Yet another newbie looking for help moving from a basic co-ax to "proper" heli's...

[tomatwalden]

This video should give you some idea of range for 2.4Ghz. In reality, it depends on the transmitter power, and the reciever setup. As others have said, the mSRX will be a pinprick in the sky before it's out of range ... but for a laugh, here's a Blade 350QX quadcopter being flown QUITE high!

[uiron]

I don't know, if you want to be completely safe money-wise, I'd get a used radio and a used heli, for a used heli/radio price; if you don't get "hooked", you can always sell that with minimal losses. Your budget barely allows a decent computerized radio. I don't want to call you unrealistic, I, too, went through the stage of "I liked this toy coax - hell, I can afford to spend a large amount of money for something really cool, like, £100 worth" - but to really get a taste of the hobby you'd be looking to at least 200 (a decent micro + a decent radio + a decent simulator), and that's only a taste of what collective pitch and full-size radio feels like. Larger models, starting with 323mm/360mm class, is a completely new feel again, both build-wise and flying-wize, as they use much more capable flybarless units, tail hold is much better, handle vibrations better, have more power, etc etc.

Of course, going with a "real" model (450, 550 or 600 + class) is another avenue for bigger budgets. I, too, learned on a micro (mCPx), it's awesome to master basic orientations, loops, funnels. Just one suggestion - there comes a time when you start feeling that your micro lacks "a little bit of power", "a little bit of precision", etc, and this is where a lot of people, including me, start a never-ending upgrade path. It's then a signal that it's much more worthwhile to just get a bigger heli

[ltaylor88]

Lol I just had a good think how far that is and I may of exagerated slightly. I can see it to the length of the footy pitch but iv took it twich that but had to hit thottle hold as it was starting to disapear but I still had signal

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[proffalken]

I don't know, if you want to be completely safe money-wise, I'd get a used radio and a used heli, for a used heli/radio price; if you don't get "hooked", you can always sell that with minimal losses. Your budget barely allows a decent computerized radio. I don't want to call you unrealistic, I, too, went through the stage of "I liked this toy coax - hell, I can afford to spend a large amount of money for something really cool, like, £100 worth" - but to really get a taste of the hobby you'd be looking to at least 200 (a decent micro + a decent radio + a decent simulator), and that's only a taste of what collective pitch and full-size radio feels like. Larger models, starting with 323mm/360mm class, is a completely new feel again, both build-wise and flying-wize, as they use much more capable flybarless units, tail hold is much better, handle vibrations better, have more power, etc etc.

Of course, going with a "real" model (450, 550 or 600 + class) is another avenue for bigger budgets. I, too, learned on a micro (mCPx), it's awesome to master basic orientations, loops, funnels. Just one suggestion - there comes a time when you start feeling that your micro lacks "a little bit of power", "a little bit of precision", etc, and this is where a lot of people, including me, start a never-ending upgrade path. It's then a signal that it's much more worthwhile to just get a bigger heli

Heh, I recognise that pattern only too well - I went from the onld "analog" model railways to full computer control with sound installed on my locos in the space of 6 months - that cost a reasonable amount...

Then we had a third daughter about 12 weeks ago and it's quite clear that I won't be able to get near my trains much for about 5 years because it's directly above her bed in the loft (the lof tis above her bed, not that her bed is in the loft ) - Helis tend not to fly too well in lofts and I can take them to work to keep me amused during a lunch break...

Reading around here and various other websites, I think CP might be a step too far for me at the moment, although I take your comment about the computerised radio.

I think the plan at the moment will be:

Buy a MSRx (FP)
Once I can fly it with the included remote, look at buying a second-hand DX 6i or similar
Once I get bored of the MSRx (which will probably take me a long time - I still love my little co-ax!) make a decision on whether to move to CP or not
If I get really, really, really good and I have loads of spare income (i.e. in about 10 or 20 years!), move to a nitro-heli, because short battery life really winds me up!

Thanks,

Matt

[tomatwalden]

....

I think the plan at the moment will be:

Buy a MSRx (FP)
Once I can fly it with the included remote, look at buying a second-hand DX 6i or similar
Once I get bored of the MSRx (which will probably take me a long time - I still love my little co-ax!) make a decision on whether to move to CP or not
If I get really, really, really good and I have loads of spare income (i.e. in about 10 or 20 years!), move to a nitro-heli, because short battery life really winds me up!

Thanks,

Matt

A sound plan! As with anything, there's a trade off between going fixed pitch early only, progressing quickly, but then needing to upgrade ... versus ... going CP right from the start, but probably crashing a lot, getting frustrated, progressing more slowly ... but you've skipped FP! Neither is right or wrong, just different. Personally, I started with FP and I'm glad I did.

As for battery life - remember once you move beyond those silly co-ax helis, the batteries are removable. So you normally have a good stash of them, all pre-charged and ready to go. I fly electric only and take about 10 LIPOs (of various configs) to the field which lasts me most of the day - usually with only a few field re-charges.

[tomatwalden]

..
If I get really, really, really good and I have loads of spare income (i.e. in about 10 or 20 years!), ..

Thanks,

Matt

Don't count on those timescales! I started with my first fixed pitch in May 2012. I don't want to even think about how much money I've spent in that time, but you can guestimate from my sig below!

[uiron]

get CP heli. no excuses!
and I really doubt about 10 year timeline. I give you one season max, and you'll be hungry for more!

[proffalken]

Don't count on those timescales! I started with my first fixed pitch in May 2012. I don't want to even think about how much money I've spent in that time, but you can guestimate from my sig below!

get CP heli. no excuses!
and I really doubt about 10 year timeline. I give you one season max, and you'll be hungry for more!

LOL, I don't doubt I'll *want* to spend money in the next 12 months on a very expensive helicopter, but having just bought our own house (which needs an extension adding before next summer!) and with three daughters, having that money available is a completely different matter...

Matt

[proffalken]

A sound plan! As with anything, there's a trade off between going fixed pitch early only, progressing quickly, but then needing to upgrade ... versus ... going CP right from the start, but probably crashing a lot, getting frustrated, progressing more slowly ... but you've skipped FP! Neither is right or wrong, just different. Personally, I started with FP and I'm glad I did.

As for battery life - remember once you move beyond those silly co-ax helis, the batteries are removable. So you normally have a good stash of them, all pre-charged and ready to go. I fly electric only and take about 10 LIPOs (of various configs) to the field which lasts me most of the day - usually with only a few field re-charges.

Ah, ok, so I can buy mutiple batteries for the MSRx and just swap them in and out? Awesome.

Any idea what the life of a battery is roughly (I'm assuming it's based on what you're doing whilst in flight) and what the charging times might be?

Matt

[tomatwalden]

Ah, ok, so I can buy mutiple batteries for the MSRx and just swap them in and out? Awesome.

Any idea what the life of a battery is roughly (I'm assuming it's based on what you're doing whilst in flight) and what the charging times might be?

Matt

It depends on your flying style. For the big helis, some can get about 7-8 mins at low head speeds and gentle flight. The banzai 3D flyers get about 3.5 mins. I set my timer on most of my helis for about 4 mins, which leaves about 30-40% charge left in them. From there, they recharge in about 30-40 mins at 1C charge rate. For the little micros, I tend to charge at 2C rate, so can get then turned around quicker.

Lithium Polymer (LIPO) batteries are best kept about 20% charge, otherwise they puff and degrade. Aim for 5 mins a battery with an msrX and you should be about right. Each battery should cost you about £3 each depending on how well you shop around (ps. check out RCFerret : Ferreting for your parts ).

The next thing most people buy after a while with the RTF packages (which come with a basic charger), is a more advanced charging setup that allow for parallel charging.

Take a look at : Understanding RC LiPo Batteries and
Understanding RC Battery Chargers

[Varelco]

Bets are on that Proffalken will own a 700 by the summer lol

[ltaylor88]

I only started in feb as i got offerd a new RTF trex 450 clone for £50 and that was it now iv got all thats in my sig plus others iv mashed and iv had a few quads as well but flogged them to buy more heli's

[proffalken]

Blade msrx ordered from kings Lynn models this morning, I'll let you all know when it arrives.

[Ritchieme]

It will be completely different the the coax so be prepared

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[Mike Sanders]

Blade msrx ordered

Well done. Welcome to the money pit.

Please let us know how you get on. You will be able to get any advice and information on here.