RunRyder - x-400 plastic

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e-Ark X-400 - MX400 > x-400 plastic

wilerbee
Senior Heliman
Location: Hong Kong

Got 2 new x-400s and test flying them now. Please note that the plastic in the kit is not high grade especially the rotorhead hub. Here in Hong Kong everyone is trading them in for the Trex heads. All upgrade Trex heads are sold out within 1 week ! Trex heads will work, just change everything from the lower mixing arm on up. My friend and I tested this combo yesterday and it does fine.

Happy hoverings !!

05-04-2005 Over year old.

dtm360
Senior Heliman
Location: HKG

Just like I've been saying from day one. The flybar system basically has a design fault because the rotor head material thickness at the point where the flybar pivot screws go in, is ridulously thin! even in alloy this is asking for trouble.

05-04-2005 Over year old.

Gary Jenkins
Elite Veteran
Location: Wilmington, DE

I was going to get a X400 but should I just get a Trex? Are the gears in the x400 a problem also?

05-04-2005 Over year old.

MA Boy
Senior Heliman
Location: London

have you guys actually had any problems with the rotor head snaping or braking?. I have a x400 and noticed that the plastic is thin in this area also, however i havent heard or read of it causing any problems in flight.

MA enthusiast

05-04-2005 Over year old.

dada
Heliman
Location:

do you mean the pinion gear or main gear is too big?

05-05-2005 Over year old.

dtm360
Senior Heliman
Location: HKG

First sign of blades making the slightest contact with anything then the rotor head will snap. I've seen a friend's X400 twice contact the ground...twice the rotor head snapped....in the same place! There won't be a third time because he is converting to the TRex head! I haven't flown mine yet! I think someone else on the forum reported the head snapping in flight also!

05-05-2005 Over year old.

dtm360
Senior Heliman
Location: HKG

The main gear is really not that good! If you set the mesh correctly at the tighest point you will most probably find that the gear mesh at the most loose point is on the verge of stripping!

05-05-2005 Over year old.

Dr. Fibinotchi
Key Veteran
Location: Sioux Falls SD

cost?

Whats the cost of a x400 with a trex hear run?

-Cody

All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts

05-05-2005 Over year old.

StrangeRanger
Veteran
Location: VT

Hmmm... very glad to see these kinds of posts. I was thinking of trying an X, but maybe I'll hold out for the new XL!! Ya, that is if I can resist....the....buy ..... button!!! LOL
j

05-05-2005 Over year old.

dtm360
Senior Heliman
Location: HKG

Although there are some issues with the X400 , I still believe it is pretty good value for money! Even if you only consider the chassis alone...this will cost you $XXX to get something this nice for the TRex.

The pitch lever arm thing is no big deal. The rotor head is a pain but it is possible to simply swap out the rotor head, flybar holder and flybar control arms with that of the TRex (keeping the original X400 blade grip and feathering shaft). A small cost which will solve your problem in one hit.

05-05-2005 Over year old.

Ka-man
Senior Heliman
Location: Hong Kong

Can i change FLYBAR alone??

X-Cell Stratus...Fury Tempest 3D...Raptor 90SE

05-05-2005 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

dtm360
Senior Heliman
Location: HKG

Both flybars have the same diameter so you can just change the flybar...but you will have to change the paddles also- threaded and non-threaded.

05-05-2005 Over year old.

MA Boy
Senior Heliman
Location: London

Quote
I've seen a friend's X400 twice contact the ground...twice the rotor head snapped

I agree that the rotor head thickness could be thicker, but of course in a crash things break, as long as the rotor head does not snap in flight then I dont see a problem with the rotor head being thin. I have yet to read of any x400 rotor heads snaping in flight.

In the event of a crash, if the rotor head is snaped then its not a major problem as it would cost maybe $3-5 to replace and get a new one.

If my x400 rotor head snaps in flight then I will change over to the trex head, but so far so good, so I will only change the head "if" i get a problem.

PS I do agree that the head should be thicker, a metal version would be nice

MA enthusiast

05-05-2005 Over year old.

HarryC
Heliman
Location: HK

Quote
I have yet to read of any x400 rotor heads snaping in flight.

Read this...

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t175283p1/

05-05-2005 Over year old.

derrickbwg
Senior Heliman
Location: Lexington, Kentucky

Well now everyone has read about one breaking in flight....sounds like a design flaw that should be easy to fix. This is where I will make the decision to buy the x, we'll see how long it takes ark to address problems and correct them. Align is the industry leader in that department imo, so ark will have to excel to be comparable. So far I've heard canopy, landing gear,main gear,plastic quality, and rotor head problems/complaints. It will be interesting to see how they resolve some of the issues.

05-05-2005 Over year old.

jaseyshef
Senior Heliman
Location: Sheffield, UK

In all honesty I don't think the rotor head problem is as bad as suggested. I had a crash a few weeks ago and cracked a blade, albeit at a low ish head speed.

I get excellent flights from the x400, nice cyclic response and a very well behaved tail. No doubt it has issues, but even in standard form it's a great piece of kit.

You know you all love tinkering with the parts anyway!

Jase

05-05-2005 Over year old.

dartos
Heliman
Location: Minneapolis MN USA

I have an X-400 on order, already own 2 T-Rex, I'm wondering if I should buy a spare T-Rex head and blade holders and use them for the build?..
any thoughts?

Thanks!
Kevin

05-05-2005 Over year old.

derrickbwg
Senior Heliman
Location: Lexington, Kentucky