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**tiddler** · 24-09-2009, 04:07 PM

Hi col,
Welcome to the forum

I too am fairly new to rc helis, and your right it does get you hooked. Before you know it, you'll have a little fleet of your own

The mXC is an excellent first heli and I think that even some of the most experienced pilots here have one and enjoy buzzing them round indoors. The new mSR is a good next step as well.

If you want to move on to single rotor helis in a slightly bigger way then I can highly recommend the Phoenix rc simulator as an excellent learning tool, is very realistic and will teach you most of the basics to help get you in the air.

Hope you enjoy your new hobby

**col** · 24-09-2009, 04:52 PM

What controller do you use with the Phoenix RC sim?
I notice they don't supply a controller and they don't support any of the USB transmitters that are available. I think I could get an adaptor for the transmitter I got with my 4#3B but I don't want to have to run it on battery power! That could really add up as I expect to spent a lot of time using the sim.

**tiddler** · 24-09-2009, 05:12 PM

I use my LP5DSM tx that came with my E-flite CX3

Unfortunately most Walkera transmitters wont work with Phoenix I'm afraid

**col** · 26-09-2009, 09:48 PM

Update: It's only a few days later and I'm sad to say that both of my birds are down.

I persisted with the 4#3B and was stoked when I managed to keep it airborn for all of about 5 seconds. Unfortunately I then over corrected when I got near the wall and ended up coming down hard on the tail. The tail boom snapped off right near the tail rotor. The next day I also managed to put my mCX into the wall and broke off the ball joint on the top rotor blade. That'll teach me not to show off while showing a friend.

Looks like I'm grounded for the next week or two while wait for the spares to arrive.

Back to the simulator

**Hangar-7** · 30-09-2009, 11:16 AM

Welcome Col to this friendly RCHA forum

You have been bitten by the bug of flying heli and I bet it will now stay with you for the rest of your life.

The only point I'd make is that do your research, ask questions in this forum before buying your next heli. That way you could save lots of cash which I have done and not waste cash buying helis/ parts that are un-necessary. And be aware this hobby is a money pit.

...having said that ...buz you get compares with nothing... it is the pinnacle... enjoy flying

**Mart61** · 30-09-2009, 12:11 PM

Hi Col and welcome to the forum. What a great opening post! It encapsulates the way most of us feel about this hobby, especially in our early days (not that I'm far off that point now).

As far as bring grounded is concerned, Fast Lad carries a good range of mCX spares and, if you order what you need today, there's a great chance you'll have the parts in your hand tomorrow. I can't speak of the 4#3b tho as I'm not sure on parts supply for those.

**Holst** · 30-09-2009, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by col View Post

Update: It's only a few days later and I'm sad to say that both of my birds are down.

I persisted with the 4#3B and was stoked when I managed to keep it airborn for all of about 5 seconds. Unfortunately I then over corrected when I got near the wall and ended up coming down hard on the tail. The tail boom snapped off right near the tail rotor. The next day I also managed to put my mCX into the wall and broke off the ball joint on the top rotor blade. That'll teach me not to show off while showing a friend.

Looks like I'm grounded for the next week or two while wait for the spares to arrive.

Back to the simulator

PM me you address and I will send you an unbreakable tail boom.
I had the same problem with my 4#3B and I replaced the hollow rod with a solid one and routed the wires around the outside of the boom.
The solid rod is much much stronger.

The 4#3B is a great heli to learn on, but you need to get it setup correctly.
If you can fly the 4#3B you can fly anything

so dont give up on it.

**col** · 30-09-2009, 02:38 PM

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Hangar-7 - I'm already wanting to go buy myself a BNF MSR but I've decided to wait at least a few weeks before I offload any more cash. You're right I probably should have done more research before jumping in and ordering the 4#3B. I'll definitely be doing more research before I buy again.

Mart61 - I've already ordered the spares for both helis. Unfortunately the 4#3B parts are coming from HK which will take awhile but I order the MCX bits from sussex model centre (where I purchased it originally) and I'm hoping they'll be waiting for me when I get home. I'm also getting a some training gear for the 4#3B which I hope will save me from excessive repair while I try to get it setup and hover.

Holst - Thanks for the offer of the 'unbreakable tail boom' I'll take you up on the for sure. I'm PM you my address later today. THANKS!
I still need to make several changes to get it to balance properly. Last night I did the reverse battery tray mod I found here. Seems to have helped A LOT but it's STILL too heavy in the front.

Thanks again for all the assistance and encouragement. It'll be nice when I have enough knowledge to be able to contribute something myself. :-)

cheers

**Holst** · 30-09-2009, 05:00 PM

With the 4#3B the most important things are getting it to ballance properly and pointing the flybar paddels upwards slightly.

The gyro on the tail isnt great so you need to get used to holding some rudder all the time. Once you can keep it pointing away from you your MCX skills should help you to keep it in a hover.

The only other advise is to cut the throttle when you feel like there is a 50% or greater chance of crashing. That way you are unlikely to break anything if the motors are off.

I practiced in my bedroom hovering over the bed, if your crashing onto something soft you wont break anything (I dont know how many crashes ive had with mine but probably over 100)

**col** · 30-09-2009, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by Holst View Post

With the 4#3B the most important things are getting it to ballance properly and pointing the flybar paddels upwards slightly.

This is going to show how much of a newbie I am but when you say 'pointing the flybar paddles upwards slightly' do you mean the front edge or back edge? I assume you mean the front.

**Holst** · 30-09-2009, 05:11 PM

front edge up, back edge down around 15 degrees should do it.

You can just gently twist them around, you dont need to be exact on the angle just make sure they are the same on both sides.

**Hangar-7** · 30-09-2009, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by Holst View Post

front edge up, back edge down around 15 degrees should do it.

You can just gently twist them around, you dont need to be exact on the angle just make sure they are the same on both sides.

Hi
I'm probably butting in here - to get the jargon right - front edge is "Leading edge" and back end is "Trailing edge" and that applies to all rotor blades, propellers and of course wing of an aircraft/ gliders. Hope you don't mind for correcting it but best to get the technical lingo right or else you might find others are speaking a different language.

Cheers

**col** · 30-09-2009, 10:37 PM

I don't mind at all. I need to get the lingo down and that's put me one step closer.

**disho** · 01-10-2009, 07:58 PM

hi all

hello this is my first post, cool site, im flying a raptor 50 titan, 90se, and a titan in a scale 500d fuss.

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