INTRODUCTION
As you may already know, XK is the new “deluxe” division of WLtoys for their high level helicopter/multirotor models. After the excellent XK X380, the new revision of the V303, here is the XK X350 a full brushless 3D 350mm quadcopter. For this model, XK designed everything from stratch. It’s not the first 3D quadcopter from WLtoys, the X350 comes after the cloning of the stingray 500, i.e. the WLtoys V383. Here, the 3D is not based on a collective pitch technology but based on some reversible ESC. Please find my first elements about this X350, I will complete this review step by step.
BOX CONTENT
+ 1 x XK X350 “Air Dancer” (with a 3S 2200mAh LiPo, 50C ending with XT60 connector)
+ 1 x Transmitter (using 6xAA batteries not included)
+ 1 x Charger/balancer
+ 4 x Propellers
+ 1 x Prop wrench
+ 1 x Camera holder
+ 1 x Screwdriver
+ 1 X Allen key
+ 2 x Instruction manuals (for the X350 and the Radio)
The bag of accessories and landing gear
OVERVIEW
The X350 design is based on a H-frame with a full plastic plastic. The general quality of this plastic is good and dense
-Front view
-Side view
-Rear view
-Upper view
-Bottom view
2 ports are available. One +12V and one servo plug
Be aware, for the servo plug, pinout is inverted versus the instruction manual
Standalone the X350 weights 467g,
Landing gear seems strong
2 hexscrews per foot. You have to pre-insert them before to attach them on the main body. One of Hexscrews was damaged (the head not perfectly molded). I used a wrench to screw it.
A camera mount can be also installed if you plan to attach a sport cam and/or a FPV kit
LiPo
A 2200mAh 3S LiPo with a very good 50C of discharge rate ending with XT60 connector. 3D flight requires a lot of instantaneous juice
This LiPo fits almost all the battery bay. Probably a longer one can be installed but I think due to the bay design, it won’t be possible to insert it.
Propeller
Some 3D specific 8 inch model. Unfortunatly, no spare props are offered !!!… It’s a real pity especially for a 3D model where probability to crash is increased
Motor
Some 2212 model announced to be 1400Kv!!!!
The inner shaft diameter is 5mm
The hub is 7mm at minimum
and 8mm at maximum diameter
Disassembling
After a long unscrewing session, you can split in two the plastic body
ESC don’t have any indication but probably are some 20A model
The main Power distribution board welcomes the FC isolated with a piece of foam
connexion to the PDB
A free servo plug probably allow to connect an external receiver probably in CPPM or Sat connexion
The MCU is of course based on a 32bits ARM core and an invensense 6050C for the 6-axis stabilization
The RF chip is the excellent CC2500 (the same than for the FrSky protocol). The Radio protocol is the Futaba one. Expect close to 1km of range control
Transmitter
The transmitter eats 6xAA to be powered. Four 2-way switches ca be found. The right ones are D/R and throttle hold respectively. DR0 turns A,E,R to 80% while DR1 set them to 100%. The left ones turn on/off gyros (horizon/accro modes) and the left upper switch turns the throttle into “3D-CP mode” mode: Above 50%, it applies positive pitch, here props spinning in the conventional way, below 50% it applies negative pitch so ESC reverse sens or rotation.
BE AWARE!!! AS SOON YOU TURN THIS SWITCH, MOTORS WILL TURN AT FULL SPEED IF THROTTLE STICK IS IN LOWER POSITION. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS !!!!!
Be aware to well tighting your prop locks because when inverted, the inertia tends to unscrew prop locks.
In a general way, there is no arming sequence !!!!!! so again potentially dangerous. Luckely, you have a throttle hold.
This radio have a quality chassis, mecanics are goods. Versus the XK X380, the X350 TX settings can be partially changed.
For example, you can set individually for each A,E,R channel D/R, EXP, the tradeoff between the Horizon/accro mode via the Gyro weighting.
Seems to have a free plug, so maybe there is an extra channel (the 5th ?) potentially available.
The rear jack is a trainer port working in PPM mode.
FIRST USAGE
The XK X350 is first of all a very powerful machine. In 6G, the autolevelling make easy controls for beginners … The yaw rate is good (in any case, you can play with it via the setting of the radio). Even with 700g, as soon as you are pushing throttle, motors becomes loud and catapulte your X350 in the air … For sure, the 50C LiPo helps a lot. The full rate already offers impressive rate and it should be possible to reverse the X350 even in 6G, so it’s a good point if you want to perform 3D without beeing a good “ACRO” flyer.
To use the 3D switch, I advice two situations:
i) The X350 is already in the air, your throttle stick about 50% (in non-3D mode) then when you push the 3D switch, you should not observe a huge positive or negative jump… It’s a pretty smooth transition between the non-3D & 3D modes.
ii) The X350 is on the ground. I advice first to turn on throttle hold (upper right switch) then to push throttle about 50%, then to turn on the 3D mode and finally to disengage the throttle hold… It would be more safe like this.
In 3D mode, the throttle control is very similar to a CP helicopter. Good news, there is trainer port, so you can train to fly 3D with a CP helicopter software. With the 2200mAh, you can expect 8-9 mins of flight times…. it’s pretty good for an acrobat model
CONCLUSIONS
To make short, I really really like this quadcopter … Not adapted for ultra beginners, but with a nominal level skill you can for sure fly this quadcopter at least in 6G mode. Thanks to TX programmable capacity, your can set indivudually behaviour of each channel. It’s a powerful machine, very fast (maybe faster than the HiSky HMX280) and with a beautiful design. In acro mode, rates/angles are just amazing so perfect to fly inverted. Maybe I regret, as for some basic toys, there is no button to flip automatically of 180 degrees the X350.. It means, you need a nominal level skill to fly 3D. I regret also the absence of some arming sequences , spare props and a power switch. Even if the stucture seems solid, without any carbon elements and with a total weight of 700g, the crash resistance is also an open question. A positive point is the presence of a 12V power port and a free 5th channel to control a camera trigger for example.
UNBOXING
PROS
+ Beautiful machine
+ Super stable machine in 6G
+ Very sporty machine from Acro mode
+ Nice packaging
+ Programmable radio
+ Trainer port (PPM)
+ Futaba protocol
+ 50C LiPo
+ Powerfull motors (1400 Kv)
+ Free 12V & 5V port for FPV connexion
CONS
– No arming procedure
– 3D switch activation can be dangerous
– No spare props
– Battery insersion and door’s closing
– No Carbon structure
– No “Ultra Easy3D” with 180 degrees automatic flips (like for toyquadcopter)
This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thanks them for this attitude.
You can find it actually for 230USD at http://www.banggood.com/XK-X350-4CH-6-Axis-3D-6G-Mode-RC-Quadcopter-Air-Dancer-Aircraft-p-974719.html
Cet article TEST: XK X350 “Air Dancer”, a new Deluxe 3D quadcopter est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!.