Another newbie thread - help needed?!

[Ranger]

Am looking to purchase my first heli and have decided on an electric version. Have searched though the threads and have found references to a Mini Titan and a T-rex - both of which seem to have been recommended in these threads. I need some help though. I have no idea what is best for a beginner. What exactly do I need to buy? Do they come in kit form or already made up? I have spent hours on the web searching out answers and all I am getting is confused but it did lead me to this forum. I am hoping that you could share some wisdom with me and suggest a good beginners kit that I won't grow out of too quickly!

[Ashley Davis]

T-Rex 450S.....loads of experience on this heli and an entire help site (see my signature below). If you can afford it gets the T-Rex SE V2.

[richieclarkie]

Hi

Ashley is right, either the 450S or the 450 SE V2 are great helis.

Unless you buy a package then you need to buy the following:

1 Heli itself (TREX includes Motor, Battery, Blades, ESC)
2 Cyclic Servos (3 of them for a CCPM like the 450)
3 Gyro and tail servo (very important you get the right one as a steady tail makes learning easier and potentially less crashes)
4 Additional Lipos (5-8mins flights are the norm with electric, so it's nice to have multiple battery packs
5 A Transmitter and Reciever (ideally 2.4Ghz, not 35Mhz)
6 A good Sim (you can learn to fly a heli without risking your model so much)
7 A battery charger

Right thats what you need, now here are my personal recomendations based on what I have and know works - WELL!

1 TREX 450 SE V2
2 3 x Hitec HS65 MGs
3 Futaba 401 Gyro and Futaba 9650 Servo
4 Revolution 2100 and Electrolite 2200 Lipos
5 DX7 Transmitter and AR6100 Reciever
6 Phoenix RC Simulator (will plug straight in the DX7)
7 Prodigy II Field Charger and 240>12v mains supply

Rough guide price
£850 (you can save a bundle buying from the far east but would have little protection if something is faulty)

This will no doubt seem very expensive, but it will mean you won't need to upgrade anything as your flying improves apart from the bits that you are bound to break.

And you'll have the coolest little heli

[Ashley Davis]

Good list Richie, although I'd swap the prodigy for a Cellpro charger as the prodigy isn't a balancing charger and the Cellpro does a far better job.

[rombonie]

Aye good list from Richie there but like Ashley I'd go for the cellpro charger. I would also consider running a different tail servo and the RX would have to be the AR7000 over the AR6100.

Never the less, get the sim first.

Cheers Dor

[Fixxxer]

I'll stick up for the titan here I love the fact you can access the motor very easily & the whole tail unit can be removed including the belt without any tension issues. Also routing the wires is easy with the motor and ESC up front away from the reciever and gyro. The whole kit feels well thought out apart from the servo stays which ain't the best for accepting many models of servo without a bit of messing about with a file and the blades can sometimes be a problem to keep tracked, many think this is down to the rotor grip levers flexing although this only seems to affect it when running carbon blades.

Flies **** on but I suspect it's a little heavier than a 450. As ash says theres a wealth of knowledge regarding the 450 and loads of third party spares & upgrades etc so for a complete beginner it is probably the best choice and you have the coinfidence that it's been around the block for a while unlike the titan which is one of the new kids.

[richieclarkie]

I would also consider running a different tail servo and the RX would have to be the AR7000 over the AR6100.

Which other tail servos have you tried? I understood the options are the 3154 (can burn out prematurely according to ash) and maybe there's a hitec one out there. In my case I know the 9650 is very good and holds the tail well even in fast backwards flight.

On the reciever I recommended the 6100 because you only need 6 channels and it's easier to install as you don't have the additional reciever to worry about. Range isn't really an issue as if it gets more than 40-50 meters away your in a bit of poo poo.

However if you buy a DX7 kit you get an AR7000 included so it makes sense to use the RX that comes with it.

[Ashley Davis]

hitec have new digital versions of the hs56 and hs65 just announced, should be good on tail. come to think of it, should be good on cyclic........there's another £100 burned.

[golddust]

So all in all, it seems helis can be a money pit :-)

[Sesame]

So all in all, it seems helis can be a money pit :-)

another trouble is its like jaffa cakes you can't just have one!!!

[rombonie]

Which other tail servos have you tried? I understood the options are the 3154 (can burn out prematurely according to ash) and maybe there's a hitec one out there. In my case I know the 9650 is very good and holds the tail well even in fast backwards flight.

I've used a HS65 which will do a good job but I am now using a 3154 with a voltage reduction lead. Seems fine however I have spent time on ensuring the tail setup is spot on, center and end stops.

Only time will tell.

[Ranger]

Thanks for all of the replys so far, the Trex shopping list was fantastic and a real help. Can anyone give me a shopping list for a Titan? I presume most of the parts would still be the same but for the model of heli. Then I can work out the pros, cons and cost implications and make a choice between the two. I really do appreciate all the feedback, there's nothing like hearing whats best from the horses mouth (so to speak )!

[applematt]

I'm a little worried that the servo horn will give up in mid flight (3154)... I've looked into the hs55 horn and that one seems worse than the 3154 - its much thinner!

Anyhow, what links & fixings are you guys using with the 3154 - as the stock links & fixings on the mini titan are quite big compared to the holes on the servo horn... I was thinking of nut & bolt rather than self tapper, but that means the internal dia of the ball link will be much bigger than the fixing for the servo horn?? And this is all before i start on the rear control arm slop!

[richieclarkie]

Personally I don't feel comfortable recommending a 3154 to anyone just starting out in heli flying. I would suggest something like an HS-56 in preference to it as it will hold the tail reasonably while hovering and gently flight. Plus I am not aware of any issues with regard to burning out.

The 9650 is a more long term investment that is capable of holding the tail through some more extreme manouvres.

[applematt]

Personally I don't feel comfortable recommending a 3154 to anyone just starting out in heli flying. I would suggest something like an HS-56 in preference to it as it will hold the tail reasonably while hovering and gently flight. Plus I am not aware of any issues with regard to burning out.

The 9650 is a more long term investment that is capable of holding the tail through some more extreme manouvres.

Whats your reservations with the 3154 for a new flyer?
As i've just taken off the 56 and replaced it with a 3154... i was lead to believe the 56 wasnt up to much for a new flyer... and a digital with a 401 would be much better???

Now confused as to what will be the best route to take???

The 9650 on a mini titan seems a little over-kill for its size & weight - i'm sure this will make the heli tail heavy... maybe this is why so many t-rex's are tail heavy - light model with a big servo on the back????

I have some other issues with the tail on the mini-titan so am not flying until i have it sorted... so i have some thinking time!