Newbie - Hello To All

[bantu]

Let me start off with a big thank you to all who've taken the time to reply to my request for information.

Decision now made: I need to levitate before I can fly; here's the set up I'm decided on:

Blade CX3 bind 'n' fly
Spektrum DX6i
Phoenix

I'm going to take it from there, but with one eye on the future I'll still be on the look out for a Blade 400.

Previous to joining this forum I had been offered some advice from an American colleague (big-time RC fanatic) who swore by Gohbee and had offered to buy, build and ship to UK a Phazor 600 for me from this site here, but it seems that Gohbee are not so big in the UK as they are in the USA and realised that spare parts would be a nightmare. But, he shall now be shipping me a CX3 which will be waiting for me when I get back to the UK next Thursday.

Without the advice on here I think I would have jumped straight in at the deep end and all would have ended in tears, so thanks again to all. The only advice I'm unable to take onboard (for the moment) is to join a club: as far as I know there are no clubs close to my UK home town - Lossiemouth. But you guys have came up trumps with information, so if anybody knows of a club - or enthusiast willing to offer help in the North of Scotland then please let me know.

As for my work location: I'm pretty sure there is nothing in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo.

[heliTV]

Hi Bantu

I reckon that's a good choice to start with!

The DX6i and Phoenix will be a great start and won't lose much money if you decide its not for you. If you do then its an ideal way of "trying" a few CP helis to see which you like. Yes, the real thing is different, but the sim will give you some idea of the handling of the different models...

The CX3 is brand new and should be better than the CX2 as it has a heading hold gyro so should avoid the tail drift that all contras experience as the battery runs down.

All the best

Graham

[bantu]

Graham:

I must be off my head: I bought dipsta's set up last night. I did say I was on the look out for a blade 400 and up it came within the hour. I am not under any illusions as to how easy it will be and will be spending lots of hours on the phoenix before attempting anything with the real thing. You only have to read a very small percentage of posts on here by seasoned pros to realise that the venture I'm away to embark on will be anythng but a walk in the park.

Thanks again - see my last post on dipsta's thread where you get a mention.

[brin]

good luck with your new venture mate as with everything the more you practice the better you get keep posting to let us know how you get on

[heliTV]

Graham:

I must be off my head: I bought dipsta's set up last night. I did say I was on the look out for a blade 400 and up it came within the hour. I am not under any illusions as to how easy it will be and will be spending lots of hours on the phoenix before attempting anything with the real thing. You only have to read a very small percentage of posts on here by seasoned pros to realise that the venture I'm away to embark on will be anythng but a walk in the park.

Thanks again - see my last post on dipsta's thread where you get a mention.

I saw the other thread and thanks for the mention...

That seemed a good deal from Dipsta so you were probably right to go for it, despite my last post. To start with, I'd suggest leaving the Blade in the box and having a good go on Phoenix. You'll probably find it's impossible to start with (I did) and have a go at some of the contras (CX2 etc) which are much easier.

It may be that you get an mCX bind-n-fly which will work fine with your new DX6i to get some "real" experience before getting the 400 out... That siad, if enthusiasm gets the better of you, have a look at http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

Any problems, remember Boggy is the B400 god but there's a few of us on here that have them!!

Best of luck

Graham

[0h5h1t]

ahh the heli bug has bitten you deep Bantu.. lol

welcome to the hobby, long may you enjoy it.

[bantu]

ahh the heli bug has bitten you deep Bantu.. lol

welcome to the hobby, long may you enjoy it.

Sure has. Thanks for the words of encouragement - I fear I may need them.

[bantu]

good luck with your new venture mate as with everything the more you practice the better you get keep posting to let us know how you get on

I surely will. The one message that keeps coming back is that of support on here. Thanks again.

[bantu]

I saw the other thread and thanks for the mention...

That seemed a good deal from Dipsta so you were probably right to go for it, despite my last post. To start with, I'd suggest leaving the Blade in the box and having a good go on Phoenix. You'll probably find it's impossible to start with (I did) and have a go at some of the contras (CX2 etc) which are much easier.

It may be that you get an mCX bind-n-fly which will work fine with your new DX6i to get some "real" experience before getting the 400 out... That siad, if enthusiasm gets the better of you, have a look at http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

Any problems, remember Boggy is the B400 god but there's a few of us on here that have them!!

Best of luck

Graham

I respect the words of wisdom; stay in the box she will. I'll have a search for Boggy's posts and do as much homework as I can before attempting anything bold.

[heliTV]

I respect the words of wisdom; stay in the box she will. I'll have a search for Boggy's posts and do as much homework as I can before attempting anything bold.

Good man!!

Take it slowly and enjoy it....

[machasm]

Hi Bantu,
Its great to see your enthusiasm for the hobby. Might I make a suggestion? I think the 400 is a great heli as an introduction to CP (collective pitch) helis BUT it can be quite a handful.
The good thing is that it comes with a DX6i which is good enough to get you going with any 6 channel heli (Trex 450, 500 etc).
The added advantage of owning the DX6i is that you can now get a MCX bind'n'fly version. The reason I am suggesting this is that I think that the mcx is a great way to learn all the upright orientations and will give you loads of fun to fly indoors yet still be able to take a few knocks without breaking.
Leave the 400 alone until you have mastered hovering nose-in with the mcx. You will stand more of a chance of keeping the 400 airborne that way.
Oh yeah, and practise, practise, practise on the sim as well.
Adrian.

[bantu]

Oh yes, what started off as a secret Santa laugh has grown arms, legs and rotor blades in just a very short space of time. I'm chomping at the bit to get home to the UK next week and get on the sim; I just hope that my co-ordination levels are at even just a small percentage of my enthusiasm.

I'm not the only one: my 2 year old boy is asking me on the phone to "fly copter Dad". I've sent some youtube links to the Missus and she tells me he sits at the PC goggle-eyed for as long as she will let him. It's safe to say this has all the symptoms of an addiction - the site is very well named.

And yes, I'm on the look out for an mcx, I appreciate that this will set me in the right direction.

I’ve decided on the advice of zoombolt and heliTV (thanks to both) to go down the Radd’s school of rotary flight route. I’ve been reading about his techniques and success stories; I just hope I can add to the success story list.

[heliTV]

Hi Bantu
This may be obvious, and sorry if it is, but but please keep the little 'un well away from the B400 when you start flying. He may not appeciate that these things are dangerous and you will be concentrating too hard on keeping the heli flying to keep an eye on him too...

My kids started watching through a window and they're 15 and 13!!

[bantu]

I will do as advised, any words of advice are appreciated.