Suitable Upgrade from Blade 120SR?

[driver2665]

Hi all,

I have the Blade 120 SR. It's a fab piece of kit but due to it being so light it's a nightmare to fly in anything but calm weather really. I'm still a novice but want to step up to something that isn't so restricted to a bit of wind. I already have the DX6i so just need a better heli?

ta all

Gareth

[Varelco]

First off and most importantly, whats your budget?

[nobox]

What's your budget? If the size is a problem then an mCPX isn't going to help but a Blade 300 X or 450 would be a good way to go and will go great with your DX6i.

[driver2665]

The size of budget isnt really a problem. I will be only flying outside anyway

[nobox]

I'd move onto an Align 450 / 500 then, but if you don't have a SIM I'd also invest in something like Phoenix at the same time.

[driver2665]

I already have Phoenix sim nobox. What about the Blade 450X or is that too much heli for me do you think?

[aparkin]

no the blade 450x would be fine but blade dose not keep the products in stuck for long i.e mcpx v1 gone msr gone blade 400 there spars are now hard to find

id go with a align pro dfc 450 are 500 they could easily be set you on your dx6i and spars will out for ages a lot longer than i would give blade (don't hurt me blade fans) blade do some great products that are lovely to fly if you want to go for a blade 450x then go for it

[SamS]

If you want to go bigger then get a 450, maybe the Blade 450X.

but if you want to stay small then you're better off getting something like a Blade 130X, it can handle a bit of wind, but not too much, and you can fly it inside.


But, IMO, I'd get a 450X if I were you. They fly really nice !

[nobox]

Only you'll know what you're capable of but I don't think it works like that any way. You can learn to fly with pretty much any heli these days so long as its set up correctly and you take the right approach. The 450 X would be good as it's ready to fly out the box and will require next to no set up (other than you DX6i). Take it slow and steady and I think you'll find you'll make a lot of progress with a 450 size heli.

[Delarado]

the problem you are describing is because the 120sr is fixed pitch. They are like kites in the wind.

Anything collective pitch will be a hell of a lot better. 450 of some sort will be good. not too scary to fly (Size wise) and not too expensive to crash either.

[driver2665]

Slight change f plan me thinks...Would i be better off with the Blade 450 as opposed to the 450X. Judging by what i have read the 450 is the better option for a upgrade from the 120SR?

[Big Dogg]

I was in the same boat as yourself about a week or so ago and got both a 130X and a B400. I'd say the 130X is the best next step. Handles the wind better than the 120SR, but it's the same size as the 120, so there's some familiarity between it and the 120SR. On top of that, the 130X is an awesome wee heli for the money.

[tomatwalden]

Slight change f plan me thinks...Would i be better off with the Blade 450 as opposed to the 450X. Judging by what i have read the 450 is the better option for a upgrade from the 120SR?

It depends on your level of skill. If you plan to put training skids on and do on-the-ground exercises such as can be found on the "rchelicopterfun.com" site, then a flybarred heli like the 450-3D is better. Flybarless helis like the 450X aren't so suited to these kind of ground exercises.

However, if you're a bit more confident, then the flybarless range from Blade (mcpx, 130x, 300x, 450x, etc.) are easier to fly IMO and a lot easier to fix if you crash ( the flybar assembly is a sod to put back together once bent!).

Personally, I'd go for the 130X in your position. It's the same size as the 120SR, but being collective-pitch, it's able to handle the wind, and can fly at speeds you wouldn't expect for a heli it's size. It has the extra advantage of withstanding 9 out of 10 crashes with no damage whatsoever due to it's light weight.

The Align helis are better quality, but they come in kit form so require a build first. The Blades are ready to fly out of the box. Your dx6i can be used with any of them.

[waveydavey]

I'll take an alternative approach, go for a 50 size nitro or electric. Miss out on skittish 450 sized helis and move to something more stable, yes admittedly a little more expensive but far better to learn on IMO. You will have more respct for the 50 size and far less prone to try something you're not capable of doing yet, therefore less crashes. It will handle wind far easier and therefore give you more flying time which is what you want when you're learning.

If you're thinking what you've got now is too small and you have no cost restrictions then this is the way to move on.

[Martind]

As waveydavey says a 50 size like a trex 600 will be a better learning tool, more stable but might be intimidating at first but will take you from hovering to traring up the sky