Buy spares, or just buy another heli for parts.

[michael503]

Title sez it all.
I need a frame, and feathering shaft and blades, and my canopy is looking kinda rough.
Although I'm going brushless, I will eventually need a tail motor as well, and possibly a servo in the future.

Parts for this puppy are kinda high and I was thinking of getting another just for spares... thoughts?

[d12bn]

I have a good supply of extra parts since we have no LHS. I have well over 100 flights and lots of crashes and all I've changed is main gear, main shaft, links, and tail boom. And I'm on my 3rd main motor. With a solid CF boom I have not had any boom problems and with links tied together with thread I have not lost one. I having a little tail wag and figure the motor is getting weak so that may be next.

So the first part to keep in stock for me is main motors

Just buy parts

[Uncle Chop Chop]

Originally Posted by michael503

Title sez it all.
I need a frame, and feathering shaft and blades, and my canopy is looking kinda rough.
Although I'm going brushless, I will eventually need a tail motor as well, and possibly a servo in the future.

Parts for this puppy are kinda high and I was thinking of getting another just for spares... thoughts?

Was thinking the same when I go BL. I was either going to just buy another 3 in 1 and the servos, but then got me thinking for an extra 30 or so dollars, get another one.

[MpVpRb]

I go with spares.

Some parts break frequently.

Some last much longer than others.

Some are still original.

Maybe the answer should be..get two, try to keep them both flying, so while you are waiting for parts, at least you have one flyable heli.

[superjet112x]

I myself just got another heli from ebay, luvrc seller for $140.00, needed servos and 3 in 1 board was cheaper to just get whole heli

[InFocus]

I bought a 2nd one thinking I'd need it for spares.

Turns out, it just collected dust. The only things I've broken are mainshafts, tailbooms, and lost links. Since my flying has improved and I have solid mainshaft and tailboom now, I've not had any breakage. I sold my spare.

(now that I've posted this, I'll break something tomorrow).

[michael503]

Thx all, I guess I'll just suck it up and buy what I need.

[fac13]

I bought a used mCP x on eBay thinking I'd use it for parts. It was fairly cheap and at the time I thought I was going to need a new servo and they were impossible to get.

The problem I've had is the urge to keep both helis flying. I do use bits from the "spare" when I need them, but I am then unable to resist the temptation to buy the parts to repair the spare.

It certainly means I never have downtime waiting for parts, and it also means I have a fully "stock" bird as I fail hopelessly to resist the urge to bling the other one. And when I inevitably go brushless I'll have one to fly while I do the conversion.

So, my advice is, get a second heli if you can identify with the above list of reasons, but unless you have more self-discipline than I have, don't kid yourself you'll be saving any money!

[TomC]

Originally Posted by MpVpRb

I
Maybe the answer should be..get two, try to keep them both flying, so while you are waiting for parts, at least you have one flyable heli.

I think that this is the way I'll go. With two mcpx's, and a good supply of batteries, you can fly them back-to-back all day, lol! Flying one while the other one cools down. I'm sure my wife will love and support this idea, lol!

Cheers,
TomC

[michael503]

Originally Posted by TomC

I think that this is the way I'll go. With two mcpx's, and a good supply of batteries, you can fly them back-to-back all day, lol! Flying one while the other one cools down. I'm sure my wife will love and support this idea, lol!

Cheers,
TomC

If it was the only heli I owned, I might. I hvae a range, from micro>700E.

I have decided just to go for spares, as painful as it is, and only as I need them. Most of them are available semi locally, but it is a hassle and a drive to get there.

Thanks for all the advice.