A newbie with some questions. :-)

[KopterKid]

Hey all, I'm new here.

I come with a few questions, which hopefully someone experienced has time to answer. Though I don't want to be annoying and ask too many questions in one post, either. :)

I have a stock HBFP that I ordered recently. I love helis, but this is my first rc heli of any kind. I can't even hover yet, though that will be achieved soon enough. I've been trying to hit the simulator more, lately (I really like ClearView). I have 3 sets each of rotor and tail blades, and an extra swashplate (I have no idea why I felt that was 'the' part to order at the time :))...which I bought ahead of time with the heli, because I figured I would crash a lot or need them at some point. I'll be ordering more parts, of course...pretty much all of the little breakable parts. I broke a push rod...so I'll certainly be ordering most of those parts along with it, to make the shipping charge worthwhile. I also have 3 Esky NiMH 8.4v 650mAh batteries, and just the stock charger. It drives me crazy...2 hours and 10 minutes + per battery pack. Doing that once in a day...half of your day is gone, with less time for practicing. :shock: I've been thinking of maybe getting a couple more NiMH batteries. So I'm wondering if there is a NiMH charger that will charge 2+ packs at the same time, or where can I just buy a few more of the cheap stock chargers?

I know that many recommend LiPos...but I don't like them and simply don't want to use them. I know that larger helis require them...but I'm not planning on going 'pro' or anything. I just like my HBFP to play around with at home. I prefer NiMH, and I do realize it is 'less power.' I'm cool with that. But...I'm just wondering if the 8.4v 650mAh is the 'max' battery that I can fly the stock HBFP with? I'm just wondering if there are any other NiMH's out there that aren't too heavy for the stock HBFP to lift...but that have a little more flight time and/or power? If not, that's cool...but it never hurts to ask. ;)

I've also been thinking of upgrading to aluminum parts...like the swashplate, paddle control frame, and the composite rotorhead. But I'm not sure if that is worth it, because it just seems like it would channel the energy so that the other plastic parts would break a lot more. I've already crashed once...the bearings simply came out of the rotor head and I popped them back in. In the process...I broke a paddle push rod and can't fly anymore right now, until I order it. Go me. But if I crashed a lot anyway...would these parts bend any at all, or just make the lesser parts break? It might be less expensive in the long run, perhaps? I'd still have to buy the other minor parts, though. Would the aluminum make the heli too heavy?

Also, how much better is the 380x brushed motor, than the 370? Is it better to upgrade, and does it last longer than the 10 some-odd hours that the main motor is said by some to last?

[Robertwav1]

Well...I can certainly understand you not being able to hover....it takes patience and time and the sim helps. I must say with all the questions you ask about the aluminum and Ex380 motor...please go the Lipo first. I think it's one of the most important things you can do to this thing. It will buy you more flight time which is important as a beginner. You will no sooner break into a hover and start to achieve control and the battery will die...very frustrating. Get yourself on your next order some connecting links...gonna need them. Oh.....did I mention the Lipo would be lighter. Cheers!

[kelley]

I would learn to hover before doing major upgrades. Get a good sim and fly, fly and fly... Once you can do a FF, pattern and hover pack after pack of batteries then think of upgrading.

I love my HBFP, I fly mine with the Freestyle Belt Driven tail, brushless motor, wasp head and 2S lipo. The Wasp head allow me to run CP blades and set my own pitch. Too much fun for a front yard.

Why don't you like lipos?

[ttjsmart]

You've got off to a good start with the HBFP. I started with a Blade-pro and it turned out to be very expensive to keep flying. Especially for a beginner. Then I got a trex and quickly figured out I bit off more then I could chew. So I dropped back and got this little heli last week and I love it. I quickly figured out the the battery was a problem. I had gotten used to
plugging in my lipos and forgetting about them. The LIPO chargers automatically shut off when the battery is charged. So I got the upgrade from heliderect. Big difference in performance. Makes the bird much more agile and flys much longer. I got the HP CP2 battery hanger set. Battery mounts nicely and adds a bonus in that it keeps the canopy snug. Use velcro to mount the battery. no need for rubber bands. You can also find a cheap charger for under $25.
Try this http://www.btinternet.com/~bejay_uk/Raddsflyinglessons.html.
Its free and it will help. Also try running your gain up on your gyro. It will help keep the tail until you learn to hover. It will be hard on your tail motor so run it back down when your hovering comfortably. Try taking off the flybar wieghts. Makes it quicker to respond which
I believe helps recover the Heli.
Dont start putting a lot of money into this bird. Save it for the upgrade to a bigger Heli you will surely want later.
I say again......If you spend any money on any upgrade go to LIPO's first.

[RotaryBoy]

I agree with ttjsmart,

You made a good choice taking on the HBFP first. Lipo's need to be your first jump, you can find some cheap 2S 800mah or 1000mah for $10-$25 per pack. I think I picked some of my 800's for like $12's.....

They will almost double your flight time and decrease your charge time by about half.... even with a cheap charger, it's around 45 min charge time per pack...

Helping hover with the HBFP....
Get the CP flybar, it's metal and will replace the carbon fiber rod that is stock, it's about an inch longer. Definitely helps with stability.
http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=V019752&pid=NESKV024 - Two in the package in case you bend one.
I think it was mentioned above, but when you replace the flybar, remove the flybar weights, it will make it a bit more agile in the air and easier to hold steady. It will act alot more like the sim.

After doing these three small things, I have a brand new flier here who is hovering on his 4th pack.... He is doing really well!!