Lepton EX for Beginner??

[metalhead1986]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here after lurking around reading for a couple of months and watching bunches of Bob's amazing build videos. What an asset he is to this already great resource for everything R/C helicopter.

But I digress.

My reason for posting here is to ask those of you much more experienced that I am how suitable the Lepton would be for a beginner. I have been into R/C cars for a while, but this would be my first heli. My choices for a first purchase have come down to the HDX450, T-Rex 450, or the Lepton. I am a very ambitious person, so I don't want to spend my money on a coaxial or some cheap RTF kit. I want to get my hands dirty and build something I can be proud of in the end. I realize that the Lepton is pretty much a build it from scratch heli, which is what draws me to it (also the reason I am favoring the HDX over the T-Rex if go that route since it has a build from scratch frame). I love to build things, so the Lepton seems right up my alley. I have also read that bigger helis are easier to learn on. I figured if I set up the Lepton mild flight, then it should be good to learn on.

So, besides the higher cost, is there anything that would make me want to choose the HDX450 or the T-Rex?

And yes I am flying on a sim right now to learn what I can about flying one of these beasts before I ever get a real one off the ground.

I am learning so much here. Thanks for any and all comments on whether I am crazy for wanting to start with a Lepton.

Steve

[Gus]

Steve,
The first thing that you should do is to get a GOOD simulator and practice on it until you have good control in all orintations.

When you get ready for a real Heli, the larger the more stable it will be. This will also give you more time to decide what you like best. Don't be in a hurry, if you are, then you will be throwing your money away.

A good simulator will save you the price of many good helis, and a lot of crash parts.

Gus...

[metalhead1986]

Like I said, I am using a simulator right now. The only thing I am going to change there is to get a radio to use as the controller for the simulator. The game pad I am using right now does not do me much good. I am also thinking of going from Clearview to Phoenix, but I have not decided on that.

Throwing my money away is never in the plans. That is why I read as much as I can here and on various other Web sites. I have made my short list based on what I have read combined with what I am looking to do with a heli now and in the future. That is why I have not thrown my money at one of those $250 RTF kits. I want to learn all I can by building a heli of my own, choosing the electronics, and configuring and setting up the heli on my own (with help here and locally as needed).

My origianal post stemmed from me wanted to do my research and make an informed decision while I learn to fly on the sim.

Any more opinions on my Lepton vs. HDX450/T-Rex decision will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Steve

[eheliflyer]

The Lepton would be better than the 450 due to being larger and alot more stable in hover. But the down fall to it is that it is an expensive kit with all of the electronics and lipos that you will need and when you crash which is inevitable, the parts cost more than the 450s.

[metalhead1986]

The extra cost of the beefier motor, speed control and batteries is definitely a consideration when choosing the Lepton, as is the cost of spare parts. That is one reason why my choice is so tough, I can get better tail rotor blades pretty easily to take care of that deficiency that I have read about to make the Lepton a much more stable flying heli, but I know that crashes will be inevitible, no matter how good I get on the sim. The spare parts cost may, indeed, be one of the deciding factors in my decision.

I also have not investigated the power delivery situation completey yet either. While we are on that subject, for a newbie like me not getting into 3D for quite some time, what cell count and amp hour rating batteries would I be needing, say if I used the Hyperion 3025-10 and the Align 75A speed control? This is one part that is getting me sonewhat confused. :?

Thanks again for all your help.

Steve

[eheliflyer]

At least 4S 3200mah-3700mah and at least 20C rating.

[metalhead1986]

Thanks for the battery info Alvin. That is not too crazy, like some of the bigger heli's that use multiple 6s packs, etc. (if I understood what I read correctly).

More info is always appreciated as I research my possible choices.

Steve

[Gus]

Metalhead 1986
Sorry, I missed that you have been working with a simulator.

I have a T-Rex 450SE, a Lepton EX, and an EVO 50 (I converted to Electric).

All three, when set up properly are very stable, and can be good helis for a beginner. You can also add the Raptor line, and the Logo line.

As you realize, crash costs can be a big factor. I tried to fly my Lepton through a tree last week, and took out the Magnesium Frame, Main Gear, Tail Boom & Supports, and Fly Bar. I was amazed that the Main Blades, Tail Blades, Main Shaft, Feathering Shaft, Tail Shaft, frames, and Landing gear remained in good shape.

Total cost will be about $130.00 to get back in the air. I normally expect a crash on any of my machines to run in the neighborhood of $200.

Good luch in your search.
Gus...

[eheliflyer]

No Problem Steve. Good Luck in your purchase and just remember to have fun and don't get discouraged. :D

[ArthurKnowles]

I'm going to be the voice of reason here and tell you that a simulator is not the best choice to learn to fly. The Lepton is a great helicoptor and when set up properly rock solid in a hover and is a good helicoptor to learn on, but each crash could be an expensive investment.

I have a Lepton, Shuttle, Predator, Hawk, and a Blade CX2. Why the CX2? Simple it works much better than any simulator in orientation (most common problem to cause a crash) issues. It also cost $190 with everthing (and I mean everything) needed to fly. I've banged it on the ceiling, off walls, and the floor and the most damage I have done to it is $2 in blades (at a time).

So, my recommendation is simple. Buy any helicoptor you want, but get a good coaxial as well. You can learn a lot from it and if it saves you one crash it will already have paid for itself. I know mine has.

[metalhead1986]

Arthur,

I have thought about getting a CX2 due to the fact I have had two LHS recommend it as a first heli. I have read tons of pro-con arguments to the path you and my LHS are suggesting, so I kind of put it on the back burner. I do know what you mean about learning orientation. I have never been a huge fan of simulators to learn how to do something. I failed miserably behing the wheel of a simulator during driver's education in high school but learned very quickly when I got behind the wheel of the real thing. The way it looks to me is that a simulator would be very good for trying and working on new tricks without risking spending hundreds of dollars crashing the real thing, but for me I have had some problems getting the feel of things with the simulator already. The CX2 may be just the thing for me.

Plus, it is DSM and compatible with my DX7 that I bought to use with my simulator. That would be a bonus, learning orientation and how to set up my radio at the same time. I guess I will have to investigate this route more as it seems like a logical step.

Of course, I plan on following Radd's curriculum when I get my first CP heli going. It may not be the greatest thing, but from when I read going through it online, it sounds like it definitely teaches patience.

Lastly, from all the research I have done, I do believe that I will be going with an HDX450 or T-Rex as my first CP heli. The Lepton seems to be where I want to end up, but putting together a well-flying Lepton is kind of beyond my reaches finalcially right now, especially paying for crashes. Once I learn on the smaller heli (and maybe the CX2) and have more funds available, I can seriously look into the Lepton.

Thanks again for all your advice. I am always looking for more, so don't hesitate to chime in even though I am pretty sure the Lepton will be my second CP heli.

Steve

[BombCrater]

I'm going to be the voice of reason here and tell you that a simulator is not the best choice to learn to fly.

I would like to offer a slightly opposing point-of-view. I just flew my first helicopter (TRex450se) this January. In the 6 months prior to this I got the Realflight Sim and practiced extensively and with disciplined goals. I could barely hover the thing tail-in at first and had multiple 'crashes' on the sim even though I was trying real hard NOT to. By the time I actually flew my T-Rex I could hover in all orientations (some better than others) and could fly around and even hover inverted tail-in.

When I flew my T-Rex for the first time I followed Finless' videos to make sure it was set up right and I could fly right off the bat. By the tenth flight I was flying around in forward flight and hovering in different orientations. My first crash was at flight 112 and that was from getting arrogant and doing what some here call Mad 3Dz (aka Stick Banging.)

For me the simulator was critical to my great results. However, flying the real thing is different as you have hundreds of $$$ on the line and depending on the size of chopper you have the fear of eating a rotor accidentally. But practicing any maneuver on the sim until you are a sim-expert will practically guarantee better real world results and a fast learning curve.

[n1lul]

While not a total newbie when I got my Lepton (GMP Cricket, Schluter Champion in the 80's and Rappy 30 a couple of years ago) I was still in the Hovering stage of the learning curve. I praticed a lot on the Phoenix sim, but I also invested in a Blade CX2 and CP Pro and I think they have really helped me move along. If you can hover a CP Pro, I'll bet you can hover a Lepton, and the CP Pro is dirt cheap to repair.

Three things I have done to tame my Lepton: I am using the SAB FAI blades, I added 2 wheel collars to each end of the flybar by the paddles the last time I rebuilt and balanced the head and I am running a 19 tooth pinion which is giving me just under 2500 rpm head speed. She hovers rock steady now and I can fly her with confidence now.

Good luck

Ray

[metalhead1986]

Well.

It definitely seems like there are two schools of thought here. I guess I am going to have to figure out the type of learning I want to do. I do know that I am going to continue using my sim. I just ordered the new milehighwings cable for my DX7, so I can practive on the sim with my radio.

As far as the CX2 goes, I definitely investigate it more thoroughly to see if it is something that I think will help me. The cost of the CX2 compared to a decked out Lepton is chicken feed.

Ray - I will definitely set up my Lepton for steady flight. Practicing hovering will be a full time job for a while., No need for any kind of aggressive setup for some time to come. I will definitely keep your mods in mind when I set upo mine.

Steve