Newbie progression advice

[Big Dogg]

Hi Folks,

First post on the forum. There seems to be loads of really useful stuff on here

But anywho... I'm after some advice on what heli to move on to next. I just recently got my first R/C heli, a Mini Twister Scale. This is a very docile wee heli and I was able to hover and fly around my living room (fairly confined space) without crashing within a few flights on the first day. Next, I moved on to the "advanced mode" on this heli. There wasn't too much difference, just that it moves around slightly quicker.

Next, I bought a DH9118 mid sized heli. This is a 3ch coax, so it was fairly easy to fly, but if there is ANY breeze at all, it's hopeless. So, I upgraded the tail rotor to a bigger one (as advised by most forums online), but there wasn't much improvement.

I live in NI, so we very very rarely have a calm day and I decided to go for a smaller heli, but single rotor with the aim of being able to fly outside in a breeze. So I bought a Walkera V200D01 (local guy selling one virtually brand new). This is a flybarless heli that is between the DH9118 and the mini twister in size, but I found this way to quick for me to control, so I sold this on with the view to buying something a little easier to fly.

I picked up a Blade MCX2 and a MSRx together this evening from a local guy and this seems to be a good move, as the MCX2 is a more agile coax than the mini twister is, but still very stable and easy to control. The MSRx is obviously a lot more agile than the MCX2, so I plan to practise with this until I get confident indoors, then try it outdoors on a calm day.

So, my question is, where to go from here? My next buy is going to be a Spektrum DX6i Tx, because up to know, I've been using the stock RTF Txs that have came with the helis and while these are fine for the coax helis, I will need a decent Tx when I move on to the FP MSRx and definitely if I ever want to move on to a CP heli. I can also use the DX6i when I get an R/C plane.

Next thing I need to get is a simulator for my PC/MAC (are any of the simulators compatible with mac btw, or are they PC only?). What simulator would you recommend?

I have a choice between a Blade 120SR or an MCPx that I can pick up locally, in excellent condition. I don't plan to fly either just yet, but would like to get them while I can, so that when I gain more confidence, I can move on to one of these. In my position, which would you go for? I know the MCPx can do a lot more than the 120 SR, but it'll also be more difficult to control, unless I can set it up well the the DX6i and "tame" it. I also like the fact that I have the option of flying the MCPx indoors due to its size, but at the same time, it can handle a little wind outside. That being said, the 120 SR will probably be easier to handle, with stock settings and I like the bigger size for outside flight.

Fairly lengthy post for my first post on the forum, but hoping you can guide me in the right direction

BTW, are there many/any other members from NI?

[challis349]

Welcome to the forum mate

Out of those 2 I would definitely go for the mcpx next, you won't see enough difference between the msr and the 120, apart from size, the mcpx being collective pitch means its a lot more lively, but that thing can take a crash pretty well.

I would suggest saving a little longer and getting a 130x next though, it has a few teething problems, but for a beater/first cp heli, I think it would be great

[Vikki]

For the transmitter try go for a DX8, you'll end up with one anyway in the end

Simulator. For PC it has too be Phoenix. £80 or less complete. Runs on a Mac if you have Parallels or run Bootcamp. AeroFly 5 is Mac native but at just over £200.... I've heard it's extremely good.

Small heli that will handle a breeze, got to be the mcpx. 120SR cowers in the corner if you so much as sneeze in the next room. The mcpx is a right handful in a wind if just trying to hover but it flies in a wind, at speed, as if it isn't there. Stronger winds make it more of a handful. What I used to do in winds was just tank it around and when I wanted to land (difficult to do a proper landing in the wind) I'd bring it close to the ground and hit throttle hold. Over grass it just plops on to the deck no damage.

The 130X while not really an indoor flier is better in a wind than the mcpx and because it is bigger with a proper tail drive it flies like the bigger helis and has very good stability. You might want to give serious consideration to this remarkable little heli.

It's a sad fact of life that the bigger the heli the more stable it is. Ideally you'd want to start on a big heli but then the fear factor steps in, big helis are scary beasts. I remember being terriefied of my 450 when I put it down and spooled it up. I got used to it and then got a 500. The 450's look positively small now.

Hope that was off some help.

[highlightshadow]

I would say if you can, go bigger but join a local club if you have one or at least seek out someone nearby that could help you on first few hovers (buddy lead) ... the smaller heli's are all well and good and can take a knock or two well generally but they're not in the same league as something larger...

It all depends on your budget ... one thing you have to realise is that you WILL crash a heli ... big or small ... so while a bigger one is much more able to handle wind and can be tamed or made wild as needed and will be steadier in the wind even a small crash will most likely break parts (blades/shafts etc) so you'd have to be prepared to drop maybe £30-60 a time on a crash.

The 130x/MCPX are both nice helis and flew over thick grass (certainly i can speak for mcpx) is bordering on indestructible (as long as you learn to whack throttle hold on the instant you believe ground = inevitable) .. most new fliers pull down on the collective stick which just accelerates the impact

Having a mentor i found invaluable though continuously so a club / buddy would be next on my shopping list... Also you'll tend to find that club-mates will have old helis laying around that you'll get for cheaps

Welcome to the hobby .... once you find you're hooked - be prepared to lose all you money to this wonderful activity (new shiny shiny is a terrible draw)

[Keith b]

Hi big dog I started on a raptor 30 and got the phoneix sim which is one of the best sims out there I think the raptor at first is scary but are good to hover with and I have a blade 400 which is good for learning on not as scary as the big boys toys

[waveydavey]

Beginners advice is always difficult because we don't know your budget, how old, whether you have access to a club, flying field etc.

As Vicki rightly says above the bigger the better, many learn on 450 size machines but as you have already found they aren't suitable for windy conditions. Yes. some will fly this sized machine in windy conditions but they are a handful.

Don't settle on just the DX8 and consider a cheaper Tx, maybe second hand as there are some good bargains to be had. Even consider alternative makes, Futaba etc. I use a DX7 which I bought 2nd hand and it does everything I need.

Phoenix is the sim of choice normally for the price you can't go wrong, again look for 2nd hand bargains.

It can be an expensive hobby and it is often the downfall of many beginners, they start out get hooked, over extend themselves financially and end up having to sell up. It's difficult not to get hooked that is the problem, it's like a drug once you learn a modicum of control, add to that the comaraderie and there isn't a hobby I can think of like it.

Take it slowly and if you can find a club near to you that can help with setup, (there is nothing worse than getting a model then struggling with the terminology and setup), go join it.

Welcome to the forum and remember no question is a stupid one

[parka]

Hi big dogg, im in exactly the same boat as you, i started with a twister coast guard coax a couple of years ago, flew it here and there over a year or so, then it was shelved and never used again, after spending the last 2 years bashing 1/8 rc cars, i decided to have a serious crack at helis, and after seeing a titan 450 pro rtf going cheap i thought why not, lol deffinatley a bold and unwise move to begin with, first time i spooled it up in the garden, i got jelly knees, hit throttle hold and ran in the house

This is where i learnt very quickly, that this is one damn expensive hobby, affter reading lots of posts, i opted for a second hand dx6i, a second hand mcpx and a copy of phoenix (ironically i wanted a heli, as i was struggling to maintain the cars), 2 months in ive now spent just shy of 400 quid, and after binning the 450 for the first time last week, the choice of whether to rebuild the titan, or buy a trex 450, as a noob, i found the mcpx to be a better learning tool than the simulator, and have had several sucsesfull tail in flights with the 450, before over doing a recovery move in a panic, and hitting a deck chair DOH

I certainly cant vouch for which route would be best for you, but if your pockets are deep enough, and your confidence high enough, ive found the mcpx and 450 combo a winner for me, which ever route you go down, i can gurantee you will be hooked

[Big Dogg]

I've been researching local clubs and I've found 2 reasonably close to me. I think both aren't accepting new members at present, but I'm hoping to tag along to their next meet, just to try to meet a few people etc. This hobby is definitely addictive lol.

There is a Trex 450 Pro for sale locally, so maybe I'd be better going for that than the mcpx or 120SR.

As for more details about me, I'm 25 (turning 26 next week - birthday money = possible new heli lol) and the main place I fly the helis is either my living too for the mini helis or a waste ground out the back of my house for the bigger helis.

[Big Dogg]

Oh, and like yourself, Parka, I also have 1/8th scale nitro cars.. I was in the model shop buying parts for 1 of my cars when I decided to go for a wee heli. Haven't looked at the cars since lol.

[PinchofSalt]

+1 to vikki's comments.
Phoenix simulator
Buy a dx8 now (if you stick with flyin you'll get one some day, may as well benefit from learning on it)
Practice your orientations on the Msrx, and grab a 130x. I'd suggest upgrading a few bits straight off though. Rakon slider and new bearings and some Kbdd tail blades. There is lots of other advice here on things you can improve or pm me and I'll walk you through the steps I've done.

[iceuk]

I would get a Trex 500 2nd hand, DX6I and Phoniex sim, 500 will handle majority of windy conditions.

[BenScoobert]

+1 on the dx8 from the beginning, I got the dx6i and changed after about 4 months.

don't be afraid to move from the MCPX to a larger heli, I went from the MCPX to raptor E620

A big help is not fearing the crashes, not fearing them means being able to afford them, so don't buy something you can't afford to crash in the 1st place
Used raptor E550 go cheap, £10 servos are fine for learning on a flybarred one, my 2 big crashes on mine were £80 each to fix, although still frustrating it wasn't a remortgage.
Check what your local stockists carry, I can get my spares on my journey to work from model shop Leeds, or by post from midland heli next day.

Fly over grass with the MCPX and it bounces, I feel it is a better learning tool than phoenix.

[highlightshadow]

I would get a Trex 500 2nd hand, DX6I and Phoniex sim, 500 will handle majority of windy conditions.

To be honest.... there are some real bargains .... i just bought a Trex500 and i'm loving it ... its a really nice size ... cheap to repair, good power to weight and long flights from cheap batteries..

I saw one on sale today elsewhere for £290 for a full FBL setup ... thats stupid cheap.

The 450 is a good size too though ... gets thrown around in stronger winds but a decent setup should make it managable.

I also started with a DX6 and went DX8 after about 3 months .... its a lovely Tx and much nicer to setup and manage.
You can pick them up 2nd hand mint condition for as little as £125 (i know - i just sold one)

[Big Dogg]

Update... Bought a DX6i off a member from this forum (cheers iceuk), which will hopefully be with me in a couple of days. The MCP X that I seen for sale had already been sold, so I bought the 120 SR. I had it out this afternoon with the stock Blade Tx and I'm glad I bought it as it is definitely a step up from the coax's, but more stable and easier to control than the wee flybarless MSR X. I know have plenty to keep me occupied and practise with.

I imagine that when I'm comfortable with the 120 SR and MSR X, I'll then maybe move on to a bigger heli like a Trex 450 or 500.

[spankymangler]

Hi mate ,im just a bit higher up the learning curve than yourself,having gone the same route,.For me MCPX defo.... i love that thing, just started first hovers on trex 450,mcpx taught me everything,especialy confidence.tuff little buggers too if you upgrade bits and bobs. sr120 would get old very quickly,