Need help deciding

slade_x

To keep it short i was looking on komplett and saw their R/C range, i was particularly interested in the Silverlit X-UFO

http://komplett.ie/k/kl.asp?bn=10855

My guess is its a piece of crap but i wouldn't mind owning a nice helicopter, i would again guess that kompletts selection would be sub par?

Can anyone direct me to a reputable source in Ireland/UK that sells good quality products. i will limit my budget as im not sure if this is something i seriously would want to get into, i'll say maybe €100-200 , also i'd rather master control on something cheap but adequate just in case

I went browsing and came across this: EF Sabre RC Electric 4 CH Helicopter RTF



http://www.hobbytron.com/EF-Helicopters-Sabre-Micro-Helicopter-RTF.html

if i could find a source would this be a good starter or would the Silverlit X-Rotor Gyrotor €60 from komplett suffice for someone with no experience



http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=322701

Thanks

Edit: Is boyztoys.ie anygood? just saw the saber there for €195

coolwings

slade_x wrote:

...My guess is its a piece of crap but i wouldn't mind owning a nice helicopter,..... i'll say maybe €100-200. .....

There lies your problem.
When you said "helicopter" you also said goodbye to low cost ......
Then you said "nice helicopter" ......

The thing about flying models is this:
first it must be able to fly right .... then you ask the cost

Gravity sucks - but it sucks some models down more than others!

Here is the thread with the Irish suppliers contacts General Thread. I would suggest Green Hobby then there is The Model Centre. For a cheap heli - these 150 - 250 jobs are OK. But if replacement parts are not in stock with the seller, you goofed up, you bought a 200 euro ornament. That's because these models eat parts up through wear and tear and bumpy landings.
The little ones all look similar, but some are tougher than others, and break less. The model shops know the difference, the toy shops don't. So it helps if you forget the little internet pictures, and walk in, open three heli boxes, and compare the strength and quality of the actual parts. You get a better idea of what you're getting for your money.

The better shops will rarely offer the cheapest deal, beause the cheapest deal usually fails the quality control standards of a professional model shop. A good model shop wants the customer to have a good experience that encourages them to stay in the hobby and want more RC stuff later, so the model usually is expected to fly easier/better and costs a mid range price. So you can choose where you want to live in the quality-price-backup tradeoff yourself.

Also - the radio included in the deal you're looking at, is incapable of flying a bigger, better helicopter, cos it's an airplane radio with insufficient functions for "a nice" heli. So you would end up buying a 2nd radio, ie buying twice, if you were to decide to get a better heli later.
That would be ok if you were to decide to do planes later cos it's good enough for planes, but not helis.

slade_x

coolwings wrote:

There lies your problem.
When you said "helicopter" you also said goodbye to low cost ......
Then you said "nice helicopter" ......

The thing about flying models is this:
first it must be able to fly right .... then you ask the cost

by that are good planes much cheaper than helicopters, i did choose helicopters because i dont think i live in an area for planes, i would love plane though

What i meant when i said nice helicopter was that of quality and an amateur or even pro would be happy with; flyability being paramount. if i was really concerned with how it looks i probably would have gone on ebay and bought the coolest looking thing i could find

I dont suppose there are upgradable models? say for example by a good sturdy carbon fibre body that will take the mounting of different motors (electric) and of course other parts likes blades, etc.

Thanks

On Green Hobby & Model they seem to recommend a Twister (RTF) heli for beginners for under €250

Boyztoys.ie has two of them the Twister V2 and the Twister CP V2

coolwings

Upgradeable models?
Sure there are.
Patrick in Green Hobby is flying a Twister 3D, flies very well.
It started out as a Twister 3D, but now it has lots of "bling" added.
Carbon fibre, blades, tail, anodised metal rotor head, rocker arms & washout, brushless motor. It looks absolutely brilliant now.
He probably now has 3 times the power he had at the start!
It reacts quicker too, but that would be undesirable for a learner. So the basic (easier to fly) setup is actually preferable to begin with. You can always bling it up when you are no longer thumping it into solid objects!

slade_x

coolwings wrote:

Upgradeable models?
Sure there are.
Patrick in Green Hobby is flying a Twister 3D, flies very well.
It started out as a Twister 3D, but now it has lots of "bling" added.
Carbon fibre, blades, tail, anodised metal rotor head, rocker arms & washout, brushless motor. It looks absolutely brilliant now.
He probably now has 3 times the power he had at the start!
It reacts quicker too, but that would be undesirable for a learner. So the basic (easier to fly) setup is actually preferable to begin with. You can always bling it up when you are no longer thumping it into solid objects!

From what i can tell the CP V2 is a more advanced version of the 3D

Competition-class woven carbon fibre main blades fitted!
Two 1000mAh li-poly batteries with cell balancer lead fitted!
3-cell li-poly balancer charger AND Tx batteries included too!
New Bell/Hiller mixed rotor head for ultimate 3D whizzability!
CCPM transmitter included with 3D switch AND trainer switch fitted
Instructional DVD included
Around 15 minute flights per charge
Checked, test-flown and FLIGHT GUARANTEED

Factory-assembled, RC installed COMPLETELY ready-to-fly
Every model test-flown and set up by expert pilots
Carbon fibre main blades for strength, precision and durability
CCPM collective pitch system for the ultimate in control
Two 1000mAh Li-poly batteries and 12V DC charger - with cell balancing charge protection circuitry
Astonishing 15 minutes flying time per charge!
One-piece '4 in 1' on-board computerised electronics unit saves weight, improves performance and simplifies use
Transmitter with 3D/Idle up switch AND buddy box training switch
Instructional DVD included
SAFETY FEATURE - Li-po batteries and charger use charge protection and balancer circuitry
SAFETY FEATURE - Speed controller disallows high throttle starts
SAFETY FEATURE - Throttle Fail-safe cuts in when signal lost
SAFETY FEATURE - Gyro is disabled at closed throttle to prevent unexpected tail rotor starts during transport
Ball bearing swashplate, rotor head, main shaft and tail shaft for ultimate precision
Carbon fibre boom, UC struts, flybar, etc
Only requires a 12V DC charger source
Equally brilliant indoors and out AND similarly satisfying for newcomers and experts!

I have found that http://www.jperkinsdistribution.co.uk have all accessories and spare parts for the CP V2, they also sell the full kit for £199 , boyztoys sell it for €329

The Twister 3D is £129.99 on that site too

I think the CP V2 is the one im going to go for

coolwings

slade_x wrote:

I think the CP V2 is the one im going to go for

Have you held it in your hand?
It's tiddly. Not worth putting all that extra upgrades on IMHO.
The V2 basic is lower cost than V2CP, takes off in your bedroom, hovers, then lands on a shoebox.
It has half the parts count to repair when you pile it in. It does what you need to fly indoors.

For indoor and outdoor flying you need bigger than V2.
Twister 3D size can fly in a back garden.
Perkins are a distributor only.
Your 3D price does not include a load of essential gear - for instance radio.
CP is for flying aerobatic, can you fly? Fora pure novice with a brand new collective pitch heli, a three second flight and a fifty euro crash is a brutal lesson. Then you fix it, and takeoff again.

My suggestions:
Keep it simple.
Before you can fly - wishful thinking does not keep it in the air - money and determination does.

If you have a go on an RC flight simulator. It takes 100 crashes on a simulator before you can do a 3 minute flight with a real CP model heli. After 200 crashes on the sim you can do a 5-6 minute flight. That sounds too many crashes but it's about right.
If you get a CP heli to learn with, add the cost of a flight sim and transmitter-USB leads to your budget before, not after, you wipe out the heli.

Try to buy from someone who actually flies , you are going to be asking that person many technical questions while learning and they must know the answers.

Good luck - RC flying is a wonderful hobby

zt-OctaviaN

100 crashes....200 crashes!!

Bloody hell....respect to the flyers!
I think Ill stay on the ground for now. well as much as possible!!

n

slade_x

Is the Ikarus AeroFly Pro Deluxe a good simulator

AEROFLY PRO DELUXE USB (GAME COMMANDER) SRP £159.99
AEROFLY PRO DELUXE USB (INTERFACE) SRP £119.99

£279.98 = €415 in total

What are the chances of any transmitter i get having a "USB Trainer Port" to interface with the software so i dont have to buy their one?

The Doktor

I can agree with pretty much everything that Coolwings has said.
I know a few people who have bought these cheap helis on the likes of Ebay, and they bought models that were difficult to fly, and also pretty much impossible to set up to fly anyway correctly. I have one friend that bought one which would not even lift off!!!

The next thing I would say is the Twister heli that you are looking at is really only any use for indoor flying. I am sure there are a few good pilots around who can fly em outdoors, but you will have a lot of difficulty learning unless you have somewhere you can fly it indoors. You can fly it out side in ZERO wind, but when do you get that in Ireland.

I will only tell you about the models I have direct experience of, as I don’t want to tell you wrong!
I currently have 3 Models, first one like you are looking at, is a Century Hummingbird. Which is good fun indoors, and not too bad to learn with.
Next I have a Zoom 400, which to be honest is my favourite. Have a look here http://www.modelhelicopters.co.uk/acatalog/HeliKits_Electric.html

It’s a great heli to learn on, and there are so many upgrades, as with a lot of other models. I can practise with the Zoom in my back garden, and you don’t need a huge amount of room to fly it as it is quite small. Also things like rotors arent too expensive compared to a full size heli. But again, you have to make sure the wind is quite gentle.

The next one is an IC model, and it’s a Hirobo Sceadu, which again, I think is a great model. However, this is something you need to have a place to fly, you will not learn in you back garden (unless its really big!!).

I have to agree with Coolwings when buying a heli, it is really a good idea to go and see it for real, see the size, and the quality etc. Also where ever you are buying it can offer you a lot of advice, and can show you what upgrades are available, and again advise you what is the best radio gear to use with it.

I buy a lot of models online, however when getting my helis, I went to actual bricks and mortar places locally to get a look, and bought from them. I generally buy my upgraded bits online, but only because I have found that some of the local guys just stock the bits that break or just a few upgrades.

And yeah, as coolwings says….GET A SIMULATOR. I have Tru-flite 3d simulator, and it saved me a few hundred quid. (First heli was the Hirobo and blades are about 50quid)
You know you will go through a heap of battery charges or tanks of fuel before you even get off the ground, and you will break a heap of blades, bend things, and generally have to spend a fair few quid. The simulator will stop you making a complete mess of you heli when you first start it up. By using it you will see that you don’t just push that stick and the thing lifts off perfectly..!!

One thing, flying helis is one of the most fun things I have ever done, and if you get into it, it is a hobby you will really love. And your other half will love you cos you spend less time down the pub.

slade_x

I'm completely lost, i dont know what i want.

what about the helicopters that come with flight simulators in package deals for example;

ECO 7 SPORT HELI RTR COMPLETE INCL R/CSRP £399.99

but is the included EasySIM flight simulator a load of crap though?

Then the model after without simulator
ECO 8 (PACKAGE DEAL COMPLETE) SRP £299.99 without simulator

The Doktor

You are still lookin for a cheap way into helicopters
Personally I dont like the ones that come with the cheap arse radio gear. As coolwings said earlier you will just end up having to get a new one if you decide to upgrade.
I have a Sanwa RD 6000 transmitter, its pretty much entry level, but I have had it a few years and havent felt the need to upgrade.
The sim that I have is Tru Flite 3D, which I have found pretty good. Though maybe coolwings can recommend a different one. The one you are talking about I THINK a friend of mine got with his heli, and was total crap, but I could be mistaken.
Also somthing you really need to think of, is when you get your heli and you think its ready to fly...ITS NOT! It needs to be set up properly and you will not be able to do this yourself until you learn a bit about them.
The best advice I can offer you is to go down to the likes of Green hobby (never delt with em meself) or helimodels and have a look at the real thing.
Or even meet up with someone who has a couple of helis and get a look at what they have.

coolwings

The cheapest flight sim would be FMS = Free Model Simulater.
Background is a bit like legoland, but it does the job.
All you need is the USB transmitter - PC lead from your local hobby shop.

Nicest sim according to heli guys (I don't have it) is Reflex XTR.
Then Realflight G3 (I had it, very good, but dear)
then
Aerofly Pro Deluxe (I use that now)
Tru-flite (I had an early version worked fine)
The CSM (too basic for me - I would prefer the FMS)

Just so you know - the Zoom 400 mentioned above is a similar spec to the Twister 3D, but not the same heli. These sizes are ok for outdoors in mild wind. Very suitable for gymnasiom/school hall up to football pitch flying.

The smaller ones are fine for indoors.