Cheap Auto Practice Heli - Recommendations?

[dani_r]

Just wondering on what people's thoughts are on having a cheap heli for auto practice? I have done a fair few with my 500 and I can do them pretty well with that. I haven't dare try one with the 600EFL yet as it's rather a pricey bird to repair just for the sake of an auto.

I thought about maybe a HK600 just purely for auto practice. It's not really important if it doesn't fly amazing because it is purely for going straight up and straight down The HK600 is the cheapest airframe around and is readily available as far as I can tell. Just wondering if anyone has done anything similar or knows of a better alternative heli/airframe for the job?

[LipolyGone]

Cheepo raptor 50 maybe or a trex 600 with belt drive tail if you can find one as I've looked for months & months without anyone having one in stock.

[dani_r]

It would have to be the 600 as I've got no experience with nitro. Belt drive was certainly on my list as the TT gears can be easily broken

[LipolyGone]

You just cant get the tail belt box's these days I already have the rear gear box the boom & the belt I even have the tail output shaft
but you'd think I could easily get a metal rear tail box fastlads have them listed but they have been out of stock for a year or more now.

[Snaaakeey]

I believe belts driven tails have more mechanical resistance than torque tubes so the autorotation isn't as long.

[choppaholic]

for auto i agree with martin the trex 600 belt is a good bet, i would nto go fro the HK manily beacuse a auto gone wrong is blade, boom, skid and main shaft usually. the most expensive of which is the baldes so i cant see the HK working out any cheaper. the cost of the other bits is nearly the same.

the Metal belt unit is out stock i think mainly beacuse its replaced by this.

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a fwe days ago i saw a Align-trex list it but now their store doesnt seem to have it nor anyone inthe UK for that matter. may be its not come in yet. few on Ebay though

or try this from sportsmoto.

align t rex 600 e electric driven helicopter upgardes in cnc alloy from sportsmoto ltd

they are very well made, anodizing is even better than align ones

[choppaholic]

I believe belts driven tails have more mechanical resistance than torque tubes so the autorotation isn't as long.

yes very true but belt is defo cheaper to learn auto every tail strike on auto with torque is stripped gears, belt i havent changed one in 10+ crashes leave alone autos . also once you can auto a belt 600 the torque tube is no biggy, plus the hang time is only marginally different i have both.

the belt is also a lot more quite and can give you pure rotor sound during auto, rather than the torque tubes noise metallic decent

[sacko]

Don't waste your money on buying shit helis, you will spend more money on making them fly properly than you will repairing your 600EFL.

You 600EFL will be far better than ANY other 600 on the market due to the headspeed they run. As the headspeed is so high at the top of the auto, it takes a hell of a lot longer to drop off.

The only helis that will auto better, are 90's. You just can't beat them.

Belt vs TT - Can't remember the last time I replaced the TT gears due to a dodgy landing?!

Use you EFL, but ask if someone you fly with can guide you through it. Watch the Curtis Youngblood Autororation Masterclass if you haven't already, excellent tutorial.

[johnsandywhite]

The HK600 should be ideal. I learned on an old Trex 600E CF. Sure, it has T/T tail, but I also bought an HK550 with belt tail and it is really good for the money. I also bought a metal belt tail drive for the 600E via ebay. There is someone on ebay breaking down old 600E and Nitro for spares.

I don't care what people say about HK and other clones not flying well and being rubbish build. If ti does the job, it does the job. IMH&MHO.

[3dx]

Sacko is spot on with this advice,, you already know the 600EFL and if your really comfortable with it,then its the ideal heli to practise/do auto's with.

Quick tip is to do "baby" ones first- from simply hovering in front of yourself and then hitting t/h,then progressing to mini auto's from forward flight,say 10ft up and gradually increase the height at your own pace.

You can also fit the 700 tail fin which will give you a bit more clearance.....

[Delarado]

I wouldnt recommend autoing from 10 feet up in forward flight!

you wanna go up to about 5 feet on the spot and from there no less than 20 feet IMO. Otherwise you dont have enough height to use negative pitch to speed the blades and you run the risk of running out of head speed.

[3dx]

I wouldnt recommend autoing from 10 feet up in forward flight!

you wanna go up to about 5 feet on the spot and from there no less than 20 feet IMO. Otherwise you dont have enough height to use negative pitch to speed the blades and you run the risk of running out of head speed.

That's how I learnt to do auto's-with a Raptor 50 v2,,
Modern 600's have much higher head-speeds and will be so much easier,,,,

[Delarado]

fair enough...if it works for you it works i guess!

[3dx]

Ultimately it boils down to if he wants to do auto's as a regular thing or as a "rescue" to save his heli if something goes wrong - I know guys that have only done 3 auto's in the space of a year!!,, me, I love em

Of course,there's always the sim,,,,,,,,,

[milly0812]

If you have done a load with your 500 and are happy and confident then you should have no probs with the 600. Higher hs bigger disc and more inertia, you should find it a piece of p**s