First flight, first crash

[Bazza]

Hiya chaps and chappettes

I'm Bazza, I posted on here a few days ago in another thread rather than start another 'Newbie thread' but had no replies so thought maybe I should introduce myself...

I bought a Carson Apache 4ch heli off of a RC car forum (Maxbashing) bit of an off road racer (1/8 buggies) ~ anyway I didn't read much of the instructions just wanted to play, lol much to my cost!

The heli kept going sideways on take off so I went outside, the heli took off and just kept going up and sideways, I managed to correct it somehow and dropped the throttle lower to bring the heli down, then a gust of wind came from no-where and slammed it into a brick wall

I have ordered the bits I need but I was wondering what your thoughts were on the Carson Apache? I think Colco make the very same heli but re-branded?

As I said above, this is my first heli and the take off & crash was my first flying experience LOL, my main passion is racing off road but these heli's could easily have me hooked - not sure what will happen...heli's vs off roading

Anyway, thougt I'd introduce myself and say "hi"

[Mike W]

Heya and welcome to the forum .. I used to use maxbashing site and rcextreme as well when I had a truck .. Have progressed to bigger toys now As for the heli No idea as have never seen or heard of one till now .. Carson do make some nice stuff tho ... Have fun with it and above all be safe ...

[andylinney]

Bazza, there's a fair few of us that have passed through Maxbashing on our way here - in fact a few of us still have trucks to use during downtime between flights.

It's a totally different skillset to even competitive off-roading, every flight needs to be as good as your fastest lap - otherwise the consequences are, as you've now found out, pretty dire and expensive.

Any 4 channel contra rotating helicopter in fairness is a good start, but it's pretty much limited to indoor use only as even the slightest breath of wind will shove it into the nearest solid object. Just get it fixed up an try again, oh and do have a read of the instructions as they'll have some good hints and tips in there for getting started. Most of all, enjoy it and have a good search through these forums as there's tons of fantastic information available.

Welcome,


Andy

[Bazza]

Cheers guys,

Maxbashing is quite popular then, I know some members on their who are on here but don't know their usernames...they put me in touch with the forum and you guys.

I bought the heli as it was cheapish £45 (unwanted Christmas gift) and I've alway fancied a heli

I have now read the instructions and most of the RADD website thing, now I can't wait to get the heli working (waiting on bits from RCAntics) I may have to pop to a shop to get the heli to hover straight without drifting etc as I will try adjusting the trims but feels as thought the swash plate? needs adjusting after the crash.

I know excatly what you mean when you say flying is like putting in fast consistent laps, no or little margin for error (main reason I went outside to fly, more room!)

I am already contemplating buying another heli, something like a blade etc as they seem popular, cheap spares and 2.4g radio - I will stick with the Apache (looks so cool) and see how I get on before splashing out even more on RC ~ recently bought a new buggy and a few engines/pipes etc.

Thanks for all your help and kind words...keep them coming, especially if anyone knows anything about my heli, hehe.

[Sao]

Welcome to the forum and the heli side of RC hobbies. I've also been a member of Maxbashing for a while, seems a few of us are both here and there

[Mike W]

My user name on there and rcxtreme was Harkonnen .. Been a while since I been on there as well .. Planes and helis took hold so the poor ole truck never got a chance lmao ....

[Bazza]

Not seen that username Mike, mine is 'Hyper Baz' used to have the range of Hoboa Hyper 7's, 8's & 8.5 pro uk, just bought the new Xray 808 I have been on Maxbashing for just over a year now and am into it big time, entering races all over and not doing too bad, got my trophy presentation next week (3rd place in race series).

I bought the heli for something to do of an evening when I ca't race (only race on Sundays at Fairlop Car Club, Novarossi or DRT) otherwise I'm on the forum all night talking RC.

I must say, you guys seem nice & freindly, I was expecting you lot to say my heli is pants and I should buy this that and the other costing me ££££'s , hehe

I also think that flying a heli will improve my driving, smoother smaller movements on a heli will improve my throttle delivery on the race track, well, maybe maybe not, good excuse to the misses though :lol:

[Sao]

I bought the heli for something to do of an evening when I ca't race

That heli looks ideal for cat racing or chasing

[Bazza]

That heli looks ideal for cat racing or chasing

LOL, just a typo

BTW, love the smileys on here, much better than MB!!

[Bazza]

HERE is a link to the heli I bought so you lot can comment on it

So, what are your thoughts...looking for approval, lol.

[andylinney]

Baz,

if you want us to tell you what to go and buy then there'll be hundreds of us lining up to do just that. The fact is at this point that the carson apache will serve a purpose of getting you used to the couple of extra channels and finer control inputs needed, just slamming the throttle open on a heli is fun enough but it takes a lot of practice to do it with any finesse.

There are hundreds of options of what to buy and many thousands of pounds to be spent, remember with a heli you're probably tripling the amount of servos you need, there's an absolute nessessity for a computer radio and all of the specialist starting equipment. The cost difference between racing 1/8th and Helis are quite immense but, we're a much friendlier bunch of people and even at the highest level of competition, people will help each other without question - unlike some of the 1/8th and 1/5th off road races that I used to go to where they'd put Ferrari to shame in terms of secrecy and arsey-ness (if that's even a word).

For most of us the Heli's are there to be enjoyed and watching something you've built and maintained take to the air can be massively satisfying, then learning to master it's control is another thing altogther. But all the more of a challenge - I described it to my 1/8th friends as pulling off a 10 minute backflip with a buggy and landing it on it's wheels as if nothing had happened - at least for me that's the way it seems.

There's really no need to move on from the Apache until you've mastered it completely - forwards, backwards, sideways, facing every direction and at different heights and speeds, once you're there it's shopping time!!!!

Andy

[Brian Gifford]

Baz,

i

There's really no need to move on from the Apache until you've mastered it completely - forwards, backwards, sideways, facing every direction and at different heights and speeds, once you're there it's shopping time!!!!

Andy

Baz, I'd just like to add my thoughts as a newbie to Andy's excellent answer - I've got an Esky Dauphin - very similar to yours. I'd love to go and blow a few hundred on a CP, but that's a very bad idea because a) the boss (my wife) would kill me and b) It'll take me months before I can fly the co-ax I've got properly.

Keep on flying!

[Bazza]

Cheers Andy, I know what your saying and hear you loud and clear, from what I've seen of my Apache, it doesn't seem to fly/hover like the CX2's & mCX's I've seen on youtube but I only had a breif play, left all trimswhere they were (centred) - I can't wait for the main gear set and blades to turn up so I can practise hovering just above the ground I've read a fair amount of RADDS and learnt a lot!

Another reason for fancying a mXC is I imagine they are a bit more robust than my Apache which seems flimsy, looks cool though

Many thanks fella!!!!

I have just downloaded a free flight sim and used the keyboard as although my instructions say the transmitter has a port for a sim, it doesn't it does say 'Trainer' on the back and I peeled the sticker off below that to find a round hole in the back of the transmitter case but no port that I could see - I had the transmitter apart when it arrived as the throttle lever was broke (plastic plates holding lever in placed had come off so I put it back to where it should be) I think the courier's chucked it about etc! and do not remember seeing any ports, it would have stuck out and I would have wondered what it was for.

What do the connection ports/plugs look like, usb to jst?

[andylinney]

Baz, the training port would look like anything from a 3.5mm audio jack to a 9pin din adapter - it would be VERY obvious however...

I've actually just made the mistake of doing a mock-shop so I can add my stuff to the house insurance as it stands my modest collection of RC stuff would cost just under 5k to replace from a total loss - I'm actually quite shocked...

save your cash for now - the MCx is a cracking wee machine but once you get the apache fixed it'll hover about in much the same fashion once we've talked you through trimming it... (Wayne aka Cambs Flyer is the sage of all things such so I'll bow to a knowledge greater than my own on that subject) enjoy!

[Bazza]

Baz, I'd just like to add my thoughts as a newbie to Andy's excellent answer - I've got an Esky Dauphin - very similar to yours. I'd love to go and blow a few hundred on a CP, but that's a very bad idea because a) the boss (my wife) would kill me and b) It'll take me months before I can fly the co-ax I've got properly.

Keep on flying!

Question..what's a CP?

LOL @ the boss, hehe, tell me about it

Thanks for the advice, I wouldn't buy anything until I've had another play with my heli, if I can't trim it to hover properly then I'll take it to a shop...where the temptation is to buy is immense - I would be happy if the guy in the shop could fly it OK, that way I know the heli is fine and it's me!

I'm not sure if you read or not but as the title says, I only flew it once...straight into a brick wall LOL