AXE CPv3 heli,,

[draco]

Hey All,,

I just recieved a AXE CPv3 heli from a buddy, (free) At the moment, it has to be rebuilt. My buddy said the heli requires a new chip or something. Is there anyone that has had some experience with these helis? Any advice or tips someone could give me for this new project of mine?

[Madmardigan]

I have the Helemax cp. It is pretty much the same heli. I think the only differnce is that the cpv3 has a derict drive tail rotor. I really dont know what he means by "chip". I think he's talking about the crystal in the reciever.
Anyways if thats what it needs, I would just upgrade to spectrum 2.4 spectrum, and maybe get a a better gyro because the stock one sucks.
I will say that the helimax cp is a very unstable, and responsive heli. if you have never flown a collective pitch heli you can expext to break it alot. On mine I upgraded all the heli mechanics to aluminum, and upgraded the tail boom to carbon fiber. The carbonfiber tail boom was a must. The stock aluminum one bends very easy. And for the heli mechanics the blade grips will probably be the most important upgrade. But the more aluminum parts you put on will help the stability, at the cost of extra weight and less flight time

[Beastmanh]

I had an axe cpv3 at one time. Its not a horrible heli, but its not a good heli either. It responds very quickly to the sticks. Have you ever flown a coaxial, or fixed pitch heli?? If not, I recommend putting the axe cpv3 in a closet, and flying a coaxial first, then getting a fixed pitch and getting good with that.. THEN and only then.. get the axe cpv3 out of the closet and give it a shot. A simulator will be a huge help also.. There is a decent one that I used when I was learning called Clearview. Its not the best, but its only $40, and it works well enough to teach you how to fly.

As fas as upgrading it to aluminum parts, I personally, would pass... By the time you upgrade all those parts to the better aluminum stuff, you could have bought a much higher quality heli.

Please don't get me wrong, helis are a blast once you get the hang of them. But do NOT start with a collective pitch unless you want to spend a fortune, and countless hours repairing after a 6 second flight.