moving up

[Pace]

Hey all.

When I first got into these things I was like "I want the raptor 90 full blown" etc etc, well I have grown up now im getting really good in the simulator now, im putting about 2 hours a day in over the past 3 months and im looking at taking the next step.

I really want the nitro 600 sport... but! because of my level, im kinda looking at the 450's... I think that would be the next best platform for me to move into. After that I could start to look at the 600.

Can someone give me some advise on the 450? Is it a good machine? I still dont fully understand a lot of the tech stuff. Ie I dont get it when I read "This copter has 430xl motor, 35A ESC, 2100mah 22C Lipo 11.1v" I dont understand all that. What I do understand is im getting spiffy cool in the sim now and I want to start to fly for real. Can anyone help me out with advise on what I should be looking for. I can just see me ordering some stuff, then me actually needing a whole lot more to get moving.

Another question I have is with regards to a controller. Do I get a heavier / better one early, then just fly all my helicopters (as I progress) off the same one, or do I learn with controllers as I do with the heli's? Ie get some mid level one then move up as you progress?

Sorry for all the questions, thanks for helping me out.
Barry

[Aztek1701]

Hi Barry,

The Trex 600 N sport is a nice machine but unless you are a member of a club I wouldnt reccomend for 2 reasons. 1st The real thing is a bit different to the sim insofar as that if it hits you (or anybody else), it'll hurt... a lot. Its possible for a nitro heli to start on full throttle which isnt fun at all and if you dont know what to expect, it could turn nasty. 2nd a 600 sized machine will need a large amount of open space to fly so if your teaching yourself and you plan to do it in a public park your gonna have problems (and probably the police spoiling your fun). On the other hand, if you are gonna join a club, then Yes, by all means get a 600N, you'll find it easier to fly.

The trex 450 in all its various guises from X to SE is a great machine. Its a Tad squirly and a little bit quick for a raw beginner but it can be tamed if its set up right, and if you are GOOD on the sim then you should be able to handle it. By good I mean if you treat the sim as a training aid and you land without crashing in a sensible place 9.9 times out of 10 then in my opinion its doable. If you choose to go this path, make sure that somebody who knows what they are doing sets it up for you and test flys it before handing you the controls.

To get a trex 450 flying you will need a lot more stuff than just the kit..

Heli, Battery (Thats the 11.1V Lipo), Speed controller (thats the 35A ESC). Charger for battery, balancer, 3 collective / cyclic servos, Gyro, tail servo, reciever, transmitter. You should be able to buy this as package for a bit of a discount.

For a Transmitter, I would suggest you buy the best computer transmitter you can afford. The idea is that it will stay with you through other models. Get at least a 7Channel (futaba FF7) is a good choice or the Spektrum DX7 NOT the DX6. More up market would be the JR 9 series or the Futaba FF9.

Please feel free to ask questions about the Tech as you get em

Hope this helps... Azzy

[Pace]

Azzy,

Thanks for your help.

Ive been looking at KX850143TA on the midlandhelicopters link you gave me. Its the carbon 450 in black. Is there any chance you can look at it for me online; http://www.modelhelicopters.co.uk/ac...its_Align.html and tell me what else I would need with regards to the helicopter? My friend has a farm and there is a flight club on there, im heading down sunday to see if there are any helo pilots, hopefully, there are and they will be able to advise me further and maybe help set it up until I start to get more ofey with this sort of thing. Im going to look at some of those transmitters you suggested. Thanks again! I would be lost otherwise lol

[hawkman]

Hi there, its good that you are using a simulator....I was 10 months or so till I could afford the real thing. My first Heli was a Kyosho Nexus 30 which was nitro....I advanced very quickly and was doing circuits on my first outing.

The trick with the sim is to take it easy in real life.....you can be the next best thing to sliced bread on a sim....but reality will see you being a bit nervous and prone to making a mistake.

Setting the heli up so it flys well can be tricky but once you get the idea you will have a blast....I like the 450 Trex....very nicely made and very upgradeable too.

A handy website for the Rex is www.trextuning.com great little site which will give you some idea of the 450.

Its quite something for Align to go the nitro route...I was quite suprised at this....there must be some appeal for that to happen....the beauty of nitro is the power you get...till you run out of fuel...with good capacity battery packs for recievers and servos...you can do a LOT of flying....but then again with the Li Po stuff you can do some good sessions....with the right charger etc.

The 450 Rex....hmmmm.....nice size....can be a handful....parts are cheap....theres a big following of this type of heli......and when you get tempted to fly in your garden....you can....a 30 size nitro (example) you need space....because in these days of insurance etc....one hiccup and that heli can be over the fence and doing damage....an extreme case scenario I know....but these things are not toys.

I bought myself a Predator Gasser, nice heli, quite large.....but I wished I bought a 450 Trex instead.

Rob

[Aztek1701]

Hiya,

This sunday would be a particularly bad day for you to visit the field looking for heli pilots to talk to, cos the Finals of the 3D masters is on in Northhampton so just about every model heli pilot within reach will be seriously looking at going. If your intersted, why not head along there if you can make it. I guarantee you'll get advice there if you ask lol.
I took a look at the heli you mentioned and that machine will need everything I listed as needed in my last post. So the final cost to get it flying will be around £850.00 if you include a mid range transmitter or around 700 if you dont. To be honest, a better choice for a first machine would be KX015041A at £150.00 so you could be flying for around £650.00 all up. A novice wouldnt be abe to notice OR USE the extra performance of the carbon Trex so it would really be a waste, especially seeing as you are looking to head nitro. Or maybe even KX015028TAD1 which would save you even more money at 250.00 all you need to get is the tx (150) a battery and charger (100 ish) and a gyro / tail servo (80 ish for a cheap set) Total price 580.

Hope this helps... If you make it to the masters, look me up, I'll be the one in the midlands heli tent winding them up and trying to get discounts on stuff I pre ordered like the trex 600N I asked them to take to the show for me to pick up lmao.

Take care... Azzy