Next Heli Recommendations

[tnarchitect]

OK- I am currently working with a upgraded HPFP (Slomax & Superskids) and am closing in on mastering side-in hovering (both sides). I can keep it in a 4' box, but not the magic 2' box. I can fly slow forward flight as long as I don't get too nose-in. I am also working on the free helisim and making good progress there. It really does help.

My real problem is wind. The HPFP is like a feather and I can't get many evenings that there isn't too much wind to fly. I'm thinking a heavier heli would help that and be a good next step. My three choices are:

HB King 2 RTF. I would likely go brushless and stretch tailboom to use 325mm blades

Belt CP RTF

CopterX RTF combo w/ Futaba (ehirobo for $429)

The first 2 are less than 200.00 ready to go, and that's where I would like to be, but the larger size and TREX compatibility are intriquing as well.

Thanks in advance for your advice ahead of time. Is there anything coming out soon that I should wait on?

Brian

[muppetman0]

Hi Brian, I too started with a (cheap) Belt CP, and soon found there are a few upgrades required to "tame" the Belt. Just be aware that between the upgrades and the repairs you may well end up spending more than the CopterX (or even the Trex) costs. When I had my first big crash with my Belt CP (repair bill would have been about £60) I decided to buy a Trex kit instead (£99). The main reason for this is that my LHS stocks spares for the Trex. With the Belt I was always waiting for spares to be delivered. That said, the Belt is good heli for learing (how to fly and to mod).

The other thing you might want to consider is a decent computer Tx if you don't already have one. While the Tx that come with the RTF versions are OK, you can do a lot more fine tuning with a good computer Tx, and you will be able to use it with other models too.

This is just my opinion based on my expriences. I'm sure other people will have have different opinions.

Hope this helps.

[DierWolf]

ammmm

my advise? and you will learn alot from the process.

Get an Exi Kit for $99.00
Then pick up the Esky electronics, all very very cheap for instance the radio is only 24 bucks..

you'll have a much better heli than the belt cp and 100% trex compatability.

[DierWolf]

scratch that idea your in the UK.

[tnarchitect]

I'm in US- Southeastern US to be exact.

[Ian 777]

Is not the Belt motor shaft too short for the pinion to reach te main gear properly Wolfie?

If your in the States the Exi kit seems the best option. It is much much better than the Belt

The copterX is also brilliant and for us in the UK its probably the best deal, it also has a full metal head.

I would not get the Esky radio though as I had bad experience with it. It is very very cheap but mine did not work very well.:YeaBaby:

do you know what servos motor and ESC are with the Copter X?

[Ian 777]

What radio is with the combo ? 6EH?
And have you seen Ber 60 's build photos of the CopterX in 'I know what my next heli is'?

[DierWolf]

WEll i am still flying my exi with the esky radio, hasnt failed me once.

Yes a computer radio is nice but if its not in his budget its not a MUST HAVE item.. just like its not a MUST HAVE to get a Gy401 gyro.

Computer radio aids you (thru shortcuts) to fix your mechanical setup problems but i wount get into all of that again.

Guy is on a budget he said 200 bucks is where he wants to be and thats what i am giving him info on.

The pinion is a 1 dollar item to change and shouldnt be a deciding factor ... if he wants he can even get the 24 dollar Sonix motor instead.

[Ian 777]

Mmmm do you have any feed back on the new Esky servo's are they any better?

If you get a good Esky radio then that is a very cheap Trex quality heli;)

[thunderhead]

I tried the stock 8 g servos. Junk! Do they have new ones?Hitec 65 HB work really well and are reasonably priced. Only minor shaving of the frame is required. On this heli they do a fine job on the tail also.

[Ian 777]

Apparently the new ones are digital but I have no details, we generally use sg90's aas a good budget replacement

[ChasHeliCop]

I am not recommending this, I don't know anything about this heli, but when I saw the post for EXI heli, I remembered this site. $189 Something to think about.

http://www.xheli.com/ma-450-helicopter-arf.html

Now, for my two cents worth. You are thinking of upgrading your heli for what ever reason, the thing I think you should consider is, if you say I only want to spend $200, how long is it going to be before you want to upgrade that heli. Looks like you are definitely getting hooked. Personally, many of have "Been there done that".

A few things I can tell you.

1.) Don't limit yourself and waste your investment. Save a little more and open up your options. $500 would greatly expand your possibilities.

2.) Buy something of quality that will survive and you can "grow with"

3.) As already mentioned, LHS with parts support is a plus.

4.) Read and research before you buy anything.

Good luck !

[tnarchitect]

Chas-
I totally agree about the upgradability/growth potential. I also had the "brainstorm" of looking used. I hadn't thought of that before but a certified preowned for me would be pretty good. I also am having second thoughts about another non-computer radio. I hate to ask another question, but what about radios? I have seen an JR xp7202's for 189 w/ micro servos. I have seen a used Trex 450 setup w/ radio for 500 or so. That is extremely attactive for what I am looking for.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Brian

[ChasHeliCop]

I would suggest a DX7 with unlimited growth potential, I just saw a DX7 used sold on here with everything and including 3 separate receivers for $200. There are alot of good deals for used 450's on here since the 500 came out. I even thought about picking up a spare myself.

[DierWolf]

The MA Version i dont like i have the regular EXI version and its Awesome, 2 others have it on this very belt cp section as well ... i find its overpriced to get the MA Version and i dont like the Servo layout on the MA Version..

The regular version is 100% Trex compatable... as for radio systems i let each choose his own as per his budget

[bwojtyra]

Computer radios go a long way!! WAY more to it than subtrims!
My 2 cents would be to get a dx7 or 7chp, before you get another heli. As for the Heli.. the exi450's as well as the copter x look like good deals. This is something I'm looking into for my self as well....

oh yeas and i would not recomend a used copter- the mechanical compnents wear out, even if they are not broken,.... But I think a used radio should be ok.

[Rosebud6]

My EXI MA450 should be here on Wed. Hope it is worth the $$.

[Sublime Snot]

If I could go back in time and choose my 2nd heli, I would have went with the Belt-CP over the King 2. King 2 costs just as much as the Belt-CP with the mandatory brushless motor upgrade. The Belt-CP already has a brushless motor setup, it's just bigger, which means it'll handle in the wind better.
Something that is notorious about this heli though is the Esky 25A ESC. You'll want to change that out, chances are it'll catch on fire. It doesn't work well with the included Esky 3800kv motor. You might want to upgrade the gyro afterwards too, but other than that I think everything else would be fine until you want to try some tricks.
It's a 400 class heli so more of its parts are interchangeable with other helis in its class like the TRex, HDX, perhaps even the CopterX (not familiar with this heli).
As for a radio, get the best one you can get so you don't have to pay even more later. I recommend a Spektrum DX7. Avoid the DX6i, it's not a bad radio but it's been having issues recently.
Anyway, that's just my thought.