What heli for winter build?

[Peteski]

Having had a great first season with my OXY 3 and 180 CFX (logged just under 300 flights between them) I'm thinking of adding another slightly larger heli to my fleet for next year. I'm looking at the 450/360 class mainly.
The helis I'm considering are Gaui X3, Chase 360, Warp 360, Mini-Protos and Goblin 380.

Budget is quite flexible, I really want the best flying, highest quality, lowest maintenance option in this class. Much like my current OXY 3, only a bit bigger!

My flying is coming on pretty well and I don't crash much - averaging around 1 crash in 100 flights at the moment. Just starting to progress from sport flips, rolls and loops to basic 3D and inverted. My aim for this new heli is to continue progressing to smooth 3D flying alongside my OXY 3. My local field is big, but it's not private, so there are always dog walkers kicking around.

Which model would you choose and why? Feel free to suggest something that isn't on my list, but nothing bigger than the G380.

Thanks,

Pete

[DK 2.0]

I have a 380 and it's not that big compared to other 450s but I find it flies better and feels more like a 500. Also easy to maintain and the quality is good plus the low part count allows for easy maintenance. The issue is if you fly in a public place it doesn't feel so small I'm actually in the process of getting an oxy to fly in the park around the corner from my house as there are loads of dog walkers around. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ones you're considering Pete hope that helps

[milly0812]

I have a chase 360 with probably 200 + flights on it now. I've had a drive gear collapse but generally the component quality has been good. I'm still on the original belts too. Once setup properly with the correct belt tension and you have all the links and tail running smooth as silk it flies fantastically. I'm using MKS servos an xnova motor and VBar. It will fly very docile or completely ballistic depending on head speed. I can recommend it as long as you build skills are good and the parts prices are surprisingly good

[philipjdall]

I can't speak for all of those helis but have owned both a Mini protos and a goblin 380.

The protos is neat, super light and dead simple design. Parts are inexpensive and it flies beautifully. In contrast the 380 is heavy, too heavy for the blade chord IMO. As such it requires mentally high headspeeds to perform decently, even then it still felt heavy in the air to me. I never choose helis by cost but when you break down the cost of the 380 parts it isn't really competitive.

You'd do better with the protos (or similar) in my opinion.

[Peteski]

I have a 380 and it's not that big compared to other 450s but I find it flies better and feels more like a 500. Also easy to maintain and the quality is good plus the low part count allows for easy maintenance. The issue is if you fly in a public place it doesn't feel so small I'm actually in the process of getting an oxy to fly in the park around the corner from my house as there are loads of dog walkers around. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ones you're considering Pete hope that helps

Thanks DK, the G380 does sound tempting, but the extra size does worry me a little. I fly in a local farmer's field with a public path running through it. It's usually deserted, but the odd dog tends to appear from nowhere off the lead with its owner lagging miles behind. I've had a few close calls like this. To be honest even the OXY 3 scares me in this situation, but it's been manageable so far. I think a 450 size would be okay too, but perhaps pushing it a bit with the 380. I don't want any locals complaining about my flying as it's a great field right on my doorstep.

I think you'll enjoy the OXY. It should make a great park flyer if you are careful.

[Peteski]

I can't speak for all of those helis but have owned both a Mini protos and a goblin 380.

The protos is neat, super light and dead simple design. Parts are inexpensive and it flies beautifully. In contrast the 380 is heavy, too heavy for the blade chord IMO. As such it requires mentally high headspeeds to perform decently, even then it still felt heavy in the air to me. I never choose helis by cost but when you break down the cost of the 380 parts it isn't really competitive.

You'd do better with the protos (or similar) in my opinion.

That's an interesting comparison, thanks. I've always liked the look of the mini-protos. Did you have any issues with the single belt drive?

[kenny d]

The only one I've got experience with is the 380 , IMO the 380 flys awesome with high or low head speeds , flys like a bigger heli , very visible in the sky BUT it don't crash well , trust me I know lol , for me it's a keeper

[Mikej]

Go for the Mini Protos - it flies really nicely, is sensibly priced and is very quiet - which when you fly in a public place (as I do also) makes it much less intimidating for everyone else.

[philipjdall]

No.. To be honest the single belt drive works very well at this size (and the 500, which it was initially created for). The problems only come with scaling the system up (700/800) since the load required to tension is incredibly high.

The mini protos is a winner and something a little different, although saying that my favourite 450 of all time has to be the trex 450 as it just works! Crashed mine over 50 times and it must have well over 2k flights on it now

I think for a 450 size there needs to be an element of function... something the G380 never really got right (IMO)

EDIT: Agree with Mikej above!

[Peteski]

I have a chase 360 with probably 200 + flights on it now. I've had a drive gear collapse but generally the component quality has been good. I'm still on the original belts too. Once setup properly with the correct belt tension and you have all the links and tail running smooth as silk it flies fantastically. I'm using MKS servos an xnova motor and VBar. It will fly very docile or completely ballistic depending on head speed. I can recommend it as long as you build skills are good and the parts prices are surprisingly good

I did read about various build issues with the first batch of these, which really puts me off. But it does look like a very good design, although I'm not sure about the aesthetics with the motor sticking out of the top of the canopy. Do you know if the early build issues have been resolved in later batches? My build skills are sound, but I don't want to be fettling and modifying parts just to put it together.

[Peteski]

Go for the Mini Protos - it flies really nicely, is sensibly priced and is very quiet - which when you fly in a public place (as I do also) makes it much less intimidating for everyone else.

Yeah, that is definitely a plus point. I want to attract as little attention as possible.

[Thor]

I fly a T-Rex 450L Dominator and a Warp 360. Both fly great, but of the two, I would recommend the Warp since it is much beefier and seems to crash better. Even though I have only crashed the Warp once (vs 4-5 T-rex crashes), it seems to me that the Warp suffers less damage - far less. Every T-rex crash has cost me at least £50, while the one Warp crash (which I judged to be equally hard) only cost about £15. Also, I just prefer the sound of the belt drive over the touque tube ;-)

In any case, I have progressed far more with the larger helis than when I was flying a 130X.

A friend of mine flies a G380 (red) and it beats my two 360's hands down in terms of visibility in the air. It is also spooky quiet. But for me personally, it's not worth the additional cost. YMMV.

[milly0812]

I did read about various build issues with the first batch of these, which really puts me off. But it does look like a very good design, although I'm not sure about the aesthetics with the motor sticking out of the top of the canopy. Do you know if the early build issues have been resolved in later batches? My build skills are sound, but I don't want to be fettling and modifying parts just to put it together.

Mine was one of the first V1s and I had to pay for all the metal upgrades, however the new kits have everything included.

[DK 2.0]

Thanx Pete I hear good things about the oxy and I understand when you say to be careful because small helis tend to be little busy bodies and can vanish out of site easily, lesson learnt when I owned an Mcpx BL . I find the 380 flies well even with low and insanely high headspeed and it's fairly quiet definitely quieter than a Trex 450L which I used to own. I've heard good things about the X3 with a belt conversion so also considering getting one of those as well, I've seen a protos fly and its very quiet and sounds smooth, yet to see a chase in real life, I don't think any of them will offend if you're worried about noise issue with residents or passer bys, definitely don't want to mess up a good flying spot. I agree with the comments when it come to visibility the 380 wins hands down

[NiceBlades]

I have a trex 450 beater and a G380. I do prefer belt drive as their quieter and would be less intimidating to onlookers in your case. Saying that the trex 450l is said to fly like a bigger Heli something I'd also say of the G380 which I love but at a higher price point. I've never felt the 380 to be heavy or light, it flies just right even with the 2650mah packs I have on it. When the G380 came out it was very much compared to the Gaui x3 so your right to look at that also though I have no experience with that. The 380 is very easy to see in the sky, it's easy to work on and is belt driven, I have changed the stock flipper skids to normals on mine and the canopy mounts to magnetic to stop tip overs and ease of use. The 450l can be made to be more visible with the fuselage kit and I'm sure would fly just great all be it a bit noisier than the 380. I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of the 450's mentioned, pick the one you like the look of, Ian.