Best trainer heli for later scale use.

[dauntless]

Hi,
Some questions from a heli "new boy"
Been flying fixed wing for years and now fly almost exclusively scale models. Fancied a change with a scale helicopter. However, need to learn to fly a heli first. I did try in 1980 with an S/H worn out Kalt Baron (25 size) heli, non-heli radio and no gyro - and failed miserably!

Obviously I need a practical, cheap to repair model to learn on, but I would like something that could be fitted at a later date with a scale (or sport scale) body kit without lots of expense. What do you experts recommend? I'm not interested in 3D flying or fancy stunts, so availability of lots of upgrades is not much interest to me.

Also, as I have a JR PCM9XII tx and 8231 digital servos I'm OK with the main radio requirements. But what gyro/tail servo do I need for a 30/50 size heli, bearing in mind "stunts" are not my thing, but smooth scale like flight is? Should I go for a JR G490T to be fully compatible with my JR tx? Or would something else be better?

Sorry to ask so many question, but better to seek advice before spending money on the wrong gear.
Thanks
David

[Biggles]

raptor 50 titan due to parts availabillity....csm 560/9254 or gy401/9254

don't skimp on the gyro combo...

[Biggles]

and the raptor has been around for ages and stood the test of time...plus it flys well. scale fuzzes are easily available.

[Sesame]

Yup for ease of learning getting parts etc. I don't think theres anything gonna fit your bill better than a raptor and the 50's make a good learning machine.

[Jamez]

Maybe a shuttle, as they are cheap and easy and scale quite nicely ( here we go with the shuttle bashing again in 3, 2, 1 ........)

[Edders]

shuttles are one of the best for scale helis due to there layout

but if your going to buy a new kit to learn on get a align 600 very cheap spares and fly's great too

Edders

[Weetobix]

I was in a similar situation to you - my Blade CX2 was getting a bit small for me and I wanted a large heli to learn on with the intention of adding a scale kit to it later (probably due to my days of making airfix kits in my youth), so last weekend I bit the bullet and bought myself a second hand Raptor 50 with all the other kit I needed (I luckily found someone giving up RC and willing to sell me £2500 worth of stuff for £750). This was mostly on the recommendation of others, the knowledge I can get scale kits for it and the vast array of Raptor spares at my LHS

I should be taking it out with a local club for the first time this weekend, touch wood.
From there I plan to get better at flying, til I have the time and funds to get an Approach apache kit which will fit the Raptor
http://www.approachengineering.com/index.php

[SRH990]

The Raptor 30/50 range have a huge amount of options when it comes to scale bodies. I'd love to recommend the Trex 600N as spares prices are nearly half Raptor equivalents plus it's got a much better control system but fitting scale bodies could be more difficult and if scale is the way you want to go the Raptor is well up to the job.

[bladetrasher]

Simple really
A Century Hawk Pro either 30 or 50 size, Have by far the biggest choice for Fuselages
Midlands are selling them for £135 30 size and £143:98 for the 50

they both Fit all the Funkey/Century range of fuses with no mods required to either the fuse or the Mechanics or minimal mods to fit Hirobo, Thunder Tiger etc etc
The only upgrade that you would require is the CCPM conversion or make your own if you wanted a cockpit on the fuse (depending on the fuse of course)

Using the stock head dampers that come with both you can run a 1450 head speed or you can get a gearing option to run an OS 52 4 stroke but the power level is not very good,

Spares are plentiful and like the Raptor are cheap

Unfortunately Most Folks on this site slate them but have never flown them
but used in Scale they are very hard to beat

Do a Search on www.scalerchelis.com or Runryder and see for yourself

The Raptors are a good heli but unless its a Thunder Tiger fuse 9 times out of 10 you will have to modify the frames or cut the Pitch arm down, not hard things to do just a pain to do it LOL

Now if you want to 3D then get another heli as there are better ones out there but I refuse to say which LOL

[bladeboy400]

I have converted the 450 hughes 500 shell it is easy to fit i have also just built a hirobo lama the raptor has simalar set up and and 30 size raptor is a great platform for a scale heli