Where I'm at now

[cambs flyer]

OK, I've got used to the DX6 and the new sticks while flying in Phoenix, it took a bit to get used to the feel of them but now it's second nature.

So until now I have grounded the Trex until things are on more familiar ground.

OK i'll be blunt, and not beat round the bush, I've amassed nearly 60 hours sim training now, I can lift off a 450 fly her round the field do some stupid stuff that used to make me crash bring her back under a stable hover and land, in fact compared to when I started I find flying her quite easy on the Sim, which has only fueled the urge to buy something bigger soon as the larger helis are a dream to fly if there profiles are true to real flight.

Would you say I've done all I can really do to prepare for some simple tail in hovering now, as I'd never risk the stunts I pull on the real thing just yet, and would it be fair to say there comes a point where you have to say to hell with it, I've done all I can to learn the basics if I don't do it now I'll never will

Also taking off from grass is it slightly easier than a flat surface as grass doesn't offer as much sliding effect to the nervous first timer, plus on the area I'll be practicing there's an unlimited amount of space to work on so just get her a couple of feet in the air, try and forget this is real and control her like you would on Phoenix.

Please be Joe Blunt with me, I favor the advice here beyond question.

Thanks.

[Made2Fade]

Just go for it mate, theres gotta be a day when you make the jump. As for the grass thing... its best to just get up and into the air above ground effect as quickly as possible. If you take your time too much then thats when it will slide (on concrete) or can tip over if on grass. If you have that much sim time then you will at least be able to get it into a steady hover. Thats all you'll need to do for now. You can work it from there. Hovering to the sides of you and then leading on to side on hovering and moving the heli about tail in etc. Its all just a slow progression. Which ive found unlike the simulator. This is because you arnt that bothered if you crash so you tend to try and mentally speed the learning curve/process up. Go for it mate. If the helicopter is setup correctly you'll be amazed at how stable they can be in the air.
Lee

[Tim Procter]

Would you say I've done all I can really do to prepare for some simple tail in hovering now,

In a word "yes"

I spent hours and hours doing the same and asking myself the same question "Am I ready"

That is why in one of your earlier posts I quoted the sim IS very like the real thing Wayne.

Take control and go for it.

[Kwickkwack]

One question, has the Trex been checked/test flown by any one else to ensure it hasnt got any problems with the setup, if it has been and is ok, as Lee says get it up a few feet and go for it, its all about overcoming your natural apprehension to move on and leave you comfort zone. once you have done that you will carry on until you reach the next level at which you stop feeling comfortable, again with practice you can overcome that and continue.
Go for it.

[SteveH39]

is it worth putting on a cheap set of training balls until your happy with the real hover?

[Brewber]

Yes!

No matter how much sim time you've had the very first time you lift off in the real thing is a big deal. The heli never stays still and while the sim is excellent for educating your brain to not "dumb thumb" it at this stage, you will get the level of input slightly wrong and have a couple of gently bounces.

Having been through this very route in the last 3 weeks...I definitely recommend training balls. You might outgrow them very quickly, if so, its only cost you £15-£20 in sticks rather than £50+ in crashes if you didnt have them! Mine have saved me hundreds alerady just in the 5 or 6 gentle bounces I've had (albeit my first real-life learning to hover in 15mph+ winds was a fun challenge).

Get the "balls", have someone check it over, then go for it. If you can fly around in the sim and hover etc, your brain knows what to tell the thumbs to do, so you should be ready...enough

is it worth putting on a cheap set of training balls until your happy with the real hover?

[jboweruk]

Listen to the man, I didn't get trainers for my coax's and it's cost me dear. Wish I had now.

[andylinney]

Just be re-assured that the sim is close enough to the real thing to warrant all of the time you've spent so far. The training undercarriage is a worthy buy but don't treat it as a safety blanket, they do slightly de-stabilise the heli in the air and once you take it off you'll really see the heli come alive.

It's easier to become tied into only doing what you're comfortable with at this stage but remember to keep pushing yourself. The fact is, you can already fly that helicopter if you can do it on the sim then there's no reason whatsoever why you can't do it in real life. The only thing stopping you will be the threat of a real crash, but in fairness even the crashes are quite fun.

One thing I've found to help in the move from sim to real life is to add some wind and turbulence into the sim, perfectly still days are rare in the UK (even more so up here in Scotland) so it's a mute exercise to practise in a perfectly still sim environment.

Most importantly though is that you enjoy the process, so take your time...

[jboweruk]

[quote=andylinney;116089]The only thing stopping you will be the threat of a real crash, but in fairness even the crashes are quite fun.
[quote]

Tell my wallet that, got paid friday and already all but 58 quid accounted for....

[andylinney]

'tis the threat of a wallet bashing that I was referring to, the beauty of the trex's though is that when you stuff it the next crash is free because most of the bits are two in a bag!

[jboweruk]

So is the Blade 400 similar as well? I mean compared to the Sim, as I seem to be really falling for that particular heli and when that happens with me one thing leads to another and before you know....

[cambs flyer]

Wow! thank you everyone for your time and encouragement.

I feel really excited to take flight for real now, I've overcome the different feel of the DX6 sticks, and the more I practise now on Phoenix is burning a desire to get out and do some serious practise.

Today I brought a charger and balancer plus an Align 2100mah battery

Prolux 1-3 Cell Li-Po Charger DC 12v - £16.99, Prolux 2-4 Cell Lithium Balancer, £14.99, Align 11.1V 2100Mah 20C 3D Pack £31.99, K 3mm Gold Connectors £2.99.

OK I know there not the best out there and I'll buy better a few months from now, but it'll keep me going for the time being.

I've read all the great messages here twice and now the only thing that concerns me, and I'll be honest, I haven't a clue how to take the 450 apart to replace parts when needed, and from what I hear this'll be fairly regular while you learn, I'm sure it looks worse than it really is, but all the servo arms and such look very daunting.

I think when I start building my Trex 500 later this year will be the best thing I'll ever do from a learning perspective, and boy will I need you guys then for support, as I find the prospect of build one full of excitement and fear rolled into one.

Oh well onwards and hopefully upwards, (with gentle downwards) time to get my learning show on the road.

My gear has been dispatched from Simply Trex, which I have to say has fantastic customer service and get the goods out postage free for the next day, all I need now is to solder the connectors onto the batt' and take a deep breath.

[Boggy]

sorry Wayne just picked up on this thread. as every body else says you have to do it. i'm sure you'll be fine(thats alot of hours on phoenix!!!!)
training sticks on and small hops dont run before you can walk , and soon you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!!
good luck mate

[andylinney]

the manual is a great resource when it comes to swapping parts as needed but to be fair, just take your time when repairing and it's soon really obvious what goes where. 99.9999% of setting these things up is fear of the unknown so just take it one step at a time and trust the manuals. There's also us lot here if you get stuck but the t-rex 450 is a joy to work on, my repairs (new main and feathering shafts, main gear, flybar and blades) took all of an hour while watching TV so don't stress it...

Andy

[cambs flyer]

Ron, Andy thanks a lot lot guys, most kind.

I do have a question if I may, on my 450 the motor spools up much slower than on Phoenix where the heli takes off just after the half way position, but flying the thing for real you move the throttle stick 1/4 and she spools up and starts to take off, then you move the stick a bit further up and after a second she reaches that power.

Is there anyway I can adjust Phoenix to do the same, or change the 450 to fly like Phoenix.

Thanks for any advice.