First heli

[c4r]

Hi, I am new to rc helicopters and I have been thinking about buying my first heli from RC Mods. RC Mods is a company based in the UK and I just wanted to know if it is a reputable company. Has anyone shopped there before? If so what was your experience. I have seen some posts on another site that say they have very good customer service but I want some more opinions. The heli that I'm thinking of getting is the Belt cp v2 by esky. I have looked at more advanced models but I think this will be best to start on as I have heard it is very stable and good for beginner to advanced pilots. I have seen that it is also sold at Heliguy at the same price but I heard their customer service isn't as good.

Thanks. C4r

[Mart61]

I can't speak for RC Mods as I have never used them, nor on the suitability of the Belt as a first heli. I'm sure others will comment on those points.

Have you checked that model at other stores?

[Dannyyy]

Yes i have use RC mods many times. Brillant service!

[unleashed666]

the belp cp was my first heli. Its not a bad heli but the ready to fly statement is a load of c**p. if you fly it straight out the box it will fly like a pig.

Ive had to learn fast about how to set up helis. First thing i got was a dx7 (eskys tx wont allow you to set the travel adjust settings on cyclic servos) then i went through leveling the swash and reaming the links, setting the travel adjusts, then got a 401 gyro and 9257 tail servo, and added a bit of nose weight for center of gravity - Now it flies realy well.

It is a nice cheap heli and parts are cheap aswell, but you will need to get a head hold gyro and tail servo and you will need to find someone that can help set it up if you dont know how to do it - maybe find someone here that lives near you or go to a local club and get to know some people.

Even through its took me 2 months to get it flying right, i dont regret buying it and enjoy flying it

[cambs flyer]

Hi buddy and welcome to the forum.

The Belt CP isn't a good starter machine to learn on, there's so much to learn about Heli mechanics and set ups that you need a sound set up to start with, which will launch you while you master the basics and learn about Helicopter set ups with the hardware, and software on a quality TX such as the DX6i.

The 35mhz controllers supplied with cheap CCP machines are IMHO a pile of shit which have no learning capability's whatsoever.

While I'm thinking about it avoid the Mini Pred too before a supplier recommends that also!

Your best bet, and it's been said a thousand times before is buy a Contra machine, the CX2/3's are some of the best, E-sky Lamas are fine too, really you don't wanna spend more then £130 on a Contra, as with a few spare batts, spare blades, shafts will keep you going for a while.

Why Contra? simple, you need to master cyclic movements plus rudder and throttle combined control and to do so having the safety net of the upper fixed pitch blades which will avoid you tipping a "true to flight machine" every five seconds will not only save you a fortune, but will keep you in this hobby, as you'll be surprised even a contra in your livingroom will be a little scary to begin with and you will hit things, so prepare your flying area so you don't damage stuff, if you have a larger space to fly in great, but for the majority of starters there homes are there first learning grounds.

Plus don't fly one outside, or you'll end up doing serious damage as the slightest breeze will carry one out of control, even with experience it can be hairy, so be warned on that score mate.

There's loads of small machines out there, the Blade MCX is very small and a great little machine but offers very little so far as controlling something with a bit of power like the larger Contras, (CX2/3, Lamas).

If however your hell bent on purchasing a CCP machine go for the Blade 400 RTF with the DX6i, but practice on a Sim called "Phoenix" first, and for a few weeks amass as many hours practice you can, then try and join a club have an experienced Heli' flyer go over your machine, maybe if lucky enough buddy lead up if you can but take it very slowly, this is a very difficult skill to master, but the rewards are countless so are the highs which out weigh the lows 10/1.

I've tried to be as honest as I can, tread carefully right now as you can make some costly mistakes which potentially could put you off going further, and that would be a shame.

This is the advise I took from more learnered Heli flyers when I first started out sometime back, and it didn't fail me, others may have different views so it's up to you which direction you take, whatever I wish you success, and don't be frightened in asking as many questions as you wish, as the most (what might sound daft) Q's are often the the most important.

PS, if you have the cash this is a steal bud'. http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/sale/2...es-all-go.html

As for suppliers I've heard good things about RC Mod's, personally I mainly use Inwood Models, Fast Lad, with Midland Heli's & Simply Trex a close joint second.

[Disc]

Hi, I am new to rc helicopters and I have been thinking about buying my first heli from RC Mods. RC Mods is a company based in the UK and I just wanted to know if it is a reputable company. Has anyone shopped there before? If so what was your experience. I have seen some posts on another site that say they have very good customer service but I want some more opinions. The heli that I'm thinking of getting is the Belt cp v2 by esky. I have looked at more advanced models but I think this will be best to start on as I have heard it is very stable and good for beginner to advanced pilots. I have seen that it is also sold at Heliguy at the same price but I heard their customer service isn't as good.

Thanks. C4r

If your coming into the Hobby and really want to fly helicopters a Nitro or electric 50 nitro helicopter is the best way. There WAY more Stable and not as twitchy and easier to fly.

So a 50 Nitro or electric is the best way to learn to fly model helicopters IMO. (anyone going no a 450 will do is well... WRONG IMO )


If your just testing the water some little CP won't do you any harm but don't moan it doesn't fly right

I've seen people spend more on the small electric crap trying to get it to fly and moaning about this and that where if they had spent that money on a Raptor 50 or Trex 600 they'd have money for spares left over...

[Brian Gifford]

Hi buddy and welcome to the forum.

The Belt CP isn't a good starter machine to learn on, there's so much to learn about Heli mechanics and set ups that you need a sound set up to start with, which will launch you while you master the basics and learn about Helicopter set ups with the hardware, and software on a quality TX such as the DX6i.

The 35mhz controllers supplied with cheap CCP machines are IMHO a pile of shit which have no learning capability's whatsoever.

While I'm thinking about it avoid the Mini Pred too before a supplier recommends that also!

Your best bet, and it's been said a thousand times before is buy a Contra machine, the CX2/3's are some of the best, E-sky Lamas are fine too, really you don't wanna spend more then £130 on a Contra, as with a few spare batts, spare blades, shafts will keep you going for a while.

Why Contra? simple, you need to master cyclic movements plus rudder and throttle combined control and to do so having the safety net of the upper fixed pitch blades which will avoid you tipping a "true to flight machine" every five seconds will not only save you a fortune, but will keep you in this hobby, as you'll be surprised even a contra in your livingroom will be a little scary to begin with and you will hit things, so prepare your flying area so you don't damage stuff, if you have a larger space to fly in great, but for the majority of starters there homes are there first learning grounds.

Plus don't fly one outside, or you'll end up doing serious damage as the slightest breeze will carry one out of control, even with experience it can be hairy, so be warned on that score mate.

There's loads of small machines out there, the Blade MCX is very small and a great little machine but offers very little so far as controlling something with a bit of power like the larger Contras, (CX2/3, Lamas).

If however your hell bent on purchasing a CCP machine go for the Blade 400 RTF with the DX6i, but practice on a Sim called "Phoenix" first, and for a few weeks amass as many hours practice you can, then try and join a club have an experienced Heli' flyer go over your machine, maybe if lucky enough buddy lead up if you can but take it very slowly, this is a very difficult skill to master, but the rewards are countless so are the highs which out weigh the lows 10/1.

I've tried to be as honest as I can, tread carefully right now as you can make some costly mistakes which potentially could put you off going further, and that would be a shame.

This is the advise I took from more learnered Heli flyers when I first started out sometime back, and it didn't fail me, others may have different views so it's up to you which direction you take, whatever I wish you success, and don't be frightened in asking as many questions as you wish, as the most (what might sound daft) Q's are often the the most important.

PS, if you have the cash this is a steal bud'. http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/sale/2...es-all-go.html

As for suppliers I've heard good things about RC Mod's, personally I mainly use Inwood Models, Fast Lad, with Midland Heli's & Simply Trex a close joint second.

What a brilliant post, Wayne! I was going to answer c4r, but you've left me nothing to say! Nice one, mate.

[GravityKills]

*don't buy cheap
*get a decent radio
*get Phoenix RC sim
*set it up correctly (!! important !!)
*spend 10, 20 hours or more
*and -then- buy a real heli.

I'd guess 50 % of people will change their minds before this point. No problem, sell the radio and Phoenix and you lose very little money.

I've had one guy flying my tamed-down 450 on trainer cable. He had used the sim a lot, but never tried to fly a real heli. He was able to hover it by himself within the first battery pack! And, that was indoors in a limited 8x6x3 m space.
If there is a magic bullet, it's the sim.

[cambs flyer]

What a brilliant post, Wayne! I was going to answer c4r, but you've left me nothing to say! Nice one, mate.

Thank you buddy, that was most kind of you too say.

[Hangar-7]

Hi! C4r
Welcome to this friendly heli forum. You will soon find that everybody here is only too happy to help each other and you woun't be an exception.

I totally agree with the route suggested in the thread below.

*don't buy cheap
*get a decent radio
*get Phoenix RC sim
*set it up correctly (!! important !!)
*spend 10, 20 hours or more
*and -then- buy a real heli.
.

However, if you can afford it then buy a Blade 400 (which comes with TX, RX etc) or Align 450.

If you have never flown any RC aircraft or heli before then Phoenix sim (@ £80) is a must - this will payback itself in no time. After you have practiced in the sim and read a few threads in this forum, you'll be in a better position to make up your mind on which heli to get.

Enjoy this hobby

[stuskimac]

welcome to this invaluable (that means really good to me ) site, it has helped me so much, since starting out, and having made many wrong choices prior to finding this site, i'm finally on the right road.

Plenty of good advice given already, i would agree that you shouldn't buy cheap, you'll just get cheap performance. Also RTF may well be, IF you can already fly , it's not a miracle in a box that i thought i would be getting ! knowing how helis work and how to setup ccpm helped me, but that was after i crashed and had to repair at the start. unfortunately you could find yourself in a situation buying a RTF heli, not be able to know what needs tweeking, find it near impossible to fly and getting really dis-heartened by it, not a good start really.

If you've got R/C aircraft experiance it may be an easier transition to understand and master. However if like myself, you start with no idea at all, then i would recommend starting with contra-rotating first, cx2 or lama, get a feel for controls and flying, and i DEFINATELY RECOMMEND A DECENT FLIGHT SIM, I amongst many others use pheonix, i first mastered my cx2 on this and progressed onwards, well worth it, fly as much as u want, any chopper u want, anywhere !

ULTIMATELY, you will want to fly real model ccpm choppers, and nothing beats flying it for real. Decide weather you want to fly electric or nitro, and what your budget is, look at the forum and see what everyone else is flying and there comments, you'll soon see whats popular and whats not, blade400, trex's, raptors feature alot, esky heli's have some interesting comments on this forum, i'll say no more.
My first ccpm was a blade, I.M.O. a good starter package, decent heli with decent radio, but not easy to learn, i should have bought pheonix first. I love my blade, have spent loads on it, but if i'm honest i wish i'd bought a trex, which is what i was going to do untill the heli shop steered me ( proberbly wisely ) towards the blade package.

It is a minefield to start with, and i regularly see on this forum the same beginner questions, with the same GOOD advice from more experianced members, i wish i'd started with this site first, before spending so much on bad choices, which alot of others have also done.

I wish you every success, and hope your heli hobby is a happy one !

[spunkmyer]

Hi...........

Welcome to the forum, you will find fellew members are very helpful they have helped me from the start through to today.

As I said welcome.

Mike

[Steve Ashton]

As a recent returning Rc pilot you have some great advice on here.

For my part I would say go for a good radio which you can grow into and possibly look for a good used and well set up nitro.

I found the small electrics very hard to get to grips with the bigger nitro's are so much easier. Also look at spare part avalibility.

If I had my time over I would go for a raptor or trex 600 type heli with a DX7. Most important find a good club this will help more than anything and stick with one heli. to much swapping and changing will not help your flying