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Beginners Corner > Just starting

lrz50
New Heliman
Location: Apache Junction, AZ USA

I am not new to R/C, I have flown planes (trainers), I have Elct. and gas cars and trucks. I have been playing with a fixed pitched heli, but your limited to up,down,side to side. I'm looking to get a Phoenix sim, but I quess I need a decent transmitter to operate it. The question I have is, should I go with a co-axial pitch heli like the E-flite CX2 or a collective pitch like the Heli-Max AXE CPv3 and install a head locking Gyro. They run about the same money, but I thought if I get the heli-max I could get more out of it, and progress from there. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

Larry

07-12-2008 01:32 AM

nmrs
Senior Heliman
Location: Austin, TX

If your diligent about using the sim and can stand to not fly the real heli until you can hover on the sim, I'd say just go for a collective pitch. The Blade 400 is a pretty good bang for the buck and comes with a good transmitter (Spektrum DX6i) that will work with Phoenix (a fantastic sim by the way). If you wanna step up a bit, I'd suggest a Spektrum DX7 Tx and a T-Rex 450 se v2 or T-Rex 500.

450 se v2

07-12-2008 01:41 AM

rotormonkey
Senior Heliman
Location: Ottawa, ON - Canada

Like he said, if you learn to hover on the sim first, CP is probably better IMHO. However, the Axe CP will be a tough bird to learn on. Very twitchy. I'd only consider it if you have a large space indoors you can use (and I don't mean a small living room), or on days with little to no wind.

If neither of those are available to you, get the coaxial. Or option C: If you're getting Phoenix, spend a little more and get the Blade 400 to get your feet wet. Comes with a DX6i, which is a good TX which would cost you a couple hundred separately anyway. Add a couple hundred to that for the Axe CP you were going to buy, and you're spending about the same money. (err.. More or less)

B400 will be able to handle more wind, and be more stable (and therefore easier to learn on) than the Axe CP. Downsides are it's more expensive to buy/maintain.

07-12-2008 04:51 AM

lrz50
New Heliman
Location: Apache Junction, AZ USA

Just Starting

From what I've been reading, the CPv3 is the same as the CP with a few upgrades. More beginner friendly. I like the blade 400, but I can't see buying something that's going to cost me a arm and a leg to fix if or when I crash it. I just thought something decent, and not to exspendcive to repaer to start off with. Then move up when you get the hange of it.

07-12-2008 06:05 AM

rotormonkey
Senior Heliman
Location: Ottawa, ON - Canada

It's a delicate balance. The B400 will cost more to repair, but you're likely to crash it less while learning since it's larger and more stable.

The other point to make on the financial side is this: The B400 costs around $500 (or closer to $400 if you shop around I hear). It comes with the DX6i a $200 radio. After you factor that in, the heli is only a little more expensive than the CP.

If you're planning on getting phoenix anyways, I'm not sure you'll be able to use the CP Tx with it. If not, you may well end up spending almost the same amount of money on a good radio, your CP, and phoenix, but you won't even be able to use that radio with the CP. At least not without some jury rigging and spending even more money.

Just throwing it out there. As I said, I started on the Blade CP as well (very similar bird). It was enough to get the needle in the vein for me but learning was difficult. After I got a Trex 450 (somewhat similar to the B400) I learned MUCH faster.

My suggestion would be go with the B400 if you think you'll stick with it. But the CP will fly if you keep at it, and is decent just to get your feet wet.

Just don't expect the world from it. You won't likely be doing acrobatics with it. Once you get to FF, throw it out. Don't put any extra money into it to make it fly nice. Use it to learn, and move on. And if you can fly that thing, you'll be able to fly ANYTHING.

07-12-2008 02:49 PM

lrz50
New Heliman
Location: Apache Junction, AZ USA

Just starting

It's not the Blade CP I'm talking about, It's the Heli-Max CPv3 just out. It's a upgrade of the Heli-Max CP-L.

lrz50
Larry

07-12-2008 11:56 PM

rotormonkey
Senior Heliman
Location: Ottawa, ON - Canada

I know, both are very similar. Cheaply made, motor driven tail, twitchy as hell. I never owned the Axe, and therefore don't have direct experience with it. I'm sure the new v3 isn't a far cry from the old one.

07-13-2008 12:35 AM

heli21
Senior Heliman
Location: Leroy, NY --USA--

i think a blade 400 is the beter way to go becuse the tail motor heli's are just not worth it.....skip that step. but get a good sim to pratice a blade 400 on. or a little cheaper a m400 but they have some problems.

Rob AMA-888431 www.freewebs.com/robmrocks

07-13-2008 01:58 AM

Ozz58
Heliman
Location: Ft. Worth, TX USA

Here's a little story, Flew nitro's 15 years ago, got busy and put this hobby on hold for 14 years. Wife got me a Blade CX for Christmas, and again I became a junky.

Got the old nitro Shuttle Z out and totally redid it. Flew it for a few months. The problem is, I am a park flyer. I really wanted to fly in my back yard. Of course the Blade CX isn't something you really want to take outside. (I do really enjoy it in the house messing with the dogs.) The Shuttle is a little large for the space I have in my yard, so I decided to buy a Blade CP. I don't want to bad mouth the CP, but for me it almost drove me away from larger Electric birds. Way to twitchy for me to enjoy, along with the tail motor going out and other problems. So say "If you can fly a CP you can fly anything." I would agree with this. Anyway I would fly it only in "0" wind, but still never really enjoyed it. Oh, I do have a sim, the RealFlight 3.5. I understand the Phoenix is a great sim, although I've never used it.

Was at the hobby store getting more blades for my CX when I saw they had the Blade 400 on sale. $399 Now after my experience with the CP I was a little, well not sure of their products. Wrong, I got it, took it home, charged the bats. and was in the air hovering right out of the box. It was very easy to control, nothing like the CP. Needless to say, I'm flying this everyday in my backyard, have had over 20 flights and only two minor crashes, both under $15.

So, my advice would be stay away for the Heli-Max CP. (it looks very much like the Blade CP, tail motor, so I would assume it would fly much the same.) Get a Blade CX if you only plan on flying inside. Buy the sim, save up for a Blade 400 or something in the 400 size that has a belt driven tail.

Oh well, I'm off to do a little flying.

Hope this helped.

07-13-2008 04:00 PM

MolokaiBoy
Veteran
Location: Kailua-Kona,Hawaii USA

I work at the LHS and if I would have to compare the AXE CP, Blade CP/CPP, and the Blade400 by our customers overall happiness with the helis I would go with the 400. I have flown all three and IMHO the 400 flies better outta the box than the rest that I have flown.

Customers who flew the CP/CPP and AXE got frustrated with the level of difficulty and overall twitchiness of them. Some of the CP/AXE owners who have now bought the 400 love it better than their previous helis. They say it's easier to fly, more stable, parts are still fairly cheap. They love the idea of also having a real TX that can be used for other models.

But a good sim is a very valuable tool that will always be helpful. If you can stand not to fly an actual heli right now I'd say get a sim first.

Aloha

Les

07-13-2008 05:09 PM

HOMEPAGE

Magic Hook
Senior Heliman
Location: Naples, Florida USA

From my experience skip the coax heli if you get the simulator. After that, get the biggest heli your budget will stand. At least with a Blade 400 you get a nice radio.

T 450 V2, T 500, T 600e

07-13-2008 06:21 PM

lrz50
New Heliman
Location: Apache Junction, AZ USA

Thanks for all the input. I think what I wiil do is buy either the Blade 400 ARF or the T-Rex 450 SA with motor and ESC. That way I can put better servos and gyro in it and what ever else it will need. While I am learning on the sim. That way I won't be tempted to take a ready to fly out and crash it. I think from what I'm reading the T-REX sounds like a more durable bird. The thunder tiger mini titan E325 SE sounds like a nice one to, a bit pricey. But a lot of you like the blade 400, might have to flip a coin.

Larry

07-14-2008 01:09 AM

30636086
Senior Heliman
Location: Tacoma, WA

Quote
but I can't see buying something that's going to cost me a arm and a leg to fix if or when I crash it.

My most expensive repair so far was around $30 and that was buying extra parts not need it for that particular repair! The lil heli can take a beating! I can assure you that(I didn't have any prior heli experience) My have been a lawn dart form about 30 feet and drop like a rock(battery neg came undone) at about 50-60 feet! Just a great lil heli!

1- take apart 2-repair damage 3-check everything 4-go fly and crash 5- repeat #1

07-14-2008 01:10 AM

BeltFedBrowning
Senior Heliman
Location: Albany, MO USA

I tried the Axe CP and everything they said is true. The heli is very twitchy and the tail won't hold. They say if you can fly it you can fly anything because you have to fly the tail at the same time you keep a wandering twitchy heli from crashing. I had been flying for some years when I got my Axe and it is the only heli I have sold.

07-14-2008 01:16 AM

daytona7
Heliman
Location: Ocala, FL USA

Beginners

Saw a clip on "metacafe" in the How To section on "How to make an electric Helicopter Training/Test Stand. Simple to make and should be a great tool for beginners to learn how to use the sticks without jerking them around. A lot cheaper than the ones I saw 12-15 years back. Best How To videos on RC Helicopters I've seen.

07-18-2008 03:12 AM

JRjoe
Elite Veteran
Location: Portage, IN

Quote
I think from what I'm reading the T-REX sounds like a more durable bird.

The word "durable" and helis do not go together...

Buy nice, buy once...

JRjoe

07-18-2008 06:36 PM

Smacka
Heliman
Location: Weedville, PA

Quote
From my experience skip the coax heli if you get the simulator. After that, get the biggest heli your budget will stand. At least with a Blade 400 you get a nice radio

EXACTLY!!!!
This is why, in my opinion, a newbie should fly the nuts off the simulator and go straight for a Trex 600. This is where he will graduate to anyway...I have seen it time and time again.

Skip all of the additional expense monkeying around with small coaxial's, and the like, and purchase (when you are ready) a much more stable copter like the Trex 600. I prefer the Super Pro Nitro BUT to each his/her own.

I just cannot see spending money on copters that will not teach you correct flight fundamentals, only correct repair fundamentals because they are extremely unstable, and of low quality and hard to setup.

Time for Irz50 to decide how to spend his do-re-me

Oh, and do not forget to join your local flight club and work with a trainer/instructor to help you with your maiden flight. These birds are not toys to be used to chase the dogs around the backyard. They are dangerous, high RPM technical pieces of machinery that can injure you and anyone around you, in the blink of an eye. Crashing is not a foregone conclusion. Buddy box your bird and save time, money and aggravation.

Happy Flying,
Smacka

07-18-2008 10:35 PM

tarzan_eb
Senior Heliman
Location: Central Illinois USA

cheaper is not always better

In this hobby if you try to save money by going cheap it usually cost you in the end

Fly it ! Crash it ! Rebuild it ! Repeat as needed !!

07-19-2008 01:14 PM

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