Next heli suggestions?

[flag8r77]

I am still learning to fly the Blade CPP, which is very twitchy. I am already considering upgrading to a better, more stable electric heli. Any one have any suggestions of a better, more stable, affordable electric hei (.30 size) I am thinking about the heli max or thunder tiger line.
Anyone have any stories to share about upgrading and flying a more stable bird after the Blade CPP? Thanks for all the help!

[curtie44]

First off let me warn you I'm a total Noob, however, here is my experience......

I started out with a BCPP. After throwing LOTS of money at it it still twitches like crazy and remains a total frustration. I was to the point where I thought I just didn't have the skill to fly a chopper as this was my first time flying a heli. Then, not being one to give up, I bought a brand new T-rex 450 SE off ebay(NIB). I bought a DX7 radio, Futaba Gy401 and some Thunder Power batteries for it. The difference was jaw dropping. I attempted to fly the BCPP for about a month before I got the T-rex. I even did the Radd's school. I have come to the conclusion that that piece of crap is just unflyable. The t-rex on the other hand is AWESOME! Very smooth and stable. I wish I had done some more research before I threw so much $ down the toilet.

All that being said, i'm sure my CPP experience is NOT typical. I did a lot of mods in hopes of making it fly better (aluminum head, dual tail motors, brushless main motor, gyro, etc) and I'm sure setup is part of the problem. I know there are tons of very happy Blade pilots out there. All I'm saying is that out of the box the T-rex totally exceeded my expectations and flew way better for me than the CPP did. It also restored some confidence in my piloting abilities :mrgreen:

Now, I'm going to make that blade fly right if it takes every last red cent in my bank account!!! (hopefully my wife doesn't see this :shock: )

[Mortificate]

hahahaha, almost sounds like I wrote that last post. That was my experiance with the CPP too! Only instead of getting a T-Rex when I hit the point where I was seriously doubting my piloting skills I went out and bought a simulator and flew on that thing religiously. I wasn't satisfied with the Axe CP's (RF G3.5) level of challenge on the simulator so I downloaded models that others had made than modified them a little to exaggerate the things I was having the most trouble with on my CPP (tail drifting, etc). That made a HUGE differance in my abilities to fly. You have to dicipline yourself on the sim, and take each flight seriously (not as a video game) and it can help a lot. My CPP is actually really easy to fly now...LOL, well when I say "Fly" I mean hover around with moderate FF.
That said I plan to get the Trex 450se v2 next. Just after I get my DX7 in and get it to work with my CPP :mrgreen:

[curtie44]

I was able to do more with the Rex on the first flight than I was with the CPP the whole time...except crash, haven't done that with the rex yet, but it is coming. I finally dropped the cash for G3.5 a couple of weeks ago so I can practice inverted flight, nose in, rolls etc. I downloaded the t-rex model and have been practicing with it. It has definately helped with muscle memory and confidence. I don't care how much time you log in the sim, if the bird you are flying isn't set up properly it's not gonna fly. I plan on getting an ar6100 receiver for the CPP to eliminate the glitching. Hopefully the programability of the DX7 will help make setting up that POS easier.

[y2kgtp]

So, a jump from a Blade CX2 to a T-Rex with some nice electronics will frustrate me less? :mrgreen:

[Skiddz]

Most definitely. The stability of a 450 over a CP is several orders of magnitude different. Crashes are cheaper as well.. My last 450 crash cost less than $30 to fix.. My last CP crash (and it's last flight) cost me almost $45 and almost half of that was another set of blades..

[y2kgtp]

Most definitely. The stability of a 450 over a CP is several orders of magnitude different. Crashes are cheaper as well.. My last 450 crash cost less than $30 to fix.. My last CP crash (and it's last flight) cost me almost $45 and almost half of that was another set of blades..

The "Align T-REX 450SA ARF Electric Mini Helicopter" looks like a nice starting point. Obviously does not come with the batteries, motors, radio, etc.....

[Anubis328]

My T-Rex Crashes are always more pricy than crashing the Blade.

[curtie44]

So, a jump from a Blade CX2 to a T-Rex with some nice electronics will frustrate me less? :mrgreen:

In my case, absofrigginlutely! As for the price difference in crash repair parts, I can not answer(I haven't crashed the T-rex yet, I have >15 flights with it and being a noob I fly quite conservatively). Lemme see....my last CPP crash only took out the main and tail blades. I haven't looked close enough at the feathering shaft to know if it got bent. I guess I was lucky that I had the woodies on instead of the plastics or I would most likely have to replace the tail boom as well. I was so disgusted after the crash I just threw it on the shelf and reached for the T-rex.

Price-wise the crash was inexpensive but who wants to go through the frustration every time you take to the air?

[Skiddz]

The "Align T-REX 450SA ARF Electric Mini Helicopter" looks like a nice starting point. Obviously does not come with the batteries, motors, radio, etc.....

The 450S with motor/ESC is a little better value. Also, with the new 450SEV2 hitting the shelves, a lot of people are dumping their old SEs so check Flea-bay or the classifieds on your favorite RC forums...

[Buzzkill]

Is the new SE V2 really that much better than the "old" SE ?

[y2kgtp]

I don't know....seeing all these CP & CPP's on Ebay for sub 200$ with gyro's, carbon fiber blades and other upgrades is really tempting......

I got mt CX2 from ebay for 135$ shipped with 2 batteries, extra parts. That's how I got involved in this whole Heli Mess..... :lol:

Is it (CP/CPP) really that bad? :mrgreen:

[Buzzkill]

If you have the money skip the CP/CPP. If you dont, save your money and skip the CPP LOL.

[y2kgtp]

If you have the money skip the CP/CPP. If you dont, save your money and skip the CPP LOL.

That makes the heli sound like a challenge!

[slikrx]

While I will wholeheartedly admit that my CPP has helped me learn and get more interested in the hobby, I can't really say I'm "happy" with it.

The poor quality of the tail motor is a big part of it. If there was a "bulletproof", 1 step fix (for a reasonable price) that would be a big help (and going brushless with a seperate ESC IS an option, albeit a complicated and rather expensive one)

I am slowly learning to fight through the difficulties and twitchiness.

Some kids & younger folk (I think chopperdudes is a good example) are able to pick this thing up and fly it pretty well in a couple months.

However, I'm 37 and do not have (and never DID have) the best reflexes or hand/eye coordination. This puts the whole thing a tad bit harder than a mere challenge. I WILL be able to fly this thing, but it will be a slow arduous process.

I'm putting together a cobbled together 300 size heli, but shortly after I get it airworthy, I will be saving for a different, larger heli.

I fully understand, a fully blinged out (and most likely, improperly set up) heli for <$200 is attractive.

That money would (IMHO - since you definitely seem to have the heli bug) be better spent going towards a TRex or a simulator.

And this is coming from one of the CPP fans here on this site.

[y2kgtp]

Thanks slikrx,

I think a setup like I would want to get at the moment is slightly out of my reach. I have Clearview I bought a few years back, and that is pretty good to start with, I think.

right now I have been flying a CX2 around the basement fairly successfully, but I know it can hover with hands off the sticks, how I have it set up right now. I guess I would like something a bit more realistic than a dual rotor heli, as I'm sure I am teaching myself bad habits :mrgreen:

[Skiddz]

Is the new SE V2 really that much better than the "old" SE ?

I'm not sure yet. Got my V2 up in the air over the weekend, but it didn't "feel" right so I set the head up again from scratch at lunch today. Mother nature decided to turn up the wind to about 30 knots so didn't get a chance to fly it or my "old" SE.

The new head looks a lot like the 600's head. Main grips have thrust bearings in 'em and the entire head is a bit more slop free than the old one. The main gear's one way installation is like the 600's with a metal hub screwed to the gear. Tail rotor has a metal pitch slider and the new hub which should prevent the grip bolts from shearing off like I'd heard the old hub did.

The fiberglass canopy is nicely finished but I'm sure it'll shatter like an eggshell when it goes in.

Looking back, if I'd known what kind of $$ I had to throw at my CP to get it to fly decently, I'd have jumped right in to a 450 instead...

[slikrx]

[quote=Buzzkill]Is the new SE V2 really that much better than the "old" SE ?

I'm not sure yet. Got my V2 up in the air over the weekend, but it didn't "feel" right so I set the head up again from scratch at lunch today. Mother nature decided to turn up the wind to about 30 knots so didn't get a chance to fly it or my "old" SE.

[quote]

WTF was up with that weather today? Driving into LA this morning, it was calm & sunny.

Then after lunch, we had 50+ mph wind gusts and a brief rainstorm.

[y2kgtp]

These HDX 450's look fairly nice from Helidirect I need to take some time to watch the Bob White videos to check it out more......

[Something1337]

I don't find my CPP all that hard to fly truthfully. It might be because I have never flown any other helicopter. I will say, along with everyone else, that the tail is atrocious! Which is part of the reason i've got a 450 v2 coming in here shortly.

If you do get a CPP get some Plasti-blades. That was the best investment I have ever made. Sure you will bend a main shaft, but a 4 dollar main shaft and a nickel retaining pin is a whole hell of a lot cheaper than another set of blades. Not to mention that pulling apart the head and putting it back together is a great learning experience.

I know I didn't really answer the question, but I thought that might help a bit.

[y2kgtp]

I think regardless of what heli I get next, the radio needs to be upgraded with something spektrum......

DX7 is nice, but I'd like to keep the radio system around 200$ if I can. DX6 or that new Futaba FASST system......

Too many decisions on what to get :arggg:

back to Clearview for a few minutes...... :mrgreen: