Novus CX = DON'T BUY!!!

mschaffer66 · 10-22-2009, 11:31 AM

I'll start off by saying the Novus CX is the biggest, tiny piece of $hit ever built. I feel sorry for anyone who buys one that doesn't have the time, will, or connections to get servo boards replaced every other day.

I bought mine a few months back and after a day of messing with it the upper and lower rotors would spin at different times, rates, speeds, you name it, with no rhyme or reason to it. You could slightly power it up one time and only the top would spin until you gave it full throttle, then the opposite would happen the next time you tried it. I work part time at a hobby shop so we were easily able to get a replacement board for it and it fixed my problem...well for a few minutes. And I literally mean a few minutes. After running less than two battery packs through it it was hovering fine and instantly took off one direction like I had pushed it full stick. After striking the wall and dropping power I went to go pick it up and it was still trying to spin the lower rotor at full speed. Apparently something is shorted in that motor control because if I switch the leads it makes the top rotor spin full speed with the stick at 0...

I could see maybe I got hit by lightning twice with bad boards. But what I've noticed is that everyone that comes in the store that has either bought one, or known someone that has bought one has had very very similar problems. One day we sold a pair of them and they both died that day with the same issues.

After that experience I almost gave up on the whole chopper thing period. But decided to get the Eflite Blade MSR. WOW. Someone from Eflite needs to give Helimax a few pointers on how to build choppers, or at least how to successfully clone someone else's work(the Novus CX is an older Walkera model rebranded).

Anyway my MSR has taken a beating that some of my RC cars wouldn't survive and the worst that has happened is a few torn up tail rotors. I'm still even on the original main blades.

Just an FYI, long winded as it may be, if you are getting into the ultra micro chopper scene save yourself the headache and a few bucks and get the Blade MCX....or if you want something even cheaper get the Blade MCX S300, they are down to like $99.99 RTF.

I don't always think our store makes the best decisions, but not carrying the Novus CX is a good call.

JonesyCGY · 10-22-2009, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the info. I've been flying helis for quite along time but recently haven't had the time to fly outdoors and was wanting to get a micro sized heli for flying around the house. Are there any other good Micro collective pitch helis. I think the Trex 250 is micro sized if I'm not mistaken but I don't want to spend that much. I dunno maybe its not micro.

I realize the blade mcx is not collective.

mschaffer66 · 10-22-2009, 08:44 PM

I've actually heard that the Novus CP is a pretty decent machine. Maybe since its more user intensive and less relying on fancy electronics its more durable.

I dunno. I'm done with helimax. So unless e-flite comes out with a Blade MCP?

i'm going to go straight for a 450 and just keep the MSR for living room flying.

Not sure how fun a collective machine would be inside anyway. All of the time watching people fly the big guys they use a lot of room. I'd hate to be just to that point of flipping it over and smacking the ceiling lol.

mschaffer66 · 10-22-2009, 08:46 PM

I believe the 250 is similar in size to the Eflite Blade CP Pro. Its micro, but not ultra micro. So its more like the size of a CX2 or something like that. Not 100% sure because I've only dealt with guys that run the 450's or.....600's.

JonesyCGY · 10-23-2009, 06:21 AM

I've got a Trex 450 and love it. Really a stable machine. I flew one for about 80 flights before I took it into the ground. And thats the SA version not the blinged out heli. Just too big to fly in my liveingroom and have any fun.

interplanet · 10-23-2009, 07:58 AM

the novus cp is supposed to be pretty good. you would be an idiot to fly a 250 size or up heli in your house, just asking to get hurt.

helibrian · 10-24-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interplanet

the novus cp is supposed to be pretty good. you would be an idiot to fly a 250 size or up heli in your house, just asking to get hurt.

Speaking as one of those "idiots", I have to agree, for the average pilot, flying a cp heli indoors is probably not a great option, unless you have a fairly large sized livingroom and cuisinart-proof furniture. It's not like you're going to throw it in idleup or anything. I've flown my 450s quite a bit in my basement whilst tweaking controls and such, and I have had one mis-hap involving my dog and my guitar (pics are posted here somewhere), so anything can happen really, and when it does, it can be messy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mschaffer66

I believe the 250 is similar in size to the Eflite Blade CP Pro. Its micro, but not ultra micro. So its more like the size of a CX2 or something like that. Not 100% sure because I've only dealt with guys that run the 450's or.....600's.

yeah it's in between the cp and cx. Closer to cx, the 250's about an inch-inch and 1/2 longer nose to tail, and the rotor disk is much larger of course. The 250s are just so cute!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mschaffer66

Not sure how fun a collective machine would be inside anyway. All of the time watching people fly the big guys they use a lot of room. I'd hate to be just to that point of flipping it over and smacking the ceiling lol.

Though I've seen it done, I don't think I'll ever have the stones required to flip any heli inverted in the house. Indoor sports arena...see it all the time. Me?......not yet....maybe......SURE! ...if not too many people are watchin, I'll try it this winter!