I want to buy an RC copter or a plane

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
You can make yourself a set of training gear with a pair or small dowels and ping pong balls. Form a cross with the sticks, glue the balls to the ends, and zip-tie it to the skids. It makes the heli a bit more stable by lowering the CG and make it lass likely to tip over when first getting it off the ground.

Linux23, repair it and fly again.

Yeah, I am. Gotta head to the hobby shop and pick up some blades and some other parts. Is it normal for the helicopter to not want to stay in one spot when hovering. Mine seem to want to jump forward or tilt to the side, when hovering no more than 1" inch off the ground. It never seems to want to stabilize.

 

[LennyZ]

You gotta get higher off the ground to avoid ground effect in hover.

 

[Hammerhead]

Start with a Blade CX if you've never flown one before. If you start with a Blade CP, you'll spend so much money on replacement parts because you will crash. Flying a Blade CP for a beginner is like balancing a marble on a piece of glass.
Hobby grade heli's are nothing like those havoc heli's you see at wal-mart.
stop buy your local hobby shop and ask for a beginner hobby grade heli. The guy will show you different brand. Go with the brand that the store stocks the most parts for.

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: LennyZ
You gotta get higher off the ground to avoid ground effect in hover.

Is there a site or some online videos that can help newbies like me? There was a video that came in the kit I bought and it helped with some basics, but it didn't go into much detail.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Helis are wicked addictive. I've trimmed my fleet DOWN to 8 right now. But they are also great proof in the old addage, you get what you pay for.

There are some great boards for heli discussion and tips like RC Groups and RunRyder and Heli Freak. And a great tut for beginners is Radd's School of Rotary Flight. Do yourself a huge favor and do some reading and ask questions before buying. Most of the ads you see that say "fly it right out of the box" and "super easy even for beginners" are not quite accurate.

There are a lot of brands you will do well to stay away from. Raidentech and their Walkera lines of sh!t are one of them along w/ the Venom Night Rangers are good examples of crap helis.

Do some thinking. If you go cheap your WILL get a crap heli that you WILL crash and not be able to repair b/c parts support is non-existant. You will be crashing, a lot. Parts support is key while learning. If you go cheap you will regret it and not enjoy the hobby. Honestly, aside from the little Picco Z's and Air Hogs it's doubtful you find a decent heli in the $100 range.

Take your time, ask questions, do some reading and really evaluate your budget. Do you really want to get into helis or is this just a passing "I'm bored" phase?
j
PS: I think you should try w/out training gear. While they might help when your 0-6" off the ground, you shouldn't be flying that low anyway. Too much ground effect. And once you're up in the air they do nothing but add vibrations and make the heli fly like poo.
PPS: Linux23 - A heli is never going to stay put. A well balanced and trimmed heli will stay in a hands off hover for literally only seconds. And yes, it's always going to tip to one side or the other depending on which way the main rotor spins. If you have questions feel free to give me a hollar

 

[BradT]

I am pretty sure that I am going with the Blade CX2 after doing some research. As dumb as it sounds, everyone tells me to get a sim, so I might eventually do that once I realize how difficult it is to fly a heli. It just seems ridiculous to spend nearly as much on a sim as I will be on the actual heli.

 

[funkymatt]

the sim will be cheaper in the long run. my neighbor and I went halvsies on a cx. we've spent nearly $500 on the damn thing already. now we need a new battery due to a brown out while charging.

 

[BradT]

I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

 

[BradT]

I absolutely love it. It flys like a dream, and I know that I will have a lot of fun with it in the future.

 

[OUCaptain]

Congrats!!! Welcome to the club of heli addicts. I forgot to tell you about it earlier but E-flight just released their Blade 400 and the reviews look pretty good. It's everything you need to get a 400 class heli. It'll make a great next step once the addiction gets into your veins. Let me know if you need any help or advice while learning to fly.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Originally posted by: BradT
I am pretty sure that I am going with the Blade CX2 after doing some research. As dumb as it sounds, everyone tells me to get a sim, so I might eventually do that once I realize how difficult it is to fly a heli. It just seems ridiculous to spend nearly as much on a sim as I will be on the actual heli.

I just bought this

Blade CP pro

I manage to get it off the ground and hover around for a total of 1 minute before I lost control and crashed. I managed to make an ok crash landing so only one part needed to be fixed. I'm definitely going to buy a simulator though. As other have said, the price is negated by the fact that you would be spending even more in replacement parts from crashing.

 

[OUCaptain]

Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282

Originally posted by: BradT
I am pretty sure that I am going with the Blade CX2 after doing some research. As dumb as it sounds, everyone tells me to get a sim, so I might eventually do that once I realize how difficult it is to fly a heli. It just seems ridiculous to spend nearly as much on a sim as I will be on the actual heli.

I just bought this

http://www.ultimatehobbies.com...ar.asp?a=6&id=EFLH1300!1002

I manage to get it off the ground and hover around for a total of 1 minute before I lost control and crashed. I managed to make an ok crash landing so only one part needed to be fixed. I'm definitely going to buy a simulator though. As other have said, the price is negated by the fact that you would be spending even more in replacement parts from crashing.

Linky no worky. Says item no longer available.

When you first start learning, heres the most important thing to remember. Keep the tail pointed towards you. This keeps the correct orientation when you first start. meaning left on the stick pushes the heli left, forward is forward and so on. Orientation is the hardest thing to learn.

 

[CorCentral]

Ok, before I start........... I have been into RC since 1998. Mostly Tamiya in the beginning and then moving to Associated (rc10/b2/b3 etc). Then I got into Nitro 1/8 OFNA which was cool as hell and went at least 45mph (2spd tranny), but I had to sell for the move. Since 2005, I've been RC-less!

UNTIL----

This Christmas my father bought me a cheapy Spiderman Helicopter from radioshack because he knew I was into this type of stuff in the past.... AND I'M HOOKED AGAIN!

This thread has been awesome so far, but I'm looking for something that's 1-2 notches above beginner for an Electric Helicoptor. $300.-$500. In a Kit........or if I have to build it that's fine.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282

Originally posted by: BradT
I am pretty sure that I am going with the Blade CX2 after doing some research. As dumb as it sounds, everyone tells me to get a sim, so I might eventually do that once I realize how difficult it is to fly a heli. It just seems ridiculous to spend nearly as much on a sim as I will be on the actual heli.

I just bought this

http://www.ultimatehobbies.com...ar.asp?a=6&id=EFLH1300!1002

I manage to get it off the ground and hover around for a total of 1 minute before I lost control and crashed. I managed to make an ok crash landing so only one part needed to be fixed. I'm definitely going to buy a simulator though. As other have said, the price is negated by the fact that you would be spending even more in replacement parts from crashing.

Linky no worky. Says item no longer available.

When you first start learning, heres the most important thing to remember. Keep the tail pointed towards you. This keeps the correct orientation when you first start. meaning left on the stick pushes the heli left, forward is forward and so on. Orientation is the hardest thing to learn.

oops, just fixed it.

I agree, the orientation through me off quite a bit.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
This thread has been awesome so far, but I'm looking for something that's 1-2 notches above beginner for an Electric Helicoptor. $300.-$500. In a Kit........or if I have to build it that's fine.

Align T-rex 450 series would probably fit... especially if you have a 6+ channel radio already.

If I knew how to fly 3D and had a radio I would have bought a 450SE RTF kit on Monday but since they were out of stock on the simulators I wasn't going to spend $700+ on something that wouldn't last more than a few seconds in the air so I got a CX2 instead.

 

[911paramedic]

My brother-in-law got one for Christmas yesterday, a little indoor model. I was flying that thing around the living room and having a blast with it.

Makes me want to buy one though...

 

[Mutilator]

My brother-in-law got us some Venom Micro Rescue helicopters for Christmas. I think they were about $28 each and were a lot of fun. Definitely got more flight time than my CX2 has simply because you charge them for 15-20 minutes and fly them for 5-10. Beats waiting 1.5-2 hours for the bigger battery to charge.

Amazing to think not too long ago they were just designing helicopters... now we have them that fit in the palm of our hand and actually fly pretty good.

 

[edro]

If you get a cheap heli, get a 3+ channel.
2 Channel ones can only hover and spin, and automatically lean forward.

3 Channels give you more pitch and roll functionality.
(Main Rotor Spin, Main Rotor Tilt, Tail Rotor)

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BradT
I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

Where did you buy it from? Got a link?

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BradT
I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

Where did you buy it from? Got a link?

I imagine a lot of people get it from Hobbyzone.
I bought mine from a local hobby shop for $5 less. Typically this is what you want to do, or at least make sure local hobby shops carry replacement parts for when (not if) you crash it.

Next purchase will be the Tail boom and possibly skids from Boomtown hobbies.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Mutilator

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BradT
I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

Where did you buy it from? Got a link?

I imagine a lot of people get it from Hobbyzone.
I bought mine from a local hobby shop for $5 less. Typically this is what you want to do, or at least make sure local hobby shops carry replacement parts for when (not if) you crash it.

Next purchase will be the Tail boom and possibly skids from Boomtown hobbies.

Thanks for the link and information. I'll probably buy my first copter from a local hobby store unless it's significantly cheaper online, which I doubt. The hobby store I visited a few years ago carries all sorts of parts which is nice.

Now I just need to decide which copter model and if I'll lose interest and sink $$$$$$ into it after a year.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Mutilator

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BradT
I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

Where did you buy it from? Got a link?

I imagine a lot of people get it from Hobbyzone.
I bought mine from a local hobby shop for $5 less. Typically this is what you want to do, or at least make sure local hobby shops carry replacement parts for when (not if) you crash it.

Next purchase will be the Tail boom and possibly skids from Boomtown hobbies.

Thanks for the link and information. I'll probably buy my first copter from a local hobby store unless it's significantly cheaper online, which I doubt. The hobby store I visited a few years ago carries all sorts of parts which is nice.

Now I just need to decide which copter model and if I'll lose interest and sink $$$$$$ into it after a year.

You can also visit forums like the one at RCUniverse.com - it looks like it's the Anandtech of RC forums. I might have to register there one day.

"Active Users: There are 1150 members and 10349 guests."
"Most users ever online was 18708 at 2/21/2007 5:42:00 PM."

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Mutilator

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Mutilator

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BradT
I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

Where did you buy it from? Got a link?

I imagine a lot of people get it from Hobbyzone.
I bought mine from a local hobby shop for $5 less. Typically this is what you want to do, or at least make sure local hobby shops carry replacement parts for when (not if) you crash it.

Next purchase will be the Tail boom and possibly skids from Boomtown hobbies.

Thanks for the link and information. I'll probably buy my first copter from a local hobby store unless it's significantly cheaper online, which I doubt. The hobby store I visited a few years ago carries all sorts of parts which is nice.

Now I just need to decide which copter model and if I'll lose interest and sink $$$$$$ into it after a year.

You can also visit forums like the one at RCUniverse.com - it looks like it's the Anandtech of RC forums. I might have to register there one day.

"Active Users: There are 1150 members and 10349 guests."
"Most users ever online was 18708 at 2/21/2007 5:42:00 PM."

I have an account there but I can't remember my username, I'm sure it's in my email somewhere.

That link you provided looks like a winner. I'll have to call my local hobby store to see if they can price match it, do they accept coupons or offer a RossMAN deal?

 

[BradT]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BradT
I have decided to go with only the CX2 for now. I will be buying extra sets of parts, and indestructible skids. Once I move to a heli that does flips and stuff, I will definitely get a sim.

Where did you buy it from? Got a link?

http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_he...e-flite_blade_cx_2.htm

That is the price at most online retailers. Unfortunately, I just found a few shops in my area, but whatever, I am happy with it all the same.

But you should really get one. I was starting to think that this would just be some phase and I would get bored of it quickly, but I am absolutely addicted. I would fly this thing 24/7 if I didn't have to wait for it to charge.


I have another questions for others though. Is there any other way to charge the battery faster? It has another cord that lets you charge off a car type of battery, is this quicker? I think I will just buy a couple more chargers/batteries. I already ordered a 900mAh (my heli came with an 800 mAh) battery for it.

 

[BradT]

And I forgot to mention. I should have bought more than one replacement pack of blades. I have already gone through 3 sets of blades. However, in my defense, I am learning in a small 6x4 foot space in my living room that is crowded with hard wood furniture. I am really learning quickly though. This thing practically flies itself. I can hover easily, and do pirouettes and spot landing now. I LOVE THIS THING!!