Post by rcdude07 on Mar 28, 2013 15:13:01 GMT -4
Evo Mini Stinger RTF Review
SPECIFICATIONS
Helicopter Type: Ultra Micro Coaxial Helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter: 7.5 in (190mm)
Gross Weight: With Battery 1.0 oz (28 g)
Length: 7.9 in (200mm); Height: 4.7 in (120mm)
Motor Size: Micro Coreless (2 installed)
Kit Type: RTF (ready to fly)
Experience Level: No Experience Necessary
Flight Environment: Indoors Only
Assembly Required: No
Included in the box is the:
Fully Assembled EVO Flight Mini Stinger RC Helicopter
EVO Flight Mini Stinger Li-Po battery
AA battery-powered DC Li-Po charger
4-channel transmitter equipped with Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 technology, and
8 AA batteries (4 for the transmitter, 4 for the charger).
Unboxing initial impressions
The heli is a standard basic 4ch coax. Pretty much an mCX copy cat
The TX is hideous/abnormally fat
Battery connection could be better. Slides in and lays in contact
Charging
Per the instructions I turned on the TX, opened the battery charging compartment, slid the battery in, and waited for the green charge light to go off. The instuctions say it could take up to 30 minutes to charge. So far I have not had to wait this long.
Flight
I kept the maiden simple as it was in my cube at the office. Lift off was as expected, hovering in the different orientations was simple and easy. I found forward flight a little challenging at first. I felt this heli did not get the forward momentum/speed the mCX and FORCE R/C helis get. So found myself not turning well and running into the ceiling, light fixtures, and cube walls. The same is to be said with initial attempts with backward flight.
By the fourth flight I had hit cube walls and floors kind of hard so the plastic canopy cracked some, this was repaired with clear tape. And one segmet of the landing skids had broken. The landing skids are very thin plastic wires, so it wouldn't take much to break them anyways. At one point the plastic link that helps hold the top blade on to the spindle popped off. This proved to be a little tricky to put back on as I felt I would break the little plastic pieces.
By default the advanced control setting is enabled on the TX. I tried beginner as well as advanced and couldn't tell much of a difference, but it was slightly enough that I switched back to advanced. This setting is kind of like the different ball link arms on the mCX.
Pros
I reiceved this heli free.
2.4GHz
coaxial
beginner and advanced throws (default was advanced)
Mode 2 or mode 1 by switching the antena module around
Built in battery charger to the TX
Cons
Weak landing gear structure
Additional/replacement batteries are $15 USD a pop (compared to $9-$10 for the E-Flite branded 150mAh sold by HH)
Battery just lays in contact with the contacts, exposure to the elements
Battery doesn't feel like it sits in place as there is no click/bump stop
TX is bigger than heli
Must leave TX on to charge battery
Conclusion
It's a basic 4 channel coaxial heli, with this in mind expectations of flight are met. There's nothing that makes this one stand out among the rest. Personally I'd skip this heli and brand as it's nothing but an mCX knockoff with parts and batteries being more expensive than the mCX. The distributor told me they carry these birds to send free to those who buy their big expensive camera carrying copters/multi-rotors.
FYI...
In reading about the heli from the website while waiting for it to arrive I started getting suspicious. The website's detailed description of the heli is using the terms Spektrum and DSM2 with trademark logos. In a quick search I found HH has these terms trademarked/copyrighted and the legal use of the terms is spelled out. So with this knowledge I became a tattle-tell and send HH the information and link. Last I heard the information was forwarded to HH's legal department. Why did I do this? Because I am tired of cheap Chinese copycats and/or hobby stores using/abusing/not caring about solid US laws/regulations/etc...
SPECIFICATIONS
Helicopter Type: Ultra Micro Coaxial Helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter: 7.5 in (190mm)
Gross Weight: With Battery 1.0 oz (28 g)
Length: 7.9 in (200mm); Height: 4.7 in (120mm)
Motor Size: Micro Coreless (2 installed)
Kit Type: RTF (ready to fly)
Experience Level: No Experience Necessary
Flight Environment: Indoors Only
Assembly Required: No
Included in the box is the:
Fully Assembled EVO Flight Mini Stinger RC Helicopter
EVO Flight Mini Stinger Li-Po battery
AA battery-powered DC Li-Po charger
4-channel transmitter equipped with Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 technology, and
8 AA batteries (4 for the transmitter, 4 for the charger).
Unboxing initial impressions
The heli is a standard basic 4ch coax. Pretty much an mCX copy cat
The TX is hideous/abnormally fat
Battery connection could be better. Slides in and lays in contact
Charging
Per the instructions I turned on the TX, opened the battery charging compartment, slid the battery in, and waited for the green charge light to go off. The instuctions say it could take up to 30 minutes to charge. So far I have not had to wait this long.
Flight
I kept the maiden simple as it was in my cube at the office. Lift off was as expected, hovering in the different orientations was simple and easy. I found forward flight a little challenging at first. I felt this heli did not get the forward momentum/speed the mCX and FORCE R/C helis get. So found myself not turning well and running into the ceiling, light fixtures, and cube walls. The same is to be said with initial attempts with backward flight.
By the fourth flight I had hit cube walls and floors kind of hard so the plastic canopy cracked some, this was repaired with clear tape. And one segmet of the landing skids had broken. The landing skids are very thin plastic wires, so it wouldn't take much to break them anyways. At one point the plastic link that helps hold the top blade on to the spindle popped off. This proved to be a little tricky to put back on as I felt I would break the little plastic pieces.
By default the advanced control setting is enabled on the TX. I tried beginner as well as advanced and couldn't tell much of a difference, but it was slightly enough that I switched back to advanced. This setting is kind of like the different ball link arms on the mCX.
Pros
I reiceved this heli free.
2.4GHz
coaxial
beginner and advanced throws (default was advanced)
Mode 2 or mode 1 by switching the antena module around
Built in battery charger to the TX
Cons
Weak landing gear structure
Additional/replacement batteries are $15 USD a pop (compared to $9-$10 for the E-Flite branded 150mAh sold by HH)
Battery just lays in contact with the contacts, exposure to the elements
Battery doesn't feel like it sits in place as there is no click/bump stop
TX is bigger than heli
Must leave TX on to charge battery
Conclusion
It's a basic 4 channel coaxial heli, with this in mind expectations of flight are met. There's nothing that makes this one stand out among the rest. Personally I'd skip this heli and brand as it's nothing but an mCX knockoff with parts and batteries being more expensive than the mCX. The distributor told me they carry these birds to send free to those who buy their big expensive camera carrying copters/multi-rotors.
FYI...
In reading about the heli from the website while waiting for it to arrive I started getting suspicious. The website's detailed description of the heli is using the terms Spektrum and DSM2 with trademark logos. In a quick search I found HH has these terms trademarked/copyrighted and the legal use of the terms is spelled out. So with this knowledge I became a tattle-tell and send HH the information and link. Last I heard the information was forwarded to HH's legal department. Why did I do this? Because I am tired of cheap Chinese copycats and/or hobby stores using/abusing/not caring about solid US laws/regulations/etc...