Advice for another Helicopter - addition to fleet

[Pabs]

Hey folks,

So I've recently decided to quit Nitro models - had too much hassle with engines and setting up down the field and to maximise the time I get at the club field thought I'd stick with my electric models. So I've sold all of my 600Ns and raptors.

I currently have:

a 450 basher with 3-blade head, perhaps going into a scale fuzz in the future
a 550 dfc

ideally I'm looking at something that runs on lipos up to 6s 5000mah (same as the 550), but as big as possible to be stable in the wind. (Our field is quite blowy a lot of the time) i want to fly scale eventually, but am still learning and aiming for my A-cert soon. I am quite familiar with Align models, but don't have a clue about other brands.

so what am I missing with the other brands and models? Anything I should look at? There must be plenty of resellers and parts availability as I don't want a model that costs too much to repair.

cheers all!

[trillian]

You can run most 600 size helis on 6s at lower headspeeds but that wouldn't be significantly bigger than your 550. Pretty much all the electric 700s out there will run on pairs of 5000mah 6s packs and for scale type flying you could even go 800 size. Soooo I would think maybe the angle to approach it is to see what scale fuselage's are available and get a heli that will fit the fuse you will eventually want.

Any 700 size heli will be majorly more stable in the wind vs the 550.

[thumb_rocker]

Agree with Trillian, all the 700's in the major retailers shops are ideal. Goblin 700 & 650, logo 700, Gaui X7 & The obvious Trex 700. You won't go wrong with any of them for learning scale flying and doing your A Cert. Lower the head on them and you'll get descent flight time with stability. Just a matter of taste. Good luck with your choice

[Pabs]

Would I be right in thinking that a Goblin would be expensive to repair? Seen Gaui but didn't know too much about them really.
I was more than happy with the 600Ns I had size wise, but thought (wrongly) that most 600s had 12s batteries not 2 x 6s.

[trillian]

Would I be right in thinking that a Goblin would be expensive to repair? Seen Gaui but didn't know too much about them really.
I was more than happy with the 600Ns I had size wise, but thought (wrongly) that most 600s had 12s batteries not 2 x 6s.

Yeah generally with a 12s 600 you'd have pairs of packs between 2600 and 3300mah. I have three 600s that I converted to 6s and fly them with a single 4000 or 5000mah pack. This works really well if you keep your headspeed in the area of 1700-1800 (for idle-up aerobatic flying, you can go lower for just hovering or circuits).

[thumb_rocker]

To be honest most 700's are holding similar repair costs when crashed. All depends on the the severity of crash but if like for like there's not much difference. I have all those 700's I mention and have crashed them once each over the few years including my new Logo 700 recently.

600 electric like the Trex 600 use 2 x 6s packs in series giving your 12s. The only heli worth considering similar to a 600 size but only using 1 x 6s pack swinging 600mm blades, giving great flight times is a Logo 550SE. It's light, simple, not to expensive to repair, great visabilty and efficient. It will be ideal for that type of flying your looking for. You won't even need expensive packs for sport scale flying. There's loads of Logo 550 SE vids on YouTube it will also give the option to go 12s later on just by changing the motor & or if needed your ESC.

[Grumpy]

Would I be right in thinking that a Goblin would be expensive to repair?

Yes, I think that's fair. SAB parts are expensive compared to say Align or Mikado. It's only one factor though and perhaps not a big one unless you crash regularly?

[Pabs]

Thanks all - although I was tempted by another 550 it'd be a bit boring having another almost identical model, so I'm definitely thinking 600 or possibly 700 sized model now.
I don't mind 12s, especially if they are smaller capacity 6S x2.

I don't crash often but I think that's because I'm not pushing myself hard enough, so potentially more crashes in the future! (haha)

Going to look at the Logo 550SE and Trex 600s to start with, and maybe Trex 700's if I can stretch the budget.

[PeteStewardson]

Pabs, personally in your shoes I'd seriously look at the Trex700. THe 700L Top combo is £900 at Align-trex and you can run 2 5000 6s packs. So you can use the same packs on the 700 as the 550. Buy a few more packs then you can pick and choose which heli to fly at the field.

[Pabs]

Pabs, personally in your shoes I'd seriously look at the Trex700. The 700L Top combo is £900 at Align-trex and you can run 2 5000 6s packs. So you can use the same packs on the 700 as the 550. Buy a few more packs then you can pick and choose which heli to fly at the field.

Thanks Iceman Saw your 550sx was for sale but think you're right ref 700 size, one of my issues at the moment is getting hold of cheap(er) batteries of that capacity. I use Turnigy batteries but seems the 5000 capacity are very hard to get hold of now.

[PeteStewardson]

Kind of half for sale. I don't fly it much, but when I do I enjoy flying it. The problem is lack of time at the minute, I've only been to the field about 3 times this year. I keep thinking I should sell up as it's hardly worth storing them based on how often I get to fly, but then I get the odd chance and then change my mind.

But back on topic, my 550sx and the Ballistic both use the same packs. I use 4000mah but could run 5000mah as well. This makes things a lot easier. But I know what you mean about packs being more difficult to get hold of, and the big brands just get more and more expensive.

[chrisleematt21]

Thanks Iceman Saw your 550sx was for sale but think you're right ref 700 size, one of my issues at the moment is getting hold of cheap(er) batteries of that capacity. I use Turnigy batteries but seems the 5000 capacity are very hard to get hold of now.

Have you looked at the revolectrix packs apparently they are very good and not that expensive. I'll be trying some once my opti's die.

[Grumpy]

I'd cross the Trex 600 off the list, its long in the tooth now and has a few issues. While it's not officially discontinued they seem to be just selling off old stock, most dealers don't keep them. The Trex 700x or 700L v2 would be better bets.

[crash-test-tomo]

Yes, I think that's fair. SAB parts are expensive compared to say Align or Mikado. It's only one factor though and perhaps not a big one unless you crash regularly?

I wouldnt say thats necessarily true. Comparing the goblin 570 to the logo 550 se (which I think im right in saying is "the old model") goblin side frames are 40 quid a side vs 30 a side for PLASTIC logo frames. A 550 logo swashplate is a whopping 65 quid!! Vs 45 for a goblin one....
Yes a goblin tailboom is significantly more than a logo one but by the time supports etc have been replaced theres really not much in it, plus if it all ends up in a scale body anyway the cost of a boom is irrelevant..

Id also hazard a guess that goblin mechanics would be much easier to fit into a scale body too? As the transmission, motor etc and complete head and servo assembly slides out complete

[trillian]

Once you get used to flying a bigger heli (700 size) you'll be spoiled for life! There's just a certain threshold that you cross when you get around the 5kg mark, that amount of mass and inertia. My 600s don't get flown nearly as much for that reason (which is partly why I converted them to 6s so I could share packs).

I started moving over to 4000mah packs a while back but still have some of the Turnigy blue 5000s that are getting really old now and they still keep going! It has been ages since I went shopping for LiPos so no idea about the supply or prices these days.