Advice needed for 1st Heli

[BiG-T]

Hi
Advice needed looking to buy first heli I have been looking for some time but i am getting mixed info as to which way to go.
I am looking for something to fly outdoors as indoors restricted on space.
I also would like to get something easy to setup and not to expensive on spares for obvious reasons. Would also like a reasonable Tx that doesn't feel like a toy and can be moved on to other helis if I master it.

The 3 heli's I have been looking at recently are the Honeybee CP3, Esky Belt CP, or the new Flybarless NeonBlaze (less to set up and less to break)

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Tony

[tiddler]

Hi Tony and welcome to the forum

Best way to get started in this hobby is with a good tx (DX6i or DX7) and a copy of the Phoenix rc simulator and get to grips with that before you even think about buying your first heli. Don't waste your time with those cheap rtf helis. (You'll be chucking money down the drain)
Once you've had plenty of practice on the sim, then you might consider taking a look at the T Rex 450 SE Sport

[Boggy]

Welcome to the forum Big T.
Judging by your three listed heli's your on a tight budget. I would suggest a look at the E'flite blade range of helicopters,maybe the Blade SR or 400.

Helis: Blade - #1 By Design

Blade SR RTF Electric Micro Heli (EFLH1500): Blade - #1 By Design

And of course a sim.Phoenix is highly regarded on the forum but there are other options.

[stuskimac]

Hi tony, this question comes up alot, there are many answers & questions too !

1) Have u flown helis before ? most start with co-axial/contra rotating indoor type heli's then on to proper ccpm (collective pitch) outdoor types which are world apart from contra/co-axials, learning just to take off then hover is a real time consuming challenge & can involve many crashes.
2) Have u tried a computer flight sim ? Phoenix flight sim is a good start & a great money saver & a good intro to proper ccpm helis, u can fly & crash any heli u like, won't cost a penny. Although the flight sim is good, nothing compares to flying the real thing.
3)Whats your budget ? if money is no object the sky's the limit ! u can go the trex route ( 450, 500, 550, 600 etc) or any other heli . Some would recommend starting with a 450 size, others .30 or 50 nitro. If your looking for a good cheap starter maybe an Eflite Blade 400 with the Spektrum Dx6i radio ( which u can use with upto 10 models) or the belt cp, there not easy helis to master as a total beginner but true ccpm if on a budget, though in time u might get bored of them & wish you'd bought a Trex 450 or a larger nitro heli like a Raptor or trex 600 nitro. Do u want electric (generally 4-6 minute flights) or Nitro (20 minute flights). Understanding correct Lipo battery use & costs is something to be considered as is the use of Nitro powered Heli's, u have to be able to set up & tune the engine. There is no right or wrong answer, there are plenty of posts on this site giving advice as to buying a starter Heli , which u choose is upto you.
4) There are a number of fixed pitch helis too, which will get u hovering & moving about in various orientations, generally a bit smaller than a 450, which may be a good starter, but again may become redundant in the future. I wouldn't recommend going straight into flybarless if you've never flown ccpm before, it might be a bit too much to begin with ? could be more of a handfull to learn on ? not sure if others may have a different opinion ?
As i've already said, there is no right or wrong answer here, just lots of options, your best bet might be, seeing as you live in Tamworth, would be to head down the A5 to Midland Helicopters at Hinckley and talk to the guys there, i'm sure they'll be able to help u make a good choice.

Whatever u choose, good luck & happy flying

[BiG-T]

Hi
Thanks for the replies budget is not to tight just didn't want to spend out on something that was difficult to master and expensive on spares.
I was looking at the DX range of TX's and thought maybe get a better deal as an RTF package than seperate? also a sim to practice on?

Tony

[tourerjim]

Welcome to the forum Big T.
Judging by your three listed heli's your on a tight budget. I would suggest a look at the E'flite blade range of helicopters,maybe the Blade SR or 400.

Helis: Blade - #1 By Design

Blade SR RTF Electric Micro Heli (EFLH1500): Blade - #1 By Design

And of course a sim.Phoenix is highly regarded on the forum but there are other options.

Thats what I Would suggest' SR & then in time perhaps 450 size.
I've seen I think it's on Daniels of Windsor web site TX deal with SR think it's a sale on with post free.

[Boggy]

Then maybe the blade 400. It comes complete with a Dx6i and there are some very good deals around at the moment.(kingslynn models i believe is one of the cheapest).

Blade 400 3D RTF Electric Mini Helicopter (EFLH1400): Blade - #1 By Design

http://www.kingslynnmodelshop.co.uk/...duct_info.html

[stuskimac]

I would agree with boggy, i started out with the blade400, its a bit bigger than the SR, has a belt driven tail as do the larger helis, unlike the SR that has a tail motor instead, the blade400 is bit more roburst than the SR. The blade400 comes RTF with the Dx6i which will work well on Phoenix flight sim, Heli + phoenix would cost in the region of £350-£400. However you only get 1 battery with the Blade 400 & SR i think ? might wanna invest in a couple of batteries & Definatelly training gear ! which i made myself with ping-pong balls, carbon rod & electrical tape & tie wraps, as i kept smashing when i learnt to fly ( the guys at Midland heli's recommended this practice to me, cheaper to repair training gear than keep shelling for new ones, good advice)

[cjcj1949]

I think its more to do with you than anything else. Do you like a challenge and can you handle setbacks or do you prefer an easier option. 450 size helicopters can take a lot of learning and crashing and repairing. It's a good way to learn but lots of people give up.
Larger helis are easier but more expensive.
A Dx6i is a reasonable tx.
A mcx is ok to fly indoors and will give you lots of flying time.
An msr is more difficult to fly but more survivable.
I wouldn't try to fly outdoors until you can fly indoors unless you have a heli at least 450 size. You won't know if its you or the wind otherwise.
You can test your ability on a free sim called FMS using a joystick. Be sure to set it up so that right rudder turns the front of the heli right.

Chris

[PGpilot]

I got a Blade 400 & Phoenix Sim bundle from Skyline Models, Bob did me a deal.
Skyline Models :: Training Aids &...

They also have TX & Sim deals if you want to hold off on the heli until you've mastered the sim.

[Bart101]

I'd say just go for a T-Rex 450 Sport! It'll take you a long way! FL have a great combo available.... A RTF 450 Sport for £485.99!! Fast Lad Performance

You can't go wrong with a T-Rex IMO... Flies great, cheap parts and you'll find LOADS of info and tips on this forum!

[CiaranMal1]

Welcome, DO NOT go down the ESKY route i bought a esky cp v2 tot it would be a real gud heli, obviously not the price said it all, I tried to learn on it and it got me no wer I only got it off the ground once and crashed. So i sold it and bought a thunder tiger mini titan e325 heli, and i am glad i did this cuz i could hover it from the first day i got, great little heli very stable and tough. The trex 450 is also a nice little heli also, Definately get a sim, get a DX6i or DX7 transmitter and definately do not buy a esky belt cp v2.lol Good Luck

[Twisted]

Get a good TX Spectrum or futaba would recomend Phoenix flight sim as most of the guys here use it. and depending on how much your looking to spend you cant go far wrong with T-rex... the 450s are good but i seen a few start on a 500 and it a nice size to learn on

[SRT-8]

Hi Big-T, go the best route . Futaba FF7 radio, Trex 450 Sport and Phoenix flight sim . Warm welcome to forum ..........


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[BiG-T]

Hi Guys
Thanks for the advice as I said I was getting mixed info "start off with smaller stuff and work up to bigger kit" etc. I think I am now looking to start bigger Trex 450, Dxi or Futaba TX and Pheonix. I think it would be sad to sit and play with a TX and Sim and not have a Heli to look at and understand what is happening when you push the sticks. I think the other thing I need to learn and understand is the engineering dynamics of the Heli because as was said earlier 'you will bend it so you need to know how to mend it and set it up again'.
Can someone now help me with advice on the 450's Pro? Sport? Sport (2010 Mod)?etc

Tony