Nifty Little Quad - New Version Upgraded Hubsan X4 H107L 2.4G 4CH RC Quadcopter RTF Mode 2

I have since acquired two collective pitch Helicopters (Blade mCPX and Nano CPX) after I did a review on the Syma S107G about 3 years ago!

Recently I got myself another toy.

A new version upgraded Hubsan X4 H107L 2.4G 4CH RC Quadcopter RTF Mode 2.

The package came as expected but a little crumpled. Luckily the good internal packaging design kept the items within well and safe. The moment when I opened the box, the well finished glossy canopy of the X4 caught my attention. Charged the battery and flew it round my living room and this little thing is a blast! Extremely stable after initialising the gyro and at normal mode anybody can fly it around. Manoeuvring turns nicely needs some practice. Otherwise pirouette turns on the spot might just get it round the corners. After flying helicopters for some time, finding the forward direction after a few spins on the squarish quad is tricky as all sides looked the same. So recognising the blade colours or the LEDs to determine 'tail in' will make navigation less of a guessing game.

What disappoints me is are the stock blades. I gave it a few flights and one of the black ones keep popping off. I realised it was looser than the rest. I hope mine is a unique rare case. Luckily the package comes with spare blades. Once I got it changed, the X4 continues its blasting performance.

I hope I'll be able to get a set of replacement blades from T-Mart since the loose black one is not my fault though. I don't want to be using my spares so quickly...

Overall experience 4/5. I wished the transmitter would look more handsome. A little Toyish looking. Already considering another one with the camera option.

SYMA S107G Review + Modifications + How NOT to fly your SYMA S107G

This is my 3-Channel SYMA (pronounced as 'sea-ma') S107G Coaxial Helicopter @ charging station.

Flying the extremely stable coaxial bird can be both fun and soothing. 

Modifications to my SYMA S107G

1) I took the tail supports and decorations off to reduce some weight hoping to fly it a little faster. I could have had the tail blade changed and modified too but decided that the initial 'amputation' was sufficient. It does fly a little faster considering now the bird actually does inch a little more forward during flight. So that is the fun aspect. 

2) I took the canopy off. Using the principles of moment, I moved the battery forward so that the front becomes 'heavier' without adding additional weight to the front. If the front is heavier, the heli will be pointing downwards more during flight that with the battery in its original position, thus making forward flight faster. Note: Remember to put back the canopy.

3) I modified the transmitter by taking out the spring out of the throttle stick and now the bird basically hovers hands-off (the transmitter). Note: Unless the bird is trimmed it will never sit in the air (hover) nicely. 

Verdict:

Slightly faster. If you push the throttle and the forward stick together, it moves even quicker. But do this only when your heli is in a low position. =)

Overall:

It is quite relaxing to see it hover and move slowly across the room, right in front of you, flying high or low if I chose to fly it that way. Looking at the way it glides through the air gracefully and steadily can be therapeutic. But more often than not I would fly it quite aggressively. 

After countless initial crashes in the beginning while learning about the controls and flight characteristics, I can now take it anywhere and anyhow I wanted it to. (Within the limits of a 3-channel rc heli of course). 

A summary of what you should not do while flying SYMA S107G

1) Do not take it close to the ceiling. The bird will be sucked up. Nose dive after that to ground zero.

2) Do not fly close to the wall too. The same reasons as above but this time the suction direction is lateral rather than vertical.

3) Fly under NO WIND conditions in an enclosed area. The bird simply goes off course at the slightest breeze. Unless you are pretty good at the controls, you might crash it to the walls and find the bird at ground zero very soon.

4) Fly within transmitting range (i.e. <10m) and within sight.

Final Comments

While it is fun and easy to fly SYMA S107G, I am beginning to find it a little slow. The next step would be to fly a Fixed Pitch and a Collective Pitch Heli.