Heli Skinflint

[tourerjim]

Some years ago I done a post about cheap heli parts ie HK & it felt as if I was told off because no way should cheap parts be used, now all I read is the cheap fbl units and just about every part of the heli, so what's your views now...? Have we a change of mind...!

[waveydavey]

Surely it's up to the individual, if you want to use cheap parts it's your money Jim and your risk that the said parts aren't up to the standard of the original. The issue around cloning and the ethics will exist for ever and only you can decide whether it's for you. Others will have different reasons for not wanting to use them, morally and wanting to avoid the inherent risk would be 2 of the main ones. It comes down to whether you're willing to take the risk with upwards of £1000 in the air and the safety issues with failure, thats not to say original equipment hasn't failed before

[Paulo uk]

I can't really comment either way, but for some reason I have a real fancy for doing the hk 700 electric using all cheap hk parts - don't know why. Have heard good things about it though!


P

[sparts]

There was a review of that 700 in June 2014 copy of Rotor World.
It got a very good write up considering the cheap price.

[stephen. guest]

just built one very impressed with quality not the usual hk quality only time will tell as to real quality did change the swash just following recommendations will give a good bashing and report only had a few flights no flaws showing so far, for price looking good

[proffalken]

I'm relatively new to the hobby (I got an mSR X last Christmas) and I need to make sure that I spend my money wisely. This doesn't mean that I always buy the cheapest but I do look for a good deal where I can.

I recently decided to upgrade from my mSR X to a 450-class Heli, however my first action was to source a second-hand DX6i from eBay for under £60. I then went on to secure a Triton 450 (TRex compatible clone), battery, charger, blade gauge and training skis for under £150.

The battery, charger, blade gauge and DX6i are an investment for the future and will stay with me as I improve and get more expensive kit.

At £50 + postage for the Heli and £7 + postage for the learning skids, I can afford to replace parts on these as and when I crash.

If I get really good at flying this heli then I'll probably consider going up again to a 500 or even 600-class heli, but again I'll be looking on eBay or these forums to try and get the best value for money that I can.

If I ever get to a point where I have silly amounts of disposable income each month then I'll be tempted to buy new and buy a "brand name" heli, but until then, cheap clones and replacement parts are definitely the way forward for me!

[Scotvar]

Some years ago I done a post about cheap heli parts ie HK & it felt as if I was told off because no way should cheap parts be used, now all I read is the cheap fbl units and just about every part of the heli, so what's your views now...? Have we a change of mind...!

Good topic to discuss.

I think in many areas in this hobby when buying cheap you are practising false economy because some cheap parts / electronics are definitely substandard. However in many areas the gap is closing. I also think a lot depends on the level you fly at. I dare say most involved in this hobby use cheaper lipos as for many pilots the benefits of a top quality high C rating lipo do not merit the added cost.
I also think it is important to research any cheap(er) equipment that you want to use. I recently bought a Goblin 570 and after researching things I'm using a YEP ESC (hasn't put a foot wrong) and a hobbyking SK3 motor. For the flying I do there's ample powr and I'm very impressed with it. Many on the forum are using cheap fbl units too as they are clones of "brand name" units and it is rare to hear about failures. I think if you're selective with what you buy you can certainly save a lot of $$$ in this hobby. I've personally never seen the benefit of HV servos for what I fly so I use align DS610s / 615s now. I know they're not cheap but comparitively speaking they are now. I guess it's a case of you pay your money and take your choice but I genuinely don't see the need (for me anyway) to pay for all the latest and greatest as I would not see the benefit. I'd rather enjoy the money saved on something else!

Paul

[cupracing]

Not sure I would be comfortable with a cheap airframe but I've just built a synergy e7se with cheap eletronic clones. The airframe was second hand so all in all I got it flying for less than the cost of a trex 500. It flies the same an I get to have more fun with it as there isn't as much of money tied up in it.

[tourerjim]

I have to admit 99.9% of my stuff comes from Raj Align Trex although i have been tempted at times to buy cheaper like the Kbar instead opted for the Gpro's

[waveydavey]

I try and buy all sorts because I like fiddling, some of them genuine some not so. But' as I said above thats up to me and nobody is going to convince me otherwise. But. someone on here convinced me (not knowingly) that music piracy is unfair and largely resulted in his band folding. I haven't downloaded an illegal track since, so maybe my days of using cloned kit could be numbered

[Ice-Man]

to be fair if they kept the prices down to an affordable margin then they would be no clones as waveydavey said about music and dvds they cost 18p per disc to make and what was the retail on them a few years ago 18 to 22 pound a pop now they have come down and isp blocking sites then people buy again still not saying its fair but still overpriced the same with a lot of stuff that you buy so if you can find cheaper then fair play but like you say you pay what you get but if you got the likes of align century and the likes making a living not a killing they could be at it years with no clones
lets face it a clone has all the parts but programs is missing vital bits now if they can do that for a fraction of the price then why cant the big players
and the end of the day its a working man that buys this stuff not a rich man
thats my 2 cents worth