new guy here looking to get a heli

[takevin]

Posts: 1

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: new guy here loooking to get a heli

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Hello, been looking into getting a heli, ive done boats, cars, had a gas heli many a year ago. I want to do a electric one now. I am more then overwhelmed by the amount and sizes of heli's out there, been going thru ebay. I have realflight g2 to practice on. I dont think I hav a size preference between a small or medium or large size helicopter. I want accessible parts and upgrades readily easy. At some point once I can fly well enough to put some type of fusalage on it as scaled helicopter. What do you think, reccomendations, whats the differences between the 4 and 6 channels on a radio? What do you think of a shogun v2, walkeras im reading mixed reviews, or honeybee c2, or one like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/RC-ELECTRIC-HELICOPTER-RADIO-CONTROLLED-HUGHES-500_W0QQitemZ170036098643QQihZ007QQcategoryZ2563QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



im just need some reccomendations, benefits from a small, med, or large heli? I want one that is rtf, budget of around 200 or so to start. etc thankyou kevin

[swatson144]

With your budget a lot would depend on what you have on hand. The airframes are pretty inexpensive. The motor and electronics can jump the bill up quickly.

It sounds like you have surface radios. If so you are looking at the micro (300 sized motor) RTFs.

Another factor is where you want to fly. Big yard you may want a mini (400 sized) though you'll need to up your budget about 3x to get it "nicely appointed" , then buy a TX.

I think on your budget about the only choice is a Honeybee CP2 have a look on www.bphobbies.com before feebay. Great people to deal with and you'd have to get real lucky to get one to your door for much less than their price, counting shipping.

I'm a little different (some will say that statement is like calling the grand canyon a creek, they just don't unnerstand me). I like to recommend the RTF CPs (collective pitch) to learn to hover on. Then a cheap durable fp to learn to fly with. You can start with a FP but they seem to be bit tougher to get hovering with.

One thing a lot of people don't get is the investment of time you'll be required to invest before you ever can control it. Probably a good Idea to read Radd's school of rotary flight before you even start buying. http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html to get an idea.

I would avoid the walkeras as the electronics please some but seem to be problematic. You can't go wrong in your price range with an Esky, helimax, century or GWS. One thing for sure you can't really save a substantial amount buying a brand X.

Steve

[eddiemoth]

I want accessible parts and upgrades readily easy. At some point once I can fly well enough to put some type of fusalage on it as scaled helicopter. What do you think, reccomendations, whats the differences between the 4 and 6 channels on a radio?

According to what you said above, I would suggest a Trex 450. For the Radio, the more channels you can go the better. Of course the more channels mean more expensive but you can have more options latter on. A 6 or 7 channel Radio is a good one to start. I also added a link to this thread, as it is for almost the same topic. http://helitown.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=300

[swatson144]

Heck Eddie, you show me where I can get a trex450 that meets this

I want one that is rtf, budget of around 200 or so to start. etc thankyou kevin

and I'll even fly one. :lol: :D :D :P

Steve :wink:

[eddiemoth]

I didn't read the the fine print! :oops: For a $200 budget for a RTF helicopter, that wouldn't be anything more than what you pointed out: Esky HB CP2, etc. :)

[swatson144]

Just ribbin'. I suspect I'll get my comeuppance sometime soon :wink:

Steve

[takevin]

hi thanks for the replies so far, actually a 200 to 300 budget, what do you think of the shogun v2? Or falcon?

[swatson144]

I've heard very nice things about the falcon though I have no personal experience with it. 279$ RTF brushless and lipo sounds good. I have a strong dislike for conical gear tails in small helis (I have hornet2). If you have some flat none grassy area to learn on cement, asphalt, infield, etc then it would be about a no brainer. If you need to fly over grass maybe a 2nd look. Before I converted my H2 to belt drive being forced to land on grass was a automatic 2 hrs of labor to re-do the tail drive. Owners claim the drive is much better than that. Parts prices look good except the boom and blades are higher than the private parts on a giraffe. You'll break those in every crash almost, but I bet blades and booms from something else will work fine. I'd check around as it looks like those items will alone will be 37$ per inadvertent interface with terrain, which would put the heli out of my budget.

Unless I am missing something the shogun/zoom/zap is gonna run close enough to Trex or x400 money that you might as well go that way. They have a reputation as expensive to repair.

Steve