MCP X Night Blades

[ifly_65]

Ive just completed the build on my first set of night blades. They work great!

I use 3m clear hobby tape to cover the battery and fly

Next Im going to add a tail beacon and some landing lights on the skids, so I can see what Im doing. This was my first hover ever with night blades and it shows.

HP05 Wow upgrade
KBDD blades
MicroHeli button hub, grips and swash
Walkera 4G3 tail blade
Extended boom
.

[CousinLarry]

Nice! What lights are those? I want to make some! Thanks!

[airheli1201]

cool! can you let us know the details? like how much heavier it weighs, affect on performance, components needed to build it.

Cheers!

[craig303uk]

looking good, been wanting to make a set for a wee while so i can fly out the front at night, seems to be the only time its kind of calm at the moment.

[SquidgyB]

I did much the same to a pair of stock blades last week, but I didn't recess the batteries.

I can't remember the exact weight, but I think they were about twice the weight of stock blades. Keeping the battery as close to the hub helps with any strain you'll be putting on the mechanics.

The LEDs I used were normal SMD LEDs - I pikey'd them from a couple of olde 256Mb USB flash drives. They're a bit of a bugger to solder, like any SMD part.

I also took two of the smallest switches I could find out of the control unit of an old MP3 player and soldered each to a battery, and I used single strands of wire from a CAT5 lead held down with sellotape instead of the self adhesive copper strips.

The battery was held in with just heat shrink to begin with, but after one of them flew off at high speed and thwacked loudly into the sofa, I decided a more robust method was required - double sided tape between the blade and the heat shrink sorted it.

I was a bit daft and put the LEDs on the very tip of the blades - looks cool, but as soon as I even brushed against something the LEDs get stripped off (and are near impossible to find) so I'm going to change it soon - LEDs set in the middle of the blade, 5-10mm from the tip, and have one blade where the LED is on top, one blade where the LED is on the bottom. blue and white, I think, if I can find a white SMD LED. I don't really want to order them especially, I'm much more of a recycler of electronic goods in that way...

[ifly_65]

Thanks guys!

Here is more info about the build from Bisso:

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=362444

MicroHeli carbon blade set: 6.1 grams.
Modified KBDD night blade set with batteries: 6.6 grams!

I skipped the tin can piece and folded copper foil tape instead, for the - connection. I use good 3M hobby scotch tape (for rc boats) to wrap one layer around the battery, copper foil connection and blade to turn the light on. You could add a switch here but Im trying to keep it light. Be sure to wrap the blades so the seam is underneath the blade and is 'with' the direction of airflow, not against it. Just like adding balance tape.

Use a dremel to make the cell recesses. I did it by hand and it took a while. I used a steel cutting bit slightly smaller than the battery hole.

The cells are 1216's. Get them off of ebay for 1 buck a piece shipped no tax. Walgreens wants 5 bucks a piece.

Copper foil tape can be found at electronic specialty stores or possibly arts and craft shops. I got mine on ebay.

Here is the place to get super cheap LED's:

http://www.sky-macau.com/Products/08...758209171.html

The LED's take two weeks from China and they threw in a free set of momentary switches. This month the free gift is a beacon LED set I think.

For LED's, I used the 805's in the blades. I just ordered some 1206's which are slightly larger. I am going to add body lights with a combination of LED's. The 603's are smaller than the 805's.

Except for my lack of night skills, it flies great. Balance your blades first and they will be fine.


Thanks Bisso!

[new bee]

Thanks. I'm adding this to the must do list. No more getting griped at for flying in the basement at midnight.

[755 robert]

Originally Posted by new bee

Thanks. I'm adding this to the must do list. No more getting griped at for flying in the basement at midnight.

Ya,go outside and bug the neighbors at midnight....he he

[new bee]

Originally Posted by 755 robert

Ya,go outside and bug the neighbors at midnight....he he

Hey me flying around would be much better than it used to be. Kids will slow down those after bars. I can see it already. (neighbors) WAKE UP THERE'S A UFO IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD!!! Id probably walk half a block to the football field to keep peace

[755 robert]

Me and a couple of friends used to put flashlights on traxxas trucks and buzz the neighborhood at night playing tag....I am sure the neighbors would have preferred a nice quiet mcpx..

[new bee]

I'll fly on the west side of my house. I don't like those guys anyway.

[ifly_65]

Completed night set up. Camera phone didnt capture the colors properly. The front skids are yellow and red.

[ifly_65]

Thanks again Bisso for the blade ideas.

[Martinarcher64]

That's awesome. You can't post a video like this without explaining what parts you used and how you did it!

[ifly_65]

Thanks!

All the info needed is here:

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=392521

[ifly_65]

Modified KBDD blades. Surface mount LED's.

[MaydayMayday]

Very nice!

How did you power the led on the blades?

[ifly_65]

Originally Posted by MaydayMayday

Very nice!

How did you power the led on the blades?

Thanks! Here is the info:
https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=392521

[Dre414]

You can also run a wire throuh the main shaft (using a hollow shaft) and power LEDs from off the main battery..

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread...ight=dre414%5C

[ifly_65]

Originally Posted by Dre414

You can also run a wire throuh the main shaft (using a hollow shaft) and power LEDs from off the main battery..

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread...ight=dre414%5C

Great Idea!

The KBDD blades with batteries are only 1/2 gram heavier than the MH carbon mains. With the cells in the blades, I have the option of removing the blades for day flying. No need for a second BL MCPX!