money to spend so what next?

[buttons129]

having recently purchased a Blade CX2 my excitement and enthusiasm for this `mad' hobby has been revived. (first heli was a 60 Kavan Jet Ranger 20 years ago) once again i am hooked! this has been a great thread to read from a newbies point.

i know the CX2 is VERY basic in both engineering and flight characteristics but it seems good safe fun and it has at least got me started again.

this is my situation -
obviously looking for the next step up from the blade but i also have other requirements regarding Radio gear that i would like to change on a couple of unfinished projects so any combined advise would be gladly recieved.

i wouldn't say that `moneys no object' but i do consider that going the extra mile will usually give you a better product and make it easier in the long run so i don't mind spending.

i will do the Heli bit first as that's my immediate `buzz'
As i mentioned, it was the CX2 that woke me up from long `sleep'. after that, i bought a Realflight G4 sim and have downloaded
the Trex 450 Stock V2 model from Knife-edge. I cant stop using it and am loosing sleep. at the moment i am `training, on the .30 sized Heli trainer on the G4 as i find the Trex a bit `twitchy' and i get longer flight times with the .30

my question is what next from the blade?
1. ultimately i think a Trex is the Heli i would like. but based on this thread (and many others) its looks like a Honeybee could be a valid step up from the CX2 that would give me experience and fun as well?
2. should i continue on the sim with the .30 heli or persist with the Trex (or do both)?

Radio gear
when i purchase the next heli i would like to update my older radio gear to 2.4GHz. so the next step up should accommodate this.
i also have a couple of models that i would like to swap out the radio gear on. a Kyosho 6.5 sports buggy and ARTF fixed wing trainer.
i am sure i will be after a new small electric plane to pass the days away with my young son so the new radio gear needs to be
usable on as many models as possible.

i have looked into the Spektrum and futabas but not sure if they will fit all my needs.

i would appreciate any guidance

[Sieze2]

I went from cx2 to T-rex 450 SE v2 and loved it. I did get phoenix inbetween though.

Two other choices are:

a blade 400. They only cost £270 inc spectrum radio, and the parts are cheaper than the align stuff.

Or a t-rex 500. Its more stable than the 450 , but li-po packs cost more, and blades cost more when you crash.

2.4 Ghz is almost a necessity with a RX heli. You might be better off getting a blade 400 because of the Dx6i transmitter.

A dx7 kitted t-rex 450 SE V2 is always going to be better than a blade 400 though. It just costs more.

[Randall]

I would not say that 2.4 is a necessity but a nice thing to have, i have been flying on 35mhz both planes and heli's and never lost a model in over 8 years due to radio problems. i will be investing in a 2.4 system soon but for the moment my ff9 does the job perfect

[buttons129]

just to get a few botlenecks out of my head...

1. should i bypass FP and go straight to CP
2. is cost of spairs only advantage with the Blade or are the Align Helis better quality
3. pros and cons against the Honeybee belt CP
4. as regards the Heli is there any diference in learning to fly say a Blade, Honeybee or Trex

re: the radio gear... 2.4 just to be a bit safer in the garden (these Helis are popular) and as i would like to use same tranny across my proposed electric (and maybe gas) Helis, Car and possible park flyer would the Spektrum DX6 or 6i fit the bill or go for a DX7 or even other brand (my old gear was always Futaba)


thanks

[Sesame]

out of the cheep end RTF's the blade400 does look good and with a little attention it doesnt fly too badly(had my first fly of one at weekend), plus you get a DX6i with it which again is a reasonable radio, more than capable of being used in a Trex 450/500.

Honeybee's are ok as models again, they are the low end of the quality tree, but then all these models are made to a price point, but if you were considering a honeybee or a blade 400 then for my money the extra on a blade 400 is worth it.

If you were to have a really bad crash with the Blade or you decided to also get a T-rex at any point the DX6i would be of use then.

The question mark I have over the Blade is how its going to be in a crash, I know how tough the 450SE's are as ive stuffed mine in plenty of times, but then your talking about a heli aimed at a different part of the market.
so therefore you have the extra initial costs.

[Taffage]

I think it depends what your ultimate aims are.
If you intend getting into larger nitro helis in the near future then 6 channels on the tx is not enough!
You state that the trex 450 v2 is twichy on the sim and that the larger heli is more stable, thats true in the feild also.
If you want only want to fly indoors or in little wind then the blade is an option, but if you want to fly mainly outside then i would look at something larger.

[Sesame]

Im fast comming to the conclusion that the 500 size heli is a fantastic compromise.

The best way of describing it I think is it flys like a small large heli rather than like a large small heli. only downside is battery prices but I think unless your after out and out performance these can be fairly reasonable.

[buttons129]

at the moment its looking as though opinion is set on the blade due to better quality. DX6i radio gear and then on to the Trex next week!! LOL

think i might splash the cash on the blade and radio gear and spend a few months flying, repairing and practicing on the sim.

[buttons129]

p.s. re the Blade.... what spares are worth keeping in stock

[Sesame]

The usual ones on helis are

Blades
Main Shaft
Feathering spindle
Tailoutput shaft
Boom
Skids

But as I said earlier, dunno how they crash, there could be other bits that tend to giveway

[Midnight Sun]

I'm still in the very early stages of learning with my Blade 400, i.e. I crash...a lot !!
Spares are very cheap, £7.00 for main blades, £2.50 for two mainshafts, similar price for two feathering shafts. Main shafts are a piece of cake to replace, two bolts and its done, albeit the lower bolt is small and fiddly. I've just had a major bundle and getting back into the air will not be all that expensive.
My only concern is that as I didn't build it, there are no instructions to repair it or set it up after a major rebuild. There is only the exploded spares diagram for help.
But, other than that everyone that has flown mine says how nice it is to fly.

[Boggy]

wow so many points to comment on!
the blade 400 only costs 269 with a dx6i radio!

it does fly and 3d out of the box!

it flys in 10mph wind easily

spares are dirt cheap and are multi packed

the dx6 has a 10 model memory.

2.4ghz no glitches and no shoot downs (important if you park fly as heli's are getting popular!)

now the downside .

the feathering shafts and blade grips are made of putty. definatley keep a stock of them as just a tip over on a clumbsy landing can wreck them.

they are twitchy and the tail is not the best!( £15 hi tec servo sorts this)two wheel collets on the flybar calm it down considerably also!

then of course the trex. a better heli? yes. but more expensive to buy and set up and no radio!!