Heli-Max HMXE0800 User Manual

Rotor Span: 27.5 in [700mm]
Height: 9.3 in [236 mm]
Length: 24 in [610mm]
Weight: 18.4 oz [521g] no battery,

Motor: 420 Brushless out-runner motor
Radio: Futaba® 6EX 6-channel 2.4GHz FASST transmitter

Futaba R606FS 6-channel 2.4GHz FASST receiver

Servos: Futaba S3114 micro HT servo
Gyro: Heli-Max™ Heading Lock HM 4000 Gyro w/remote dual gain

25 oz [708g] w/fl ight battery (GPMP0520)

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS

WARNING!! Read the entire instruction sheet included with your battery and charger. Failure to follow all
instructions could cause permanent damage to the battery, charger or its surroundings, and cause bodily harm!

™

• Never charge in excess of 4.20V per cell.

• If the battery should become damaged, discard the
battery. Do not attempt to use a damaged battery.

• Do not leave the charger unattended while charging.
Disconnect the battery and remove input power from the
charger immediately if either becomes hot! Howev er , it is
normal for the charger to get warm.

• Disconnect the battery from the charger and carefully
move the battery to a fi reproof location if the battery
begins to swell or smoke!

• Never charge at currents greater than 1C.

• Always charge in a fi reproof location.

• Never trickle charge.

• Never allow the battery temperature to exceed 150° F
[65° C].

• Never disassemble or modify pack wiring in any way or
puncture cells.

• Never discharge below 2.5V per cell.

READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION.

IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS

CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THIS MODEL.

• Do not allow water, moisture or foreign objects into
the charger.

• Do not block the air intake holes, which could cause the
charger to overheat.

• Do not place the charger or any battery on a fl ammable
surface or near a combustible material while in use.

• Do not charge on a carpet, cluttered workbench, paper,
plastic, vinyl, leather, wood, or inside an R/C model.

• Never charge inside a full sized vehicle.

• Always disconnect the battery from the charger and the
power supply from the charger when not in use.

• Do not attempt to charge a battery if it is swollen or hot.

• ALWAYS KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Champaign, Illinois

[phone]

[e-mail]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...............................................................2

AMA ..................................................................................2

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .................................................2

ITEMS REQUIRED ............................................................3

KIT INSPECTION ..............................................................3

WARRANTY ......................................................................3

KIT CONTENTS ................................................................4

OPERA TIONAL W ARNINGS ............................................4

ELECTRIC MOTOR WARNING ........................................5

TRANSMITTER FUNCTION SWITCHES .........................5

CONTROLS ......................................................................6

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY ...................................7

TRACKING THE MAIN BLADES ......................................9

QUICK REFERENCE TO TRANSMITTER FUNCTIONS ...11

LINKAGE ROD LENGTHS .............................................12

ORDERING PARTS ........................................................12

EXPLODED VIEWS ........................................................14

PARTS IMAGES ..............................................................16

OPTIONAL PARTS .........................................................18

2,500 AMA chartered clubs across the countr y. Contact the
AMA at the address or toll-free phone number below.

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie, IN 47302

Tele: [phone]

Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at:

IMPORTANT!!! Two of the most important things you can do
to preserve the radio controlled aircraft hobby are to avoid
fl ying near full-scale aircraft and avoid fl ying near or over
groups of people.

www.modelaircraft.org

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Heli-Max AXE™ 400 3D
RTF Helicopter. We are certain you will get many hours of
enjoyment out of this model. If you should hav e any questions
or concerns please feel free to contact us at:

[e-mail].

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections
to the AXE 400 3D RTF visit the Heli-Max web site at
www.helimax-rc.com. Open the “Helicopters” link, and
then select the AXE 400 3D RTF. If there is new technical
information or changes to this model a “tech notice” box will
appear in the upper left corner of the page.

AMA

We urge you to join the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics)
and a local R/C club. The AMA is the go verning body of model
aviation and membership is required to fl y at AMA clubs.
Though joining the AMA provides many benefi ts, one of the
primary reasons to join is liability protection. Coverage is not
limited to fl ying at contests or on the club fi eld. It e ven applies
to fl ying at public demonstrations and air shows. Failure to
comply with the Safety Code (excerpts printed in the back of
the manual) may endanger insurance cov erage . Additionally,
training programs and instructors are available at AMA club
sites to help you get started the right way. There are over

Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in
severe injury to yourself and others.

• Keep your face and body as well as all spectators away

from the plane of rotation of the rotors whenever the battery
is connected.

• Keep these items awa y from the rotors: loose clothing, shirt

sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects such as
pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the rotors.

• The spinning blades of a model helicopter can cause

serious injury. When choosing a fl ying site for your AXE
400 3D RTF, stay clear of buildings, trees and power lines.
A V OID fl ying in or near crowded areas. DO NO T fl y close to
people, children or pets. Maintain a safe pilot-to-helicopter
distance while fl ying.

1. Your AXE 400 3D RTF should not be considered a toy,

but rather a sophisticated, working model that functions very
much like a full-size helicopter. Because of its performance
capabilities, the AXE 400 3D RTF, if not assembled and
operated correctly, could possibly cause injury to yourself or
spectators and damage to property.

2. You must assemble the model according to the instructions.

Do not alter or modify the model, as doing so may result in
an unsafe or unfl yable model. In a few cases the instructions
may differ slightly from the photos. In those instances the
written instructions should be considered as correct.

3. You must correctly install all R/C and other components

so that the model operates correctly on the ground and in
the air.

2

4. You must check the operation of the model before every
fl ight to insure that all equipment is operating and that the
model has remained structurally sound. Be sure to check
linkages or other connectors often and replace them if they
show any signs of wear or fatigue.

5. If you are not an experienced pilot or have not fl own
this type of model before, we recommend that you get the
assistance of an experienced pilot in your R/C club for
your fi rst fl ights. If you’re not a member of a club, your local
hobby shop has information about clubs in your area whose
membership includes experienced pilots.

Heli-Max Product Support:

3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1

Champaign, IL 61822

Telephone: [phone], ext. 5

Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

WARRANTY

We, as the manufacturer, provide you with a top quality,
thoroughly tested helicopter and instructions, but
ultimately the quality and fl yability of your fi nished model
depends on how you build it; therefore, we cannot in any
way guarantee the perf ormance of your completed model,
and no representations are expressed or implied as to the
performance or safety of your completed model.

Remember: Take your time and follo w the instructions to
build a safe and enjoyable model.

ITEMS REQUIRED

The following items must be purchased separately:

• (8) AA Alkaline cells (SANP3500 AA 4-pack x2)

FLIGHT BATTERY

Hovering, Basic Aerobatics and 3D

• GPMP0406 11.1V 2000mAh Battery LiPo Flight Battery

• GPMP0617 Great Planes ElectriFly LiPo 11.1V 2100mAh
20C Power

Heli-Max™ guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both
material and workmanship at the date of purchase. This
warranty does not cover any component parts damaged by
use or modifi cation. In no case shall Heli-Max’s liability
exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Further,
Heli-Max reserves the right to change or modify this warranty
without notice.

In that Heli-Max has no control over the fi nal assembly
or material used for fi nal assembly, no liability shall be
assumed nor accepted for any damage resulting from the
use by the user of the fi nal user-assembled product. By the
act of using the user-assembled product, the user accepts
all resulting liability.

If the buyer is not prepared to accept the liability
associated with the use of this product, the buyer is
advised to return this kit immediately in new and unused
condition to the place of purchase.

To make a warranty claim, send the defective part or item to
Hobby Services at this address.

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Dr., Suite 1

Champaign, IL 61822

USA

Hovering, Basic Aerobatics, Mild 3D and Aggressive 3D

• GPMP0520 Great Planes LiPo 11.1V 2200mAh 25C T-Rex
MX450 Heli

• FPWP0327 FlightPower LiPo 11.1V 2170mAh 25C EVO25
3S Balance

Also required is an appropriate battery charger for your
fl ight battery .

KIT INSPECTION

Before starting assembly, take an inventory of the AXE 400
3D RTF to make sure it is complete, and inspect the parts
to make sure they are of acceptable quality. If any parts
are missing or are not of acceptable quality, or if you need
assistance with assembly, contact Product Support. When
reporting defective or missing parts, use the part names
exactly as they are written in the Kit Contents list.

Include a letter stating your name, return shipping address,
as much contact information as possible (daytime telephone
number, fax number, e-mail address), a detailed description
of the problem and a photocopy of the purchase receipt.
Upon receipt of the package the problem will be evaluated
as quickly as possible.

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KIT CONTENTS

2

1

1. Transmitter 2. Helicopter

OPERA TIONAL W ARNINGS

CAUTION! A separate Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC)
must be used if you decide to change the stock (Futaba®
S3114) servos to some other type of analog or digital servos.
We highly recommend the Castle Creations CC BEC 10A
Switching Regulator (CSEM0005).

DANGER! Please allow a 10 minute cool down period after
each fl ight so the Electronic Speed Control (ESC) can cool
down. Failure to do so may cause loss of control due to the
ESC overheating and shutting down.

DANGER! Please inspect the wooden main rotor blades
before each fl ight for damage. If any damage is found or if
the blades have been crashed, please replace the blades
before fl ying the model again.

which will reduce the power output to safe levels when the
safe operating temperatures ha ve been e xceeded. If this has
occurred please allow the model 10 minutes to cool down.

WARNING! The ESC does have a soft cut function that will
reduce the power output to protect the fl ight battery. Toward
the end of a fl ight, if you notice a slight power reduction, land
the model immediately and re-charge the battery. The fl ight
time of the AXE 400 3D RTF can be as long as 10 minutes
but this will vary depending on your fl ying style.

CAUTION! After a crash y ou must inspect all plastic parts on
the helicopter for damage before fl ying the model again.

CAUTION! If the rotor head speed ever drops suddenly in
fl ight please land the model immediately and remove the
body. Inspect the battery temperature and ensure that it
has not exceeded 140°F and ensure that the ESC has not
overheated. The ESC does ha v e a thermal protection built in

4

ELECTRIC MOTOR WARNING

Electric-powered models are very dangerous due to the
high power they are capable of generating instantly. Please
remove the pinion gear or unplug two of the motor wires
while working on the model.

The Dual Rate Switch changes the control rate of the
helicopter. The High Rate provides the maximum control
which is necessary for 3D fl ight and aerobatics. The low rate
reduces control throw which makes the model easier to fl y.
The low rate is recommended for your fi rst fl ight. Once you
have become accustomed to the AXE 400 3D RTF please
feel free to use high rate if you prefer.

TRANSMITTER FUNCTION SWITCHES

The Throttle Hold Switch is used to disab le the pow er output
of the motor but has no effect on the other controls. The
Throttle Hold Function was originally intended for autorotation
landings (off power descent to landing; this maneuver is
extremely diffi cult and it is recommended that you do not
attempt it unless you have no other choice).

In addition to autorotation the throttle hold function can be
used as a safety switch while handling the model since it
disables the motor . T urn the transmitter on and set the Throttle
Hold Switch to the on position. Now you can safely connect
the fl ight battery without having to worry about inadvertently
moving the throttle stick Once you place the model on the
ground, verify that the idle up switch is off and the throttle
stick has been moved to its lowest position. Then, simply
turn the throttle hold off. The model is now ready to fl y.

Another use for the throttle hold function is to disable the
motor before a crash without having to drop the collective
stick (possibly forcing the model into the ground). Disabling
the motor before a crash will prevent a lot of damage.

5

The Idle-Up function is disabled within the transmitter for saf ety .
If you are beginning aerobatics or are an experienced pilot and
feel you ha ve a need for the Idle Up function, then please f ollow
the instructions on page 11 to enable this function.

LEFT CYCLIC

Moving the cyclic stick left will cause the helicopter to tilt left
and start moving in that direction.

AFT CYCLIC

CONTROLS

RIGHT CYCLIC

Moving the cyclic stick right will cause the helicopter to tilt
right and start moving that direction.

Moving the cyclic stick backw ards (towards you) will cause the
helicopter to tilt backwards and start moving that direction.

FORWARD CYCLIC

Moving the cyclic stick forward (away from you) will cause
the helicopter to tilt forward and start moving that direction.

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