Hi from another newbie

[TomN]

Hello everyone. Just joined this illustrious forum and first impression is that it is very friendly and helpful.

I learnt to hover about 15+ years ago with a Concept 30. I learnt on my own with plenty of practise especially rebuilding and setting up! I got to the stage of being able to do most hovering exercises except nose in!

I am now returning to the hobby and have puchased a Hoverfly (Hirobo XBR SR on order).

The Hoverfly is an excellent training aid it feels very similar to what I remember from the Concept 30 if perhaps a shade more twitchy. It is also stunning value at the moment, everything including TX and postage for under 100 direct from Snelflight.

First flight having read all the instructions, cleared some furniture, wound up the rotor speed, added an extra blip of throttle and it is off the ground and I am hovering AND able to control it in all 4 axis! Fantastic feeling and amazing after all those years, it must be like riding a bike something you never forget. With the long winter months ahead I think this little gem is going to get a lot of use!

The XRB I am going to use to have fun and also build my confidence with the difficult manouvers I never really mastered such as nose in and slow piros. I know it will not simulate the difficulty level with a traditional model but should help with orientation and getting the right stick inputs automatic. One thing I learnt about R/C helis is that while you think about what control input is required.....you crash! I can then practise the same manouvers on the Hoverfly so come the summer I can get a larger machine with some confidence that I wont break it immediately.

I am leaning towards a 30 size electric but no doubt will be asking lots of questions on here

Sorry for the long ramble.

Regards to all

[Janek]

Welcome TomN, you'll have much fun with the XRB, and you already realise it'll not give you all the skills you need, but it does help, and it is FUN. Think about/research a heli simulator next

You'll find the XRB is very reluctant to move around in forward and backwards flight, this is due to it's built in stability, it will move, but you have to drive it more than a "real" heli.

Find out if you have any heli flyers nearby, the BMFA web site will help here, as hands on help is always beneficial. And research carefully before you decide on you next purchase, as the IC/Electric decision is not always as straight forward as it first appears

[Ade_Law]

Hi Tom,

where in somerset are you?

I am down in bournemouth we have dorset model helicopter club and i run www.flyingaid.co.uk at the same field.

if you want to come down and have a look around your more than welcome and a hours flying with me on my heli using my gear will cost you 25ukp.

Ade

[TomN]

Hi Janek and Ade

Thanks for the replies:

Janek- You are right I AM having much fun with the XRB and it DOES go into forward flight very nicely thank you.... straight into the Xmas tree! Balls everywhere and they weren't the cats. Thankfully the wife was out and order was restored before her return. Having bent/dinged 3 blades it at least gave me the chance to balance the blades when replacing them. This heli is such good fun; nice and stable but still needs to be flown when in confined spaces due to its own turbulence near objects. I find it is quite responsive and am planning to take it up the village hall later in the week for a good thrash (probably put on the more responsive paddles at the same time).

Found some very illuminating XRB threads on an American Forum with useful links. I have ordered an extra battery and extension lead (so you don't have to keep taking the canopy off to charge/change batteries) from one of these sites: www.geocities.com/rickyblaze_rc/index.html
$7 for the lead and $27 for an 850mah battery with XRB connector, shipping included! 20.15 in total seems pretty good value.

Ade- I'm about 55-60 miles from Wimborne and think 25 an hour for some real instruction and the chance to total someone else's heli excellent value 8) but of course being a consumate professional with a buddy box you aren't going to let that happen :roll:

Seriously I would love to come down when the weather warms up a bit. What do you think of the larger electrics Logo, Joker, Raptor(conversion) etc.

Regards

Tom

[Ade_Law]

anybody that knows me will tell you my thoughts on electric helis.

the small stuff doesnt really fly (other than the lama) and the big stuff is just damn expensive and generally even now, heavier than its glow powered equiverlent.

One of the "locals" has an Eolo that seems to fly nice but not had a chance to fly it properly yet.

Still cant beat a 50 size glow machine.

I get up to Warminster fairly regularly.

Ade