Advice needed for 1st Heli

[waveydavey]

If your going with a 450 go for the sport, it's tail is belt driven and a little more tolerant of catching the tail blades, the pro is torque tube which normally results in stripped drive gears if you do the same. That's really the main difference between the 2.

You don't really need to know much about flight dynamics, if you do HERE will help you out. Go for getting help here and using the build videos/ reviews on 450 review heli tuning and HeliFreak. In particular go for Finless Bobs tech room and his explanations on cppm

[Gaza07]

If your going with a 450 go for the sport, it's tail is belt driven and a little more tolerant of catching the tail blades, the pro is torque tube which normally results in stripped drive gears. Thats really the main difference between the 2.

You don't really need to know much about flight dynamics, if you do HERE will help you out. Go for getting help here and using the build videos/ reviews on 450 review heli tuning and HeliFreak. In particular go for Finless Bobs tech room and his explanations on cppm

good sound advise

[trident3]

My first CP heli was my Trex 450 sport, I selected it on the advice of pretty much every heliflyer at my club as a good first CP heli.

When learning to land my 450 sport, I twice clipped the tail blades on the ground fairly hard when "landing". All this did was to move the torque tube in slightly which loosened the tail's drive belt. The "repair" took less than five minutes and the cost was four drops of threadlock. (450 sport pilots know exactly what I'm talking about ). A few minutes later, I was flying again.

A 450 pro would have stripped gears...

T3

[Boggy]

What a refreshing change to see a "newbie" thread where the op has taken onboard advice and used it to decide exactly what he needs.Instead of the usual outcome of another dozen questions followed by" I bought the ???? anyway ill let you know how i get on"

[stuskimac]

My first CP heli was my Trex 450 sport, I selected it on the advice of pretty much every heliflyer at my club as a good first CP heli.

When learning to land my 450 sport, I twice clipped the tail blades on the ground fairly hard when "landing". All this did was to move the torque tube in slightly which loosened the tail's drive belt. The "repair" took less than five minutes and the cost was four drops of threadlock. (450 sport pilots know exactly what I'm talking about ). A few minutes later, I was flying again.

A 450 pro would have stripped gears...

T3

I'm a bit puzzled here ? torque tube moves & loosened tails belt drive ? is it torque tube driven or belt driven ? or do you mean tail boom tube ?

[BiG-T]

Hi Guys
Spent the afternoon watching build videos etc for the 450 sport nothing to scary just need to set myself up with another tool kit!
Ron thanks for the comment I am 50 so I take and listen to advice especially if it involves doing something right first time. As I have read in numerous posts guy's have not taken advice and have been put off because the route they have followed has been hard and uphill. After all it's a hobby and if you don't enjoy it you won't stick at it.

Tony

[BiG-T]

Well that's started it then, just bought a 4 month old Dxi6 setup from Adam on here for £75 now looking for Pheonix at the right price anybody know of one available?

Tony

[Boggy]

Good start Tony. Phoenix does pop up now and then but not usually cheap,you're probably just as well trying your Lhs for that

[adamf]

hi tony
i might know of a copy of phoenix available, its not mine its a friends but hes only got a dx7se so he might let it go, will let you know asap mate
hope you enjoy the hobby, it is very good fun adamf

[tiddler]

Yup, have to agree with Boggy. Used copies of Phoenix are hard to come by and only goes to show how popular it is.
So might as well by it new

Edit.
Typical, didn't see Adams post before I said this

[Boggy]

hi tony
i might know of a copy of phoenix available, its not mine its a friends but hes only got a dx7se so he might let it go, will let you know asap mate
hope you enjoy the hobby, it is very good fun adamf

LOL Just shows what we know Tiddler!

Adam does your mate know about SimStick though?

[trident3]

I'm a bit puzzled here ? torque tube moves & loosened tails belt drive ? is it torque tube driven or belt driven ? or do you mean tail boom tube ?

I meant the tail boom moved in slightly - not the torque tube! Oops, I dumb-thumbed the post :-)

The 450 sport is belt driven, the 450 pro has a torque tube.

T3

[rcwhirlygig]

Hiya Big T from a fellow newbie,

I am currently practising my hovering with my new trex 450 pro, what a great little machine, but I must admit I built my confidence up with a blade 120 sr which I use to practise inside and out as long as there is little or no wind, I also bought a DX7 just before they released the DX8 no regrets so far.

But I must admit I do agree with the advice and recommendations of the forum members

Good luck

[xalen]

Here's my view for the benefit of others:

Buying a first (cheap) heli is a tough one. Yes they are crap, and don't fly very well (in fact they're harder to fly than a more expensive helicopter) and you will very quickly move beyond them, however they do tend to be more crash resistant.

I'd say there are two routes. If you're serious and know you're gonna stick at the hobby, get a sim, my preference is Reflex XTR, and get something like a 450 size helicopter, Trex, Mini Titan. I have a Mini Titan and I've learned loads from it, still my favourite and still loads left to learn on it. The Spektrum DX6i is perfectly capable for helis although now the DX8 is out, the price of the DX7 is dropping.

If you're not sure about the hobby, then probably a reasonable quality fixed pitch heli. All the cheap ones really are very hard to fly and don't have much power. An alternative is a micro 4ch heli like a Walkera 4 3b. They're not the cheapest but quite tough and surprisingly good. They also give you something to fly in your living room too when the weather's crap.