Next Model Recommendation

[Ice Man]

I hope I don't have such misfortune with my Walkera then...

I just got my carbon 'effect' blades from china this morning... for 8 quid.

I'll see how it goes, maybe uprade it a bit etc..

but for me the challenge is all in the building and setting up. Flying is just an extra bonus.

If you want to get committed i'd say T Rex Raptor etc get something proper.

If you want to progress to the next step from a medevac for about 100 notes including all the tx, rx, motor esc, servo's then you can get a cheap chinese on like mine. I know it's only temporary as when you get the flying bug it'll go on ebay for a loss to help fund the next one,

I will say though the 60B (2006 model) is much improved over the earlier stuff ie 36's etc. This is what i've got from other forums. Just because two years ago they were crap, doesn't mean they are still crap. they have now improved to just 'rubbish'

Hey - I love my Walkera. It's the best Heli i've ever had yet (in the 1 month i've been involved LOL)

TBH if I had 500 notes to splash out it would be on a 600 electric and a good make too.

[kevinh]

why electric, ok new 600,s look like that fly well, for 7-10 mins on average, no expert, but if you got £600 quid to spend why dont you buy a nitro of some sort,

20 mins learning to hover around with my raptor30 land cup of coffee refuel and you away again.

with all these indoor models yes ive had a couple like a fp piccolo and a hummingbird fp and a zoom 400, i thought weathers a bit crap i fly that indoors, but it didnt improve my flying at all, the only time my flying improved is when i went every saturday for about 4 tank fulls( about 1 1/2 flying time). flying my rappy 30, my confidence improved and ability to fly around. loads of practise is needed and a good sim. well thats what i think anyhow, im not a 3d flyer by any means, but learnt a few harsh lessons along the way and a lot of money.
what i should have done is bought another nitro whilst the other 1 wasnt flying instead of electric models.



so go the full hog and buy a nitro and be done with it.


kevin h

[Ice Man]

OK so the advice is no one bother with electric helicopters for indoor use. Everyone has to get a Raptor 50 or 90 or else????

Bear in mind it's snowing, windy and wet. On saturday I'll be in the Hall nice and warm, have about 3 10 minute flights and get to see everyone elses models, some scratch built... hav a laugh and then go home with a smile on my face.

Nothing worse than depending on the weather. When i Want to slope soar the wind dies, when I want to get the heli out it's windy... Inside you know when you can fly and for how long.

I would reccomend doing both. depending on what club one is in and what facilities one has.

There are pro's and cons with both electric and nitro's

nitro pro's - long range, power, stability
nitro con's - starting, setting mixture, glow fuel everywhere, noise
electric pro's - quiet, instant startup, can fly indoors and out
electric con's - short range, batteries charging / moving.., power loss during battery cycle.

[Ade_Law]

for indoor use the contra rotating stuff is much more fun. you can have fun flying them rather than them flying you and you fighting the model all the time.

much more fun

Ade

[kevinh]

[QUOTE=

Bear in mind it's snowing, windy and wet.[/QUOTE]

thats the only problem ive not flown since the beginning of december because of the dodgy english weather.

the good weather is always whilst im at work during the week.

[Kwickkwack]

thats the only problem ive not flown since the beginning of december because of the dodgy english weather.

the good weather is always whilst im at work during the week.

Aint that the truth, how many days have we all sat at work loking at a beautiful blue sky, only to see it turn to murky grey come play time

[Ade_Law]

i lost count in 1994

Ade

[Ice Man]

for indoor use the contra rotating stuff is much more fun. you can have fun flying them rather than them flying you and you fighting the model all the time.

much more fun

Ade

Not true. OK with the micro stuff setup is critical. a bit out and they don't work. That's also good for learning. You have to fully understand how a helicopter works before you get any success.

My Sabre was flying like a dream once I got it all balanced and setup right. My freinds sabre was a pig until we set the flybar, paddles and C of G right with him and then he was up and flying.

Once set up well they do fly well too. Not eveyone can do this.

I don't have any contra rotating experience anyhow but i'm sure it's no progression to stick with that.

You can't learn it all at once - pitch mixing, gyro setting, transmitter programming, engine setting up and running, all the safety checks etc. It all has to come one step at a time.

Thats why I am progressing up through sabre - walkera - then better things. That's why there is a market for cheap chinese heli's.

If I'd have gone out and bought a Raptor straight off it would have been a very steep and un enjoyable learning curve. Now I feel I could get one and understand what does what.

[Chiz]

Probably outdoor, but with the ability to be used indoors (large sports hall). Cost isn't too much of a problem up to about £500.

Dragnonus II Elite!

I got these:
Dragonus Elite II Kit
Align RCE-BL35X ESC (K10304A)
Align 430L Brushless Motor (3550KV) RCM-BL430L
Futaba GY401 Gyro
Futaba Digital S9650 digital servo

For $450 / £236, this included delivery from Hong Kong by DHL. Even if DHL send me a bill for the VAT, it's still a very good deal.

I then added:
Spektrum DX7 with AR7000 receiver - £200 from Bob at Skyline
3x HS-65MG for cylic - £54

Then batteries.

Details here:
http://rc-expert.com/product.php?pid=206

People who have built both T-Rex 450SE and the Dragnonus say the Dragonus is better.

This is the first heli I've built. Last time I built anything was around 20 years ago, one of those Tamaya monster truck things.

The kit is superb. I was waiting for a mount for the S9650 tail servo. So I got a S3154 servo for it. Died after 4 test flights and killed the speed controller as well!

Oh yeah, and speaking of Walkera, I had one recently, a very smallish 3D one. It was really, really crap. Never again!

[gazza]

The dragonus pro2 is a fantastic heli & I want one
A guy at our club has two & was flying hard 3d with one in very high winds last week.
It was rock solid, even in the hover.

Needless to say I was mighty impressed! His are the pro versions I think....

[Chiz]

Difference between Dragonus Elite and Pro for those of you wondering about the difference:

Main frame - Elite is silver carbon / Pro is black carbon
Boom - Elite is alu / Pro is carbon
Main rotors - Elite is wood / Pro is carbon
Flybar paddles - Elite is plastic / Pro is carbon
Tail rotors - Elite is plastic / Pro is carbon

All the CNCed head and tail stuff is exactly the same.

I did not need the Pro stuff, so I went for Elite. However I did buy the tail rotors and flybar paddles in carbon, not planning to use them yet though.

Mmmmmm I'm thinking of getting another one I loved building it so much!

[Butuz]

So the Dragonus is much better than a Trex or an SJM / Aplus -400 or the like?

I have all the electronics on my SJM400 i was wondering could i use them on a Dragonus? 400DH outrunner, 30amp ESC, GY240, 8ch reciever, 3s 2000mah battery, GWS Naro servos?

What do you think? the SJM is a bit overcomplicated for me i want something simpler. Was thinging of getting either a TREX 450XL CDE or Trex 450S CDE, or a Dragonus Standard.

Butuz

[Chiz]

Not saying it is much better, just that the people at rcgroups.com who have built both prefer the Dragonus.

I reckon that your stuff will work fine, bear in mind that the Hitec HS-65 servos only just fit and anything even 0.5mm bigger will not fit.

Hitec HS-65 servos are:
24 x 12 x 24mm

[Smoothound]

I just stick with Trex as its a much more stable product in the UK.

[Ice Man]

Dragnonus II Elite!

I got these:
Dragonus Elite II Kit
Align RCE-BL35X ESC (K10304A)
Align 430L Brushless Motor (3550KV) RCM-BL430L
Futaba GY401 Gyro
Futaba Digital S9650 digital servo

For $450 / £236, this included delivery from Hong Kong by DHL. Even if DHL send me a bill for the VAT, it's still a very good deal.

I then added:
Spektrum DX7 with AR7000 receiver - £200 from Bob at Skyline
3x HS-65MG for cylic - £54

Then batteries.

Details here:
http://rc-expert.com/product.php?pid=206

People who have built both T-Rex 450SE and the Dragnonus say the Dragonus is better.

This is the first heli I've built. Last time I built anything was around 20 years ago, one of those Tamaya monster truck things.

The kit is superb. I was waiting for a mount for the S9650 tail servo. So I got a S3154 servo for it. Died after 4 test flights and killed the speed controller as well!

Oh yeah, and speaking of Walkera, I had one recently, a very smallish 3D one. It was really, really crap. Never again!

My Brother got an Aplus400 from RC Expert. It's really good. I almost went for the Dragonus too but for a lack of money right now...

The reason I suggested the Walkera 60B is because the CCPM is already set up. The transmitter receiver gyro is already on there. It would be an easy progression onto these things one step at a time.

For those of you who say Walkeras are CRAP - after todays attempts at flying it I have to agree.

I've learnt a lot from it but I can't wait to get something a bit more consistant and durable.