Hi Ernie!
I thought it would be more fun to reply here...
Okay, so all this started out when I took our lawnmower in for repair. Turns out the local Husqunavara dealer is also into RC stuff, and I got hooked by the helicopters on display. Took home a little Venom Rescue and drove our dogs and cats crazy. I got hooked...
Sold some books (I collect first editions) and got the Blade CX2. Now, I do a lot of research on the web and buy over the Web often (northern Canada). But a local dealer with parts won out over the far away dealers with big freight charges ruling out the Lame 3 or 4. Add freight - and duty - and you are almost up to the Blade cost with no spares easily to hand.
So, after that I joined a bunch of forums and discovered the Used sections. As garage sales and thrifts are my ahppy hunting grounds, I was delighted and spotted a Blade CX2 with tons of upgrades - basically all the Montreal stuff save a few parts. It also has the aluminum parts, including the frame. Calculating that I would spend at least the cost of the offering for upgrade parts in time, I went out on a limb and got the offered Blade. It has almost all the Montreal upgrades, including those blade holders you mentioned. So, when it arrives today or tomorrow, it is take apart and build time.
The idea was to get a Blade mCX, but I determined that such would be the same as the CX2 basically, so I will wiat to upgrade to a single blade heli later - in March or so next year.
When the used Blade arrives, a rebuild of both. The "core" and other Montreal bits into the aluminum frame, replace the motors with the new EXxtreme ones, and add all the upgrades that Montreal offers, save the battery (the new to me one comes with three EFlite batteries). I will also add the aluminum parts not part of the deal - the lower head and such. Then the Xtreme body, not from Montreal but the US Xtreme. The new Blade I purchased with basically be stock. after all is said and done. I might even sell it - or send it to you for customization, who knows? I could send the innards and let you have some fun.
Okay, I just want to have fun flying. In the backyard (outside, hence the need to upgrade) and out at an old Pinetree Radar Base outside of town where my partner and I volunteer.
Night flying - oh yes - great for Blockwatch. I hope to add nav lights constantly on and a white, blue and spot light on Channel five to scare the druggies (we have them here, mostly Native but now everybody it seems). And I have fallen in love with the FlyCamOne2 and hope to order one early next year. Perhaps the spare Blade with those nice Ranger bodies, or sell it stock and go for the new machine (see below). Great way for Blockwatch to keep an eye on things!!!
My intention is to learn to fly this heli well and then move to a single blade next year. Not 3D type, but juist for fun. I plan to spend about $350 then, and while the same argument applies towards the Blade CP and others for a LHS, I think , by then I open to be able to consider other types - Raptors and more. Much of that will depend on cost - the freight and customs charges for a bird coming in from the USA. I keep looking at the mags and forums and ads, and all I now know is that I want to get a bird with aluminum parts so that upgrades are limited. Those can be ordered from the USA. I will probalby go for ARF or RTF and not a kit - I am not a mechanical types and the kits scare me!
I know that my 62 years will not let me do 3d and it does not interest me much anyway. I just want a hobby to play with, to watch and photo things.
Right now, the biggest puzzle are the batteries. I can upgrade to more powerful ones, but the main item seems to be a charger and even the manuals for those are totally confusing! If I get different batteries what about the charger and how do I use it? No desire for a fire!
One reason to upgrade is that I want to (and have to) fly outside. Too many pets inside. So the boom kit was a must and higher pwer engines seem good to. Not sure how I will soder the new engines - I lack the tools and so will try to find someone locally who can do that for me...
Regards,
Willow
P.S. Have a fun Election from socialist Canada...
