August 2010 97
THE TOLEDO
Weak Signals R/C
Expo was great as
usual this year.
There is a lot to
write about, and you
might have seen a
bunch of stuff from
the show
throughout this
issue. I’ll go over a
few things I picked up that I’m using here in the shop.
One of the 2.4 GHz systems I’ve been flying is from Xtreme Power
Systems (XPS); it’s the Graupner iFS MX-16. I’ve stuffed the XPS
six-channel receiver into a couple of park flyers and wished there was
one a bit smaller. XPS delivered on that in a big way—or is it a small
way?
The new XtremeLink Nano receiver has six channels and features
wireless programming, wireless firmware upgrades, independently
programmable channel fail-safes, and channel mapping. So if you
have an XPS module system or Graupner iFS (intelligent frequency
system) radio, this new receiver will work.
These new receivers perform flawlessly down to an amazingly low
2.0 volts, which allows single-cell Li-Poly setups to be possible and
reliable. This little unit opens up indoor capabilities, because it
measures only 1.0 x 0.7 inches and weighs a mere 3.5 grams. Making
the Nano receiver even better is the price: $30 street.
Although this is a park flyer receiver, my range tests showed it to
be as strong as the full-range types. I bought the end-pin version, and a
top-pin version (weighing 3.1 grams) is available for the same price.
I also got more of the new XPS Platinum-series Li-Poly packs.
These things are killer, with 45C discharge rates and monster 10-
gauge wires.
I’ve been using the Professional-series packs and pushing them to
the limits with great success, and the new series appears to be even
better. Best of all is the “Xtremely” competitive pricing and the ability
to get a response via e-mail almost instantly. Check out these packs.
Many of us pilots enjoy flying the E-flite Blade CX2 and CX3
helicopters, and some of us have spent a lot of time and money
upgrading various parts; it’s what helicopter drivers do.
At the Toledo Show I met Dave Lamb from Dream Heli Products,
and he showed me an incredible line of upgrade pieces for the CXs. I
had already gotten a set of his landing gear for the CX3 that he sent to
the magazine for evaluation, and they’ve been great.
No more breaking the stock gear legs on hard landings. The Dream
Heli Products upgrade components have taken a beating and kept on
performing.
At the show Dave talked about the company’s new helicopter
blades that offer better performance and durability than the originals.
He also mentioned that the first production run had some quality
control issues. If customers had gotten an early set that didn’t work
well, he was “making it right.”
I took home a set of the new blades and they have been perfect.
Dave also sells a full new frame and swashplate, in case you want to
keep going up with your machine.
One thing that caught my attention and eventually came home with
me too is Dave’s complete plug-and-play brushless motor system for
the CX helicopters. It is a drop-in replacement, with no wiring or
soldering to do. Even the pinions are attached to the motors in the
proper position on the shaft, so you don’t have to adjust them either.
What a cool system.
He did caution me to turn the gain down all the way and then
readjust after installing the system. The CX3 uses a different control
Also included in this column:
• Taking the CX2 and CX3 up
a notch
• Bend it with Du-Bro
Xtreme Power Systems’ nano technology
Electrics Greg Gimlick | [email protected]
The new XPS XtremeLink Nano receiver is tiny but has
incredible range. End-pin and top-pin versions are available for
merely $30 each.
Dream Heli Products sells a plug-and-play brushless upgrade for
Blade CX2 and CX3 helicopters. Flight-testing is in progress.
The CX brushless upgrade is installed and ready to test. It’s a
short process to change out the power system. A neat job of
binding the new ESCs and wiring is worthwhile.
08sig4x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/24/10 1:38 PM Page 97
98 MODEL AVIATION
(1.82mm-2.40mm)
respectively.
The dies are
interchangeable
between the two
tools, so you can
buy the additional
dies if you want.
But it’s almost as
cheap to have the
extra tool.
Every die is
marked with the
size of wire it can
handle, and each
handle is marked for
either Z-shape or 90° bends. It also has arrows
to show which way to turn it, so hardly any
thinking is involved.
Each base can be held in a vise or affixed
to a work surface with screws or clamps. With
the smallest tool I can actually hold it in my
hands and do it, but it is cumbersome. It’s best
to clamp it in the vise.
I’ve been extremely impressed with the
E/Z Bender so far and have spent a bunch of
time trying to figure out all the things I can do
with it. I like not having those flat spots in the
bend, weakening my control rods and gear
legs.
This commercial-grade-plastic tool should
last a long time. And the price is reasonable,
at $25 per set.
Final Approach: I need a great deal more
space for photos when I come back from one
of these shows. There is so much there and so
much to show you.
“Radical Dave” of Radical RC had
numerous cool things at Toledo, and I’m
going to show you a neat way to expand your
shop’s airplane-storage capability. Hobby
Lobby had a small Stinson ARF that was to
die for.
Horizon Hobby showed off the new JR
11X radio that will “wow” some pilots when
it hits the market. I bought a new simulator.
So many toys and so little space.
Until next time … MA
box than the CX2 and requires a bit more
tuning once the upgrade is done.
The system comes with motors, encoders,
and ESCs, and it plugs directly into the stock
Blade receiver. The C10 brushless outrunners
have a 2900 Kv rating, and each ESC supports
5 amps.
You’ll spend more time getting the body
off of the CX than you will making the
conversion. It’s simple; remove the old
motors one at a time, plug in the new motors
while paying attention to polarity, and secure
the new motors in the old ones’ locations.
Bind the wires up and stuff them in the
nose of the helicopter or attach them with tape
to the sides of the receiver. I’m in the process
of installing mine now and will report on the
flights in the next column.
If you’re a CX fan and want to raise your
game with quality parts, check out the Dream
Heli Products Web site and tell Dave I sent
you.
If you’ve been involved in RC for at least a
few weeks, chances are that you’ve had to
bend a new control rod or piece of landing
gear wire. This causes a lot of pain and
aggravation for many reasons, but Du-Bro has
taken the pain out of it and has even made it
easy.
The company’s new E/Z Bender Wire
Forming Tool eliminates the problems that
old pliers-type Z-benders cause. They make
flat spots at each bend, which causes a weak
place that eventually breaks. The Du-Bro tool
has dies for different-size wire that make a
perfect radius instead of a flat curve.
The E/Z Bender comes in two sizes that
include two dies each. I bought item 480, for
smaller park flyer-type applications, and it
handles wire spring and music wire up to .047
inch (1.18mm). Forming die 1 bends .015- to
.020-inch (0.38mm-0.51mm) wire. Forming
die 2 bends .031- to .047-inch (0.79mm-
1.19mm) wire.
The next-size tool, item 481, can be used
on pushrods up to .093 inch (2.35mm) and
comes with two forming dies for bending the
following wire sizes: .062-.072 inch
(1.45mm-1.82mm) and .072-.093 inch
Sources:
Weak Signals R/C Expo
www.toledoshow.com
Xtreme Power Systems
2440 N. Kiowa Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ 86403
http://xtremepowersystems.net
Dream Heli Products
(269) 649-1922
www.dreamplastics.com/dhp
E-flite
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Radical RC
(937) 256-7727
www.radicalrc.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 512-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
Greg’s tool with a Z-bend completed. You can see how it curves
the wire without making a flat spot, and the large handle makes
the task effortless.
Each Du-Bro E/Z Bender comes with two dies marked for size,
and each handle is labeled for which bend is used and which
direction to push when making the bends.
The author bent these pieces in a couple of minutes. The E/Z
Bender’s capabilities are endless. Holding the tool base-down with
a bench-top vise or mounting it directly to the bench is
recommended.
08sig4x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/24/10 1:38 PM Page 98
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/08
Page Numbers: 97,98
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/08
Page Numbers: 97,98
August 2010 97
THE TOLEDO
Weak Signals R/C
Expo was great as
usual this year.
There is a lot to
write about, and you
might have seen a
bunch of stuff from
the show
throughout this
issue. I’ll go over a
few things I picked up that I’m using here in the shop.
One of the 2.4 GHz systems I’ve been flying is from Xtreme Power
Systems (XPS); it’s the Graupner iFS MX-16. I’ve stuffed the XPS
six-channel receiver into a couple of park flyers and wished there was
one a bit smaller. XPS delivered on that in a big way—or is it a small
way?
The new XtremeLink Nano receiver has six channels and features
wireless programming, wireless firmware upgrades, independently
programmable channel fail-safes, and channel mapping. So if you
have an XPS module system or Graupner iFS (intelligent frequency
system) radio, this new receiver will work.
These new receivers perform flawlessly down to an amazingly low
2.0 volts, which allows single-cell Li-Poly setups to be possible and
reliable. This little unit opens up indoor capabilities, because it
measures only 1.0 x 0.7 inches and weighs a mere 3.5 grams. Making
the Nano receiver even better is the price: $30 street.
Although this is a park flyer receiver, my range tests showed it to
be as strong as the full-range types. I bought the end-pin version, and a
top-pin version (weighing 3.1 grams) is available for the same price.
I also got more of the new XPS Platinum-series Li-Poly packs.
These things are killer, with 45C discharge rates and monster 10-
gauge wires.
I’ve been using the Professional-series packs and pushing them to
the limits with great success, and the new series appears to be even
better. Best of all is the “Xtremely” competitive pricing and the ability
to get a response via e-mail almost instantly. Check out these packs.
Many of us pilots enjoy flying the E-flite Blade CX2 and CX3
helicopters, and some of us have spent a lot of time and money
upgrading various parts; it’s what helicopter drivers do.
At the Toledo Show I met Dave Lamb from Dream Heli Products,
and he showed me an incredible line of upgrade pieces for the CXs. I
had already gotten a set of his landing gear for the CX3 that he sent to
the magazine for evaluation, and they’ve been great.
No more breaking the stock gear legs on hard landings. The Dream
Heli Products upgrade components have taken a beating and kept on
performing.
At the show Dave talked about the company’s new helicopter
blades that offer better performance and durability than the originals.
He also mentioned that the first production run had some quality
control issues. If customers had gotten an early set that didn’t work
well, he was “making it right.”
I took home a set of the new blades and they have been perfect.
Dave also sells a full new frame and swashplate, in case you want to
keep going up with your machine.
One thing that caught my attention and eventually came home with
me too is Dave’s complete plug-and-play brushless motor system for
the CX helicopters. It is a drop-in replacement, with no wiring or
soldering to do. Even the pinions are attached to the motors in the
proper position on the shaft, so you don’t have to adjust them either.
What a cool system.
He did caution me to turn the gain down all the way and then
readjust after installing the system. The CX3 uses a different control
Also included in this column:
• Taking the CX2 and CX3 up
a notch
• Bend it with Du-Bro
Xtreme Power Systems’ nano technology
Electrics Greg Gimlick | [email protected]
The new XPS XtremeLink Nano receiver is tiny but has
incredible range. End-pin and top-pin versions are available for
merely $30 each.
Dream Heli Products sells a plug-and-play brushless upgrade for
Blade CX2 and CX3 helicopters. Flight-testing is in progress.
The CX brushless upgrade is installed and ready to test. It’s a
short process to change out the power system. A neat job of
binding the new ESCs and wiring is worthwhile.
08sig4x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/24/10 1:38 PM Page 97
98 MODEL AVIATION
(1.82mm-2.40mm)
respectively.
The dies are
interchangeable
between the two
tools, so you can
buy the additional
dies if you want.
But it’s almost as
cheap to have the
extra tool.
Every die is
marked with the
size of wire it can
handle, and each
handle is marked for
either Z-shape or 90° bends. It also has arrows
to show which way to turn it, so hardly any
thinking is involved.
Each base can be held in a vise or affixed
to a work surface with screws or clamps. With
the smallest tool I can actually hold it in my
hands and do it, but it is cumbersome. It’s best
to clamp it in the vise.
I’ve been extremely impressed with the
E/Z Bender so far and have spent a bunch of
time trying to figure out all the things I can do
with it. I like not having those flat spots in the
bend, weakening my control rods and gear
legs.
This commercial-grade-plastic tool should
last a long time. And the price is reasonable,
at $25 per set.
Final Approach: I need a great deal more
space for photos when I come back from one
of these shows. There is so much there and so
much to show you.
“Radical Dave” of Radical RC had
numerous cool things at Toledo, and I’m
going to show you a neat way to expand your
shop’s airplane-storage capability. Hobby
Lobby had a small Stinson ARF that was to
die for.
Horizon Hobby showed off the new JR
11X radio that will “wow” some pilots when
it hits the market. I bought a new simulator.
So many toys and so little space.
Until next time … MA
box than the CX2 and requires a bit more
tuning once the upgrade is done.
The system comes with motors, encoders,
and ESCs, and it plugs directly into the stock
Blade receiver. The C10 brushless outrunners
have a 2900 Kv rating, and each ESC supports
5 amps.
You’ll spend more time getting the body
off of the CX than you will making the
conversion. It’s simple; remove the old
motors one at a time, plug in the new motors
while paying attention to polarity, and secure
the new motors in the old ones’ locations.
Bind the wires up and stuff them in the
nose of the helicopter or attach them with tape
to the sides of the receiver. I’m in the process
of installing mine now and will report on the
flights in the next column.
If you’re a CX fan and want to raise your
game with quality parts, check out the Dream
Heli Products Web site and tell Dave I sent
you.
If you’ve been involved in RC for at least a
few weeks, chances are that you’ve had to
bend a new control rod or piece of landing
gear wire. This causes a lot of pain and
aggravation for many reasons, but Du-Bro has
taken the pain out of it and has even made it
easy.
The company’s new E/Z Bender Wire
Forming Tool eliminates the problems that
old pliers-type Z-benders cause. They make
flat spots at each bend, which causes a weak
place that eventually breaks. The Du-Bro tool
has dies for different-size wire that make a
perfect radius instead of a flat curve.
The E/Z Bender comes in two sizes that
include two dies each. I bought item 480, for
smaller park flyer-type applications, and it
handles wire spring and music wire up to .047
inch (1.18mm). Forming die 1 bends .015- to
.020-inch (0.38mm-0.51mm) wire. Forming
die 2 bends .031- to .047-inch (0.79mm-
1.19mm) wire.
The next-size tool, item 481, can be used
on pushrods up to .093 inch (2.35mm) and
comes with two forming dies for bending the
following wire sizes: .062-.072 inch
(1.45mm-1.82mm) and .072-.093 inch
Sources:
Weak Signals R/C Expo
www.toledoshow.com
Xtreme Power Systems
2440 N. Kiowa Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ 86403
http://xtremepowersystems.net
Dream Heli Products
(269) 649-1922
www.dreamplastics.com/dhp
E-flite
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Radical RC
(937) 256-7727
www.radicalrc.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 512-1444
www.hobby-lobby.com
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
Greg’s tool with a Z-bend completed. You can see how it curves
the wire without making a flat spot, and the large handle makes
the task effortless.
Each Du-Bro E/Z Bender comes with two dies marked for size,
and each handle is labeled for which bend is used and which
direction to push when making the bends.
The author bent these pieces in a couple of minutes. The E/Z
Bender’s capabilities are endless. Holding the tool base-down with
a bench-top vise or mounting it directly to the bench is
recommended.
08sig4x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/24/10 1:38 PM Page 98
