Beginner Blade CX2 or Quark SRB Quark

[Ras2k2]

Hello,

I started getting in to RC helis when I was around 16, I’m now 24 , I first had enough money to buy a heli when I was around 17 and bought a Raptor 30, I was told back then that this was a good starting heli and there wasn't as much choice as there is today for beginners, anyway I had the machine set up and never flew it in the 3 years I owned it, I ended up selling it never flying it once, I was working a lot at the time, doing full time college courses and the weather was poor and to throw in with all of this I simply didn't feel like I could fly it.

I know a lot of people go for simulators and I understand this is a great route to take, however this route is really not for me, I spend all my time in front of PC's as it is and I know it will cost me more in the long run but I want to learn to fly on a real machine.

ok so let’s explain my flying experience, I have had a fixed wing and crashed it 3 times, after which it was beyond repair .......... this was also supposed to be a trainer.

The only heli type thing I have ever flown are those little £20 helis from gadget stores, the only way to make this little thing even go forward was with a pin stuck in the nose.

ok so that’s my history and a very long boring read so i'll get to the actual question.

I have read the noob post and was looking into the CX2 before coming to this site, up until last week I was going to get the CX2 no questions asked, that was until I found the Hirobo SRB Quark, this machine appeals to me because it is not dual rotor, most people say it is very stable and although more expensive well worth the money. The thing that concerns me most about the quark is availability of spares, however ripmax do seem to stock these.

The advise I would like is should I get the CX2 or the Quark, or should it go CX2 >> Quark >> T-Rex. If there are other helis that are better please let me know J, planning on buying on Friday when I get paid, almost forgot might also be worth mentioning I would really like a heli that can be flown indoors as its winter and I want to start flying right away and I live close to the lakes on the top of a hill so it’s always damn windy.

In the future I want a T-Rex 450 or something around there, but I understand this isn't really a starting heli, another option was a T-Rex with heli command, but this seemed like cheating somehow , not to mention a damn expensive first heli.

Thanks for any advice

Richard

[Sesame]

Hi Richard welcome to the site.


Ive very little knowledge of the QUark apart from messing around with one in our flying field shed one wet sunday morning.

I wasn't overly impressed, as it looked to me like it was going to be just as hard as any other cp heli to fly but once you had got the hang of it then it would be very limiting and it wont be long before your paying out yet again on more kit.

The CX2 is a good stable little contra heli, I had one, but I sold it as I found it a little too big to happily fly it around my house, to give you an idea the lounge is 6mts x about 3-31/2 mts and it was a little confining. I have though just recently bought one of the blade Mcx which I think for a contra is brilliant, even more stable than the cx2 I got the bind and fly version because I use a DX7 so it was only about £50, the batteries forit are about £5 so if I was you unless you have very large rooms I would take a look at one of these. I think with a tx their about 90 something.
but again no good for outdoors in a wind.

[Ras2k2]

Thank You for the reply, just been looking those little machines up and they look interesting, was initially thinking they look very fragile but according to posts on the net they are pretty tough.

I've been thinking about the flight simulator option also and am considering it again, would it be worthwhile buying a DX7, phoenix sim and one of these little machines?, would give me the chance to use the sim while charging heli, ofc with batteries so cheap could get extra packs.

In the end as I said before I want a T-Rex and the sim would at least let me have a go with one without any real cost, I would also have the DX7 ready, and able to fly the little mcx when I wanna play with a real machine rather than a simulation

[DIJ]

I feel compelled to suggest you get some training in on a sim. I know you say you would rather not, but it would be time very well spent. I think you will find that an awful lot of flyers continue to use the sim way after they have learned how to fly (myself included) to practice new moves and also for those long winter months.

What you will find that as you progress into larger heli’s the repair costs and time starts to become a real pain. You will crash, that’s a certainty, as everyone does, but by practicing on the sim as much as possible you will progress far quicker than just by flying the real thing.

As for the CX2 or Quark dilemma, well I have a CX2 along with other nitro/electrics helis and it a good way to learn while not being expensive to repair or dangerous/intimidating to fly, something larger helis can be.

I am also thinking about getting the Quark, as I have read countless praises for it on the forums. The CX2 fly’s like all coaxials, i.e. slowly and pretty much un-flyable in any wind (I do fly mine outside on calm days which is fun) and flying it in the house is not really any good as you run out of space to do little more that hover. But it is very good for learning to hover, especially ‘nose in’.

From what I have read the Quark behaves much more like and proper heli and will tolerate light winds. It is also said to be very well made and is cheap to repair. It’s just a shame the initial cost is so high.

[Ras2k2]

read same about quark thats why I was considering that model also, I was looking for spares though and not many places seemed to stock em, quark was also tempting because as u said handles more like the bigger helis.

[DIJ]

Yeah, I really am finding it difficult not to place an order for one. I am not too worried about the spares as it seems the most common things to go are the main and tail blades, which should be ok to obtain. Plus the supply thing can only get better in time.
Its the intail outlay thats stopping me, plus the batteries are expensive for it, although I beleive you can use a flightpower lipo though, which is cheaper and flys longer.

[Ras2k2]

The initial cost of quark doesn't bother me atm as i've been gonna buy a new heli for ages and as u said all the spares that seem to be needed are main blades and tail and they come in packs of 5 for £20.

The thing that’s putting me off is the CX2 / MX2 seem a lot better for outright beginner, and yeah there are a lot of posts on the net about people using thunder power batteries or something?, cost about £30 and last longer, just fix em on with Velcro (been looking at that also cause £50 for a battery is crazy)

I am thinking about a sim also but definitely want a model I can fly straight away.

and just in case u are interested cheapest place I have seen quark so far is Slough RC £250, called em and they basically said same CX2 is easier to fly but quark is more like the bigger machines, and the build qual of quark is amazing, they also stock 'most' spares.

[DIJ]

just in case u are interested cheapest place I have seen quark so far is Slough RC £250,

Thanks for that Richard, thats good info, I have just had a look on the site and can get one for £219 without the Transmitter. I have not seen them anywhere for that price.....tempting...tempting..

They may be right about the CX being easier to learn, I cant say, but, and I am probably biased here, I think the CX is very limited. Although I have a couple of batteries for it I usual find that one flight is enough. I'm thinking I would find the Quark a 'more interesting' flyer.

I can't really say what would be best in your situation, and maybe the CX would be be a better choice to start with. Keep us informed of your progress.

[DIJ]

Update on the Quark price. I have just called Slough RC and they are saying the price has just gone up to £332.99 with TX, due to the Dollar/pound thing. Was just about to place my order

[Ras2k2]

Thats BS, should update price on the site, hmm something interesting though, you can place the order online and seen as how it is advertiesed at that price they can't do anything about it, least I think there is a law there somewhere.

**Yeah nvm they cover it on site declaration**

[DIJ]

The guy I spoke to said the web price would be changed shortly, but he couldn't let me have one for the old price. Never mind, I will wait a while longer I think.

[squeaky pete]

my mate has a quark, its a blinding little heli, you can fly it all day if you got enuff batterys, great fly, but she is abit quick and nimble for a total begginer, but i have to say the cx2 is good to, i got 1, but i agree that it is abit big for your bedroom or lounge apart from a tight figure 8 or hovering, the quark is quick enuff to punt across the room and spin back round, up to you mate, personally id get the cx2 or the mcx??? had a go one that the other day, wicked little heli!!!!
but be warned, the quark is quick so you better stock up on main blades!!!! lol!!! have a crack tho and let us know how it goes!!!!

[Kwickkwack]

Hi Richard
Welcome to RC Heliaddicts I have a CX2 and for indoor flying and getting used to orientation they are great. I cannot see the point in spending a vast ammount more on a model that essentially wont do much more than that.
If your aim is to get into helis and dont want to go the sim route then I would suggest you
1. Get CX2 and practice to understand the orintation learn nose in etc.
2. Get a 30 size heli and take some lessons with a professional on a buddy lead who will be able to explain what is going on as you are flying and make that all important save if things go wrong (thus saving you a fortune)
3. Continue to learn on you own and hone your skills with other members at a club.
Good luck

[Ras2k2]

Was just wondering, I am now consdering getting the flight sim also as someone stated its £80 and that is quickly made up in crashes, my question is I do not currently have a transmitter and I doubt the ones that come with cx2 and quark will work with it, so what is the best approach to this?

thanks

[Sneeks]

If you can afford the DX7 transmitter then I'd buy one of those or alternatively a DX6i can be bought for under £100 and will be suitable for when you progress onto larger outdoor helicopters. If you can stretch to the 7 channel transmitter then that would be my first option. Phoenix is a great sim and I agree with all advice given here for you to buy it.