MAXXED
01-22-2007, 05:08 PM
There are so many different versions of the Mini Z under various names being supplied by quite a few distributors, creating a lot of confusion and incompatibility problems.
Flying Hobby was probably the first to release the Mini Z, and the Mini Z Pro versions, and Fung at Flying Hobby is very knowledgeable and helpful, offering the best advice so far.
I've purchased parts for the Mini Z from him, and he's always offered first class service.
Beware of other Mini Z Pro setups being offered, especially by rc-expert on eBay.
I was one that purchased from him because of the huge discount, which turned out to work against me in the end.
It appears rc-expert is not very knowledgeable or experienced with helis, and his package of components with the Mini-Z Pro was totally mismatched, mainly to give him a better markup.
The 3800kv motor that he supplies with 2S 850mah li-pos will not work.
It will barely lift off and will hover for less than a minute before taxing the li-po pack.
Fung recommends and supplies his version with the Gaui Tornado 4800kv motor and 2S packs.
After switching to this motor, at my expense :roll:, the Mini Z has more than enough power to lift off with ease and fly for the advertised 5-6 minutes.
It also came with a ridiculously huge 30 amp ESC. A smaller ESC would have saved some weight.
I use a Thunderbird 18 ESC with my Belt Blade on 3S packs, and it's more than adequate for a heli that's probably four times as heavy.
rc-expert also supplies the Mini Z pro with Tower Pro 9 gram servos, which are too big and heavy for this heli.
I switched them out with a set of Futaba 7.6 gram servos, again at my own expense :roll: (although the Tower pros went on my Belt Blade, so it wasn't a total loss), to lighten up the Mini Z a bit more.
So a lesson learned, price isn't everything.
I ended up spending more than I saved by buying it through rc-expert just to get it to fly.
Not to mention the frustration of figuring out the bugs at my expense.
Obviously, rc-expert caught a lot of flak from buyers, as I noticed he's pulled it from eBay.
Even if you spend a few more dollars, it's worth buying your Mini Z from an experienced heli dealer who will give you good advice and the right components for a fair price. :)
Here's my updated Mini Z Pro in "flyable" form:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/airshop/MiniZ-upgradefix.jpg
I'm currently testing out HeliDirect's ABS blades for the Mini-Z that are in the pic.
So far, they have good lift, and hovering is pretty stable.
More details later.
Flying Hobby was probably the first to release the Mini Z, and the Mini Z Pro versions, and Fung at Flying Hobby is very knowledgeable and helpful, offering the best advice so far.
I've purchased parts for the Mini Z from him, and he's always offered first class service.
Beware of other Mini Z Pro setups being offered, especially by rc-expert on eBay.
I was one that purchased from him because of the huge discount, which turned out to work against me in the end.
It appears rc-expert is not very knowledgeable or experienced with helis, and his package of components with the Mini-Z Pro was totally mismatched, mainly to give him a better markup.
The 3800kv motor that he supplies with 2S 850mah li-pos will not work.
It will barely lift off and will hover for less than a minute before taxing the li-po pack.
Fung recommends and supplies his version with the Gaui Tornado 4800kv motor and 2S packs.
After switching to this motor, at my expense :roll:, the Mini Z has more than enough power to lift off with ease and fly for the advertised 5-6 minutes.
It also came with a ridiculously huge 30 amp ESC. A smaller ESC would have saved some weight.
I use a Thunderbird 18 ESC with my Belt Blade on 3S packs, and it's more than adequate for a heli that's probably four times as heavy.
rc-expert also supplies the Mini Z pro with Tower Pro 9 gram servos, which are too big and heavy for this heli.
I switched them out with a set of Futaba 7.6 gram servos, again at my own expense :roll: (although the Tower pros went on my Belt Blade, so it wasn't a total loss), to lighten up the Mini Z a bit more.
So a lesson learned, price isn't everything.
I ended up spending more than I saved by buying it through rc-expert just to get it to fly.
Not to mention the frustration of figuring out the bugs at my expense.
Obviously, rc-expert caught a lot of flak from buyers, as I noticed he's pulled it from eBay.
Even if you spend a few more dollars, it's worth buying your Mini Z from an experienced heli dealer who will give you good advice and the right components for a fair price. :)
Here's my updated Mini Z Pro in "flyable" form:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/airshop/MiniZ-upgradefix.jpg
I'm currently testing out HeliDirect's ABS blades for the Mini-Z that are in the pic.
So far, they have good lift, and hovering is pretty stable.
More details later.