Complete Noob Needs Guidance...

[Gixxer]

OK, a bit about me... I'm 43 years old and I'm going through a bit of a mid-life crisis. I've always wanted an RC heli, but due to commitments (and lack of funds), I never got round to buying one, but just recently, I got the urge again, and I've decided that I'm going to do it this time.

I bought a Spektrum DX8 and because I know I'm going to destroy my first heli, I thought it best to buy a sim first, so I bought Phoenix, because it's going to be a lot less expensive to crash before the real thing.

After spending a couple of days on the sim, I'm hooked, and I want the real thing. I have no intention of flying it yet until I'm confident that I won't crash it within 30 seconds of taking off, but I want to be building something while I'm practicing on the sim. I'm leaning toward a Trex 600 or something similar (it has to be nitro... I like smoke and noise ) but I'm not sure if it's the right thing to start with...? I have been offered a Raptor 60 for cheap money, but it has no main blades, and after looking for a pair of 680mm blades, it seems they're not easy to come by, and maybe the Raptor is a bit obsolete...? If this is the case, I probably don't want it, as I can see me needing a good supply of parts for a while after starting... So, what would you good people suggest as a good starting point, but something I won't be bored of in a few weeks, also, flybar or flybarless...?

Any and all advise appreciated, and if anyone has something for sale that might suit...?

Thanks in advance


E2A: - My first day on the sim...

[adieuk]

reading your post and welcome to the best forum there is alot of guys on here that will give you great advice, ive never had a dx8 and alot on the furum have so ill let them tell you about it, phoenix is the best start you will get practice, practice and practice the trex 600 is a great heli to start will and with plenty of cheap parts, my advice would be go and join a club near you and you will get lots of help, with set up and they will tell you more about the heli itself.....welcome to the forum mate.

[del19_82]

Welcome to the money pit that is RC helicopters mate! You have come to the right place for some friendly advice

In my opinion a Trex 600 would be the perfect starter model, cheap(ish) spares, most spares come in packs of 2, plenty available as they are extremely popular and all round good fun . You have gone down the correct route so far with a decent radio & sim so your getting there. The raptor series are good but they are a bit outdated now and for similar money the 600 would be in the air with decent gear . I would also say nitro is best for learning due to flight times but it is personal preference & I love the smell of Nitro in the morning

maybe a good idea to find a club locally and see what's being flown though as you don't want to be flying a 50 size nitro in the local park!

[Gixxer]

Cheers lads, appreciated. I fully intend to stick with Phoenix until I'm (as) certain (as I can be) that I can fly the real thing, so I guess the next question is... how close is phoenix to the real thing, and am I going to get a shock when I do eventually take to the air in with the real thing?

Unfortunately, I moved to Ireland a few years ago, and there are no local clubs, so I guess any knowledge I gain will have to be from the internet or personal experience... although I have no shortage of flying venues

[del19_82]

Phoenix (or any other sim) is never going to be like real life but what it does teach you is the stick movements required to carry out different moves (ie hovering, figure 8's, stall turns etc) it also lets you practise the bail outs required for when they go wrong (and they will sometimes lol) but it ahouldn't be too much of a shock when you do actually hover for the first time! I'm one of the few people that don't use a sim purely because I don't get on with it but there is loads of people that use it religiously!

[dave j]

hi gixxer, welcome to the madhouse lol trex 600 is a good starter heli , as for raptors they arent obsolete the parts are readily avaliable as are the blades i only fly raptors all be it badly but i love them

Dave

[Rich23]

Hi and welcome.

[bikerflier]

Hi and welcome.
I started at your age and loved it ever since.
SIM is the right way to go but do concentrate on flying properly so you don't introduce bad habits that will be hard to overcome.
Take a lot of effort to stay in control and always land properly, don't just give up and let it crash, you end up doing the same when you fly for real. Your target should be the landing, that will make you try to keep other things in control to be able to control the landing.
Always have a 'get out' move and practice that until it comes naturally, you will then be able to recover easily from bad situations.

I'm all electric but if you have to fly the dirty, noisy stuff then a TRex 600 or Raptor 30 will suit you fine.
Plenty of good second hand around.

[Gixxer]

Hi and welcome.
I started at your age and loved it ever since.
SIM is the right way to go but do concentrate on flying properly so you don't introduce bad habits that will be hard to overcome.
Take a lot of effort to stay in control and always land properly, don't just give up and let it crash, you end up doing the same when you fly for real. Your target should be the landing, that will make you try to keep other things in control to be able to control the landing.
Always have a 'get out' move and practice that until it comes naturally, you will then be able to recover easily from bad situations.

I'm all electric but if you have to fly the dirty, noisy stuff then a TRex 600 or Raptor 30 will suit you fine.
Plenty of good second hand around.

I'm practicing hovering, landings and auto rotation all the time, but I do tend to go a bit mad for 10 mins now and then to relieve the boredom ... I also like to see how far I can push it and still manage to recover. It seems the harder I push it, the more alert I become, and it's only then that it seems to come natural to me, and I start moving the sticks the right way.

I guess it's all a matter of practice, but I'll get there, and hopefully all my crashing will be done on the sim

What about the flybar/flybarless question... which would people recommend?

[liamm =D]

if your looking for the trex 600 on the align t-rex website they are selling the new v2 super combos at 499.99 as they have abit of damage to the boxes

T-REX 600N V2 (special) Limited Edition KX0160NPLA - Helicopter Kits Align T-Rex 600 - ALIGN-TREX.co.uk

[SaneAdam]

Have to say, I'm impressed if thats your first day on the sim!!

[liamm =D]

hey sane adam where abouts you fly in leeds :P thats where am from

[SaneAdam]

hey sane adam where abouts you fly in leeds :P thats where am from

I actually fly with a few mates near Heckmondwike. I heard Thorpe Park is a pretty good location in Leeds. I prefer to fly with other people though. Don't really fly much on my own. Do you know any good locations in Leeds.

Back on topic though Gixxer..... I would go FBL. Much more fun to fly ... in my opinion anyway. I think pretty soon everything will be going down the FBL route! I also feel it makes the machines look so much more slick aesthetically!

[Gixxer]

if your looking for the trex 600 on the align t-rex website they are selling the new v2 super combos at 499.99 as they have abit of damage to the boxes

T-REX 600N V2 (special) Limited Edition KX0160NPLA - Helicopter Kits Align T-Rex 600 - ALIGN-TREX.co.uk

Thanks for the link, but to honest, I'm looking at buying something second hand for my first heli, as I know I'm going to crash it, and I don't want it to hurt so much... but thanks for the link, appreciated.

Have to say, I'm impressed if thats your first day on the sim!!

Thanks... but you have no idea how many crashes I edited out to make the video... there were quite a few

[SaneAdam]

Thanks... but you have no idea how many crashes I edited out to make the video... there were quite a few [/QUOTE]

Still though, it looks as if you have pretty good collective skills for a beginner.