BltizRC Works Contra flybarless

TonyD · Last edited by TonyD on Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

Hello -

I purchased this 4 channel helo from for $139.00 USD, as priced it shipped with its own 2.4 ghz transmitter, a spare set of blades, and a charger / balancer for the battery. I also purchased a second battery from the same distributor to have a spare one on hand.

After reading the instructions and charging the batteries I attempted to get this helo up off the ground and into a controllable hover. My initial attempts were somewhat frustrating as I could not get the helo up into a hover that I could control, on my third or fourth attempt I crashed it. Luckily, the crash was not an expensive crash but it did take out the tail rotor which unfortunately was not shipped as a spare.

I ordered several tail rotors from distributor and decided that this helo was just a bit too much of a helo for someone like myself who is new to the hobby. I purchased another less expensive 4 channel helo with a flybar in the hopes it would allow me to move from the 3 channel environment to the 4 channel environment. After looking about I decided to purchase a 4 channel Double Horse 9116. After successfully flying the DH 9116 on my first attempt I gained more confidence and improved my skills with a 4 channel helo with each and every flight.

With renewed confidence in my 4 channel skills I once again attempted to fly my Contra (after replacing the tail rotor) which too my amazement I was able on my first flight get it up off the ground. I not only was able to get the helo up off the ground but was able to maintain a controlled hover, the RADDS training is definitely a great training resource for anyone new to the hobby. I know have two 4 channel helos that I am able to get up off the ground while maintaining a controlled hover which at this point in my flying 'career' is very exciting too me!

My only compliant at this point with the Contra is changing the tail rotor is somewhat cumbersome as the tail rotor is 'pressed' onto a spline shaft. Removing the tail rotor involved using a small electronic wire nipper to carefully, not wanting too damage the spline shaft, 'nip' away at the rotor until it was removed. Replacing the tail rotor was rather easy as I had a small water pump pliers that I was able to use to carefully squeeze the new rotor onto the shaft. Fired up the Contra and checked for any indication of the helo being out of balance noticing none took it once again up into the air!

The battery is a 7.4 1000mAh LiPo and once fully charge provides approximately 10 minutes of flight time, which for a newbe like myself is more than enough!

Someone had previously posted on this forum that the Contra is a clone of the Walkera 180 so parts are readily available either from Contra's distributor or from any Walkera parts distributors. I know this is information is correct because I have purchased and have received main rotor blades, and the main gear and they are an exact match.
_________________
Keep Em Flying

Anyhoo,
Tony

BlitzRCWorks Contra
Double Horse 9116
Blade mSR X

chopper54 · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:52 pm Post subject: post subject

Hi TonyD
Congrats on the hovering. Its a great feeling to know you are in control rather than the heli being in charge. Keep at it. Cool

magyarbacsi · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Aug 2011 Posts: 99 Location: seattle

I have bought one of the unflyable Contras some time ago and went through a lot of tail rotors. I'm not a newbie to choppers, but stick with 4ch likes the WalkeraCB180D or Exceed MadHawk 300. They are both the same with different names. The Contra is a difficult bird to maintain control of because it is flybarless and takes more skill. I could fly the 180D the first time out of the box. The Contra gave me so much frustration that I converted the head to a fly bar, still is not as easy as the Walkera 180D that is in my opinion one of the most user friendly for beginner to a 4ch. Not as durable as your 9116, but a lot more agile and responsive. I just went trough a 9116 and a bad servo, not responsive, gave me a negative opinion. Was going to give it to my grand son as a beginner, but ended up trashing it.

The Contra, you can get it to hover, but if you to get it in a transition mode it will be difficult to control. At leas it was for me. A better pilot will no doubt do better, but to this day I have not read any favorable posts re the flybarless Contra. Good luck.

Maybe it was my post you read about cutting off the tail rotor with wire cutters and then with pliers pressing on the new rotor, but I'm sure others have discovered that method too.I've been doing that after my second attempt to fly the contra which I have not flown a while and use it for spare parts for the Walkera. I have not had to change the rotor on the Walkera for quite a while as I'm able to fly it and make controlled landings easily.

I found the rotors from a vendor on e bay a lot less expensive than bananahobby and bought a 10 pack a while ago. I even tried the airy brand, did not last any longer than stock. It depends which way the rotor spins on contact that makes it glance off or grab and snap.

I had several of the DoubleHorse brand copters, i.e.9116, and found them to be very forgiving in crashes. They are heavy and flight durations are short, my 9104 flew 4-5 min, but they will take a beating where as the Contra broke something at every bad landing. Usually the main or tail rotor.
_________________
KCF

magyarbacsi · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Aug 2011 Posts: 99 Location: seattle

By the way, for those interested in the 9116, ebay, $90. shipped.
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KCF

TonyD · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:50 am Post subject:

Thanks Chopper54 I am really having a blast with this hobby and am really excited about the Contra in the air - for awhile there I thought I had made a $139.00 mistake.

Hi magyarbacsi,

I am in agreement that the Contra can be a bit 'testy' too get up off the ground but after flying the 9116 for a total of about an hour I went back and attacked the Contra and got it and maintained a controlled hover. I suspect you are correct in that the Contra can get away from you rather quickly but for the time being I have chosen to place the servo switch on the TX in the 'slow' response position. With the limited area of my basement I actually was able to move out a hover and fly a very small circle in a head in towards me manner with no issues. Yes, I thank you because it was you who posted how too change out that terrible design for the tail rotor and it works like a champ, thanks for contributing that piece of information.

If you would not mind sharing your resource for where you purchased multi pack blades I would really appreciate it because I am trying to source such a resource. Though bananahobby has the necessary replacement parts their shipping is just a tad too high to use them on a continuing basis.

Thanks and happy holidays to all!
_________________
Keep Em Flying

Anyhoo,
Tony

BlitzRCWorks Contra
Double Horse 9116
Blade mSR X