300X v 130X

[Moron]

I have a 130X and when it is right it flys well but mine is full of gremlins and always needs something done to it or I am waiting for spares , at the moment the main boards is knackered so if not flyable again. I am about to order a 300x. Can anyone tell me if the 300X is a bit more reliable then the130X or is this common with Blade helicopters ? ( I am fairly new to Helicopter flying ) Also does it fly like the 130X because anoying as the 130X is with the QC it does fly well .I want the 300X a not the 450X because of the space I have to fly in .The field is not that big it Ok for the 130X but a 450X might be a bit big

[tomatwalden]

The 300x isn't that much smaller than a 450x. Mechanically it's closer to the 450x than the 130x, so should have similar reliability as the 450x which is pretty good. Blade helis do tend to get a fair amount of press, both good and bad. Fundamentally, they're the market leader in entry level helis, so there's more of them about.

The only problems I've really heard about for the 300x is the frame apparently could do with being stiffer if you're doing hard "3D" style flying, but other than that, they're pretty good as far as I know. My mate has one and so far, no problems whatsoever. You need to fork out for option carbon fibre blades if you want to run the motor at 100% - the heli comes with wood blades which you're not supposed to run above 75% headspeed I think.

If you're confident with building a heli - the other option is the Align 250 ... BUT ... you say you're fairly new to heli flying, so if I were you, I'd probably go for the 300x. Certainly, there's no other heli in that size range really other than the 130x.

If you're prepared to go a little bit smaller however, there's the mCPX brushless, which is marginally smaller than the 130x, but is mechanically simpler due to having a direct-drive tail rotor rather than variable pitch. Less moving parts = less to break.

FWIW, my mate bought the 300x for the same reasons as you - limited space to fly, and no local club.

[Moron]

i have a mcpx bl and i think it is better then the 130x ,I realy like the mcpx bl ,just wanted something bigger .At the moment the 130x is the biggest i have flown.I am hopeing the 300x fly like the 130x but bigger and a bit more reliable then the 130x

[tomatwalden]

The 300x will definitely fly a bit bigger than a 130x and it'll certainly be more reliable. A word of caution though, a lot of problems people report with the 130x can usually be attributed to post-crash care (or lack thereof). For the most part, the mcpx and 130x size helis will survive 9 out of 10 crashes or minor oops moments. The 300x and bigger don't have this luxury as they simply have more weight and inertia flying around!

But, having less small and fiddly parts, the 300x will almost certainly be more reliable. It uses "proper" digital servos unlike the micro heli linear servos and the tail is belt driven which is more forgiving than a torque tube.

If you're confidently flying an mcpx BL and a 130X, sounds like you're ready for something a bit bigger. However, I would say, look at the 450x too, but as you say, depends on how much space you have. Either way, the 300x and 450x really are park flyers - both are too big for a garden.

[sparts]

A 300 is definatley too big for most gardens.Thats why I sold mine.
You could look at an Align 250 which can be used indoors or outside.

[tomatwalden]

By "indoors" with an Align 250 - I assume you mean a large sports hall type environment!? The Trex250 is marginally smaller than the 300x, but I wouldn't think it's a good heli as a first-build heli. It's quite small and fiddly from what I can tell. Though I'll admit, whilst I've flown one, I haven't build one. Lovely little machine, but man, some of those parts looked small!

[Moron]

Thanks , that was some good info , I do not intend to fly it in the garden i have a small field ,both the 130x and mcpx bl fly great in so that why i was interested in the 300x ,i think the size would be better then the 450x.I am aware that the 300x will take more damage and cost more then the 130x/mcpx bl but that is the price you pay with a bigger helicopter

[sparts]

The 300 is very stable,so you would be fine in a field.

[A.N.T]

I have both 130 and 300 and actually prefer the 300, had loads of issues with the 130, as a result hardly ever fly it, the 300 is a lot more stable than the 130, I'm still at stage of hovering and circuits so haven't had any issues with frame rigidity.

[Skyfool]

How about a BLADE 450 BNF for £129! I was at Heli Guru today and he's got a stack of them BLADE 450 3D BNF Amazing price!

[BavarianRob]

300X v 130X

Bear in mind there's very little difference between parts costs for the 300X and the 450X. A proper set of carbon blades will cost you £26 for the 300 as opposed to £15 for the 450!! Those wooden blades just don't look right to me either.

[cjcj1949]

I don't think that reliable and heli really go together. Every part is critical and will eventually wear out. Each crash causes more damage or accelerates wear in parts that don't get changed. Any heli that you learn on is going to have a tough life. The only way to be reliable is not to crash and only hover gently. In full size parts have a limited life and get changed before they are due to fail. The full size helis don't get stressed as much as ours either. In general smaller is better for crash survivability. The 130-X seems much more reliable than a 450 to me, although a new 450 seems reliable until you crash it. It's the old car syndrome I think. In our case old is about 6 months, or the first crash.

[BavarianRob]

300X v 130X

I don't think that reliable and heli really go together. Every part is critical and will eventually wear out. Each crash causes more damage or accelerates wear in parts that don't get changed. Any heli that you learn on is going to have a tough life. The only way to be reliable is not to crash and only hover gently. In full size parts have a limited life and get changed before they are due to fail. The full size helis don't get stressed as much as ours either. In general smaller is better for crash survivability. The 130-X seems much more reliable than a 450 to me, although a new 450 seems reliable until you crash it. It's the old car syndrome I think. In our case old is about 6 months, or the first crash.

This is a very good point CJ.

[Moron]

Well I have ordered the Blade 300X ,I hope I have made the right decision. I can fly the Blade 130X and MCPX BL with confidence so I should be ready for the 300X ,fingers crossed.

[A.N.T]

Well I have ordered the Blade 300X ,I hope I have made the right decision. I can fly the Blade 130X and MCPX BL with confidence so I should be ready for the 300X ,fingers crossed.

I dont think you'll regret your decision, I would buy a few gear sets for the cyclics as back ups and set up the endpoints in the beast x, I dont think mine were set up properly which I'm sure is the cause of my initial servo's burning out.