New to all this... help pleeeease

[chisnsid]

Hi, just found this forum on a google search today and it's perfect...

I'm looking at getting into R/C helis and am struggling to choose either a t-rex (a choice in itself X, XL, CDE, eCCPM and so on ) or the Raptor30 . These two seem to be the best balance of cost and performance from the electric and ic camps....

Any advice? I have a field at the back of my house (public) so perhaps an ic would be an annoyance there? but what about insurance? Clubs? My word there's a lot to think about! I'm in Horsham West Sussex, any clubs nearby?

regards

Mikey

[AGW]

Hi Mikey,

I too have recently had the same dilemma there is a lot to take in when first starting out. It is important to find a good club, so have a look here

http://www.bmfa.org/clubs/clist.php

Make sure you get your BMFA membership as well which covers you insurance wise, also from the above website.

There is an ongoing debate about electric vs IC, and I think there will be for a few years to come but from the choices you have given I would go for the Raptor as it is a very good helicopter to learn to fly with! Parts are reasonable and very available. The T-Rex 450 is a very good Micro Helli but doesn't fly too well outdoors with an inexperienced pilot the only serious outdoor electric Helli's are things like the Logo series, Swift 16 and T-Rex 600

Andy

[MartinM]

I will be shouted down I know BUT I found the ECO 8 a good step and from a starting point easier to control than a T-rex 400 / 450.

Cheap second hand and easy to fix, very open to work on cheap parts on e bay, if you keep to the brushed motor (I get 10 mins flight time) you can run on cheap Mh batts ! £17 for 9.6v 3300mah, no big need for Li-Po's.

Good luck whatever you decide on and enjoy the forum, I do !

[gazza]

Hi Mikey,

I taught myself to fly with a Raptor 30, entirely on my own with absolutely no heli experience.
I did already have some Nitro engine experience though, which helped.

I found a flying club nearby, but I got the impression they frowned upon heli flyers and I found them arrogant, snotty, and aloof.
So, impatiently and stubbornly I went it alone.
It cost me a LOT of money going this way, I blew an engine, crashed the heli many times, and destroyed most of the garden. 40 quid a (Light) crash soon adds up. And thats just the heli.


Of course, I wouldnt recommend going it on your own, when I look back it was pretty stupid actually and I did have a couple of very close shaves - Both of which I, and others escaped serious injury & I still dont know to this day how.


You will need help & advice, and I cant recommend enough that you seek it.
With great sites such as this one, and assistance from the very helpful guys on it, there really isnt any reason why you shouldnt be able to locate a suitable club and/or or mentor to get you started mate.

Have you considered a simulator first?
Good luck in your choice & welcome to the site!


Gazza

[Mack]

Hi Mikey
Have you looked at what is on offer on this site.

[chisnsid]

Hi Mikey,

I taught myself to fly with a Raptor 30, entirely on my own with absolutely no heli experience.
I did already have some Nitro engine experience though, which helped.

I found a flying club nearby, but I got the impression they frowned upon heli flyers and I found them arrogant, snotty, and aloof.
So, impatiently and stubbornly I went it alone.
It cost me a LOT of money going this way, I blew an engine, crashed the heli many times, and destroyed most of the garden. 40 quid a (Light) crash soon adds up. And thats just the heli.


Of course, I wouldnt recommend going it on your own, when I look back it was pretty stupid actually and I did have a couple of very close shaves - Both of which I, and others escaped serious injury & I still dont know to this day how.


You will need help & advice, and I cant recommend enough that you seek it.
With great sites such as this one, and assistance from the very helpful guys on it, there really isnt any reason why you shouldnt be able to locate a suitable club and/or or mentor to get you started mate.

Have you considered a simulator first?
Good luck in your choice & welcome to the site!


Gazza

Hi,
thanks for all this, I've gone to the BMFA and the local clubs I've found have all closed their 2006 memberships - i do have a colleague that flies - he's offered to assist, so that'll be a big help.

I've also read up on this forum about a sim as you suggest and have got the real flight G3 on the way frpom ebay... it's compatible with the TX i have got my hands on so it should be good. I can just about fly the demo version ion the PC keyboard, I think (hope) the TX unit will make things more intuitive. No real issues thus far, even got the thing to fly upside down and even managed to right it again... lol.

I shall keep you all posted.... now - I wonder if the neighbours will mind an ic copter in the back garden

Mikey

[chisnsid]

Hi Mikey
Have you looked at what is on offer on this site.

ah haaa.. I see now what you mean. You are selling a raptor 30!

I'm rather ignorant about all these things, so I'll do some askin' about. looks rather tsaty tho

Mikey

[chisnsid]

awwwwww by the way, just to add some comedy to my already tough dilemma , the man at ye modelle shoppe has said I shoud buy a "Twister 2" CP package for £179.99 all inc....

... wot?? he did say if I could afford it, get the t-rex, but the best way to start is the twister 2...... hmmm, this looks like a fragile little thing and very small (hence light and fluffy) and i don't think it'd be very stable, especially in the garden... am I right?

Mikey

[jimbob]

It depends how far you want to go, and how much you have to spend both now and in the future.

If you are really serious about flying helis, then probably the twister is a little on the tame side.

I personally would go for a larger heli. If you like the idea of electirc, go that route. If you like the idea of smoke and noise, get a raptor 30 or similar.

But, I would definately join a club - preferably a heli biased one. As Gazza says, it's posssible to learn to fly a heli without help, but its definately not the safest, fastest or cheapest route.

Re fluffy and fragile, the bigger the heli, the more stable it is, but the more space you need to fly it and the more damage it will do when you hit something with it.

Keep asking the questions!

[Disc]

Twisters are light and in the Garden it will not be good and probably get blown
about by a 2pmh winds.

Trex if you can fly will fly in 10mph winds. But then you have to be able to fly
to do that.

Nitro Helis start at 18 size, 30 size, 50 Size, 60 Size, 90 Size etc

As Jimbob says the Bigger the Heli the more stable they are. They are also
easier to fly. So a Twister is a little Bugger... A Trex again small wind will blow it about and there twitchy.

Raptors most common and if you go for the Trex you should really get the Raptor instead as its about the same money. Raptors are far more stable.

Find a local club and see what there all flying:

http://www.bmfa.org/clubs/clist.php

Also get the insurance for any heli you buy as they can all do damage!


The expensive way to learn is:

Get a small Twister/hummingbird for 100-179 pounds

Then upgrade to the Raptor about 500 pounds (Total 670 pounds)
(Just get the Raptor around 500-600)

Basically the easier way to learn JUST buy the Raptor or Nitro 30/50
size. If you can the 50 is better than a 30 for learning and crash's
are not that bad expense wise as most 50 parts are the 30 size parts
only boom/belt/blades/engine are diffrent.

But its down to personel choice.

[chisnsid]

GULP....

...just placed a bid on a nice looking Raptor set up on ebay !!! hope it comes off....

BMFA application forms are in the post to them , BUT I'm still no further down the "find a club" road as none - absolutely zero - have replied to my requests for membership details....

I'll get there tho.... just waiting for my heli - if it doesn't come good for me on this one I'll probably end up with a new t-rex as I can fly more often with that without upsetting my neighbours

will keep you all posted!

Any one in west sussex and would be avavilable to help me set up a new heli??

Mikey

[jimbob]

The Eynsford club is not tooooo far from you, they have a fairly short list I think.

They might be able to direct you - try calling Avicraft for some other clubs in that area - they are very helpfull.

020 8460 0818

[Smoothound]

I'm in West Sussex but my Nitro experience is not as good as some here. I can help you setup the heli but getting it running properly is another question, mine runs OK but I rarely use it as I have no club or field big enough for it.

To be honest, if I were you, I'd build it as per instructions, if you get stuck ask on here and once it's built drop down to Ade in Dorset for a couple of lessons and a check over

[chisnsid]

excellent idea. Lessons, how much are they and how long do they last? Is there a 'certificate' one needs to attain?

Mikey

[Ade_Law]

all info you need is at

www.flyingaid.co.uk

Ade