considering the hobby

[Chrisrw]

You are probably going to break stuff at first anyway, so it's almost immaterial which you choose. If you feel happier to try something a little more sedate go for the msr. If you damage it and find it starts to misbehave you can get a brand new msrx for £40 (I've seen some good secondhand on ebay go for £25) and you will already have the radio, charger and batteries.
I'm a slow learner (I have put in ALOT of time over the last two months) and haven't made any massive leaps of improvement but already feel a fixed pitch (msr or msrx) is beginning to be limited in what it can teach me now (it's still great for orientation and general physics of flying) but they are just a little two stable. I am just trying to get the hang of full CP and it's still a big jump. My budget was initially very small - but now I have the 'bug' I have had to rethink the budget limitations!
Whichever you go for you'll enjoy it!

[5hane]

Hi,
Well I have had a couple of second hand msr's as well. The both mine had a little bit of TBE (a tail-in circular motion when trying to hover) and I made one good out of them both. I quickly found the msrx much more rewarding and really once you get the hang of the take-off the msrx isn't much scarier. The problem I found with the msr is it doesn't handle crashes so well and suffers with problems due to the more complex flybar head. The msrx has been through hell (litrialy) and still flys very well. Also where I live we have a nice little heath, but there is almost always a small breeeze. The msr just wont cut through it (less powerfull motor and hindered by the flybar) by the msrx will still cope (within the limits of my abilities anyway!)
I'm no expert but my understanding of the main differnce between the msr and msrx is the fact that the msr has a 45deg flybar (and head configuration) which makes it want to always 'rest' in a hover after any input (aileron or elevator) resulting in a stable but limiting teaching tool. The msrx flys like a heli with a 90deg flybar (because it's flybarless - electronicaly stabalised buy 3 seperate gyros) and so is much closer to how a CP heli will fly. It's still very easy to control compared to the micro CP heli's - I can't fly my micro mcpx around the house (yet?) only slow hovering from one point to another) but I will happily 'fly' the msrx around the house.
I actually bought the msr's for the great 4 port chargers that they come with and the fact I got a working msr out of it was just a bonus.
If you plan to fly in the house quite a bit the 200sr is probably too big and nano cpx (I want one now too!) is probably a bit too much to start with. If you do decide to get a msr, consider the msrx as well you can even share the same batteries, chargers and controller so it really is only another £40 on top.
I'm not sure which part of Surrey you are in but if you are ever in the Kent area (Maidstone) give me a shout I would happily let you have a go of both if you wanted to see them.
I'm just getting the confidence to start flying the mcpx a bit more now - it's quite a jump from the msrx but I'm really enjoying it!
Good Luck,
Chris

Hi. That's very useful info, thank you. I'm in Guildford so a little way out from your neck of the woods, but the offer to try out your models is very kind.
I'm a sucker for reviews hence my hesitation. Everyone has differing opinions on whether to go for the msr or msr's first, and your suggestion to get the msrx over the msr has made me think again. The only reason I decided on the msr was that I want to start indoors first, and felt that the msrx might be harder to control in the space I have.

[Chrisrw]

Hi,
Well I have had a couple of second hand msr's as well. The both mine had a little bit of TBE (a tail-in circular motion when trying to hover) and I made one good out of them both. I quickly found the msrx much more rewarding and really once you get the hang of the take-off the msrx isn't much scarier. The problem I found with the msr is it doesn't handle crashes so well and suffers with problems due to the more complex flybar head. The msrx has been through hell (litrialy) and still flys very well. Also where I live we have a nice little heath, but there is almost always a small breeeze. The msr just wont cut through it (less powerfull motor and hindered by the flybar) by the msrx will still cope (within the limits of my abilities anyway!)
I'm no expert but my understanding of the main differnce between the msr and msrx is the fact that the msr has a 45deg flybar (and head configuration) which makes it want to always 'rest' in a hover after any input (aileron or elevator) resulting in a stable but limiting teaching tool. The msrx flys like a heli with a 90deg flybar (because it's flybarless - electronicaly stabalised buy 3 seperate gyros) and so is much closer to how a CP heli will fly. It's still very easy to control compared to the micro CP heli's - I can't fly my micro mcpx around the house (yet?) only slow hovering from one point to another) but I will happily 'fly' the msrx around the house.
I actually bought the msr's for the great 4 port chargers that they come with and the fact I got a working msr out of it was just a bonus.
If you plan to fly in the house quite a bit the 200sr is probably too big and nano cpx (I want one now too!) is probably a bit too much to start with. If you do decide to get a msr, consider the msrx as well you can even share the same batteries, chargers and controller so it really is only another £40 on top.
I'm not sure which part of Surrey you are in but if you are ever in the Kent area (Maidstone) give me a shout I would happily let you have a go of both if you wanted to see them.
I'm just getting the confidence to start flying the mcpx a bit more now - it's quite a jump from the msrx but I'm really enjoying it!
Good Luck,
Chris

[5hane]

Hi 5Hane,
Just a couple of thoughts from another beginner. I have only been in this hobby for a couple of months (and I'm not a quick learner!) but I have managed to pick up a few 'micro' helis secondhad from eBay. Most of my flying has been indoors I use the DX6i.
The msrx (fixed pitched, flybarless) is brilliant (imho) - it has taught me the basics of flying and I can really throw it around the house now without crashing. Yes, it took a few days to master hovering and I have replaced two frames and skids (total spend under £20) but I can use it everyday regardless of the weather and when it a very calm day I can fly it in the park and its very manageable and fun to fly. You do need to do the MM mod (google it) to make it more stable and it will be a real handfull with the stock TX (I can now use the stock Tx but the DX6i helped build my confidence).
It can be picked up new BNF for £40-£45 or another £25 you'll get the RTF. The higher capacity cells (I use the miniaviation 220mah) and can fly for over 10 mins at a time.
I also picked up a mcpx v2 and 130x (£50 for the 130x and £60 for the mcpx) secondhand and practice hovering indoors with both. I don't feel I'm ready to fly a CP heli around yet so until I feel confident enough on the sim (phoenix) I don't take them outside.
So I wouldn't have been confident on the mcpx (or 130x) without a month of flying the msrx and would have probably crashed badly and possibly given up without the help of the msrx. But if you have the time and patience to pick stuff on eBay you could have a small 'fleet' within your budget (the three heli's and TX cost around £200) and then you can dable with them all as you gain confidence. Ok, so plus extra cells and a few small spares maybe a little more but only £5 here and £10 there...
Good luck with whatever you choose and most importantly just have fun.
Chris
(I do have a spare DX6i (dsm2) which I acquired with another purchase which I was going to put on eBay (£40) if you need one)
apologies if I'm not supposed to put that in this section - just thought it might help with the budget!

Hi, thanks for your input. I'm still here and still trying to make a decision. I've been reading up on the msr and msrx and wondering if it could be worth buying one of those and the dx6i. Then I would have the transmitter to take me forwards as well as a step up heli from a coaxal to get the hang of indoors before the next step up.
Strange though that both the msr and msrx are now discontinued without a replacement of similar size and spec. Hopefully being discontinued isn't a reason to not still buy one though, seeing as spares are still easily available. Word is that the msr is a better choice than the msrx.

[5hane]

Not at all.
the most important thing with this hobby is to enjoy it and the models you spend good money on to practise with, because as each and everyone of us knows deep down, practise is the only way forward.
the reasons I've mentioned certain things here is because -
collective pitch helicopter= you will find cp heli are the most stable hence the most common type of helicopter.
computer transmitter= again most common model helicopters will need setting up with your transmitter so you have near unlimited options when choosing your next model.
throtthe hold = this switch will save you money when you crash, it stops the motor which stops the heli eating itself on the ground, if you think your going in, hit the switch and something such as the mcpx I gaurentee you can pick up and take off again as long as you hit the switch at least a foot off the grass.
start in a quiet corner in your park with the tail facing you all the time, once your comfortable start moving to the left and back again, then to the right and you'll take it from the wherever your mind wants to!
Take something like a mouse pad or a car matt to takeoff on as this will also give you a reference to hover over.
before you know it you'll be enjoying the flying as much as tinkering :-)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]78983[/ATTACH]

Some nice tips, thank you.
Im still here, but bewildered by the choices available.

[Chrisrw]

Hi 5Hane,
Just a couple of thoughts from another beginner. I have only been in this hobby for a couple of months (and I'm not a quick learner!) but I have managed to pick up a few 'micro' helis secondhad from eBay. Most of my flying has been indoors I use the DX6i.
The msrx (fixed pitched, flybarless) is brilliant (imho) - it has taught me the basics of flying and I can really throw it around the house now without crashing. Yes, it took a few days to master hovering and I have replaced two frames and skids (total spend under £20) but I can use it everyday regardless of the weather and when it a very calm day I can fly it in the park and its very manageable and fun to fly. You do need to do the MM mod (google it) to make it more stable and it will be a real handfull with the stock TX (I can now use the stock Tx but the DX6i helped build my confidence).
It can be picked up new BNF for £40-£45 or another £25 you'll get the RTF. The higher capacity cells (I use the miniaviation 220mah) and can fly for over 10 mins at a time.
I also picked up a mcpx v2 and 130x (£50 for the 130x and £60 for the mcpx) secondhand and practice hovering indoors with both. I don't feel I'm ready to fly a CP heli around yet so until I feel confident enough on the sim (phoenix) I don't take them outside.
So I wouldn't have been confident on the mcpx (or 130x) without a month of flying the msrx and would have probably crashed badly and possibly given up without the help of the msrx. But if you have the time and patience to pick stuff on eBay you could have a small 'fleet' within your budget (the three heli's and TX cost around £200) and then you can dable with them all as you gain confidence. Ok, so plus extra cells and a few small spares maybe a little more but only £5 here and £10 there...
Good luck with whatever you choose and most importantly just have fun.
Chris
(I do have a spare DX6i (dsm2) which I acquired with another purchase which I was going to put on eBay (£40) if you need one)
apologies if I'm not supposed to put that in this section - just thought it might help with the budget!

[French Paul]

So I've been reading, but the plus points for me might be the indoor practice (flat without garden) and the mentions of its durability and that if u can master it, it will stand you in goodstead for the next level. Buf then what do I know lol. Perhaps everyones now is thinking I need to just make a choice and stick with it!

Not at all.
the most important thing with this hobby is to enjoy it and the models you spend good money on to practise with, because as each and everyone of us knows deep down, practise is the only way forward.
the reasons I've mentioned certain things here is because -
collective pitch helicopter= you will find cp heli are the most stable hence the most common type of helicopter.
computer transmitter= again most common model helicopters will need setting up with your transmitter so you have near unlimited options when choosing your next model.
throtthe hold = this switch will save you money when you crash, it stops the motor which stops the heli eating itself on the ground, if you think your going in, hit the switch and something such as the mcpx I gaurentee you can pick up and take off again as long as you hit the switch at least a foot off the grass.
start in a quiet corner in your park with the tail facing you all the time, once your comfortable start moving to the left and back again, then to the right and you'll take it from the wherever your mind wants to!
Take something like a mouse pad or a car matt to takeoff on as this will also give you a reference to hover over.
before you know it you'll be enjoying the flying as much as tinkering :-)
20141126_151839.jpg

[tomatwalden]

Makes you wonder why they made it so small if its not suggested for flying in the living room.

Gardens, indoor flying @ sports halls etc. You can also fly it indoors to practise simple stuff, but unless you're a 3D god, "full-on, proper" indoor flying is a bit unrealistic with the mcpx. It's just too fast!

[highlightshadow]

Well, in heli terms 'indoor' means sports hall or some other larger space
The problem you'll find with flying a heli in a lounge is that some kind of strange attraction force suddenly appears and you will discouver that the heli will always make a bee-line for the nearest hard-object

The Nano cpx is durable but it is a twitchy little bugger .... if you are flying it or similar over grass and you keep a finger hovered over the throttle hold switch you'll find it'll take a lot of abuse.

In a lounge, if you hit a table / chair leg you'll do damage almost certainly

[5hane]

I would be wary of a mcpx indoors unless you have lots of space.

Although they are not "dangerous" they can cause damage, easily smash your TV, cut wallpaper or worse.
You will also do a lot of damage to the heli if you fly it into a wall.

Although I could fly mine inside I won't take the risk.
Mcpx is really for small outdoor spaces

I learnt on a walkera 43b which was an awful heli bbut brilliant for learning basic hovering and orientation in a small indoor space .
Is there anything available that's like a 43b but not crap?

Makes you wonder why they made it so small if its not suggested for flying in the living room.

[tomatwalden]

..

I learnt on a walkera 43b which was an awful heli bbut brilliant for learning basic hovering and orientation in a small indoor space .
Is there anything available that's like a 43b but not crap?

Blade mSR or mSR-X

[Holst]

I would be wary of a mcpx indoors unless you have lots of space.

Although they are not "dangerous" they can cause damage, easily smash your TV, cut wallpaper or worse.
You will also do a lot of damage to the heli if you fly it into a wall.

Although I could fly mine inside I won't take the risk.
Mcpx is really for small outdoor spaces

I learnt on a walkera 43b which was an awful heli bbut brilliant for learning basic hovering and orientation in a small indoor space .
Is there anything available that's like a 43b but not crap?

[5hane]

The nano-CPX (ncpx) is different and smaller to the micro-CPX (mcpx). Smaller again. Possibly too small and twitchy.

So I've been reading, but the plus points for me might be the indoor practice (flat without garden) and the mentions of its durability and that if u can master it, it will stand you in goodstead for the next level. Buf then what do I know lol. Perhaps everyones now is thinking I need to just make a choice and stick with it!

[tomatwalden]

Sounds good.Prices look a little differant to what you qouted, but how about getting these two then:


Spektrum DX6i DSMX (Mode2) 6 Ch Tx only [DX6ITXONLY] - £84.99 : TJD Models


Blade Nano CP X BNF [BLH3380] - £67.99 : TJD Models

The nano-CPX (ncpx) is different and smaller to the micro-CPX (mcpx). Smaller again. Possibly too small and twitchy.

[5hane]

Sounds good.Prices look a little differant to what you qouted, but how about getting these two then:


Spektrum DX6i DSMX (Mode2) 6 Ch Tx only [DX6ITXONLY] - £84.99 : TJD Models


Blade Nano CP X BNF [BLH3380] - £67.99 : TJD Models

If your really set on the 200 the 120sr isn't really that bad for less than half the cost and still fixed pitch, I think you will learn a lot more from the mcpx than a bigger heli as building them is a bit of a Job with no experience, the 450's are the best next step up but are a heck of a lot more dangerous and any crash will see something broken and will be needing a rebuild plus setup.
If you smash the mcpx hard, you've probably cracked the canopy,at worst the skids,maybe a tail rotor.
ive smashed various mcpx's hundreds of times learning new tricks/orientations and spent no more than £40 in spares such as the above and a couple of tail booms, I've probably spent that in batteries though so I can have a few hours of fun!
yes they are a bit quicker than a 200srx but I found that I learnt quicker for it.
if you really want a go for not much, the nano cpx as mentioned is 79.99 at tjd models with batteries,charger and a dx4 you could sell on later for £30, a new dx6i is £70 so you could swap transmitters and still buy an mcpx all for less than £200.
See, it doesn't have to be expensive