Piccolo versus Helistar

[Gabriel]

Hi,

I'm about to buy my first helicopter, and have opted for an indoor micro heli. I have finally narrowed down my choices to the Piccolo and the Helistar, and I would like to know if anyone knows any reasons not to buy either of them. At the moment I am leaning towards the Helistar, as I would enjoy making it; also, its kit seems to contain only highly optimised components.

Thanks,

Gabriel

[Raptorite]

Hi Gabriel,

Have you considered the new MS Hornet 2?

I have in the past owned a fixed pitch piccolo, which was later converted to collective pitch. This was a resiliant little heli, but like most micro helis was unhappy to hover in its own rotor wash, which unless you have nerves of steel and can lift it to a height of around 5 foot off the deck very quickly, you will find very difficult to maintain a steady hover.

I then bought a MS Hornet CP a couple of years ago, and although in my opinion better engineered than the piccolo, was still unstable at anything below 5 foot.

Both these machines were fitted with their standard brushed motors, which meant that flying them in the garden was sumwhat of a challenge to say the least on anything but an absolutely still day with no wind whatsoever.

I have also recently flown one of the new Century Hummingbirds, which at present is only available in fixed pitch form, like the other 2, its not greatly stable below 5 foot or so, and also struggles in anything but 0 wind outside

I understand that the MS Hornet 2 on the other hand, being physically slightly larger than any of the others and having a larger rotor disk (Longer main rotor blades) is far more stable and very happy to hover rock solid even in its own rotor wash and outside in a sensible level of wind.

I have found a few bits and pieces of information on the Hornet 2 on the web for you to take a look at, check these sites out;

Review:
http://microhelis.com/hornet2review.htm

Videos:
[ame]http://www.atlheliflyers.com/helicl...nal_smaller.wmv[/ame]

[ame]http://tabbytabb.rchomepage.com/images/HornetHeli.wmv[/ame]

Online shop for H2:
www.deeteeenterprises.com

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Pete.

[Gabriel]

Thanks Pete,

I've looked around, and I agree: my choice is now between a Piccolo and the Hornet 2. However, I have heard (http://microhelis.homestead.com/GeneralInfo.html) that the difference in low-flying stability is not that great, so I am again at a loss as to which to choose. Apparently, the Piccolo can take more knocks than the Hornet 2. On the other hand, I've heard that the Hornet 2 is better made.

Any ideas?

[Raptorite]

Hi Gabriel,

I have read the review you found on the web, it is obviously well informed as the author has many micro helis both hornet and piccolo. However the hornet aspects of the review are based soley on the earlier Hornet 1, so the many improvements of the hornet 2 are not reflected in this review.

I still beileve the hornet 2 to be the best overall performer and is the one I would go for given the choice of the 2.

I have seen somewhere, that the hornet 2 has been compared stability wise with a 30 size IC model, which if you can get that sort of performance from an indoor / outdoor micro heli it is going to be a great allround package.

I am also seriously considering either just getting a H2 or maybe selling my existing CP H1 and replacing it with a H2 but that wont happen until I have moved house in a month or two's time.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Pete.