Absolute greenhorn looking for advice on transmitters/helicopters.

[tomatwalden]

Beginner friendly(*) collective pitch helis are basically the Blade 450Xv2 (in RTF with DX6i or Bind-n-fly) or the Align 450DFC-plus (RTF with Futaba 6j TX or Bind-to-fly).

(*) Beginner friendly in that they come pre-built and in theory test flown and ready to go. However, they are otherwise fully 3D capable machines. Unless you start looking at self-builds and expensive FBL controllers with panic mode (eg. Bavarian Demon 3SX) then no collective pitch helis have the "beginner flight modes". You can try to tame down the controls, but fundamentally a CP heli is a very different beast to fixed pitch.

Personally, I started FP and I'm glad I did. Others have started on CP so it is possible, but you would need to change your approach to learning. You'd need a simulator and a lot of patience. Expect to pay £300 to £350 for a RTF package. Average crash cost probably about £50

[m4inbrain]

Thanks for the info, as mentioned i do have (soon) a simulator, but, hm.

I start to feel a bit unsure, maybe the 200 SR X is the thing to buy. My girlfriend could fly it in beginnermode too, whereas i wouldn't trust her with, let's say, a TRex 450 - which i already read up upon quite a bit. Sad thing is, one can't get a hold of them used (the 200 SR X), which i'd like to go for - i did the same with my drifters, started used so it doesn't hurt to ruin one or two. I should've snap-bought the 450 that was in the Sale Section on here yesterday, meh.

But the 200 SR X basically would make my path: Coaxial Toy 3,5 Channel (done), FP 200 SR X and Phoenix RC, and then the CP Nano CPX. The more i think about it, the more i actually think that's a good idea. Now i need to find an affordable 200 SR X, and i can't post in the "WANTED" Section yet. Hmph.

Again, thanks for the info.

edit:

Actually, i'm wondering.. The BNF 200 SR X, would i be able to use all the features with my DX7S, or do i actually need the Tx that comes with it usually?

[gobby550x]

Nothing wrong with the 200SRX at all to learn with - it can be quite a challenge in advance mode.

I have skipped the FP route but am at a club so have a loads of help which is invaluable - have used training balls to learn hovering plus someone on a buddy box for learning how to actually fly, both of which has saved me a fortune.

You could look at a Blade 300X which is CP and smaller than a 450 size machine and I am sure they can be bought in RTF package or buy used - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blade-300x...item43d58b2a36

If that goes cheap enough it should leave enough to get a decent TX

[m4inbrain]

I got a DX7S, i'm not sure if by "get a decent Tx" you mean that that one's rubbish, or just missed that i bought one (said it couple of times) ^^

Sadly i live quite far away from pretty much any civilization here, so clubs etc won't be an option. I was watching that 300x as well, might be an option too, yes. I'm still wondering though if i can bind all 200 SRX functions to my DX7S?

[gobby550x]

Hi Sorry, I did read that you had a DX7 and yes you should be able to bind that to a DX7 as it has the sats fitted - normally the 300X has a BeastX fitted which can be used with a DX7.

There is nothing wrong at all with a DX7 - nice little TX, I use Specky TX on my 500 and 550

[m4inbrain]

Phew.

Watching reviews of Blade 300x and Blade 200 SR x at the moment, youtube.

[gobby550x]

Both good helis, just depends on whether or not you want to learn on FP or CP helis - no one around then my suggestion try the 200SRX first as its SAFE technology may help or at least save you a little.

[m4inbrain]

That's what i'm thinking, especially since i already bought Phoenix RC and a Blade Nano CPx, comes with my transmitter. Although there seem to be problems with the 200 SRx, specifically the tailrotor seems to kick the bucket very quick (for some right out of the box).

[whittm]

Just thought I'd chime in on how I learnt. Nothing can prepare you for a real helicopter. . In that sense the sim is useless as it can't prepare you for what it feels like as the helicopter just leaves the ground! This is where ground effect buffets the helicopter around. Also all cp helis have their rotor disc tilted at an angle when in level flight. .. less so on larger models. I'd spent months on a aim before attempting my first hovers with a blade mcpx. I duly crashed 20 time before eventually realising the best method for practising hovering was not over a soft surface like a bed duvet! There's an excellent set of videos on YouTube I eventually found. He advocated learning on a small heli such as a nano cpx using hard wood flooring which is as smooth as possible. You then begin to learn tail in. .. Not actually taking off, just sliding the heli on its skids slightly, forwards backwards side to side and diagonals.

Once mastered, you begin to gently hover at no more than one foot off the ground. You can do the same side in and finally nose in. .. Again, this is where the sim is rubbish, you'll never replicate the physics of a heli in ground effect! All you need to master cp heli hovering, is a nano cpx and the smooth floor of a living room, kitchen etc...

[m4inbrain]

That sounds like the videos i was watching, and that's what i plan to do. Im going for the 200 SRx solely because my girlfriend can fly it too, and it also is a bit refreshing to actually be able to fly something while i keep crashing and destroying the Nano CPx and my furniture.

And yes, i understand the ground effect (i played loads of actual heli sims), already experienced it on the toy (to some extend anyway) - but i have no hurry, and a supportive girlfriend with awesome coffeemaking skills, i can start slow and relaxed.

[whittm]

Ye. ..I went the so fast it's like trying to keep track of a house fly option. .. But I'd like to make a comment on what you just said. Once I worked out that I had to keep the mcpx on the ground for the first few weeks and then no higher than a foot or two off a hard smooth surface I actually caused no more damage to the heli. When crashing on smooth surfaces, these little helis just skid around and can't get a purchase on the floor to cause damage. Secondly, there's a reason cp is the one people want to learn. .. It's much harder! I forced myself to learn on the mcpx and as such. .. Because I learned on such a difficult piece of machinery my reflexes are now really quick all down to learning to continually save this microscopic pin sharp little heli. .. Before spending more money, try the ncpx... Just keep it low and tail in and learn the moves every night over and over, forward, backward, side to side and all the diagonals. .. For a whole month and then come back to us. It took me a whole year to get to the point where I could hover in all orientations. ..INVERTED.i feel anyone is capable of doing the same these days.

[gobby550x]

As I have said for learning to hover a set of training skids are a must - they will give some leeway when landing etc.

The 200SRX has a tail motor while the 300x use the BeastX to control the tail so the should have less tail issues I believe,

[whittm]

Not on an ncpx mate.

[m4inbrain]

Yeah the 300x has a shaftdriven tail rotor, the 200 SRx has a 2nd motor there. But after reading and watching tons of stuff now about the 300x, nobody is suggesting it for beginners - in fact, most people say crystalclear that it is anything but a beginners helicopter.

[whittm]

Agreed. The traditional way to learn. .. is very simple. .. The larger the heli. .. The more stable it is. So far from being scary 500 class helis are much Easierto fly. People usually learn at a club with a large helicopter with trading gear which give a larger landing area. Then your transmitter would be linked via a cable to a competent trainers transmitter. They take over if you **** up. These days you can bypass that method which took some people years just to learn to hover tail in using the sim practice and a micro heli. I would not suggest learning on anything with a belt or shaft driven tail and also I would stick to small so as not to injure yourself!