What should my 2nd Heli be?

[r4robert]

For the money I would probably buy a DX7s and buy it without the receiver option for £129.99 if you talk to Matt nicely and buy the heli from him too he may knock a little more off !
SPM7800EU | Spektrum DX7s 7 Ch w/AR8000 Tx/Rx Mode 2

Thanks Rob :-)

I'll have a quite word in his ear.

It will be the first of many purchases... a new customer coming back again and again....etc, etc!!

Actually, in all seriousness I'll need quite a lot of additional kit as well as the heli and the TX. For example: a spare battery or 2, better charger, on board battery alarm, training kit, bags for heli & TX, volt meter/balancer, selection of spares to carry, etc, etc. Even a strap for the TX!

Let's play "Deal or no deal?" We will see! :-)

Cheers, Robert

[r4robert]

The DX8 would seem the next logical choice (or maybe DX7s - but not sure if that has a 3-position flight mode switch).

I've been looking a both the DX7s and the DX8 and there is not too much difference between them, other than price! So I' thinking about a DX7s. It has FOUR flight modes,

So a gradual learning curve can be established and crashes reduced!

I have been re-looking at the Walkera V450D03 that I started the Post with. Reading around, it seems that is can be made to fly in quite a docile way to suit a beginner, and then gently ‘released’ as skills improve. This is also assisted by the DX7s with its 4 selectable flight modes.

I hate to go against advice that I have been given, but in the Original Post I did ask if turning up all the gyro stabilation on the V450 was “madness or do-able?”. It looks as if it’s do-able, but what do you think?

The next crucial decision is where to buy the kit. Hong Kong or the UK? Prices vary dramatically, and if I’m in no hurry, HK looks attractive. What’s your experience of firms like HobbyKing, HobbyWow, or Helipal.com?

Thanks J

Robert

[tomatwalden]

The Walkera can only bind to a Walkera "Devolution" radio as far as I know. You'd have to replace the flybarless unit and replace it with a standard FBL unit/RX config to use a Spektrum or Futaba radio.

FWIW - Walkera has almost no presence in the UK. Parts are by ebay or from china only pretty much. Prices look cheap largely because they exclude VAT therefore although Chinese parts can look cheap because of the usual tricks such as cloning other makes etc. HobbyKing by contrast does have a UK warehouse option that includes VAT. If you buy abroad, you take a chance as to whether or not UK customs will spot the package and charge VAT + a handling fee.

As for the 450D03, the gyro-stabilisation is NOTHING like the stabilisation of the 200SRX. It will be the same stabilisation as on all CP flybarless helis. That is, it is "neutral" - it will correct against things like wind, but it will not self-correct or anything like that. The so-called SAFE-modes on the 200SRX are unique to that heli in this class. For similar functionality on a collective pitch, you'd need to invest in a high-end FBL unit like the Bavarian Demon 3SX or the Skookum 720.

Reading around, it seems that is can be made to fly in quite a docile way to suit a beginner, and then gently ‘released’ as skills improve. This is also assisted by the DX7s with its 4 selectable flight modes.

Sorry, but just not true - not in the way you imagine it to be. Flight modes on a transmitter are just a way of changing throttle or pitch curves in the transmitter. That is, they affect they way that your physical inputs on the sticks are translated into instructions to the helicopter. In no way at all, do they affect the stabilisation or actual flight characteristics of the helicopter itself.

If I may be so bold - forget the Walkera and save yourself a load of grief.

[r4robert]

The Walkera can only bind to a Walkera "Devolution" radio as far as I know. You'd have to replace the flybarless unit and replace it with a standard FBL unit/RX config to use a Spektrum or Futaba radio.

If I may be so bold - forget the Walkera and save yourself a load of grief.

Thanks for the ‘plain speaking’. I understand exactly what you are saying, and yes I thought the V450 would have the kind of self-stabilisation that the Blade 200 has; Not the Case!

So I am grateful to you for helping me side step what would have been a genuine mistake J

I’ll buy the Blade 200 SRX and a DX7s. Decided!!

Purchase-wise, Midland Helicopters seem reasonably priced?

But can anyone recommend another UK based company, for comparison purposes? (As well as an alternative source of spares and accessories)?

Thanks again for setting me straight J

Cheers,

Robert

[Jez N]

You can get 13% off at fast lads this weekend if you use bank transfer for payment and use the discount code. Got to be cheaper than anywhere else for that size order. Worth phoning around though tomorrow and asking the question of other retailers.

[electricsceadu]

the v450dco3's fbl unit has the rx inbuilt so if you replace the walkera tx then you'll need another rx/fbl unit

as i've asid it flies well but would i buy one? no
in the 450 class i would buy either of these
trex 450
thunder tiger mini titan
blade 450

to purchase look at midland helicopters
fast lad
model shop leeds
aligntrex uk
sky line
inwoods
kings lyn models

[r4robert]

Fast Lads RC Helis don't want my business!

You can get 13% off at fast lads this weekend if you use bank transfer for payment and use the discount code. Got to be cheaper than anywhere else for that size order. Worth phoning around though tomorrow and asking the question of other retailers.

Thanks for the recommendation.

I went to the Fast Lads web site and put a Blade 200 SRX BNF and a DX8 in my Cart, plus a couple of other things, total £383.00

I needed some other accessories that I couldn't find, so I copied my cart in to an email, together with a list of things I needed help with, and sent it to them a week ago.

I'VE HEARD NOTHING!

No reply after a week; so apparently no interest in a new customer starting off in this hobby and spending £450+ !!

Hey-ho, I'm cool about it, I've taken my money and gone elsewhere! But I thought I should mention Fast Lads lack of interest.

Anyone else been ignored by this outfit?

Cheers,

Robert :-)

[chrisleematt21]

Hi

I am new to this sport and this is my first post.

I have a WLtoys V911 that I have started to fly indoors doing basic moves such as a figure of 8 or circuits.

My skills as a heli pilot are developing slowly, and I have had quite a wake up call as to how difficult it is to get started and remain airborne for more than 15 seconds!

There is no doubt that I need a massive amount of further practice to develop my flying, but that rises a problem and thus this post.

I am flying in France and I have a a large field I can use, except for the fact that the V911 is not great outdoors unless it is practically windless.
.

So my question is what should I consider buying next that I can fly outdoors and still continue to improve?

I have looked at the Walker V450D03 with a view to fixing some training gear on it and turning the 6 axis gyro up to maximum! Is this madness or 'do-able'?

I have also bought a dummy transmitter and run ClearviewSE simulator. I can move a 6 ch CP heli around slowly, but its only a matter of time before the sim demonstrates one of its spectacular crashes!

The problem I have identified from lurking and reading around is that a big coaxial or a small FP heli is not suited to outdoor flying, hence me looking at a CP 450 heli.

Apart from practice, practice, practice, what should I consider buying next?

Budget-wise I'm not restrained too badly, but obviously I want to spend wisely so that I'm flying more than repairing! (Well one day, anyway!)

Thanks for your help on a common question!

Robert

I had a couple of the walkera's and they were not that good. If I had to start again I would not buy them I would go straight for a Trex 450, fairly cheap to buy and run, they come as a rtf kit which is also handy and out of the box the rtf was fairly easy to fly.