which electric heli?

[hoverfly]

hello all

any views on what is a good electric heli for a beginner to get started on? I've got a simulator and a Futaba 6EXHP tx and want to get a decent electric heli. There are so many names flying around (pardon the pun ) and your expert advice would be much appreciated .


Cheers all

[BobJ]

Hi

This has been done to death recently.
It boils down to}

Indoor use get something contra rotating like the Easy Copter or Twister Bell 47.
Outdoors but still small enough for the back garden or sports hall, then no question get a T Rex 450 prefurably the SE or maybe the new TT Mini Titan.
Bigger than this get more stable so easy to fly but the cost spirals, T Rex 600 is about the most practical.

Hope this helps.

Bob J

[hoverfly]

Hi Bob J

cheers matey - will be looking for something to fly outdoors ie back garden job etc - your suggestions are much appreciated. I like the sound of the T Rex's I must admit!!

[Chiz]

any views on what is a good electric heli for a beginner to get started on? I've got a simulator and a Futaba 6EXHP tx and want to get a decent electric heli. There are so many names flying around (pardon the pun ) and your expert advice would be much appreciated .

I can't recommend the ESky Honey Bee enough. It won't work with your radio as far as I know, but for around £85 you'll get everything you need. Just add 8 x AA batteries to the radio that comes with it.

On mine the only thing I've upgraded is the skid landing (the one that came with it really is junk) plus change the battery to LIPO. I get 20 minutes flight time and there is still some battery power but I bring it in after 20 minutes.

I'm now building a high end Dragonus II helicopter, all with high end electronics. Just got a Spektrum DX7 radio.

The electronics alone for the Dragonus (receiver / mixer / speed controller / gyro) would cost around £210 if bought in the UK. On the Honey Bee they cost £20. When you take apart the rest of the kit it really is cheap Chinese rubbish but the heli flies web and is stable. Easy to set it up to get a nice stable flight.

And it's very tough. And parts cost next to nothing. Mines had several crashes, some quite hard and I'm still on the original main rotors and tail rotors. I've done very little repairs to it.

When my Dragonus is complete I'm certainly not selling the Honey Bee, I'm definitely going to keep it.

I wouldn't recommend high end mini helis like the T-Rex as your first helicopter. Once you have a cheap one like the Honey Bee and have had it for a few weeks (had mine just 3 weeks, before then never flew a heli) or months you'll be in a better position to see what higher end heli you want to build.

i.e. you'll know what heli kit, gyro, mixer, servos and radio you want. I've spent ages researching my components. Was going to buy a T-Rex 450SE kit and built that until I saw the Dragonus II.

If you are building a higher end kit, my advice is also to sell your Futaba on eBay. The Spektrum DX7 is all the rage at the moment with it's 2.4GHz wavelength. Cost's just £200 with the AR7000 receiver. Receiver is worth 65 quid so that's just 135 quid for the radio.

Also I can't recommend the Phoenix simulator enough, especially if you are going to go for a CCPM heli. I learnt to hover and do basic flight with the Honey Bee before I got the simulator, but Phoenix has taught me much better orientation skills. Plus how to manage collective which is added to a CCPM heli.

[gazza]

I recommend Phoenix too mate, Its taught me a hell of a lot but a honeybee? Complete waste of time and money If you have a Trex in mind. You'll spend more time fixing it than flying it

[Chiz]

Gazza, I've spent around 15 minutes max in the last 3 weeks repairing my Honey Bee. That's it.

And spent several hours flying it.

[gazza]

You must be one of the lucky ones mate!
My point is, that buying a honeybee wont teach him anything valuable in my opinion, I've been there and done it and I think Phoenix is money better spent.
If he has a Trex in mind then what would be the point in a honeybee? A copy of Phoenix would be money better spent in the long term in my opinion.

I'm sure there are many proud honeybee owners out there, yourself included mate but I had a Twister CPV2 and personally speaking it was money spent unwisely and it turned out to be a short term interest

But thats only my opinion!

[Ghost]

I have been here and still am TBH. Bought 3 mini electrics HB King very nice but pretty useless unless you have a large indoor area at hand when you want it same goes for my HB CP2.

From my little experience i would have not gone this route now i would go.......

Phoenix Sim.

Twister Medvac (for fun and getting over the thrill factor of flying for the first time

Get some training have a go on a size 50 see how it feels (and or) Join a local club.

If all goes well invest in a real Heli

ATM i am on the get some training stage wish i really didnt waste money on my HBee`s (as the twister will teach you all you need to know imho) and put it into the training.

Just my own thoughts hope it helps,

Regards Simon.

[David Drew]

Take it from me...learning on a Trex is HARD, and EXPENSIVE...unless you have a sim & join a club/get some lessons. (and that will only reduce the pain, not eliminate it).

These little indoor jobbies do seem to be very tough & at least get the message across. But a Trex for the first one...No def not.

David

[hoverfly]

Chiz, Gazza, Ghost & David Drew

\_/ cheers \_/ you guys for your replies

No doubt the best place to start is with the sim - but isn't it Sods Law that you all mention the Phoenix sim and I've got a Reflex XTR!!!!

Still, thats the best place for me to start!! then its off to join a club and just watch and learn as much as possible!!!!

I'm gonna take a couple of months or so before I decide what heli to buy - it seems that in the end it comes down to individual preference and of course "THE BUDGET"

Simon, mate I would love to get a real Heli but what chance of that when I cant even get a RC one??????

once again - thanx and much appreciation to you all for your help 'n' advice

[woody]

Sods Law that you all mention the Phoenix sim and I've got a Reflex XTR!!!!

Well, its not too late to change it -get Reflex on ebay and get yourself Phoenix instead - We've nearly all been there and done it!

[hoverfly]

hi Woody (Sue)

is Phoenix really that much better than Reflex XTR? Is it the graphics, the models or something else?????

As far as I have been told - Reflex XTR is supposed to be a pretty good sim to learn on - unless you know different ???

Your advice would be greatly appreciated

[woody]

Is Phoenix really that much better than Reflex XTR?.... As far as I have been told - Reflex XTR is supposed to be a pretty good sim to learn on

It's difficult to comment about Reflex as I actually had Realflight G3 sim prior to Phoenix. I think Reflex WAS the best until Phoenix arrived.

Anyway we shouldnt be comparing sim with sim but the sim compared to real life. (God! I'm sounding like Ade - I've been brain washed )

From my limited experience with flying helis and it only stretches to hovering at the moment, for me Phoenix is pretty close to the real thing. I cant comment on the 3D stuff because I cant do that on the sim or in real life. Yet !

One thing I can comment on however, and that is the excellent customer service. Emails replied to quickly and suggestions listened to and acted upon.

[hoverfly]

hiya Woody (Sue) {Ade Law???? }

the truth is that I got the Reflex XTR in a swap and I'm just waiting on an adapter to connect the dongle to my tx, so that I can have a go on it.

At least you are hovering - I haven't even gotten off the ground yet (?)

As for 3D - well thats something I just hallucinate about

No - but seriously Sue, I do want to have a go on the Reflex XTR since I already have it. Maybe when I've crashed (beyond repair) all the models on the Reflex I'll go for the Phoenix huh?

I really do thank you for your earnest advice which I will definitely bear in mind - meantime take care and best wishes

Des

[Chiz]

You must be one of the lucky ones mate!
My point is, that buying a honeybee wont teach him anything valuable in my opinion, I've been there and done it and I think Phoenix is money better spent.
If he has a Trex in mind then what would be the point in a honeybee? A copy of Phoenix would be money better spent in the long term in my opinion.

Agreed, if it's £80 on a Honey Bee or £80 on Phoenix, then Phoenix is definitely the better purchase.

If you decide you don't like helis after trying Phoenix, you'd get at least 2/3 of your money back by sticking it on eBay.