yet another "Newbie where should I start" question !

[scubacrazy123]

Hi all.
Been lurking for a while now, so it's time for me to become a bit more active.
I have been messing with a 4ch honeybee which belongs to a mate. I can hover, and do the basics. I also have a couple of sims which I can practice crash avoidance on.
The time has come for me to get something for myself, and here comes the inevitable....what to get.
I am looking at the HoneyBee CP3, or the King3. Unfortunately my budget doesn't extend to anything "better" than these, or maybe a similar cost equivalent, so I am after advice on which one?
I want something which has easy to get hold of spares, and support etc.
I know, if could afford it I would go for a bigger, more stable sexier heli, but I can't afford, nor justify that yet.
I live in Hornchurch, Essex, so any advice on clubs where a newbie non flier (for now) would be welcome would be appreciated too.
Thanks in advance.

[SteveH39]

in fairness, if budget is tight i would hang on a little longer until more is available, you will soon outgrow those helis mentioned, a second hand trex 450 would be a better route, usually one or two on sale here. Probably not what you want to hear, I was hasty when i first started again with an RC Sytems ProCopter sport and it was, well, pants

[Eckchaz]

Hey mate..

I'm going to have to agree with steveH39.. wait longer and SAVE!

Dont bother going anything less than a 500.. Its far more stable and will help you progress much faster. Like others will agree.. the bigger the better! Going with Align will gaurantee widely available spares and at decent costs!

[waveydavey]

I'm going to disagree with the above although I agree with the sentiment. There are a lot of clone 450's about which cost a lot less than the original but are really very good. I bought a phoenixtech 450 for my son and I have to say it's a superb little machine. Along with cheapo servos off ebay (but good) and a cracking £20 gyro that just has to be tried to be believed. A reasonably priced motor and a £40 esc. I kitted out the heli for about £150 all in and then you will need a Tx and a battery charger. How much have you got? Forget the ones you mentioned by the way.

[tiddler]

I'm in agreement with waveydavey on this one.
Dont bother with the helis you've already mentioned you'll be wasting your money.
Get a second hand T Rex 450 or a 450 clone. Much better

[Eckchaz]

Okie.. Listen to Dave (WaveyDavey) Hes help me so much with me starting this hobby this year!

I'm only talking from my experience with my 450 (Titan, which I hated) and getting the 500 a month later which gave me more confidence. And recently I've found even more confidence with my 600!

But Daves experience exceeds mine!

[tiddler]

Oh and get yourself a copy of the Phoenix simulator and learn on that first.
Now I know you'll be thinking that you could spend that money on a heli. But trust me, the money it will save you in crash repairs will easily pay for a heli once you've learnt to fly one on the sim

[waveydavey]

Okie.. Listen to Dave (WaveyDavey) Hes help me so much with me starting this hobby this year!

I'm only talking from my experience with my 450 (Titan, which I hated) and getting the 500 a month later which gave me more confidence. And recently I've found even more confidence with my 600!

But Daves experience exceeds mine!

A 450 with 3S must be the cheapest way of getting into the hobby, they are stable enough to learn on although I would advocate the biggest machine you can lay your hands on. Eddie give the mini titan another go mate. They are a superb little machine and people swear by them. Now you've got a lot more experience I would give it a go.

Really glad your getting on with the 600 Eddie, knew you'd give in in the end.

[Kozmyk]

There are a lot of clone 450's about which cost a lot less than the original but are really very good. I bought a phoenixtech 450 for my son and I have to say it's a superb little machine.

Which Phoenixtech 450 did you get? PE? CF?
I was thinking of going that way myself. CF I think.
Tempted to go 500 but there's the crash costs to consider.

[waveydavey]

I bought the cf although it was second hand. I don't think you'd notice so much difference in the cost in spares and think positive, you don't necessarily have to think about crashing, think flying!

[Kozmyk]

There I go again with dem Negative Waves.

Sorry about that ... I'll get me coat.

[simon1]

Trex 450 for your first heli, anything smaller and you will lose heart before you start. Simply because you will crash a hell of alot with a smaller heli. There are loads of trex 450's for sale second hand, but you will need £180-200 for one i would of thought.

[Eckchaz]

Eddie give the mini titan another go mate. They are a superb little machine and people swear by them. Now you've got a lot more experience I would give it a go.

Really glad your getting on with the 600 Eddie, knew you'd give in in the end.

I'm probably going to leave it on the shelve for the moment, as i need to upgrade to a better Gyro and Speccy Rx to go with the DX7.. but i'll get round to it one day and give it another shot.. I'll probably be fine with it now but i'm just concentrating on the 600.

I must say the 600's now my favourite Heli.. and probably going to be the "everyday heli" dispite my grumbles with the noise & mess! I took the 600 out the other day and I was amazed at what I was doing! I just had to get past the "scared of flying it" and get on with it! Now i've reached another level off confidence and stringing all the moves together.. I even managed to do half a tank inverted on my 2nd attempt which I didnt do on the 500! And all my moves are alot neater without having to pause and steady the heli before doing the next! I especially love the fill and fly till I'm sick off it!!

Dave, Thanks again for all the help you've given over the past 6mths!!

[waveydavey]

Fill and fly till I'm sick of it, like it. Sometimes I find a tankful is too much and sometimes it's nowhere near enough. It's a shame you couldn't find time to get into the club mate you would love it.

[spunkmyer]

Dont forget the good old Blade 400 parts are cheap and you get them here in the for sale section often, it is the same size as 450 and cracking heli to learn with.

As all others have said avoid these E-sky type helis