Update and Advice

[Mojo]

Hello All..

Just to update you on the state of my obsession! i mean progress! lol

Been having a great time with the mCX, and what a great and tough heli it is.. It has survived a few crashes so far without much damage (landing skids snapped but was quickly sorted with some glue). I have been learning so much and can do a few maneuvers pretty well (tail in and nose in circles, somewhere between a lazy 8s and a figure of eight, hovering in all orientations and pretty good landings (nothing smaller than a dvd case yet). I find that if i hang around in a hover for too long before landing the ground effect messes up everything

Been working on Phoenix and going through the training scenarios. I can get a good hover with pitch and roll control (a bit awol with full control) mainly because of rudder coordination but working on it! The bigger heli's are definitely a lot easier to fly than the micro ones as i have found out to my dismay.. (did fancy one of those walkera 4#3 helis)..

I've been in touch with my local model club and i'm going to have a chat with some of the members on one of their flying days (depending on the weather)..

I am so looking forward to getting a proper big heli and am considering buying one to have in front of me as a motivation to progress even faster..

So since i already have a DX6i, i was considering my options; so far i have thought about a 400 BNF or a Twister Storm (As i can use my DX6i with both of them when i install an AR6200 in the Twister).. and now a few questions have raised themselves..

1. The B400 comes with a AR6100 Rx but the one that i is usually sold with the DX6i is the Ar6200. what is the difference between them?

2. The Twister comes with a Head locking gyro installed in it, does the B400 have one of those as well, and the most important question is would that make it easier for me to control and fly the Heli?

Do you think i'm being ahead of myself here and should opt for a smaller FP for my next move up (like a HoneyBee or similar heli)? Or should i go for a cheaper RTF CP like a belt-CP, King 2 or a Century Neon?

Sorry for pouring lots of questions again and apologies for the long post..

Thanks you in advance : )

[Brian Gifford]

I'm a newbie too, so couldn't possibly advise you. Just want to say well done, mte and keep up the good work!

I look forward to finding out what you get next.

[heliTV]

Hello All..

1. The B400 comes with a AR6100 Rx but the one that i is usually sold with the DX6i is the Ar6200. what is the difference between them?
I think the 6100 is the "parkflyer" receiver - fine for small helis but not for larger models

2. The Twister comes with a Head locking gyro installed in it, does the B400 have one of those as well, and the most important question is would that make it easier for me to control and fly the Heli?
Yes, a heading hold gyro makes things a lot easier. Go and edit a Phoenix model and tick the heading hold option... The Blade 400 has a heading hold gyro.

Do you think i'm being ahead of myself here and should opt for a smaller FP for my next move up (like a HoneyBee or similar heli)? Or should i go for a cheaper RTF CP like a belt-CP, King 2 or a Century Neon?
I would go for the Blade 400, but make sure you get loads of Phoenix practice, get some training gear and tame the thing down using Boggy's settings - oh, and take it very easy to start with!!!

Answers as above!!

All the best

Graham

[Mojo]

Hi heliTv,

Thank you for the info, i will try the heading lock option and see what difference it makes to my hovering..

So an Ar6100 is all i need for the 400 size heli.. Is there any reason you prefer the B400 over the Twister Storm?

Mo

[Mojo]

Just been trawling through the forum.. It seems that this is one of the big questions around.. A Twister or a Blade!

I guess the benefit of having the blade is getting the Tx with it.. And since most parts are interchangeable there seem to be little between them.. I think what is going to differentiate between them is what is included in the package and the quality of the components..

I think i might call one of the friendly model shops tomorrow and ask about what's in the box and what's a better value for money..

And i wonder if Boggy's (The God of Blade 400's as i have found out) guide to setting up the DX6i with the 400 is valid for the Twister..

Money wise they they're quite similar (Twister+Rx) and (Blade without the Tx)..

So hopefully i'll get to make a decision soon (unless i go to the shop and one of them really catches my eye!!

[HeliNoobie]

get yourself a 50 they are far more stable

[Mojo]

Well i have just been admiring my new heli!! : ) Ended up buying Mojogoes's twister with all the kit supplied.. It was a very pleasant transaction and he was very helpful and patient explaining and going through all the upgrades and what all the bits mean : ) Cheers Mojogoes!!

I think i'll have a massive learning curve ahead of me understanding what all the bits do and how the whole thing fits together before i even try to fly it..

I guess am going to spend a lot of time with the DX6i and Boggy's setting post as well : )

Well, i am very excited and looking forward to the day i can fly it.. It looks great and hopefully will still look the same after i fly it for the first time (more like hover it)..

Off for a quick spin with the mCX!!

[machasm]

Glad your sorted.
Take your time and don't attempt to fly it before you can comfortably hover in all orientations on the sim first.
Cheers.

[heliTV]

Hi heliTv,

Thank you for the info, i will try the heading lock option and see what difference it makes to my hovering..

So an Ar6100 is all i need for the 400 size heli.. Is there any reason you prefer the B400 over the Twister Storm?

Mo

Hi Mo

Not really, I bought the Blade because I needed a radio too and it was all ready to fly. I think Horizon Hobby's aftersales and parts service is better than J Perkins if my experience with my lad's CP Gold is anything to go by... That said, if you've got a DX6i, the Storm is more or less identical...

Graham

[cjcj1949]

I ended up with the storm and phoenix. There is a big difference between flying on the sim and flying a real model for most people. Not that the sim is wrong it's just pressure. So start at the beginning with the model and just do small hops to start with. Be careful with temperature changes with the cheaper gyros. Radds method of learning is very good. Find a slippy surface and keep the heli on the ground, like in the ice scene on phoenix. Don't expect to avoid a crash, just look at it as an opportunity to find out how to put a a model together. The feathering shaft on the storm breaks easily, you might want to replace it with the 400 one. You'll soon find your confidence increasing. Flying the storm for the first time is a great feeling and that's only the start. Don't let the lipos run down too far.

Chris

[Mojo]

Hi Mo

Not really, I bought the Blade because I needed a radio too and it was all ready to fly. I think Horizon Hobby's aftersales and parts service is better than J Perkins if my experience with my lad's CP Gold is anything to go by... That said, if you've got a DX6i, the Storm is more or less identical...

Graham

Thanks Graham,

That seemed to be the general idea i got. That both heli's are almost identical and both have interchangeable parts. In a way that makes me feel a bit better as the forum has a wealth of information and very helpful members that would point me in the right direction whenever i need some help and advice with it. For a first heli (proper), i think it'll probably be all i need. I'm sure i'll learn so much from it that it'll help me with my next heli.

[Mojo]

I ended up with the storm and phoenix. There is a big difference between flying on the sim and flying a real model for most people. Not that the sim is wrong it's just pressure. So start at the beginning with the model and just do small hops to start with. Be careful with temperature changes with the cheaper gyros. Radds method of learning is very good. Find a slippy surface and keep the heli on the ground, like in the ice scene on phoenix. Don't expect to avoid a crash, just look at it as an opportunity to find out how to put a a model together. The feathering shaft on the storm breaks easily, you might want to replace it with the 400 one. You'll soon find your confidence increasing. Flying the storm for the first time is a great feeling and that's only the start. Don't let the lipos run down too far.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the advice, I was fortunate that mojogoes has put the upgrades on the Storm (Futaba Gy240 gyro, Futaba 3153 tail servo and cnc head and tail gearbox upgrades). He also installed a Trex500 landing skids, which should make landing a bit harshly a bit more forgivable (fingers crossed).

I understand completely what you mean about the pressure, i am already treating it with great care as if it is an ornamental china vase lol!! i'll be sweating with fear of breaking it the first time i attempt to hover it probably.

But as you say, it's the confidence building and practice, i felt the same with the mCX when i first got it (as it's so delicate) not that i know my limits with it i am throwing it around with no fear. I'll be trying to get to know the storm and respect what it capable of and hopefully we'll have mutual respect for each other and she'll go easy on my wallet

I have looked at RADD's pages and i like the idea of preparation and always being in control of the heli. I know it's a steep learning curve but i like the idea of taking it slow and always having the upper hand so to speak (Sh*t happens of course) but there is nothing one can do to avoid it

Mo

[cjcj1949]

You are doomed to failure of course. I started out with good intentions but somehow confidence always grows faster than ability and one day you'll think the fateful words, "This is easy", and that's when it'll happen. Still perhaps I'm wrong and you'll be able to join or probably found the I haven't crashed my heli club. You've got a good heli there thanks to mojogoes. Have you had the DX6i checked for dodgy pots? Also try to get disorientated in Phoenix and see how you handle it. Your eyes will tell you that the heli is doing one thing when your brain knows it can't be.

Chris

[Mojo]

You are doomed to failure of course. I started out with good intentions but somehow confidence always grows faster than ability and one day you'll think the fateful words, "This is easy", and that's when it'll happen. Still perhaps I'm wrong and you'll be able to join or probably found the I haven't crashed my heli club. You've got a good heli there thanks to mojogoes. Have you had the DX6i checked for dodgy pots? Also try to get disorientated in Phoenix and see how you handle it. Your eyes will tell you that the heli is doing one thing when your brain knows it can't be.

Chris

Well i'll welcome failure with open arms It's just gonna be that little bit sweeter when i eventually succeed

And to tell you the truth, i have no illusions about having no crashes, for example today while flying the little mCX i had a big crash because i was trying to get it out of smaller one, it seems she's already decided it was gonna have one whatever i did

I just would like to be in a position where i can control the damage as much as i can.

I am completely lost with the DX6i settings and the meaning of all these terms on the menus.. I'm just reading everything i can get my hands on to understand how all these settings affect what the helicopter does. I think the next step is to start playing with these on phoenix so i can grasp the whole concept.

Don't know what you mean by dodgy pots? but hopefully when its time for my first flight i can get some experienced RC pilot to check everything over before take the helm.

I agree with you that mojogoes has given me a good heli, when he was talking to me about all his upgrades you could see he's put a lot of care and attention to detail in his work. Just seeing what you can do with your machine made me want to do the same when i progress in the future and build my own heli when the time comes.

Mo

[frazzle]

Hi and good luck with your quest for heli competence.

Am a newbie too with the mCX and a twister medevac but have decided to build my next heli and have planned a trex 450 and a 500 after much advice form the site anf forum etc

There is a safety warning out about the DX6i. Some versions have faulty control pots so producing erratic transmissions and therefore heli movement from smooth input control movement.

The safety notice and checks can be found at the BMFA website:

http://www.bmfa.org/news/2009/02/03/...sx9-tx-notice/

It seems that bigger helis are easier to fly especially for a newbie.. I have booked some lessons to get me going in right direction.. and if your flying outside a club make sure you have insurance as a country member of BMFA. Membership of a club will include insurance as part of your fee structure.

Good luck

Fraser