New to R/C heli's

[ih8modem]

My adoring wife presented me with a nice box of goodies this fine day. She knows I have been looking at R/C heli's for a while, and so decided to get me something to play with.

Kit delivered today was an E-Flite Blade 400 with DX6i radio. She also got a nice aluminium case and toolkit.

Of course I unpacked it , charged it, and got it spinning my rotors (in more ways than one) in no time. Unfortunately I never got the <insert description as appropriate> to actually let it get airborne. Instead I decided to start looking for advice. That leads me here.

Since reading the forums here, I have ordered the Phoenix Flight sim software kit, as from what I can see it is highly rated and supports both my heli and the Radio.

I also see that venturing into the fair UK weather with my 400 as a complete novice is bound to end in tears. Both of frustration and sadness after I destroy my prized possession. As a result, I plan to do the following :

1 - Join the BMFA
2 - Join a club locally (I live in Waterlooville, any suggestions for a club welcome, all the ones I can find appear to not be taking new members - rather silly I think, especially newbies with money to burn.)
3 - Purchase a E-Flite Blade CX2 to first learn with - with a sub-intention of passing it to my better half once I progress to the 400.

If there are any other suggestions as to what I should be doing next, I will take all advice seriously. I am an ex private pilot (have held my PPL for a number of years, but it is expired for the past 9 years - moving country will take precedence over a lot of things....)

I am also an avid flight simmer, with flight sim kit worth quite a bit of do$h too. Whenever I find a hobby I seem to end up spending insane cash on it, and by the looks of it, R/C Heli's is not going to be any different. I'm not a braggart or anything, and reading my post it seems as if it might come accross as such. Its just that I build up my kit over a long time, but I am not scared to invest in something that will bring me enjoyment for a long time to come.

Perhaps someday, a nitro based Heli is in my destiny.


Looking forward to all your replies.

[Mikee]

Welcome Matey

It's a good start and Phoenix will put you on the right road to getting that heli flying.. the blade cx2 is a good option too as it hone your orientation skills.. Nitro is easier after flying the twicthy little heli's

Im in Bournemouth so can't really give advise on a local club to you to join

Enjoy your new found hobby and remember bite sized bits in heli flying.. there's no rush and when you crash and you will at some point.. learn from that error and move on.. Your gonna love Nitro's when your ready

it's probally the hardest RC hobby in the world.. but the most satisfying when you can do it

Read all forums and broaden you base knowlege on you heli and heli's in general,, here's another good site in the US
http://www.helifreak.com/

Mikee

[Bigbellypopper]

Welcome

Hello Mate, and welcome to the hobby and the forum.

It would appear that we are virtual neighbours, as I live in Cowplain It sounds like you did the right thing by not trying to get your blade airbourne, as like you say, it would have likely ended in tears!

Which clubs have you tried to join? - I am a member of Alton Model Flying club, which I know is closed to new members at present , and also Hayling Heli's which I am not sure about the member status.

If you need any help or advice, drop me a PM and I will give you my telephone number.

Cheers
Russ

[Mikee]

Hello Mate, and welcome to the hobby and the forum.



If you need any help or advice, drop me a PM and I will give you my telephone number.

Cheers
Russ

Now that's what heli's are about... good friends and mutual respect

Nice one Bigbellypopper

[Sieze2]

I have a blade cx2 and love it, but don't buy one just becuase others find they are fun. Seriously phoenix is the most important thing to get. The 400 superceeds anything you will learn on the cx2, so don't bother unless you like a quick flight around the garden like I do !

[Biggles]

Don't forget your training undercarriage (if you haven't already got some).

[Mikee]

Don't forget your training undercarriage (if you haven't already got some).

Money well spent if your at all unsure.. but get them off as soon as you can...

[flatspins]

Hi,
The Blade 400 is a cracking little heli,
Get a training undercarriage for it, will stop you wrecking it in half a nano second.
Spend at least half an hour on the sim every day and you will be well on your way.
Looks like you have local help which is great, get into a club and you should find all the help you need.

The Blade has 1 failing, the tail servo isn`t great.
It doesn`t hold very well, has a slow wag, and kicks out when you give it a big stab of power.

Easily rectified, change the servo for a Futaba 3153, and all will be fabulous
Best £25 you will spend on it.

All in all, sounds like you are going the right way about things.

It`s a really fun hobby.
Enjoy it.
We all do

Any advice you need you will find here,
Got to be the friendliest forum in the world.

[ih8modem]

Hello Mate, and welcome to the hobby and the forum.

It would appear that we are virtual neighbours, as I live in Cowplain It sounds like you did the right thing by not trying to get your blade airbourne, as like you say, it would have likely ended in tears!

Which clubs have you tried to join? - I am a member of Alton Model Flying club, which I know is closed to new members at present , and also Hayling Heli's which I am not sure about the member status.

If you need any help or advice, drop me a PM and I will give you my telephone number.

Cheers
Russ

Thanks for the reply, I have checked Hayling Heli's as well as Alton, both are closed to new members.

What are the rules in this area for flying in parks? We fall under Easthants District council but there is nothing related on their website. If I can't get a club my only other alternative is to walk down to the park and practice there, as my garden is a little too small.

[Schubeed00]

I have a blade cx2 and love it, but don't buy one just becuase others find they are fun. Seriously phoenix is the most important thing to get. The 400 superceeds anything you will learn on the cx2, so don't bother unless you like a quick flight around the garden like I do !

Being days away from Buying Pheonix and a CX2 I am curious how many other people have this opinion.

I really ultimately want to get outside to fly as I have little indoor space so before I buy the CX2 do many of you have the opinion to spend some serious time on Phoenix then buy a Blade 400 or similar and forget the CX2??

[Sesame]

The CX2 isn't happy in wind, its a contra heli that is expremely stable and easy to fly, It would teach you the inputs in the real world. However there are going to be very few days in our wonderful british climate where it is easily flyable.

They do require a little space to be able to get the best from them if your just running them in a normal sized living room etc. it can be a little tight for the learner, and even though blades are not that expensive the frustration of keep breaking them can be really annoying.

The Phoenix sim is excellent nd I would whole heartedly recommend getting that. now to control it you are going to need a Transmitter, if you go for the CX2 the tranmitter can be used on Phoenix. If you decide against the cx2 then you need to decide which heli will be your next investment, if its something like the blade 400 again that comes with a decent radio which can be used. but if your going to go for something else such as a T-Rex electric or another make in IC then your going to need a Transmitter.

If you think this is the route then, again the choice 35Mhz or 2.4Gig, well their are loads of different transmitters all at different prices and the majority if not all can be compatible with Phoenix. plus the TX is one part you are definately going to need. whether its comming as part of a package or as a seperate item.

[rombonie]

Hello and welcome

Sounds like your on the right track to me.

I did it with a medevac.

Have fun and keep asking the questions and keep us posted on progress.

See you on phoenix when you get it

[pompeyjohn]

Being days away from Buying Pheonix and a CX2 I am curious how many other people have this opinion.

I really ultimately want to get outside to fly as I have little indoor space so before I buy the CX2 do many of you have the opinion to spend some serious time on Phoenix then buy a Blade 400 or similar and forget the CX2??

Hello, welcome to the board

I'd say that if you are certain that you will be in this hobby for sometime then skip the CX2 and just get phoenix.

Whilst the CX2 will give you quite a bit of fun in the house - and you'll be spending time with something in the air in front of you - it will teach you little more than throttle control and orientation.

Phoenix can teach you much more.

[Buccaneer]

Welcome to the hobby mate

[Ade_Law]

i talked to one of the guys at hayling and they are full too.

Ade