What to get?

[Richie]

Hi,

Im completely new to this but looking to buy a rc helicopter. I have a couple in mind, but not really sure what to go for. Mainly want it for control - being able to hover/ move around easy and very stable.

A couple of have been looking at are:

Twister hawk: seen in my model shop for £100 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TWISTER-Hawk-Bell-47-Army-RTF-model-RC-helicopter_W0QQitemZ290174827326QQihZ019QQcategory Z123847QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and the other one: Apache AH-64. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Radio-Control-Apache-AH-64-4-Channel-Helicopter-RTF-UK_W0QQitemZ260177192025QQihZ016QQcategoryZ123847Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Basically the main differences i can see so far are that the hawk has a few more safety features like the low battery warning, Motor Overload Protection System etc


Just want to know what would you recommend i go for as a 16 year old beginner, or do you have any other recommendations for a similar price as those?


Thanks
Richie

[Guest]

Try this tread:

http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7193

And this tread:

http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7248

The blade is the best option at the moment
Don't think anyone would recommend ebay for a beginner
Welcome to heli's

[Twister3D]

I think you will find, if you have a browse through this forum.
Everyone recommends the Blade CX2 its £119 and sounds the best choice.
Im only going on what I have read, but trust alot of peoples experience on here.

[Jamez]

you would be ok with the blackhawk

[Richie]

Hi, thanks for all the quick replys.

However, can I just ask what are the actual advantages of the Blade cx2 over the hawk? As its £20 more and I doubt il be able to get it in my local model shop, so means getting it off the net. ALso, if anything, from the quick look i have had, it seems to me that the hawk is just the same, if not better because of the safety features it has which the blade seems not to have.

Thanks again
Richie

[Jamez]

2.4 ghz, no interference or frequency clash, safe to fly anywhere

[pompeyjohn]

many of these helis are part for part quite similar... and you'll find that the bits you can get for one, will work with another.

it looks like the radio on the hawk is not as good as the one you get with the blade. the blade one...

...runs on the 2.4 wireless spectrum, which means you'll not get radio interference

...is compatible with more expensive systems which you may move to later on.

it is a nice body on the hawk, but I dont think you really need the 'safety procedure' stuff. Just get into the habit of cutting the power and you'll be fine.

lastly I'd say the blade has a HUGE community which provide support/advice/mod tips.

I had a similar choice to make to you but for a larger style heli. I went for one called the mini titan over another called the t-rex. A lot of people think the mini titan is better, but the t-rex has the bigger user community. When your just starting out you'll find facts like that handy.

[Richie]

what do u mean by no frequency clash and safe to fly anywhere? and whats the advantage of 2.4 ghz? Sorry, as I said im completely new to this.

Cheers


EDIT: this was in response to jamez' post, but johns answered some now. Really dont know what to go for now because I was almost certain on going for the hawk lol

[pompeyjohn]

in the same way that when you tune an old style radio in the car you can sometimes hear other stations... (or the french!) ... old style radios can suffer from interference from other signals.

the new 2.4 wireless style (like the blade) have a system which is quite similar to the way a wireless laptop connects to the internet. The connection is much stronger, and the chance of interference is slim.

the move to 2.4 is probably the biggest shift the hobby has had in ten years; I'd go with it

[Guest]

The main difference is the Blade comes with a 2.4G radio
Switch your radio on without interference with others and no crystals required
It's not a write home about radio but better than the std RTF kit radios
and it's also compatible with the Phoenix sim


Try here:
www.mrmodels.co.uk

He had loads a while ago, also does the Hawk cheaper

[Richie]

The main difference is the Blade comes with a 2.4G radio
Switch your radio on without interference with others and no crystals required
It's not a write home about radio but better than the std RTF kit radios
and it's also compatible with the Phoenix sim


Try here:
www.mrmodels.co.uk

He had loads a while ago, also does the Hawk cheaper

Thanks. PS is that link right? doesnt seem to be working?

[Guest]

The links right, it's just his website is on a yo yo recently

The main difference is in the radio and I doubt you would use the blade radio if you get a better heli
Most would say get the 2.4G but the helis fly the same really

PS
IMO and I'd probably get stoned for it is:
These are indoor heli's and don't really like any wind at all
It's not likely you would fly it anywhere else
So I wouldn't be too bothered about the 2.4G

[pompeyjohn]

The links right, it's just his website is on a yo yo recently

The main difference is in the radio and I doubt you would use the blade radio if you get a better heli
Most would say get the 2.4G but the helis fly the same really

the new version CX2 (the one with the anodized blue top) ... has a spektrum ar6100 which will work with the DX7... and can be ripped out the CX2 and used with any other model you like... a very cool little box that, and worth a couple of quid on its own.

[Guest]

Yes it's probably worth a few quid on it's own but you are still paying the extra

The ar6100 is available for around £35 now

[Richie]

I decided to go for the hawk in the end, and had it a tenner cheaper than normal price (so £90) from my local model shop. Only had two flights so far, first i thought oh god what have i just wasted my money on - couldnt even get it off the ground without it flying off into a wall etc, but on the second flight i learnt that if i just gave it a lot of throttle and quite quick untill it got a few feet in the air, it seemed much easier and managed to steady it to a breif however a couple of times. Also just about got the hang of landing it, and so far, no damage!!

anyway, although i can get it up, hover, and get it back down, it seems quite hard to move it around and stay steady at the same time, and cant really even move it round the room at the moment without having to bring it down because losing control etc. Is this normal or can most people have more control by this time? also anyone got any tips for more control and steadiness in trying to move it around? or is it just a case of keep practising? also think im going to have to get anther battery because waiting 1hour+ fr it to charge each time is getting a bit boring lol


cheers