Blade 400 - Good Next Step? - Update!

[pilgrim]

I want to thank everyone for all the great advice once again and most of all I want to post an update for everyone who pitched in.

I bought the Blade 400 as I said in the earlier thread and I love it! There is no question that it is much harder to fly than the CX2 that I had, but it is possible. So far I have several 30 second or so hovers and some forward and backward flights (not necessarily on purpose). It's slippery for sure! I have had one major crash (big wind gust) which cost me about 35 bucks but other than that I've not spent a whole bunch on parts. I will say that I have learned how to straighten main shafts quite well. So far only one blade has bitten the dust to the point it is unusable, the others have been fixable (covering problem only). Where I fly there are some tall weeds and those have caused me some of the major problems.

I have ordered the Phoenx sim with the last big part of my budget and expect for that to help move me along. But moving up to a 400 is possible from even the cx2. I am persistant and dedicated to see this bird fly and she sure is!

Once again thanks for all the good advice and the vote of confidence which has helped me immensely. Oh did I mention that I LOVE this heli!

[overclocker]

gratz on the 400. im fairly new as well and im the last one that should be giving advise but i will anyways hehe. the sim will be your best friend. i have the g4 and always practice on it. the sim will get boring but do it anyways. im now doing forward flights and turning nose in coming back. im also hovering nose in and its all because of the sim. going nose in as you know will make your inputs backwards. the sim REALLY helps me adjusting to this phaze of hovering WITHOUT costing me money beause i used the wrong input.
make sure you get quality time on the sime practicing NOT playing goofing around cuz this wont help when your doing the real thing.

[overclocker]

by the way... dont try your first flip in the wind. gotta go work on my bird now

[LockMD]

Well hurry up and get your phoenix setup so you can fly with us on line. You think you might have it by Wednesday?

[jl449]

I would suggest getting a HBFP. Why? It cheap and very cheap to repair. You can learn your orientation with this heli and all of your circuits including FFF.

It's a fun little bird. I like to fly the HBFP first - pratice orientation and circuits. Then switch over to the B400. Confidence builder.

Sims are great but l like the real thing. I personally get bored on the sim (must be my ADD:YeaBaby:).

[LockMD]

I would suggest getting a HBFP. Why? It cheap and very cheap to repair. You can learn your orientation with this heli and all of your circuits including FFF.

It's a fun little bird. I like to fly the HBFP first - pratice orientation and circuits. Then switch over to the B400. Confidence builder.

Sims are great but l like the real thing. I personally get bored on the sim (must be my ADD:YeaBaby:).



yeah we (I) told him that first round too......he made his decision, so now he will learn on the 400 - not impossible at all but will be more expensive then learning on the HBFP. But hey to each their own.

[jl449]

Sim question...
I've used Aerofly and found it so so... How's phoenix?
Ok how about a comparsion between G4 and Phoenix?

The reason I'm asking is I would like to attemp a loop but I sure don't want to try on the real thing -- my wallet will hurt!!!

[LockMD]

Sim question...
I've used Aerofly and found it so so... How's phoenix?
Ok how about a comparsion between G4 and Phoenix?

The reason I'm asking is I would like to attemp a loop but I sure don't want to try on the real thing -- my wallet will hurt!!!


I've had:

FS One
G4
Reflex
Phoenix

I prefer Phoenix, but if you like G4 I have mine for sale.

[pilgrim]

Yeah, I decided on the Blade 400 - I felt that I might as well dig in and try to learn on the unit I wanted. But it is working out just fine. I had always planned for some parts costs so the budget really hasn't suffered that much. And I am really getting the hang of it.

We each have our own learning abilities and not that mine are so great but I moved up so rapidly flying planks and racing cars and such that I just didn't want another RC setting around that I had moved on from. The CX is different since I can fly it in my smallish garage and just relax. The 400 should keep me entertained for a long time to come.

So anyway, I should have the Phoenix in on Wednesday! Can't wait. I spent a great deal of time on the Real Flight sim (can't remember the version anymore) and learned to rock the planks pretty well so looking forward to the stick time with the Phoenix. I can tell you from experience that sims are worth the investment. From all my research the Phoenix looks to be the best, at least for now. But any sim is great when your trying to learn new tricks!

Thanks once again for all the great advice and please don't be offended it I don't follow all of it. I really do carefully consider all that is said even if I go another direction.