Blade CX3

Dumb Thumbs · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: Blade CX3

Hi All, I picked up a new Blade CX3 at the LHS this week and thought I'd give you little review.
It flew great right out of the box, the only adjustment I needed was on the gyro. The tail was hunting a little so I needed to turn down the gyro gain just a bit.
It's basically a CX2 except for
1-Fuselage of course (MD520N). Very cool looking design & paint job. A little shorter then CX2 and very robust looking. The open windows on the sides offer great ventilation to cool the motors & the 3in1 is easy to get at to make adjustments if needed.
Down sides are it's one piece not two like the CX2, so crack it up and you have to replace the whole fuse, not just the front or back half (more$$). The one piece fuse makes it harder to work on the heli as the blades must be removed to get at the frame or inner workings. But chances are if you need to get to the inner workings, the blades have already been busted off Rolling Eyes

2-New gyro in the 3in1 holds better now and has a sensing wire that can be pluged into the Rx (gear ch). It's great to be able to adjust the gyro gain "on the fly" from the Tx. No more having to land, power down, take the nose off, hunt for a little screwdriver...
3-Landing gear is now one piece and screw to the battery holder/ frame. Again, more $$ to replace them. The struts are longer, so the heli sits a bit taller now. This may lead to more tip overs at takeoff & landing if your not careful.
That's all I have for now. Hopefully the weather will get better soon and I'll get it outside and open this bird up a little. Twisted Evil

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Next Level 650 Quad Copter, T-Rex 500, 450SEv2 & 250
HK 450
Blade CP Pro (deceased), CX3, MCX, MSR,
MCP X, 120SR, MSR X, MQX
Pro Boat-Miss Geico & ShockWave, a few planks & a HPI Baja 5B SS gas buggy.
AMA#900889

silhouette015 · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

Thank you very much for the review. Wink

I for one have been wondering what the difference were between the Blade Cx2 and Cx3.

bladerookie · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

Picked up a Blade CX3 myself. Didn't know you could plug the Gyro sensor into the receiver. How do you adjust the Gyro once you have done this?

Dumb Thumbs · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:11 am Post subject:

Adjustment is via the knob, top right hand side of the Tx (CH 5). Turning it counter clockwise for less gain clockwise for more. Generally I keep mine set with the indent on the top of the knob in the 11 o'clock, YMMV.
( For quick reference I put a stripe of white paint on the knob that faces up when looking down at the TX). I tend to add a little more gain for FF flight or less for just hovering around.
This gyro seems to have a very fine line between holding well vs hunting so it's good to be able to adjust it on the fly.
_________________
Next Level 650 Quad Copter, T-Rex 500, 450SEv2 & 250
HK 450
Blade CP Pro (deceased), CX3, MCX, MSR,
MCP X, 120SR, MSR X, MQX
Pro Boat-Miss Geico & ShockWave, a few planks & a HPI Baja 5B SS gas buggy.
AMA#900889

rbgrn · Charging Joined: 13 May 2009 Posts: 1

Ahh nuts, more helis to buy. I had a CX2 but gave it to my friend when I moved, keeping only my Rex 450.

Dumb thumbs, since I don't have a CX3, could you do me a favor and look at this repair guide I wrote? http://www.rbgrn.net/content/19-how-to-replace-blade-cx2-rotor-blade

I want to make sure that it applies to the CX3 as well. I think they have the same blades but I haven't had my hands on one so I can't check.

Thanks!!

Dumb Thumbs · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

Yes, the CX2 & CX3 use the same blades and rotor heads so blade replacement is identical. Nice work on the step by step instructions Cool

Good point you make about replacing both blades but may not be necessary however. Staped on the top of each blade at the root is a number & letter (uasually). If they match then the blades came from the same mold and will most likely be well balanced. Still, it doesn't hurt to check the balance on a pair just to be sure.
_________________
Next Level 650 Quad Copter, T-Rex 500, 450SEv2 & 250
HK 450
Blade CP Pro (deceased), CX3, MCX, MSR,
MCP X, 120SR, MSR X, MQX
Pro Boat-Miss Geico & ShockWave, a few planks & a HPI Baja 5B SS gas buggy.
AMA#900889

FlyDoc · Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 5:12 am Post subject:

My CX3 is giving me trouble. It did fine right out of the box, but after the inevitable (for me) series of blade strikes, the swash plate separated and it became unpredictable - to say the least!

My LHS diagnosed the problem and snapped the plate back together; it flew OK once or twice; but now I find it's hard to control in ground effect, though once in a 2-3 foot hover, I can do much better. (I'm getting pretty good with the CX2 on Phoenix, too.)

I notice that the blades spin up at different rates when I advance the throttle - the upper blades spin first, then the lower. Is this normal, or do I have a problem?

I've got the aluminum swash plate but haven't installed it due to laziness. Would that make a difference?

Doc
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Certificated Helicopter Crash Tester

Dumb Thumbs · Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 4:27 am Post subject:

Oh definitely get that alum swash on.
You might not notice it flying any better, but you don't have to worry about it coming apart on you in mid flight.
As far as blades spooling up at different rates- It's all good so long as you don't need lots of rudder trim on the Tx.
_________________
Next Level 650 Quad Copter, T-Rex 500, 450SEv2 & 250
HK 450
Blade CP Pro (deceased), CX3, MCX, MSR,
MCP X, 120SR, MSR X, MQX
Pro Boat-Miss Geico & ShockWave, a few planks & a HPI Baja 5B SS gas buggy.
AMA#900889

FlyDoc · Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 6:25 am Post subject:

Thanks! I'll do 'er.

Regarding the skids, there's an "unbreakable" (Ha!) set along with the requisite new battery box for the CX3 - I've installed but not flight-tested them. Now I'll have to remove them to install the Al swash plate. Aaarrggh!

http://www.boomtownhobbies.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

Doc
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Certificated Helicopter Crash Tester

FlyDoc · Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 11:24 pm Post subject:

One more question from the newbie - when I reassemble my little jewel, does it make any difference where I hook up the flybar link? There are 2 possibilities, but it looks as if they'd be symmetrical with 45 degrees of lead/trail in relation to the blades.

Doc
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Certificated Helicopter Crash Tester

tombo242 · Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 3:24 am Post subject:

No difference at all FlyDoc, just connect her as she lies and she'll be right!
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Keep Smiling Smile

FlyDoc · Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 5:12 am Post subject:

Thanks - again - Tombo.

Doc
_________________
Certificated Helicopter Crash Tester

pjdog · Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 8:56 am Post subject:

Hello Flydoc:

Thanks for the 'boomtownhobbies' site. I checked them out and found the metal swash, rotor hub and cnc anti collar for the MSR. I've been looking for them but could never find them all at the same site. Ordered them at 11:09 am this day and they were confirmed shipped but 6:30 pm this day. That's good service.

Jack
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