Heli-Max 1SQ: An Agile And Easy-to-Fly Mini-Quadcopter

The Heli-max is a small, pretty agile quadcopter drone with a level of stability that will stun you. It is capable of performing some high-speed flight maneuvers as well as astounding precise landing challenges if you subject it to such. This lightweight drone comes as either a Ready-to-Fly package or as a Transmitter-ready package.

The latter will require you to get a Tactic Anylink adapter that will enable you to bind the drone to a transmitter of your choice. With the Heli-max 1SQ you could easily hold a solid hover courtesy of its gyro configuration that the manufacturer refers to as TAGS, Triple Axis Gyro Stabilization.

Product specifications:

Buy Heli-Max 1SQ on Amazon

With the Heli-max 1SQ V-cam you can be able to take aerial shots, an add-on to compact quadcopter flying fun. The in-built camera works with commands coming from a transmitter that can be set to ON and OFF. You will also enjoy your flying experience in the dark thanks to an LED light which illuminates each motor pod.

If you are a novice drone pilot you will enjoy some unprecedented confidence while the experienced drone pilots will gain the precision to undertake perfect maneuvers. This drone is affordable going for about $130 with a range of features that beat the price tag.

Build specifications

Packaging

Once you open the package which houses the drone and its accessory parts you will get the following:

• The Heli-max 1SQ V-cam drone with a digital camera
• 6-channel 2.4 GHz SLT radio transmitter
• 4 AA batteries
• 1 250mAH LiPo battery
• USB LiPo battery charger
• 2GB micro SD card
• A USB Micro SD card reader
• 4 extra rotor blades
• A small screwdriver &
• An instruction manual

There are two models of the Heli-max 1SQ drone as alluded to earlier on: the first one is RTF model which costs $129.99 and comes with everything that you need to see the drone get into the air.

This being inclusive of a radio transmitter that is already programmed as well as linked to the drone straight out of the box. On the other hand, Hobbico also provides the Tx-R version of the drone for $99 which will require you to get a transmitter of your choice.

This company also surprisingly provides an extra LiPo battery but it is recommended that you get an extra battery in the future to supplement this.

Design and durability

This mini-quad can fit perfectly in the palm of your hand as it measures 14.5 by 14.3cm. Its frame and blades have been built using lightweight plastic and you thus enjoy the convenience of having a drone that weighs about 32.9g, pretty portable. This is the weight of the drone without the inclusion of the battery.

Apart from some general aesthetics, this drone has a thin plastic fuselage which will offer the desired protection to the main wires and circuitry at the center of the drone. This will also help you to tell which part of the V-cam is the front or the back. It is available in blue, yellow, white, red, or green.

This basic drone is quite versatile and those who have used it recall it being able to sustain several crushed without being severely damaged.

The camera of the 1SQ V-cam

One of the most enticing features of the Heli-max 1SQ V-cam is its miniature camera which is fitted onto its front part. With the help of this you can be able to take JPEGs and videos by simply pressing the appropriate individual triggers on the transmitter in use.

Although it doesn’t have the best resolution in the market (1280 by 720 pixels) you will still get some remarkable clarity as well as images which are vibration free. Although the manufacturer claims that the camera is able to record mono sounds what most users have gotten is the camera picking the wiring motors and wind noise during a given flight.

There is also a micro SD card which is used to record everything that is captured by the miniature camera and there is a slot for this at the side of the drone.

Many people have reported experiencing some difficulty when taking photos or videos. One of the reasons cited for this is one not being in a position to tell whether they are in the actual recording phase.

Though there is a LED light that is meant to indicate when you are taking a photo or recording a video, it is located only on one side of the drone which means that you may not be able to see this if you are positioned on the opposite side of the drone. In addition, during broad daylight, it will be very difficult for you to see this LED light.

It will be highly convenient if future models will have a place or button on the transmitter’s screen that would help to indicate if the user is recording or taking a photo.

It will also be problematic for you to take still photos since the drone is not stable when you press the trigger button meant for this.

The trick to counter this is by drifting to a target and taking multiple shots. Besides this, the camera is able to tilt for different angles but executing these moves will require some days of practice before you can perfectly undertake them. With experience, you will gain the skills necessary for you to take decent photos with this camera.

Battery and flight time

The Heli-max 1SQ comes with a 3.7 V 250mAh battery together with a USB charger for both versions. You can use a computer’s USB slot to charge your drone or alternatively a 120V wall adapter. Once you plug the battery in, the USB charger will automatically begin to charge and this will be confirmed by a solid red light.

When your battery is fully charged the red light will begin to blink slowly. It takes about 45minutes to 1 hour to charge your battery.

The extra LiPo battery is a useful addition since the drone has an average flight time of about 10 to 12 minutes. However, even with two batteries you still get to finish up your time in the air pretty quickly. But, there is a solution that can help you get the most of your batteries and maybe squeeze a minute or two more from it, and you can find a few tips and tricks in our article about the ways of extending your flight time.

Controller

The Heli-max 1SQ drone is a Remote Controlled, RC quad and it relies on radio transmission from the controller. It uniquely has the TAGS-FX Sensor Fusion stabilization system with a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyro which will aid you in correcting the drift or any other unwanted movement of the drone while it’s in the air. This ranges from yaws, a roll or a pitch.

There is also a Helimax TX460-6 channel 2.4GHz radio that has beginner as well as expert modes.

The Auto-FLIP button on the transmitter is able to perform impressive flips. What is more is that the TAGS-FX Sensor Fusion stabilization system is able to calibrate itself just when it sits on a flat surface for a few seconds.

When the drone is in the air the system uses the 3-axis gyro and the 3-axis accelerometer to keep the quad level and centered. This can be quite handy when you want to prevent the drone from rotating or pitching during a given flight but it will not be able to perfectly prevent the drifting of the drone.

The controller of this drone is quite friendly and it requires just a few hours of practice to get accustomed to fly the Helimax 1SQ without much trouble. The transmitter will also allow you to switch between two modes; one mode will be suitable for you if you prefer smoother controls while the other mode is meant for more aggressive drone pilots. The controller distance for the Heli-max is up to 18 meters.

Flight performance

After setting up everything in place for the model which requires an Anylink setup and plugging in the fully charged LiPo you are good to go. After advancing the throttle the little propellers of this drone are quite silent and this drone is thus suitable for indoor flying without disturbing the peace of the other occupants in the room.

While the quad is hovering you can be able to hear the motors working as fast as possible to keep the drone as level as possible. As you advance the drone a little bit you will be able to lift it up into the air and all the prop will begin to ham in harmony.

The outdoor flying experience is pretty similar to the indoor experience especially on a calm day. Despite its size this drone is an agile one and it will perform quite remarkably in the presence of a breeze. You will however notice a slight tilt as it pushes back against the breeze. In the event that you put the hard forward stick input, the drone will tilt forward and transform the uplifting thrust to a forward flight.

Adding and reducing the throttle is a constant requirement if you want the drone to hover or when you are changing the directions during a forward flight or any other movement that is meant to result in a directional thrust rather than a hovering thrust. It is good to note that this is standard for any rotor driven aircraft.

For the gyro gain settings, at about 15% gain, the 1SQ proves to be a very stable drone and a good one for learning how to fly or alternatively a drone for performing easy hovering without over-controlling. You can perform flips with the 1SQ at a gain of 38% and it is agile and fully capable of this.

In order for you to flip the Helimax 1 SQ you need to quickly apply throttle and then push forward on the elevator. Just as soon as you push forward, you need to drop the throttle to zero, this will kill the lift and then allow your drone to flip. As soon as your drone rolls, you need to apply the throttle to stabilize it.

Doing the flip with the drone requires some experience, as such, it will take time before you execute them more skillfully. It is good to note that the quicker you release the combo, the tighter the flip will be with a minimal loss of the altitude you are at.

Unique features

The Helimax 1QS quad stands out due to some of the following features:

• It has a built-in mini digital camera that will let you shoot and record aerial photos and videos with the help of a transmitter activated ON and OFF buttons. The RTF model is also capable of taking still photos
• Each motor pod is illuminated thanks to the LED light and this could create an exciting flying experience for you in the dark
• 4 independently controlled motor blades make this drone easy to fly indoors as well as outdoors in times of light winds
• The drone has a TAGS-FX Sensor Fusion Stabilization system with a 3-axis gyro and 3-axis accelerometer to help you in correcting any drift or any unwanted movement in roll, yaw or pitch flips
• A Helimax TX460-6 channel 2.4GHz radio which has beginner and expert modes
• Molded plastic and composite parts for high durability

Value for money and the warranty

This drone is valued at $129.99 a price that offers a lot of a quad compared to other similar models. It is a durable beginner quadcopter drone that comes with a mini digital camera. Its stability and agility are the things that you need to appreciate and hope to benefit from such a portable drone.

The basic model goes for about $99 dollars and this doesn’t feature a camera. At such prices, you will be ripping what you sowed since the drone is commensurate to its price tag.

The manufacturers offer a 14 day period for the return of un-warranty material. The warranty period for the drone is a one year period and replacements don’t include damages occasioned by careless while flying this drone. This drone is meant for people above the age of 14 years, it is not a toy for children.

Similar models and main competitors

There are other alternatives to the Heli-max drone and these will be other beginner drones that offer the same features or those in the same price range.

Some of the notable ones include:

The Hubsan X4

This is a portable mini-quad made by Hubsan Hobby that can also fit in the palm of your hands. It has many features such as a full 4 channel 2.4GHz control, powerful micro coreless motor as well as a high capacity LiPo battery. It is a durable drone that can be able to perform flips in four ways; right, left, backward and forward, there is also a stunt mode.

This drone is capable of flying both indoors and outdoors thanks to the 6-axis flight control system as well as adjustable gyro sensitivity, and you can find out much more about it in our Hubsan X4 review.

It is among the best beginner drones below the $100 price tag going for only $55. It has a battery that is able to give it a flight time of about 7 minutes and it can be recharged for about 40 minutes. The Hubsan X4 also has a 0.3 MP camera and a video recording module, however, the camera is not controlled by the RC unit.

The Hubsan X4 is priced lower than the Heli-max 1QS but its camera is of a lower quality and it also has a shorter flight time. They are both light and flexible but the Heli-max is more agile, and preferable if you can afford it.

Like this product? Then you can buy it on Amazon.

The UDI RC U818A 2.4GHz 4 RC drone

This drone has been designed by UDIRC, a Chinese company and it has a wide acclaim on the internet with a remarkable number of reviewers giving it a rating of 5 stars. The limitations of this drone are its camera as well as its media management. You will be exposed and able to use only two flying modes, fast and faster.

Most reviewers claim that is a sturdy drone and it can be a good drone for beginners who are learning to fly quads. You can get much more information on this model by reading our UDI U818 review.

It has a flight time of about 6-9 minutes and the controller distance is up to 30 meters. Its LiPo battery takes about 2 hours to charge and you will definitely need an extra battery to keep flying for long. An undoing for this drone is that the videos can only be viewed on a Mac.

Compared to the Heli-max 1QS it is cheaper with a longer controller range but the latter has a better camera, a long flight time and the battery is also able to charge in only 45 minutes to an hour.

If you think that this product could be useful for you, then you can check its price on Amazon.

Overview

The drone is designed to offer flight modes both for beginners and experts. Though the Heli-max 1QS comes with an inbuilt camera it is pretty difficult to use it since there is no button that indicates whether it is recording or taking a photo.

Pros:

• Unique night flying thanks to the LED lights
• You can fly it both indoors and outdoors
• There are flexible modes for both beginners and experts
• An affordable price

Cos:

• It has a micro camera that is difficult to control
• Has a limited battery flying time

This is generally an affordable mini-quadcopter that is appropriate for a beginner drone pilot.