Heli for a beginner

[suki243]

Well, since I was young I've been facinated about planes, i started off with the yearning for an electric one and was about to purchase one when the owner suggested that I start small with the rubber band ones. I did so for a few years. Then I took a few years off, cause of school, and now I'm getting back into it. I'm looking into a helicopter. However, the local shops only have the following,
Raptor V2 30 Size - R/C Nitro Heli
Quick of Japan - EP-8
Which would you guys suggest. Also, does the kits include everything? I live next to these two hobby shops. robinshobby.com, and gizmoshobby.com

[Aztek1701]

Hi Suki,

Welcome to the forum.
Ive never heard of the EP8 so I looked it up on the net (mid size electric, all metal, very nice).

Okay the choice you make will depend on a number of factors.. Whether you have a decent ammount of space to fly the thing, how much support you can get for it ,what other people round about you are flying and what they wiill cost to fix. What I can say is this... The Raptor being a nitro bird will need a LOT of space and will most likely need a dedicated field (a flying club). If you attempt to fly a raptor in your local park you are asking for trouble. The EP-8 will be much less obtrusive and you might get away with flying that in the park. The next thing is support. Everybody knows raptors and there are many websites devoted to them, if you have a problem with it, chances are somebody else has had the problem first this applies to the what people around you are flying. The final one is how much the bits cost when it gets crashed ect. Carbon and metal parts cost much more than plastic parts bear this in mind when choosing.

Also, there is a general rule of thumb that says the bigger the heli, the easier it is to fly, therefore if you can get in to a club with a field then you would probably be better off with the Raptor (you would also get all the support you will need).

As far as what is in the kit goes, usually, all you get is the kit for the raptor, you will need The kit, an engine, a radio, 4 servos, a reciever , rx flightpack(you can usually get this lot as a set) a gyro, a starter, a glow igniter, fuel, charger for the flight pack.
For the EP-8 you will need a radio (which probably wont contain the rx and servos needed for this heli), possibly a motor, gyro, lipo battery (factor in 50-60% of the cost of the kit for this) charger for lipo, balancer.

For both of these, you might be able to get it all included in one price if its not then you need to be looking at about 1.5 times the cost of the model to get started.

Other helis that you might like to look at that could be fun for you... Hirobo Sceadu Evo 30 (nitro), Align T-Rex (smaller electric), Hirobo Llama (small twin rotor, beginners heli), Century hawk (nitro), Century Swift (big electric).

One last piece of advice here... Model helis are not easy to fly (think of trying to balance a steel ball on a sheet of glass while walking around) and if you go in to the shop, buy a heli then try to take it out and fly it without training you will crash it. I would do either or preferably both find a club in the area and get a decent simulator such as realflight or reflex before attempting to fly.

Good luck with it (if your still awake after reading all that lol)... Azzy

[hawkman]

All great points....definately get a simulator.........they work well and will condition your mind and reflexes.....get good on a sim and the real thing is not so hard to fly.

Century make some nice helis, I have a Hawk Sport....the latest version is the Hawk Pro....the Hawk is easy to work on....easy to fix and cheap for spare parts.....it flys ok and I am doing inverted flight with mine...and all sorts of little stunts.

I own a sceadu evo 30...but have not flown it yet as it needs an engine, gyro and servos to make it run.........its a very popular heli.....the sceadu 50 is very very popular.....the Hawk is cheaper....its not a rocket ship but its perfect for a beginner....its certainly kept me going for a while (1 year) and its still fun.

Rob

Ps....make sure to get a simulator

[suki243]

Thanks for the input guys, I went to the hobby shop today and talked to them. They said that they will be able to help me but the raptor costs 1200 with everythin in it. I'm still 17 and have a budget made of birthday money. I am really in for the expreince of building the heli. Flying is fun but im looking for building. Anyway, they said they are willing to check everything and fly it after I build it for 150, and then they have this guy whose like 3rd best in the world that will come to help you fly them and give classes or somethin for 30 dollars an hour, on his helis and if you crash its fine. Anyway I think i'm gonna have to wait a few more birthdays before I can spend that much. Probably, gonna go into planes.
I'm not that interested in the electric helicopters, had a bad experience with electric planes and cars.

P.S. if I find some money ill definately go and buy a heli.

[hawkman]

Get a simulator anyway.........if you have an interest in helis then you can at least learn to fly them...or get used to how they operate.

There are some lovely little electric helis out there, they dont cost a fortune and they will provide plenty of fun.

Otherwise bide your time and be patient....check out e bay if you want...or search your local newspaper small adverts....there will be a deal out there somwhere....some folk buy these things and get bored and sell for silly money.

$1200 sounds a bit much.....as for training...sure its great to get a pro who will teach....but why not find a club...the members should teach for free...if you provide the heli and equipment.....and they will sure go through the heli and its setup to make sure its ok.

Its an interesting hobby....very good fun....so dont miss out....if you are on a budget thats fine.....but do check out the small electric helis...and check those adverts/e bay....if you are not sure then post here and tell us what you have found before committing to buying.........there is some junk out there...which you can waste money on and get annoyed with.

Happy hunting

Rob

[icepirate]

I purchaced my Caliber 30 as a complete kit for $600, with Radio and gyro included. Granted, the radio and gyro were junk, but it was still flyable. Look around and you should be able to get started for much less than $1200 for a nitro heli. Most of these kits come as ARF's (almost ready to fly), that do not require a lot of building, but I know a few people that get these ARF's and totaly tear them down and build them back up. I didn't do this with my Caliber, but I did download a manual that explains the total build of the helo from ground up. I am sure other companies offer this, so look around and I am sure you will find what you are looking for.

Rick