First Heli?

[Sneeky_Pete]

Hi Everyone,
Just wondering, I'm looking at purchasing my first heli, and I'm pretty set on the Hurricane EP 550. One thing I'm a little worried about is that I see alot of people asking about a first heli, and I don't think I have seen this one suggested is this heli. Is there something I'm missing or should know about to do with this heli, other than what's discribed in the Finless Bob video's?

Thanks

Pete.

[stvjeep]

I do not own any of the following. I have done a lot of research, and many like the Hurc 550. It has a wonderful cost point. There are also many who do not like it, Finless Bob being one of them. I myself after reading a lot, would recommend the Logo 500 3D (expensive), or the T-Rex 500.

Each of the above have their pro's and con's but you will have much higher support, parts availability, and after market upgrades with the T-Rex 500.

I would not be comfortable with the Hurc 550 until Finless has a chance to try out the new kit.

[MarkD]

For your first heli I suggest you find one that your LHS supports and has spares for. You will bin it and there is nothing more annoying as a newbe than having to wait for the spares to arrive

[teeson]

that sounds like an ex*****ve heli for a first. have you considered a cheap $100 to $200 esky? the king 2 is very poplular and so is the honey bee FP. however ive never seen a shop with them, only online stores. something to consider before diving into a $1000ish setup.

[Sneeky_Pete]

Well problem I have is that I don't have a LHS... so I'm looking at online stores for parts only... which really doesn't worry me.

The thing I was thinking with the smaller heli's is that they're a lot more difficult to fly, and I've heard that they put more people off of flying than anything else?

[Skarn]

Well problem I have is that I don't have a LHS... so I'm looking at online stores for parts only... which really doesn't worry me.

The thing I was thinking with the smaller heli's is that they're a lot more difficult to fly, and I've heard that they put more people off of flying than anything else?

I would agree to that....the bigger the better!

Skarn

[Hawk18052]

If this is really your first then you should break in with an E-Flight CX2. It's not fancy but fun for awhile, plus at first you'll get to see how hard it is to actually leave the ground. It's no Rc car, landing is interesting (use roofing nails for landing gear). You can fly it indoors and when you get better - outdoors as long as there isn't much wind. I took to the CX2 pretty quick but my freind got the same thing and still has problems controlling it. If you shoot up to the big ones too quick, I'll see an add on here about you selling it.

End of Line,
Hawk

[HeliDan]

If this is really your first then you should break in with an E-Flight CX2. It's not fancy but fun for awhile, plus at first you'll get to see how hard it is to actually leave the ground. It's no Rc car, landing is interesting (use roofing nails for landing gear). You can fly it indoors and when you get better - outdoors as long as there isn't much wind. I took to the CX2 pretty quick but my freind got the same thing and still has problems controlling it. If you shoot up to the big ones too quick, I'll see an add on here about you selling it.

End of Line,
Hawk

I would agree, but keep in mind that you will grow out of this thing and want more, in less than a month......

Do you have a simulator? A good sim is worth it's weight in gold, even more!

[Sneeky_Pete]

Yeah, I've got Pre-Flight, which isn't the best sim around, but it's getting me used to the orientation of the heli and the controls. Probably not the best physics engine in the world though, but I'm not too worried about that at the moment. Small heli's like the CX2 doesn't do much for me, plus this is a "one and only" kind of purchase so I won't be buying myself a fleet of heli's, just a good alrounder that is good on parts, solid to fly, but is able to perform more demanding manuvers as time goes on...
Cheers

[Hawk18052]

Sure it'll be a one time purchase, I believe you, I'm sure everyone here does to.

Hawk

[shaggybirdman]

Sure it'll be a one time purchase, I believe you, I'm sure everyone here does to.

Hawk

lol i tend to agree. it's almost like sex. ounce you try it ya just gotta have more. i have 3 now, and already looking for the next. the hurricane 550 is at the top of the list. about the only thing i can see wrong with it is the short run time of around 4 min.

i think Finless likes it. watch flight 2. at the end he sounds excited about it. basically he said it needs a better motor, but it's the way he said it. very positive sound to his words unless something has changed his mind.

[Hawk18052]

Description : 1-Jet Ranger Body Set Blue/Red: BCXBCX2**
Total : 42.14 (USD)
Payment Method : Visa

Just ordered that and I don't really care about my CX2 anymore. I should be saving everything for my Hurricane 550. This is what I ordered:

http://www.rc-expert.com/product-package.php?pid=662

Plus night blades, neon tail blades, I'd go on but I'd freak myself out.

End of line,
Hawk

[shaggybirdman]

Hawk

my lhs has them on the shelf. it's a really nice body except for one thing. not all that big of a thing, but the opening for the battery is going to make battery installs a royal pain. like i should talk. i'm thinking of going the scale direction in helis. your cx/cx2 is going to look sweet. you really getting the night blades, neon tail blades?

my cx2 has a full aluminum head, and heaver flybar weights, and now flies stupendously better than stock. the extra 9.5 grams made a big diferance. it also made the motors hotter. not enough to get me worried, but deffinatly hotter. i guess i should also get the body. it would be my first scale bird :YeaBaby:

keep me posted :thumbup:

[Hawk18052]

the night blades and neon tail blades are for my (soon to be here) Hurricane 550. I got the body for the CX2 so I would fly it again, Bin sitting at work for a month now, got 3 batts that I'm sure need charging. I am gonna paint it though, just to be different.

End of Line,
Hawk

[shaggybirdman]

please keep me posted on how the body goes.

[Hawk18052]

I know the video your talking about and he actually says "with a better motor this things gonna be a rocket" Which of course is something else I hafta buy now. Luckly I got 6 weeks before I even see my hurricane so I got time, just don't have the money yet.

End of Line,
Hawk

[HeliDan]

One time purchase? :rolling

[Leaf Blower]

As a HBK2 owner, I would personally recommend AGAINST it as a first heli. It really is not that bad- but it is much harder to control to begin with. It does not perform that well in any kind of gusts. Electronics are - well- cheap. A 400/450 series is better for its flight and hovering characteristics.

PS: In addition to blades, the cheap controller, smallness, etc- it also managed to burn out the ESC/Motor after about 2 weeks ( about 10 flights). $$$ To replace the el cheapo transmitter, you're looking at a few hundred $$$ + costs for a receiver. Into a $200 bird?

My recommendation would be either a TRex if you want to build it from scratch or if you want a RTF- then a Blade 400- as it comes with a good controller and good out of the box characteristics.

I think that the HBK2 is nothing more than a money pit. I'll fly mine till I run out of parts. Put significantly more funds into it- nope! It just does not fly that well.

[shaggybirdman]

any heli without a live tail is a money pit in my opinion. live tail = no tail motor. belt, or torque tube.

[Hawk18052]

It's all a money pit. Although there are nice people like me from time to time. I'm gonna be sending my extra CX2 to some guy who needs the parts. Help when ya can.

Hawk

[Leaf Blower]

It's all a money pit. Although there are nice people like me from time to time. I'm gonna be sending my extra CX2 to some guy who needs the parts. Help when ya can.

Hawk

The difference is the amount of enjoyment you get out of it in between. So far, on the HBK2, it's been blades, ESC & Motor [complete burnout after two weeks], battery, gyro, belt, Rx, .. More in parts & upgrades to try to keep it flying than what I paid for it initially. Once it becomes airworthy again ( Twitching and hard to control as of late- perhaps slightly bent main shaft ), it wil likely be reverted back to the original controller and given to a new home or be used as a paperweight. Why get it working again- well- what IF I want to fly it.. Hate to pull it out to discover that it has an unresolved issue..

However, I do agree that this all is a money pit.. Lama II V4, HBK2, Blade 400 3d, TRex 450SEv2... Still deciding on the next pit.. Trex 600E or Trex 600N, Raptor 90, ... Need something larger that can deal with the gusty winds around here.

You don't happen to have a spare 600E hanging around- do ya?

[shaggybirdman]

what size nitro heli does a trex 500, and 600 equal?

[stvjeep]

400/450-class = 300-350mm blades, under 1kg
500-class = 400-450mm blades, under 2kg
30-size = ~500mm blades, under 3kg
50-size = ~600mm blades, under 4kg
90-size = ~700mm blades

[shaggybirdman]

400/450-class = 300-350mm blades, under 1kg
500-class = 400-450mm blades, under 2kg
30-size = ~500mm blades, under 3kg
50-size = ~600mm blades, under 4kg
90-size = ~700mm blades

so i take it the rotor size determines what class/size the heli is? so a t rex 600 has a rotor diameter of 1350 mm witch gives it a 675 mm blade, so it falls into the 50 size then?

[EPBDDSB]

Just so you know, I've got a Blade CX, and its taught me ALL the basics I think. I've flown it plenty in the last couple of months. It's a real good starter machine I think, cheap to fix too. I'm going slow and easy, joined the local RC club, AMA and all. Next heli is on the way- an Esky Honey Bee MK3 FP. I think it should be a good one for learning to fly a tail rotor machine-the next logical step for me in the journey to a CP machine. Slow and easy wins the race for me...Good luck-we'll look for you here.