Since the release of the production 700N, more than a few on different forums have asked for faster paddles alternative. The standard answer would always be CY super stubz. While these replies are usually from people who own a 700N running the stubz, not many of them have actually done any comparison between the stock paddles and the super stubz. In fact, I was a little skeptical, because how much faster can this rocket get? I had to find out.
And so, I had to jump at a good deal from one of my flying buddies.
The CF paddles that come with the 700N are quite closely priced to the street price of the super stubz, so this comparison is a fair one.
Basically, the Curtis Youngblood Enterprise stubz paddles came in a few varients. Options are available for 3mm, 4mm and 5mm flybar. Paddle length are 84mm(the stubz), 93mm(only for 3mm flybar) and the 105mm super stubz. CY has a product code for each type and it comes in the form of P4105, P393, P3105…etc. Where the first digit is the flybar hole diameter and the last 2-3digits are the length of the paddles.
The super stubz are lighter than the stock 700N paddles, but they are hollow, unlike the solid stock paddles. In fact, the “hollowness” felt a bit like those old hollow funkey fiberglass blades, which have long been replaced by the foam filled ones. While the grub screw in the stubz cannot be taken out of the paddles(which mean that you will need new paddles if you strip the screw!!), its actually a 2mm one which is one size larger than those in the Align Paddles. Weights are provided along with the super stubz and are adjusted by sliding them along the flybar. Because I was looking for maximum cyclic, I opted to not use them.
Compared to the Align paddles, the super stubz are not much bigger, if any. The stock 700N paddles were wider but shorter. I suppose this would mean a bigger paddle disc in the air with the super stubz.
Suprisingly, the flybar threaded much deeper into the super stubz than the Align paddles. A full centimeter was lost from each side with the super stubz, which means while the paddles disc is bigger, in reality, its actually closer to the main rotor. I am not an expert in flybars and flybar length, but I suppose a shorter flybar will have slower cyclic.
Super Stubz installed. The exact same heli and setup was used to test the paddles.
FLIGHT CHARACTERISTIC
In all honesty, I haven’t expected a lot of difference and I sure didn’t feel that much. Sure enough, the initial feel you get from the cyclic is MUCH faster, but the overall roll and flip rate does not change much. One interesting point is that with the super stubz, the elevator is not quite as “linear” as with the Align paddles. I get the full flip rate with 3/4 stick and it doesn’t flip any faster if I push the stick furthur. However, on the Align paddles, there is definately variation between 3/4 stick and full stick. Since I changed nothing on the electronics setting, I suppose this is probably a characteristic of the super stubz or the limit of a flybared setup. Piro flips, inverted funnels, tic-tocs…etc could all be done with slightly less input. Fast forward and backward flights showed no obvious pitching, but it just did not feel as arrow like. Overall, these are definately good for a “lazy 3D stick-banger”.
To think this was suppose to be a short comparison article…
Excellent post