OP, what's your starting budget and how much are you willing to fork over the year?
That'll give criteria to make some recommendations.
That'll give criteria to make some recommendations.
AgentUnknown
Golden Member
- Apr 10, 2003
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- Jun 10, 2004
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I remember being turned down by the high cost of nitro-powered model airplanes, but the Llama heli doesn't look to be too expensive. Might have to get sim + Llama to try it out... would certainly be more fun than the computer parts just sitting in my closet 
I have crashed mine so many times, almost nothing is original on it anymore. except for the gyro and servos
be prepared to spend a lot of money fixing.
be prepared to spend a lot of money fixing.
I found someone selling a Blade CP Pro for $150. Says its 1.5 months old, bought new, never flown over 5 feet in the air (dunno why that matters), only a few times, comes with training landing gear (just rods), missing metal rod on the back rotor.
Is that a good deal and a good one to start with?
Also are you guys buying a special controller for Realflight, or using one you already have?
Is that a good deal and a good one to start with?
Also are you guys buying a special controller for Realflight, or using one you already have?
Unless you like ordering things and waiting for parts to ship to you try to find one you can get parts for locally. Also If you live in a very windy area you might want to consider a different hobby.
Fritzo
Lifer
- Jan 3, 2001
- 41,920
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They're harder than all get out to fly, and you can expect to crash your first 3 models.
They do have new stabilized blade versions out now, but they don't look like real helicopters.
I'll never forget the guy that had a 1/10 scale Airwolf model with retractible chain guns and rocket pod when I was a kid. He used to fly it at the park all the time. It would run on gas, and he would fill it up with this little squeeze bottle.
EDIT: HOW COOL IS THIS???
They do have new stabilized blade versions out now, but they don't look like real helicopters.
I'll never forget the guy that had a 1/10 scale Airwolf model with retractible chain guns and rocket pod when I was a kid. He used to fly it at the park all the time. It would run on gas, and he would fill it up with this little squeeze bottle.
EDIT: HOW COOL IS THIS???
It seems a little below average. Does it include li-polys, or NiMH batteries? LiPos weigh less and provide better battery life. Also, is the transmitter included, and will he balance the blades for you? (You want to have your heli looked over by competent flier to make sure it's in running order before trying to fly it.)
Most people prefer the slightly more stable Honeybee CP2. They're both similarly sized, good quality helicopters for a reasonable price. I don't fly helis, but I've looked at giving it a go - the CP Pro is a pretty good helicopter capable of modest aerobatics, and the parts are cheap. (By "modest", I mean that it can fly inverted, do flips - basic stuff. No "Yo-Yo's" or Cuban 8's.)
Please note that this is not an easy-to-fly helicopter, and learning to fly it is going to be difficult. Find a local electric R/C flying group (RCgroups can help with this) and have them test the heli, and teach you to fly. There may be a fee - PAY IT. $50 now can save you $100 in parts later.
A quick note on instructors: Look at how they fly. A good instructor should be able to make his helicopter stay rock-still in the air, and move it however HE wants. Many half-decent pilots can do a flip; only a skilled pilot can make it hover directly over a fencepost without moving. The latter teacher will have you flying much less complex manouvers and it will seem to take much longer, but the skills you learn will make flying in small spaces or completing complex aerobatics much easier.
I have a picco Z. It's pretty neat, although the battery lasts only 5 minutes before a recharge is needed.
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=3...file%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26yid%3Draymondstacy
Check that kid out!
Check that kid out!
Picco-Z for the win! 30 bucks for something you can fly around and control pretty well with a little practice and modification. Just stick a tack in the nose to give it some more forward momentum and you are set. I would start with one of these, if only for the cool price and fun factor.
I used to fly mine around my cube farm The lab techs loved it.
I used to fly mine around my cube farm
The lab techs loved it.Thanks a lot. I'm waiting on answers from the seller to those questions (batteries, etc.).
What makes the Honeybee CP2 more stable?
I can't view that video, but noticed the comment there:
"I had a Blade Cp and couldn't even get it to hover and sold it because of my frustration." :Q
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,581
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I know that they're quite difficult to learn how to fly. I know...I own a E-flite Blade CP. I've gotten to the point where I can take off and move it around close to the ground but usually when I get it up a bit I tend to lose control of it easily. The higher you go, the more stuff breaks when it comes crashing down to earth.
Oh, and the smaller ones are very twitchy in even the slightest of breezes.
Oh, and the smaller ones are very twitchy in even the slightest of breezes.
I had a Blade CP and I actually had more fun with the Picco Z. Here's a thread I started about it.
Thread
They're now called Havoc Heli and sold by Airhogs. Someone reported that they're on sale at Target for $30.
Target just started carrying it so it may not be in the system when the ring it up. People have reported that got it for $4.99
Here's what they look like:
Havoc Heli aka Picco Z
Thread
They're now called Havoc Heli and sold by Airhogs. Someone reported that they're on sale at Target for $30.
Target just started carrying it so it may not be in the system when the ring it up. People have reported that got it for $4.99
Here's what they look like:
Havoc Heli aka Picco Z
Thats the thread that inspired me to buy one. The other month, I was flying it in a parking lot of an apartment complex at my buddy's place and this car driving by came to an immediate stop. Some guy came running out of the car and he shouts "where did you get that!"
lol
Radio Shack is WHACK! Originally they were selling it for $29, but when they kept selling out, they upped the price to $39.
Toys r Us did the same thing. They went from $29 to $32.
Now Airhogs is selling it as the Havoc Heli. I've only seen it at Target.
Me and my wife just picked up a couple of Havocs We were doing combat with them. Fun as hell. We were also firing our Nerf guns at them. Nothing like watching a heli drop from a well placed tail shot
We were doing combat with them. Fun as hell. We were also firing our Nerf guns at them. Nothing like watching a heli drop from a well placed tail shot TRENDING THREADS
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