New to heli's and need some help please!

[kmyers]

Hi guy's,
Well i just found this site a day or so ago because I'm looking for info on electric heli. My local hobby shop guy doesn't know much so what to do but turn to the net. I want to get into the sport but i don't want to jump in with both feet just yet. I don't fell comfortable spending 1000-1500 on a trex450 or the like just to crash it. So what i need is a decent 100-300 heli to fly that i can learn on for a few months till i fell comfortable dropping the money. The first heli will get handed down to my son so it wont be money wasted really(well that is if there is anything left to hand down ) I found a few here and there but my question is will all helis generally fly the same way? As far as the over all controls? I pretty sure i will get into the 3d stuff cause it looks cool. So i want a cheaper heli that will fly inverted and the only one i have seen in my price range is this one http://www.towerhobbies.com/products...ax/hmxe04.html Now if you guys could give it a look for me that would be great. And tell me if it will be a god trainer or not and if it will have the same overall controls as any other. There is a little video to watch also Thanks again!

[hawkman]

Well....what to choose

I would stay away from the Axe...purely because the tail rotor has its own motor....theres no point with this....there are other helis about that have driven tail rotors....I recently got myself a MiniPredator...more known in the USA as the Falcon 3D...I would take a serious look at that instead.

I liked mine...but wanted something better so got a Trex 450...which is being built as I write...well not literally

If I spent my money again I would have got the Trex in the first place...mind you I had a proper radio anyway...and a spare receiver. I got this heli for £200...about 400 US?


Rob

[kmyers]

Yeah i hear what your saying but i have nothing and it would run me a minimum of 1200 to get a trex and i know I'm just going to wreck it so i figured i would start with something cheap to learn with. So you say stay away from helis with tail rotor motors ge one that is belt driven. i will look up the one you mentioned to. thanks

[hawkman]

Yeah...you dont have to go the Trex route right away...theres plenty of others out there.

I liked the MiniPred...or Falcon 3D as its known in the US...parts are cheap and it flys well enough...mine cost about £160 sterling about a shade over $300?

Theres others out there....I would check out ESky and see what they have to offer....I saw one which is called a 'Belt CP' which was up for £130 sterling...its a belt driven tail rotor design...the main motor isnt anything special..as such but it will get you flying.

I hear what you say about costs etc...you dont have to break the bank to get into this hobby....Something like a Trex could be for the future...its not the 'be all and end all'.

My Mini Pred/Falcon came with a Simulator...which uses the supplied radio...very good idea.

Keep looking around. The main thing is parts...the average crunch can cost about one third what you paid for the heli in the first place...thats my rule of thumb.

Happy hunting...dont forget to post and show what you might be considering buying...

Rob

[kmyers]

Thanks again for the help. I think I'm going to get the Esky Honey bee king2 it looks to have everything i need right out of the box. But my other question is still open and that is, do all helis fly the same, as far as if i get a honey bee and 8-9 months from now get a trex will they both have the same controls and so on? I can get the honey bee for 129$ plus shipping and maybe a couple better batteries but looks like it will do everything i need it to do till i get good at flying anyway. Let me know what your thoughts are here is a link. http://www.rchelicoptershop.com/cata...pter-p-53.html Thanks again!!!!!

[hawkman]

Yes...basically most collective pitch type helis will fly the same...some are more difficult to fly...it depends on the setup.

There are two 'modes' I would say make sure its Mode 2...this is where the righthand stick is the cyclic...ie push forwards and the heli flys forwards...pull back and the heli flys backward...and so on....the left stick will be the collective...push up and the heli goes up...and the left and right movement will control the tail...push left and the helis nose will go left etc.

I took a look at the HoneyBee last night...was going to post back but as it is under Esky I thought you would find it.

Batterywise I would say get LiPo's...they are probably standard with the heli anyway...but it wont hurt to get a spare one...just make sure you read and understand the safety advice for these type of batterys...treat them with respect and you should be ok.

Regarding how helis fly and behave in flight....all helis can be tamed down...to an extent.

I would make use of the simulator...its probably FMS which is freeware...you can download this off the net...but you still need a radio to plug in and use it.

I used FMS for a long time...its good enough to learn on and the graphics are really good....higher end sims are better of course...but you can expect to pay some quite serious cash for one...I would get good on FMS first.

Rob

[hawkman]

I took a quick look at the link....yeah...thats the kit. the mode option is there too...Mode 2 I would choose personally...throttle on the left.

Something to consider is some Training Gear...basically you can make this yourself....get two bits of cane...or some lightweight sticks...make an 'X' shape...and insert the 4 ends into ping pong balls...so the sticks cant dig into anything....tie this onto the skids of the heli...and you have a nice extended base for the heli...so when you take that first hover, your chances of tipping the heli over are reduced. Each stick will be around two foot long.

I see the battery pack is not that big...1000 mah...might get 5 minutes or so.

The golden rule with batterys is that when you are hovering about...when the heli starts to loose power...land right away...and switch off. Let the battery cool and then recharge.

Another important rule to remember....ALWAYS switch the radio on first...BEFORE plugging the battery into the heli...and Always unplug the heli battery before switching the radio off. If you dont you run the risk of the heli suddenly starting up...and it being out of control....which could cause a problem.

Rob

[kmyers]

Well glad to hear you that you think it would be a good beginer heli. Im going to order it hear shortly. Yeah i was thinking of making the training gear myself anyway. I build houses for a living so im sure i can tackle a couple sticks with ping pong balls on them LOL im not paying 10$ for that. I think i will buy at least one extra batt. when i order it. I will go for like a 2200mah batt. Im sure i will buy more later. Thanks for all the info. I will post back when i get it and maybe if i can figure out how i will post a video on youtube so you guys can laugh when i crash. :-)