is it just me?

[shaggybirdman]

Shaggy,
I don't dispute your facts. Well- 'cept the investment part of it.

"fact: your going to crash no matter what heli you fly.
fact: your going to fix it. especialy since you have invested the money
already.
fact: (at least here localy) parts are close enough in price that pirceing is not
a big factor.
fact: there are models of the trex to choose from. not all are the cost of a v2."

Second thought: I'm pretty sure that prices for my V2 parts might be more expensive than what the corresponding B400 parts are - as the Blade uses mostly plastic like parts.

I have both. One is definitely cheaper and is for the most part complete enough for someone to start out with - and about 1/2 what a 450SEV2 would cost starting out from scratch. And If they are starting out- they might not know yet if they really want to spend a grand and watch it become a lawn dart!! Yes, and not everyone wants to buy a 450x and then go the upgrade route!
Endpoint: a B400 is a fine machine, especially for the price and for what it comes with. Starting out a B400 costs less than what a 450SEV2 does from scratch!
Have you ever considered the guy saying "I will get a T-Rex ..later" is possibly a beginner not yet sure about heli's and using the B400 as an entry point- deciding IF he really wants to get into this hobby? There's nothing wrong with getting one later. It's their choice.

Really comes down to choices: $500 for a lawn dart or $1000 for a lawn dart
Heck, you should understand that- it looks like you bought an "X"!

On a gentler note, when I asked a member of the local heli club which of his birds was his favorite, his reply was "Favorite one? Nope, I like to fly 'em all.. "

yuppers i got a 450 X CDE cost me $145 delevered. not sur if i brought it up in this string, but i have said there are cheaper versions of the trex than the V2. someone said in one of the strings that i have been responding to that a no0b like myself probably can't tell the differance between a b400, and a trex. very true to say the least, but by the same token i couldn't tell the diffrence between a V2, and my cde either. there are cheaper versions than the V2. get one of thouse insted of the blade. add another 200 for a radio, and your in the air. my cde less radio cost $485. even getting a dx7 for $325 is only $800. everyone keeps saying $1200 to $1500 for a trex. i have no idea what they are building. must be adding a big charger or something. i have no idea.

i have also said, and will stand by it is if your total budget is $500 you need a diffrent rc hobby. like you said. your gunna crash, and you better figure that into your budget. your gunna upgrade, so that better be figured in as well too. i guess to me it pays to go top shelf. i've been let down by buying lessor items. hell it's a hobby. get the best out there. i've found out over the 25+ years in rc that you generaly get what you pay for, and by paying that little bit more you will end up happier in the end. i also think that you will get more back from a trex than a b 400 if you find helis aren't your thing. kind of like the harley guys always saying " look at resail values" that always gets me. if your looking at selling it befor you get it how good can it be? i'm sorry i'm not a harley guy. i'm a BMW guy. i've had 2 already, and regret selling the last. yes i did make money selling her. to be exact double what i paid for her $5000 changed nothing. anyhow

i still say just get the trex, and be done with it. if the choice is any heli with a tail motor, or a b 400 get the b 400. anything with a tail motor will be a twitch b****. probably make ya get out of the hobby.

i went from my shuttle to my cx2, to my trex. the shuttle is bout ready to fire up again when i get a dry day. who knows i my end up a nitro guy.

[shaggybirdman]

The first thing to buy is a sim! (really helps to keep the cost down):thumbup:

there's alot to be said for sims, BUT getting a expansive one like the ones out there (to be very frank) is a waste of good heli money. fms, or the one here on helifreak is what i recommend. get what you want bu all means, but why spend $200+ for a sim when there are great free ones, or get a old version of real flight for cheap bucks on evil bay. may not look as nice, but teaches ya the same thing.

[JasonJ]

there's alot to be said for sims, BUT getting a expansive one like the ones out there (to be very frank) is a waste of good heli money. fms, or the one here on helifreak is what i recommend. get what you want bu all means, but why spend $200+ for a sim when there are great free ones, or get a old version of real flight for cheap bucks on evil bay. may not look as nice, but teaches ya the same thing.

Dude, I have to disagree on this point. There is a massive difference between FMS and a high end sim. A high end sim, if used properly and with a plan instead of just using it like a game, makes all the difference in the world. While there are some who learn quickly with the real thing, most people benefit from a well set up sim. The key to using a sim is to set it up as close to your real environment as possible (varying wind speed and gusts). Select a helicopter and fine tune it to be as close to your helicopter as possible. Fly it like you would fly the real thing. Take time, start slow, and do everything you can to keep from crashing, this hardwires in the necessary skills. Is it perfect, no, but it is close. FMS just does not offer the ability to fine tune the model, nor does it have accurate physics.

I was anti sim last year, and struggled. Got Realflight G3.5, and have not crashed since. I went from tail and side in hovering to FF, loops, inverted, tic-tocs, nose in thanks to the sim. I spent under $200 for the sim, and it paid for itself the first day in prevented crashes. If you buy a used G3.5 for $100, that is two or three crashes right there, and you have the ability to fly as much as you want, when you want. To try to progress in this hobby without a sim only burns money and time. You learn a lot faster by simming even 30 minutes a day verses fly for two minutes, crash, wait for parts, charge battery, fly for three minutes, crash, wait for parts, etc.

The sim is not for every single person, but most will find it beneficial if they give it a chance and take it seriously.

[shaggybirdman]

Jason you misunderstand my statement, or maybe not, but.... buying a expansive sim is putting your early heli money in the wrong place. i have a early version of real flight witch i paid almost $200 for. 200... holy s***! anyhow i wish i would have just gotten fms. as best as i can tell the trex, and shuttle files i have fly like the real thing. i got the shuttle from my friend zxxflyer (here on heli freak, and he says it flies like the real deal.

a sim is a great learning tool, but in my no0bness i feel the cash is better spent on batteries, and parts. any heli in fms, and heli sim here are just as usefull. hey if someone wants to spend big cash on a sim be my guest, but fms, and heli sim will give you the same results. wind, and other variables are nice ounce you can actually hover, but till that point i would recommend ZERO wind, or other factors to make hovering that much harder to learn. the learning curve :arggg: is a brick wall as it is. i wouldn't make it harder than it already is. ounce you can hover real world flying conditions are very helpfull. why spend the money when there are free tools avalible that will do the same basic thing? put the cash towards your first heli.

no Jason i'm not going to say it. well i hope not. SOB!!! get a trex. there are low cost options in a trex. not all are the cost of a V2. sorry bro :DOH

[Skarn]

I agree with shaggy in that you don't NEED to get the expensive sims like realflight. The free one right here on helifreak is an excellent sim without all the bells and whistles and will teach you the basics. You can dial in expo, change wind settings, etc. Very nice sim especially for free!

Skarn