New to Helis (Trex 450)

[Aden]

Hey guys!

I dont know were to start!

Other day at work i was talking with my work friend about being interested in helicopters and i would be interesting to learn how to fly them. Apparently he had one sat in his attic one of his cousins had given him and was willing to sell me it for £100. Turns out in the box it was a T-rex 450 and a few bits and bobs with it, 2 batteries, the charger, a few servos, rotor heads and tails/blades. Sadly no Radio transmitter (that correct word?).

I checked google for prices and it seems ive got a real bargin for it (i hope), well less of the boring bits lets talk about the tech bits.

Im tying to find out were i could buy a nice controller for it and learn how to set this thing up properly, sadly i dont have any instructions so this is going to be hard i feel. From the box it appears i have a 450X, inside the Motor is a 430L Brushless Outrunner, and the transmitter is RC-RX6. Servos are HS-55's, HS-56HB on the tail, and a RCE-550 Gyro.

Basically looks like this.


So basically im looking about getting into this seriously and will be around pestering you guys for advice haha. Would you be able to answer a few questions

1. Did i get a good deal, are these bits ok for starting with? I dont mind spending a bit of money if i need to replace a few bits.
2. What Radio transmitter / Controller do you recommend since i dont have one?

Look forward to getting to know you guys, and ladies ofcourse.

Cheers for reading
-Aden

[oneandonlyian]

It looks like you are on the old fashioned 35mhz reciever (big wire wrapped around that big stick) I would advise you look at 2.4ghz transmiter and reciever like either the spectrum DX6i or DX7 if you buy new they come with reciever
Fast Lad Performance
or
Fast Lad Performance

you could look at futaba but the receivers are a lot more expensive than spectrum gear.

hope this helps.

[oneandonlyian]

Oh yeah it looks like your gyro is hanging off make sure you get good quality sticky pads and use a velcro strap also to hold it down.

[CookieMan]

Well mate,

First off, welcome home This is a great place and you should pretty much find what your looking for in the 450 thread (here)

Second... about the Transmitter:

Now what you seem to have on the heli is the RC-RX6 RECEIVER [Align] - if I'm not wrong, that works on the 36 MHz frequency which ideally means you need to get your self an FM Radio for using this device. Now, I don't intend to say that this is a bad thing but what I would like to say is, it would be better off if you could switch to the 2.4 GHz band wagon and get yourself the appropriate radio.

Now your choice if you are willing to switch is practically ONLY to be judged by 2 factors:

a) The depth of your pocket and
b) How deep into the rabbit hole (of the hobby) you want to drown..

If you want to just start off on something cheap and good, I think many people in here would suggest a DX6i

[[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbWf2vTFSDE"]CLICK ME[/ame]].

Or

Another good option is a DX7

[[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecF_pEAPLCc&feature=related"]CLICK ME[/ame]]

STATUTORY WARNING: If you have never flown a heli before, consider getting yourself a Simulator. PHOENIX [CLICK ME] is the best one around at the moment (arguably) - although some people would tend to give attention to Real Flight or Reflex. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU PRACTISE ON THE SIM FIRST BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK OF FLYING THAT MACHINE.

About the price... umm... I really don't know about that subject... so I'l leave it to the better guys out there...

Cheers mate.. Hope it helps:
Enjoy your stay and feel free to ask any questions whatsoever...
Oh and may you grow on the hobby and your pockets!!!

P.S.: What you have there is a good heli, provided its setup right and checked by an experienced pilot.

[Aden]

Wow thanks for the great replies guys!

Yea i been looking at the Dx6i currently, seems more affordable for what im looking for at the moment. Understand ill be able to use this on future helis i might buy if i really take off with this (litterally ).

As for sims i saw the Pheonix and it looks amazing, but its a little expensive for what im looking at the moment. Any cheaper options out there? I understand i would be able to plug in the Dx6i to practice on when i get it?

[CookieMan]

Aden, I just remembered before you jump in to get a tranny, there is something called a MODE 1 and MODE 2 Transmitter.

In a nutshell:

MODE 1: Throttle (Collective) on the right stick.

MODE 2: Collective on the left stick.

MODE 2 is the most common form used around the country. You would be better off to pick one of those up.

Cheers mate,

[cambs flyer]

Any Align 450 machine thats been looked after will be an idea Heli' to learn on, with just a few changes as mentioned above she'll be a happy little flyer.

Cram in the Sim time before though, and with help you'll be well hooked I'm sure.

Plus don't be too worried about the latest and greatest out there, the X, XL, S models are still the same great models they were a few years back regardless of improvements, and as your flying grows she will go like a bat out of hell doing circuits, so enjoy your flying before anything, plus start collecting crash spares, Inwood Models or Fast Lad are the top outlets IMHO.

[lex7919]

Nice info guys!
I just posted up 2 vids that go into the programing the radio a bit more which might be usefull too, dont worry that it says Blade 400 the theory and methods are still the same for most radios.

Videos here



And welcome to the best "hobby" on the planet! You will come to love it the same as the rest of us do

[Mart61]

Looks like you got a bargain there!

Welcome aboard!

[stumpe]

Aden

welcome to the forum, I would suggest a dx6i as I have one for my 450/500 and it's fine for these electric helis, if you want to go nitro get a dx7.

Agree with the other guys about the sim, this is something I did not get on with at first but now it's great and helps you learn your orientations on the Heli which is one of the most important things you need to learn 1st.

Get some spares now then go get some more spares as you will crash ALOT, the more practice you can get on a sim will defo help, every crash you have will teach you different things about your Heli and also most important how to repair and set up your Heli as I discovered when I 1st started that a porely set up Heli will lead to more crashes than a Heli that has been set up correctly, just try to watch some finless bobs videos over on helifreak for set up on a 450.

I guarantee you will be hooked once you start to get the Heli of the floor for the 1st time, some people learn quicker than others for example I have been learning for 16 months and I can now do forward flight, loops, stall turns, a little inverted / nose in but I don't get as much real stick time as I would like

get some more batteries from hobbyking, zippy or turnigy are great value and just so good for the money, you don't want to be grounded because of no charged batts, I have 14 batts from HK and this means I can fly for 14 times in oneday without having to worry about charging

just take it nice and easy to start off with and don't rush things to much, spend time learning to hover and landings as it's the mainstay of what you need to do each flight, if you can join a club this will help with your progress.

WARNING - this hobby will take over your life, it will drain your wallet the more you get into it, you will never have enough helis, only joking

just be aware this Heli is not a toy and can hurt someone quite badley, get some Bmfa insurance and try not to fly alone at first.

We are all here to help with any questions

lee

[Steve]

Join a local club, first and foremost, before splashing any cash.

[Aden]

Hey guys

Amazing amount of help there guys! Thanks!

Managed to get hold of a D6xi off ebay other night for £100 with reciever too. In box only been used twice which is good. Saves me a tiny bit of bob.

A friend is lending me his flight sim (god knows why he has it, he doesnt even fly them haha) when i get the cash ill get Pheonix flight sim because that appears to be the best.

Anyone else recommend a good flight sim that i could connect the D6Xi up to?

Thanks again for the great help and ill keep you all updated!

[tiddler]

Hi Aden and welcome to the forum

Wow a T-Rex 450 for £100.00 That's a bargain. And the DX6i is a great tx that will see you well into the hobby.

Now then, Phoenix!!!!
For helis, Phoenix is an absolute must for beginners and is way better than all the other sims. Don't be put off by the price, its worth every penny and what ever you do DON'T EVEN THINK about trying to get your heli airborne without having spent many hours on Phoenix first.

[Aden]

Right, the Dx6i arrived this morning!

Only problem i have now, the flight sim my mate had was the actuall Flight Sim 2000 rubbish, told him that it wouldnt work and sorry but ill get my own. Bit short on cash though atm so wont be getting Phoenix till the end of the month.

Is there anything else i could get on with, i know the D6Xi needs setting up, obviously have to put in the new receiver. Is there any flying at all i could do to help set it up? I don't want to risk breaking it just yet though.

Thanks again for all your help guys its appreciated! Makes me feel at home haha

[tiddler]

Right, the Dx6i arrived this morning!

Only problem i have now, the flight sim my mate had was the actuall Flight Sim 2000 rubbish, told him that it wouldnt work and sorry but ill get my own. Bit short on cash though atm so wont be getting Phoenix till the end of the month.

Is there anything else i could get on with, i know the D6Xi needs setting up, obviously have to put in the new receiver. Is there any flying at all i could do to help set it up? I don't want to risk breaking it just yet though.

Thanks again for all your help guys its appreciated! Makes me feel at home haha

First of all, do you know how to set up the DX6i for your heli ? Swash mix, pitch and throttle curves etc ? If yes then fine If no, then you need to get this right first otherwise you'll be all over the place with it

Secondly If you have got it set up correctly and you just cant resist having a go, then be sure to have some training gear on the heli and stick to just getting the heli light on its skids so you can get the feel of things.

Better still, would be to find someone that can set things up and test hover it for you if at all possible