The next stage

[Mr Xen]

Hi Guys,

I amnew to the forum, but have a little bit of experience in the world of heli`s!!ever since 2 years ago i was brought a Syma S032 for x-mas i caught the bug bigtime!

Over the last 2 years have naturally progressed through some cheap china 3-4channel co-ax Heli`s to this x-mas where i was given an aerial atom F/P 4channel.... which i love flying around the house annoying the wife as usual(love her to bits!!) and trying not to take out my 18month old little girl (100%success rate so far).... who also is fixated by heli`s!!!

The time has come and i want progress to the next stage, my brother has justbrought a belt CPX ( his choice not mine!!!) and as much as i want to say tohim chop it in and get a real 6channel heli i just cant!! ( little brotherverses big brother syndrome)

After a lot of research i have come across this http://www.kingslynnmodelshop.co.uk/Helicopters_&_Spares-E-Flite_Blade_400/450-E-Flite_Blade_450_3D/c33_352_236/p2148/E-Flite_Blade_450_3D_RTF_-_Instock_Now/product_info.htmlPlease can i have some feedback / experience with this heli as i am 95% readyto pull the trigger on this baby, or can some suggest some other options tolook at.

Cheers for all you help in advance

[scoobystig]

hi

i havent flown the 450, but i learnt on the Twister storm 3D which is identical to the blade 400, which was Eflite's heli before the 450 came out
i am sure the 450 will be very good and alot better than the belt CPX, spares will be ready available and Eflite quality is generally very good
i say go for it

other options would obvioulsy be a Trex 450 Sport or Pro version or my Twister Storm in the for sale section (shameless Plug)

there are a few Trex clones, but generally people end up putting trex parts on them so its worth starting with the real thing
there seem to be a few 450's for sale at the moment

[Mr Xen]

Hi Scoobystig,

Thanks for the reply, will deffo have a look in to the Twister Storm 3d!! To be honest am open to suggestions for heli`s as i want to start off right.

Cheers

[stanley1]

i started on a belt cp to learn the basics then quickly moved to an align 450 pro which i still have now. id suggest spend what you can on a decent radio dx6i is good but you may want better in the not too distant future so a dx7 would be 250 quid well spent. it may sound alot but once bought its there for life and you cant crash a transmitter.
proberly a very good tip would be get a flight simulator like pheonix straight away to learn on (something i diddnt do) and youll be fine

[Mr Xen]

Hi Stanley1,

Cheers for the wise words!! will be puting my hard earned cash to the pheonix sim, i borrowed the e-sky with FMS but it just does not come close

[nitromad]

imho i wouldn't get my 450 again if i went back in time ,i would go straint to a 500. my 500 improved my flying so much from point of almost quitting to point i do odd flips and loops.if you have funds i would go for 500 much easyer to learn but needs much more room. oh and sim sim sim

gavin

[Vikki]

That's an interesting thing you say, Gavin. I was thinking Align T-rex 450 in a few months time but your advice of going for a 500 size really intrigues me.

Given that it's often 20mph winds here in the south that seems to speak volumes to me that that would be a better size.

How much bigger is a 500 over a 450?

Best regards.

Vikki.

[nitromad]

its not massively bigger roughly 84cm long 450 roughy 60cm but much much better in wind

[monsul]

imho i wouldn't get my 450 again if i went back in time ,i would go straint to a 500. my 500 improved my flying so much from point of almost quitting to point i do odd flips and loops.if you have funds i would go for 500 much easyer to learn but needs much more room. oh and sim sim sim

gavin

I also learned with a 500 (Trex) and while it's a bit more intimidating than smaller helis it's also much more stable and wind resistant. And being big makes it easier to work with while repairing it!

[stanley1]

the 500 is quite a bit bigger in my opinion, and i agree its much easier to fly then the 450 because of the size but obviously the repair bills get larger. clock up loads of hours on the sim is the best way forward, when you get better on the sim you can set it to windy and it is very realistic. its excellent for orientation practice which is the key to heli flying and once you can hover in all orientations you will progress into forward flight easy.
id allready crashed and repaired my 450 pro about 10 times before id got the sim and it was an expensive begining for me but sheer determination took over and i was and still am well and truly hooked

[nitromad]

the 500 is quite a bit bigger in my opinion, and i agree its much easier to fly then the 450 because of the size but obviously the repair bills get larger. clock up loads of hours on the sim is the best way forward, when you get better on the sim you can set it to windy and it is very realistic. its excellent for orientation practice which is the key to heli flying and once you can hover in all orientations you will progress into forward flight easy.
id allready crashed and repaired my 450 pro about 10 times before id got the sim and it was an expensive begining for me but sheer determination took over and i was and still am well and truly hooked

i agree and disagree ok 500 parts cost more but you also saving money as you more likely plant the 450 as 500 more stable.my 450 had 5-6 rebuilds while my 500 had only 1 (i learnt on both) im sure if i did maths all them 450 rebuilds will add up more but i deffo agree with sim sim sim

btw if im right stanley pic is 450 and 500 side by side so theres your compareison

gavin

[scuba steve]

welcome to the forum Mr.Xen. dont be fooled by the RTF claimes of the Blade 450...they seldom are 100% set up and the second you crash it (which will be very soon after you maiden it) you'll be back to a re-build and set up. a proper build and correct set up is everything in this hobby and the only way (IMHO) is to build your own kit from opening the box to first flight. it will take you maybe 2 weeks and your head will hurt with all the info but it will stand you in good stead for the future and sticking at the brilliant hobby......dont fall at the first hurdle like so many do.

my suggestion :
DX6i with msrx and sim your arse off whilst building your chosen kit (my suggestion is Tarot 450 Pro kit from Hobby Wing)

Tarot 450 Pro RC Helicopter Super Combo

scuba

[stanley1]

thats correct 600 on the left then 500 then 450 then mcpx. pics hard to see though so heres the propper one
2012-01-15 14.28.46.jpg

[Martyn (Bomber)]

My mate who I fly with has had a 500 since they come out and has just upgraded to the latest bits as they've been released over the years (TT, carbon frame, FBL etc...) sometimes after a crash on the rebuild and sometimes just because he felt like it, he has watched me buy heli after heli but he has always been happy with his 500, his flying ability now is much higher than a 500 class heli can provide so the fact that he's still happy with it just tells you how good they are as an all round heli IMO.

[Mr Xen]

Guys & Girls,

Thanks for all the posts, after looking in to it....... a 450 size is gonna be my limit as much as i drool over the Align 500`s + so badly wanna get an air wolf kit ( the even bigger kid coming out in me!!) i just know when i stack my heli, i just whant to get the bird up in the air as quick as possible with out a massive dent put in my wallet!!!

Just a quick question whats the main benifits of getting a Spectrum dx7 over the dx6??

Cheers cheers and cheers again!