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View Full Version : Blade Add On Electronics Tray


MAXXED
10-20-2006, 10:30 PM
The one thing that bugs me about every micro heli, is a lack of mounting trays for the electronics.
They either expect you to shoe goo everything to each other or use servo tape for everything, and tack it wherever it fits. :roll:
After trying different locations for my brushless ESC, I discovered placing it behind the battery toward the tail boom side was a bad idea.
Combined with the dual tail motor setup, I found myself spending more time flying backwards with all that extra weight in the rear! :lol:
After my last rebuild, I decided to build an accessory tray that would give me a lot of room to hold more electronics.
Having a separate ESC is bulky enough. What if you go to separates and need another tail ESC and a gyro?
I made a template and cut out a tray from a scrap piece of lexan from a monster truck wheel well.
I bent it at a right angle.
The front side slips on to the carbon fiber frame rails, and is secured in place with the trademark fuel tubing that eFlite/eSky uses everywhere on the frame:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/airshop/BladeESCtray-angle.jpg

The bottom edge of the tray bolts to the front landing gear that bolts to the frame:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/airshop/BladeESCtray-bottom.jpg

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. This is a scrap piece of lexan from a painted monster truck body. It starts off metallic black, and fades to white covercoat, as this is a discarded trim piece! :lol:
I drilled four holes and mounted the brushless ESC underneath with tie wraps.
There's plenty of room to slide a 3 cell li-po all the way forward.
Here's a couple of pics with the fuselage installed:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/airshop/Blade-traywithfuselage.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/airshop/Blade-traywithfuselage-front.jpg

Moving everything forward gave the Blade a much better weight distribution balance, and I don't spend as much time flying backwards now! :lol:

swatson144
10-21-2006, 04:19 AM
Looks good.

I fabbed an AL plate for the esc and battery. It just mounts between motor and frame. The pic shows it on an MDF but my buddy is using one on one of his CP2s.

eddiemoth
10-21-2006, 04:52 AM
Great invention! I think micro heli manufacturers should read this thread and buy ideas from pilots like you.