Help Me Pick A Good Inexpensive Electric for Beginner

[rctoyguy]

I started learning heli's a few years ago with a Nexus 30, but sold it and got into electric car racing. I miss the heli, but don't want to (can't afford to) get back in it as deep as I was. I would like to have a small indoor/outdoor electric to just play with. I never got beyond tail-in hover before, so that gives you an idea of my (lack of) skill level.

I have been resisting the urge to buy an e-Flite Blade mainly because I am so far out of the heli loop, that I don't know what all is available, or if it is a good deal at just over $200 RTF. My LHS stocks it and the spare parts, so that is a big plus.

I don't think I can sink over about $250 in it and remain married -LOL- so what are my choices? I don't expect to ever get into 3-D stuff, I just want to fly.

I am also a bit concerned about flight time vs charge time - especially as I am learning, I think I would need longer flight times to practice.

Thanks for all of your help.
Jeff

[WillJames]

Do you already have a Heli Simulator?

[rctoyguy]

I don't currently. When I was learning with the Nexus, I tried several, and honestly don't think they helped "ME" that much. The view was just too different to help me with perspective. The only real place that I saw it might have helped was learning nose in hover, but I didn't get that far before I sold out.

** I know sims help most people, and I ain't dissing them, they just didn't seem to help me that much.

[DebianDog]

A Corona will take a beating like I have never seen:
http://helihobby.com/html/corona_heli_kits.html

The new Tornado looks nice too. I may get one for my son:
http://ohiomodelplanes.com/tornado/ plus it comes with a cheap sim!

[DebianDog]

I am also a bit concerned about flight time vs charge time - especially as I am learning, I think I would need longer flight times to practice.

Love your enthusiasm! No you will crash and break it WAY before you run out of batteries :lol:

[rctoyguy]

No you will crash and break it WAY before you run out of batteries


Hehe - let's hope not... Been there, done that. That is what makes me like the small electrics, the repair costs appear to be less.

[DebianDog]

I am half joking. I only recently have been wishing for another lipoly pack.

[WillJames]

It is not the perspective a sim gives you it is the stick movements and basic orientation. I do know people who don't fly the sim, but I have never met anyone "Yet" who it did not help learn to hover and the basic orientations. I agree with you the perspective is WAY off.

[rctoyguy]

I have a reply on another board that says the Blade goes through tail rotor motors too fast, and that basically there isn't anything worth recommending in the $200 to $250 price range... :dontknow

[Hotshot Charlie]

Sim should be everyone's first purchase. Yes, there are a lot of folks that learned to fly without one, but why? With that technology available, it's a shame not to use it and save yourself lots of crash dollars $$$$$ !!!

For an inside heli, I have a Hirobo XRB Wireless that I am having a ball with. Just don't expect to fly it outside. Any breeze will do you in !!! I fly it around in my basement, chase the dog, practice backwards flight, practice all orientations, etc. It's great for that. I get about 20 min. off one charge. I am usually ready to do something else after the 20 mins is up. Great tool, but it does cost money to crash where a sim doesn't.

Just my thoughts, have fun and stay safe !

[OzarkCopterBum]

I know some guys that normally fly 90's that are having BIG fun with the Blades. I've been eyeing a T-Rex setup but all up its going to be in the $300 plus range not counting what equipment I already have. It just seems like ALOT more bang for a few more bucks but darn close to what an entry nitro would set you back.

[rctoyguy]

I haven't really looked at the TRex - the shop has one, but I thought it was quite a bit more money... What does the TRex offer that the blade doesn't?

What are realistic flight times for the Blade?

[DebianDog]

I know some guys that normally fly 90's that are having BIG fun with the Blades. I've been eyeing a T-Rex setup but all up its going to be in the $300 plus range not counting what equipment I already have. It just seems like ALOT more bang for a few more bucks but darn close to what an entry nitro would set you back.

My brushless T-Rex was more like $500 but now that I am a bit more conditioned pilot, I REALLY appreciate its power and convenience. Of course when I fly the Tiger or Rappy I feel like I am flying a Cadillac. You most surely have to work the mircos a lot more to keep them "skids down".

[rctoyguy]

so they are harder to fly? I don't want harder - I can't handle harder...

[DebianDog]

They are a bit more challenging to fly. I spent a long time on the sim and was hovering my Raptor 60 when I bought it... no problem. Bought a T-Rex so I could practice flying a "real" helicopter more often. My buddy came over set the T-Rex up and test flew it. Smooth as butter.

I do not think I had it in the air 20 seconds before I crashed and caused a major boom strike. Destroying my first HS-50 servo, the boom, boom supports, and the blades.

That was months ago. I have smashed that thing into the ground more times than I can remember!! I have broken at least (3) HS-50's off the tail and sheared the head clean off once. Gone through at least (4) sets of blades. Good news it it cost less to fix all those times than my Raptor 60 cost to fix once (on a major crash I managed to break the carb on the OS 61)

Anyway... I added flybar weights to slow down the movement a bit. I also got tired of the cheap landing gear breaking so I but some solid struts on. The longer tail (XL model) seems to give her the proper amount of tail authority (at least for my tastes).

It is one of my favorite helis now because I can grab it and go fly in the yard at anytime I choose.

I hate it, because the damned parts are SO SMALL. How folks with big hands work with them I will never know.

Anyway that is my 2 cents.

[rctoyguy]

Whats the word on the Dragonfly? They appear cheaper than the Blade.

I have also been pretty interested in the Draganfly (4 rotor thing) but it is very expensive - I notice the difference in the spelling of the name, so I don't guess this is the same people.

[the collective]

Okay, you want:

1. Good
2. Inexpensive
3. Electric Helicopter

The bad news is, you can pick any two, but not all three. The good news is, I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to GEICO.

Seriously, tho... the TREX seems to be the class of the field in small inexpensive electrics. The latest CCPM version comes with motor and speed control for around $269 and looks pretty promising.

[rctoyguy]

I understand - it's like computer stuff, you can't have fast, cheap, reliable - any 2, but it won't be the third - LOL

I really do appreaciate all of the help/advice - even though I probably don't sound like - I think I want either the Dragonfly or the Blade and I was really looking for confirmation, hoping they would be mentioned as good choices.

A few months ago, I bought a Bladerunner (very much toy heli) and have had fun playing with it, but it just made me want a little more - the forward flight is pathetic with it - I don't want to get in too deep, so I think the TRex is going to be out of my range, unless I come across a special deal on a used one.

A big advantage of the Blade is that my local shop has it and parts in stock, and I try to buy from there instead of mail order whenever possible.

[OzarkCopterBum]

My brushless T-Rex was more like $500 but now

Helihobby " I won't vouch for their service" is offering the V2 T-Rex at $104 and a package W/ everything except TX and charger around $360. Then, if you want the latest/greatest it jumps up to $500.

[DavidH]

Helihobby " I won't vouch for their service" is offering the V2 T-Rex at $104

I would do some serious research on Helihobby in all the forums before dealing with them. From what I have read they have more than a few unhappy customers with them.

David

[WayneBrown]

I haven't really looked at the TRex - the shop has one, but I thought it was quite a bit more money... What does the TRex offer that the blade doesn't?

What are realistic flight times for the Blade?
Where is this shop? I need new woodies or carbon blades for my T Rex!!
got a number?

[rctoyguy]

Oak Mountain Hobbies - Pelham, Alabam (just south of Birmingham)
205-685-8980

I haven't paid a lot of attention to what he has in the way of TRex parts, but I know he has the heli - and lots of parts for the Blade

[WayneBrown]

Thanks!
I'm going to call now and see what's what!

[OzarkCopterBum]

I would do some serious research on Helihobby in all the forums before dealing with them.

I noticed on the other board that their customer service manager, Nikki, is trying do do some damage control. Maybe now would be a good time to place an order before Nikki gets fed up and quits, hehe.

Heliproz also has T-Rex, just not at that price advertised but I bet they can get darned close.

[DebianDog]

Helihobby " I won't vouch for their service" is offering the V2 T-Rex at $104

I would do some serious research on Helihobby in all the forums before dealing with them. From what I have read they have more than a few unhappy customers with them.


I bought my T-Rex from them (Explosive combo) and have purchased from them several times. But have seen the complaints. I myself, have never had an issue with them.