3d-X400, a sweet machine!

[clear4takeoff]

My first good electric heli was a Shogun 400, and I have tried most varieties and many upgrades. What I have to say after getting my first 3d-X400 is that this thing rocks! I have an Evoflight 7gram HH gyro and an Align 25 amp esc, plus I switched motors to the Park 400 4200kv 8t. The motor switch really only gave me a little better efficiency, maybe 10%, but the included outrunner had better acceleration. I may switch back. I'm flying 1320 packs with my timer set at 4:30, and discharging them less than 1/2. I now have night blades and LEDs on it so it's rigged for night operation. If you are a believer in the Shogun platform, this is a winner. The only real mod I did was installing Align blade grips, feathering shaft, spacers and O rings which fit perfectly in the rotor head. This took out the slop and eliminated a wobble that I had on the first flights. The blade grips are "upside-down" because the Shogun has the pitch arm on the leading edge. I made custom "dog bones" for the pitch links by screwing a T-rex 4.75mm link on to one end because the 3d-X400 has 4.5mm ball links. Flying weight is 601 grams.
Rock On!!

[darkside212]

I just picked up another one this week...
I really like these helis...

DOH! on the main gears :p

[clear4takeoff]

Well I also thought the Shogun main shaft was the same, but found out the hard way that it's 95mm and the 3d-X400 takes a 99mm shaft. Fortunately my neighbor flies a Shogun V2 and bought all 3 shafts from me. Jeff (Xmseller) has some on order. I asked him if the manufacturer is still making parts for these and he said yes, and that he has many parts on order. My 3d-X400 one way bearing locked up after a few flights so I installed a new Shogun gear and one way bearing, very smooth

[darkside212]

I've been flying mine with the S3107 servos from futaba, but I'm not sure if I like em'

My original 3dx400se had towerpro sg90 servos in it which IMHO are MUCH better! I did get in a new brand of servos that I might test in this heli or my mx450xs....

all in all this is a very stable platform I might also try a shorter fly bar to speed up the cyclic a little

[clear4takeoff]

I have HS-55s on the cyclic, a JR DS285 on the tail, and an HS-56 on the collective. I am 100% happy with this "servo cocktail" because I wanted ball bearing precision on the collective, digital response on the tail, and light but strong on the cyclic.

[darkside212]

I just put on an 8T pinion and me likes


the current at 90% is only 10A :p

I had to (still) tweak my throttle curve because of the vibration in the tail at higher headspeed. On the bottom it is only 75% but I bring it up to 90% and this cured the vibes..

[clear4takeoff]

Originally Posted by darkside212

I just put on an 8T pinion and me likes


the current at 90% is only 10A :p

I had to (still) tweak my throttle curve because of the vibration in the tail at higher headspeed. On the bottom it is only 75% but I bring it up to 90% and this cured the vibes..

Me jealous!!! 10-12amps at hover and 18 max. I have the blue outrunner that came with my kit.
:mrgreen:

[darkside212]

that's what I'm running the 8T pinion is what keeps the amps in check
I did have to grind a notch in the shaft to keep the pinion from slipping

[clear4takeoff]

Well, Darkside, looks like we're the only two in this whole forum! There have been 119 views, though, so hopefully some people are getting useful information from it!!

[darkside212]

haha...

the shogun is kind of a dead airframe... :p

[clear4takeoff]

Got main shafts! They cost a lot, over $20 for two because of the Euro conversion. Hopefully they'll last til Xmseller restocks. It's www.microhelico.com that has them. He confirmed that it's a 100mm main shaft. I've ordered from him before with good results. I think he's an Asian importer in France.

[darkside212]

ewe that's a little rich for my blood :p

I actually have one spare so hopefully I won't dork the heli...but I actually have it up for sale so I'm not flying it anyway :p ...

[mlmcquiggjr]

Clear4takeoff, I have a bid on your "sweet machine" on Ebay, Let's hope your Trex project goes as well!