Heli-max AXE EZ vs Eflite Blade CX?

[Rick]

Ive had my eye on the Blade CX coaxial as my next acquisition, and went to Tower Hobbies (been buying stuff from them for 14 years) and found they don't carry the CX.

They do, however, have a bird that has very similar stats. the Heli-Max Axe EZ.

It seems to be a very new model and I havent found any reviews on it. Anyone here who's actually seen or maybe flown the EZ? How does it stack up to the CX?

[GreNME]

Hi there. I'm new here, so keep that in consideration regarding my opinion...

I recently got a Blade CX used from a former co-worker. After having some initial issues with it (after I crashed it numerous times) I am now at the point where I am going to try some modding and seeing how much I can tweak up the performance. Overall, I love this heli, and my only regret is that I didn't just go ahead and get the new Blade CX2 model instead of the discontinued CX model (which I hear is more responsive).

That said, the hobby shop where I get a lot of my parts carries both the Blade CX(2) and the Axe EZ, and demo the models often. The EZ is definitely the easier of the two to get out of the box, in the air, and putting around quickly. The CX is still very easy, but it is a bit larger and a lot tighter in its controls than the EZ, which makes stabilizing it in a hover to be a bit more work (still nothing compared to a non-coax). Also, since the Blade CX has fixed blades instead of folding blades, the chances are higher that you will break blades more often with the CX (at first). I've only had mine since December of `06 and I've gone through roughly 6 pairs of lower blades and 4 pairs of upper blades.

For the longer run, however, I believe you would be better off having the CX than you would the EZ, if only because of the same reasons that a new flier could be put off initially. Anyone I have asked about the two helis seems to indicate that the CX is simply more responsive and handles better. On top of that, I have been able to find far more tweaks and modifications for the Blade CX than I could find the Axe EZ (mostly online, do some searches before buying). With the boom modification on the CX, rudder control is greatly improved and the heli even flies a bit more stably than it did stock, an equivalent modification of which I have not found for the Axe EZ. In my very inexperienced and newbie-ish opinion, I am willing to bet that one would get more life out of owning a CX than they would an EZ before they needed to buy something with a bit more substance.

Your mileage may vary. I can only speak for my own experience.

[eddiemoth]

I would agree with GreNME. I don't see any bad comments about the Axe EZ either. With the price drop of Blade CX1 to about $169.99, this will even make it is more difficult to decide. For about $40 more, I would also suggest looking at Blade CX2 with the 5 channel 2.4GHz DSM transmitter.

[cmaxim]

The CX is still very easy, but it is a bit larger and a lot tighter in its controls than the EZ, which makes stabilizing it in a hover to be a bit more work
Welcome to HeliTown GreNME. My first heli is Blade CX 2. I crashed one time and my eldest son crashed once, but she still survive ! :) :) :)
Chinda