrade.

if you are purely looking at possible crash costs, I suggest more stick time ... electronics don't make you a better pilot, its the stick time and automatic, subconscious decisions that will

thats what i think ..

It's more that I want to minimise crash costs by removing unexpected behaviour - if it's down to a dumb thumb moment then fair enough. The problem is that the tail doesn't hold at the moment during hard 3D manoeuvres, which makes practising anything interesting frustrating at best. I have heard that the stock tail servo behaves a lot better with the BeastX than it does with the 3-in-1, but I expect that I might change tail servo at some point anyway.

Perhaps I should leave the 130x electronics alone and just practice 3D without sudden pitch changes - I guess that would be slow and smooth 3D. But, since I have everything I need (aside from the XP12A), I'm swithering on that thought.

You might be right though, if I do go ahead and have a go, it might turn out to be a waste of time.

[aamacgregor]

doesnt the 3 in one have a speed controller in it as well, hence it being a 3 in 1? fbl unit, receiver and speed controller?

Yes, I'll need to get an XP12A ESC.

[aamacgregor]

I'm doing this with the ZYX fbl controller but it's early days yet as I've only just started. I intend to use the MicroHeli rotary frame for the 130X with the digital Hitec servos for cyclics. Not sure on the tail as yet but may be the ELFR7100
ive read really good reports from across the pond about using ZYX and beast X on the 130X both with the stock linear servos and the rotary servo idea. I'd say go for it as I love the size the 130X is. It's the perfect indoor direct drive tail flyer and works great outside too. I fly the 130X more than any of my other helis and will be buying another stock one soon they fly great and the parts slowly deteriorate but then I'll upgrade that one too But one at a time! I will use a talon 15 esc the spin 8000 motor as well as the triple bearing boom. Still waiting on some of the parts but got the Orange rx R100 to bind ok so far so good

Man, you are my hero! Please let me know how it goes. I hadn't thought about the Talon 15 ESC, but wouldn't it weigh more than an XP12A? I'm thinking weight could be a critical factor here. My concern would be that upgrading to a full complement of rotary servos would make it too heavy. By the way the Overlander 450mah 40C works really well and I'm really impressed with the Spin 8000kv!

I thought about the ZXY, but unless anyone has one that they are willing to let go for a low price, I'm thinking that using the Beast X is the option for me.

[waveydavey]

Would it even get off the floor with a BeastX strapped to it ??

[aamacgregor]

Should do, here is one with a ZYX-S

[Mike Sanders]

What a jolly interesting thread. I have just bought an Xtreme carbon fibre frame and the Lynx motor but haven't fitted them yet as the heli is flying very well for a change (fingers crossed). I still have the standard servos and would be very interested to hear how you get on with the Hitec servos.

This extra weight will reduce flight times?

I have just fitted Lynx cnc blade grips and holders (the plastic grip broke) in accordance with my policy of upgrading when any part breaks. There is now almost nothing left of the original.

[Bhujang]

Man, you are my hero! Please let me know how it goes. I hadn't thought about the Talon 15 ESC, but wouldn't it weigh more than an XP12A? I'm thinking weight could be a critical factor here. My concern would be that upgrading to a full complement of rotary servos would make it too heavy. By the way the Overlander 450mah 40C works really well and I'm really impressed with the Spin 8000kv!

I thought about the ZXY, but unless anyone has one that they are willing to let go for a low price, I'm thinking that using the Beast X is the option for me.

Ha ha will do! The advantage of the talon 15 is the internal bec. The xp12A I hear needs a UBEC or brow outs might occur and the whole point of this is more control not less. If you use a diode you can use the stock linear cyclics. The talon 15 is light about 7g. Advantage of the zyx is lightness as well. But the beast x wins on stability and ease of use. But reports are good on the zyx but it takes a lot of effort on the field with the USB programmer and a laptop but once tuned in they are as good as any fbl controller.

130x with zyx-s fbl controller - HeliFreak worth a read.

Also Greeks build is fantastic with fully rotary servos and flies great no bogging.

Not a 130x anymore ZYX-S build - HeliFreak

Ill update you as and when I get some more done the tail is the worse part I was happy with my xtreme frame spin 8000 and stock cyclics but the tail like you say is just a waste of time! I tried the walkera the new ds35 and lastly the elfr7100 but with the 3 in 1 they all suck really! Some have had success mind you doing the tail mod but mine was only temporary leaving me wanting better control with out the gremlins lol so my path just begins lol

[aamacgregor]

Mike, I like your "if it breaks, upgrade it" policy I expect extra weight will reduce flight time and also increase the chances of the heli bogging even with a powerful motor (although that is pure speculation on my part as I could be completely wrong). I'd be interested to hear about the Hitec servos too.

[aamacgregor]

Bhujang, I have a spare 5A UBEC, but the UBEC plus the XP12A probably weighs more than the Talon 15... perhaps the Talon is the way to go then. Sounds like you have researched this more than me at the moment.

I'm guessing that the Walkera, DS35 or elfr7100 will behave really well with the ZXY! Do you have them all still?

I'm now going to read the two threads you provided links for and dream of bliss.

[Bhujang]

Sure those links will provide all the info you need. I think the first one uses an xp12A with a lite switching device for cyclics, with the links with where to get them. It does give a lot of hope as from all the flight vids from several different approaches using a better fbl controller none of them bog and the 3D is amazing! I've seen beast X, ZYX and the AR7200bx used with great results.

[Peper]

Also Greeks build is fantastic with fully rotary servos and flies great no bogging.

Not a 130x anymore ZYX-S build - HeliFreak

Sorry, but in the above link, the Heli Doesn't fly great and it is bogging as hell!!!!

really hope you can do a better job, but IMO the one in the link, is too much bling and very poor performance