Number9

Im rilly thinking about getting a r/c Helicopter like a micro or mini one i have never had one so i have no idea whitch are anay good....anay siggestions on whitch ones are good and whitch arnt so good..and what would be good for a begginer...o and what are some good places online places to buy from? thanks

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

I cant say it enough. The Hirobo XRB is in my opinion is the best for a beginner. Its solid built, flys straight right out of the box, and based on what I have seen is VERY docile. And because of its size and stability, you can literally fly it in your living room.

I havent flown one yet, but Ive watched one fly. I honestly think someone with NO RC skills could hover it in one days worth of practice, maybe less.

This is what I am going to start with....just waiting for it to get here. The local hobby shop has a 6 heli backorder on these things. So it might be a while before I get mine. I'm confident that this was a good choice.

Street price is around $300 bucks with everything you need to fly.

Number9

is the, Zoom 400 and Shogun Micro.....Piccolo Electric Micro.....Hummingbird Electric Micro.....or the Hornet Electric Micro anay good those are the main ones im looking at

Number9

o or the Honey Bee / ESky CCPM ( CP ) Micro

turboBB

Can't say for the others but I own the XRB and Honey Bee 2 (CCPM) and what a day and night difference! The XRB is pretty much as everyone has posted here, it's very stable and great for beginners. The XRB foam blades are also a lot cheaper to replace (about $10 for 4 sets) as opposed to roughly $15-$20 for 1 set of HB2.

With enough patience and LOTS of training you can prolly do well with the HB2 but if you just want something to get up and hovering quickly then I'd highly recommend the XRB. I got mine from MTA Hobbies for $309 but I saw an Heliproz ad in RCM recently for $299.

VinceHerman

If you are looking for an indoor heli, I recommend the Piccolo of the Hummingbird. FP versions. The are quality models compared to many of the recent flood of clones.
I have never been comfortable with the idea of the XRB heli. I am not trying to bash anyone, it is just that in my mind, that is not a real heli. Cool? SURE! Stable? Better than any. But no challenge.
The T-Rex and Shogun would not be ideal indoor candidates. Head speed in high enough to cause damage to the furniture/walls.

BTW, where in Ohio?

Number9

i would only be flying outside...springboro ohio

Number9

what about this one http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemID=70513

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

Thats a GWS mini dragonfly on that link. And that price is a bit much, unless that includes a brushless motor or some extras. My local hobbyshop sells them for about $129 with a stock motor and mixer. Not a bad little heli, fixed pitch if I remember correctly. Plastic blades, seperate motor for the tail rotor....never seen one fly, but it looks like it would be a bit much for a beginner. Tony Stillman told me that they are a handful to fly though. Mainly due to their light weight. Plus you still have to go buy all the electronics too. Rx, servos, gyro etc.

Not sure about the shogun micro, Ive never seen one.

I havent seen a shogun 400 fly, but I have gotten a chance to look one over real good. DANG fine machine if you ask me. Nice quality workmanship, and while the head pieces are probably plastic, it looks far better quality plastic than some of the other helis. It has a tail rotor drive shaft through the tail boom. Kinda cool, not sure how well it works though. Once I get some stick time, Im gonna get a shogun 400. It just looks like one wild machine. No doubt more than I can handle right now though.

The shogun 400 would definatly be an OUTDOOR only heli. While its probably capable of flying indoors in skilled hands, if it hits the wall, you're gonna be replacing studs.

The piccolo from what Ive heard is much like the mini dragonfly as far as flight performance.

I would have to agree Vince about the XRB. Its not a "real" heli in a sense. It has what I call a "training" rotor above the main rotor.

This being said, I think you and your friends will forget all about that top rotor as you're hovering inside a trashcan with the lid on top the same day you got it, while your buddies are busting up $30 rotor blades every five minutes in their super extra CCPXYZ 5D gee-whiz helis. That's why I dont agree that its not a good heli to start on. I think its PERFECT to start on. Gives a new flier the orientation skills hes going to desperatly need later on when he goes to a single rotor heli. He will be one step up on everyone else, when they are all playing peter cottontail hopping around with a fully loaded heli, trying to learn how to fly it.

Number9

the link i posted the seller says its a FEDA MODEL or whatever and a the best parts all put together to make one rilly good heli or something that its gust a dragonfly body on....anay one have anay links to some good heli store's

Number9

so your saying i should probly get the XRB

VinceHerman

Ahh... Outside. This leads us in another direction.

And most people agree that these FP micro helis are not good outdoor candidates. For outdoor, you want t go a bit bigger.

That made me chuckle!
I agree that the aggressive CP models (CCPXYZ 5D gee-whiz heli - still laughing) are not good candidates for beginners.

If you are looking for a good outdoor beginner, everything I have read indicates that the Lite Machines Corona is at the top of the list. Big enough to handle wind and robust.

If you had any hover experience to begin with, I would say to look towards a T-Rex or possibly a Shogun. I don't know. Maybe I am need to go get a blade runner just to see if that would give the hover experience needed to make the jump to a better CP heli. I really don't know. Not having roll control makes me think that a beginner would not be forced to handle multiple channels of control.

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

Yeah, I didnt read the stuff after the picture. Just looked at the picture. I wonder why they put a Mini Dragonfly canopy on it.

Honestly, as far as what helicopter to get.....well thats gonna have to be a choice you'll have to make.

I can only speak for what I've done. I have tryed countless times to fly helicopters on a simulator. I can get it off the ground, even fly around a little, until I crash it. Average flight time is about 30 seconds. I've been flying model airplanes for over 10 years. I never got a helicopter because I knew I would demolish it before I got a chance to enjoy it. I've watched people trying to learn how to fly on helicopters. Ive watched them get it into a hover, and then it starts to tip, and next thing you know your ducking splinters as the blades explode. This was all on gas heli's. At 60 bucks a pop for good blades, I dont know how they could afford to keep flying. There was one fellow who went through 2-3 sets of blades every weekend at our local field...I dont know if he ever did learn to fly it.

Ive always wanted a helicopter, I just wasn't going to plop down money for one, until I felt like I could fly it. I never felt confident enough to attempt it....that was until I saw the XRB. Ive got no doubt in my mind that I would have a good chance of successfully flying it.

Sure I would love to be able to do 3D aerobatics and such, but right now, Im ready to learn the basics. I feel that the XRB is the perfect platform for this. I could probably learn on a full capability heli, but how much money would I spend on broken parts to do it, and how much fun would I have doing it. Crashing sucks all the fun out of anything. Anything that will improve my chances on success....well thats the heli for me.

Yeah, the XRB isnt going to be some wild machine capable of as many maneuvers as a piccolo or shogun, etc., but I wont have to fight it either.

See one of those full capable helis, HAS no forgiveness for mistakes. Its gonna go EXACTLY where you point it. If for some reason you got into trouble with the XRB, just let go, and it should stable out. Or at least become docile enough for you to correct. You also wont have to worry about some flight charectoristics of full capable heli's.

For instance a full heli will sideslip left during takeoff due to torque and tail rotor pressure, etc. You've got enough stuff to worry about trying to learn to fly without having to worry about this stuff. The XRB doesnt exhibit this trait, because of the counter-rotating rotors, and no tail rotor....which allows you to concentrate on more important stuff....like flying.

Of course this could be a bad thing too, as you wont learn the small neuances of a full heli with the XRB.....but...when you do go to fly the full heli, you will already know how to fly, now all you have to do is compensate for the small stuff.

Thats my opinion on it all.

Here's my advice. Get the helicopter that makes you feel comfortable, and that you think offers you what you want and need. You may be more confident in your flying abilities, you might be able to handle a full heli right from "go". If so , by all means...go for it.

Good luck, enjoy.

Number9

i dont have the money to get a regular size one thats y i was wanting a micro ive only got like 250 maybe 300 to get everything i need....and if i do get the xrb i wont have enought to get a a reglar heli w/o the one blade over the main or whatever and im only gunna be out side whitch means a micro heli might not be so good so i dont no what to do...now im thinking of gest staying on the grond and geting a new nitro truck or something.....

thats y i was lookiong that that one for 200 r2f in the link i put up...was talking to the seller trying to get some more pics and a part list but he hasent replyed yet

micro-flight226

[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]

Moe3754

My Feedback: (14)

The problem with the XRB is that it has no tail rotor and so you don't have to worry about main rotor torque because the contra-rotating rotors cancel out the torque from the main rotor but the thing is you are removing one of the most important lessons the control of the tail rotor and the control of the main rotor torque.The XRB was reviewed in this months issue of Helicopter World and sure it is a great learning device it still lacks many important lessons that are needed with regular Heli's.I think that the money would be better spent on a good simulator where you can learn more than from the XRB.

Number9

whats a good simulator

Number9

whats a good simulator

Donnie7

I use Real flight G2 but there are others that are probably newer and better. G2 is great
Donnie

MrWonderful

i had a piccolo for a little while and i never really got to fly it because i lived in aspen colorado (at 8000ft altitdude) so i didnt like it much...i just seemed like it could use work[:'(]

i have seen the blade runner work and that is more a toy than anything...i would not recomend that for a serious training tool but more i fun toy for a very very beginner[>:]

i currently own real flight g3 and it is awesome...i taught myself to fly basic heli flight and some beginnings of 3d and it really helps[8D]

just on sunday i bought a shogun v2 and it is great...i am using the optic 6 and i am still doing some throttle pitch curve adjustments and revo mixing and i plan to get a heading hold gyro for it and tomorrow i am going brushless but the little hovering test and forward motion seem stable and the heli looks like it will kick some ***** in 3d...i can wait for my brushless

if you are learning, i would recommend the sabre from hobby people...it is cheap, works, and will teach you the basics without a lot of frustration

if you are past that go to the g3 sim by real flight and pratice helis and then move to the shogun v2 or trex 450 xl (both are very comperable...shogun v2 is better stock but trex 450xl has more hopups)

-just keep in mind that when you move to a heli like the shogun or trex there is going to be a lot of set up and tweaking and you have to be patient and be ready for crashes...i got expecting a crash and am thankful when i can fly it tomorrow[:-]

dont get me wrong though, helis are great fun and will always keep you busy[&:]

that is my two cents and if you have any other questions, my email is [email protected]

thanks

c-credit!!!




-Dont land it inverted-

jh4db536

My Feedback: (2)

since you are flying outside:

-dont get the XRB (that's a cheater heli) its an indoor heli strictly
-do not get the shogun400/zoom/or other copies of this - it's WAY too fragile for a beginner & costly to repair
-Depending on your budget i would go CP. CP is easier to fly (more stable, responsive & consistent cyclic), but it will take heavy damage in even a light crash. if you cant afford this then i guess your stuck with FP. FP is SIGNIFICANTLY more difficult to learn on, but cheap to fix.
-i would avoid RTF but if you insist, go for the blade cp or HB CP2 which is cheaper and improved according to the poll of people who own both. im not really down with 2 motor heli.

you do NOT have to crash a heli to learn to fly. as long as you are setup correctly & maintain it (this is probably harder than flying it). a good heli will almost fly itself - this is why i dont recommend RTF unless your budget allows nothing else. take your time, do some research, practice RADD, even sim time helps (FMS = free), take it 1 step a time..dont get cocky, use training gear accordingly.

i recommend the trex or x400 anyday. they fly well when built to instruction specifications no DIY or recall issues. they are the largest micro in the class and the most stable. if these heli dont work for you then i am almost positive no other micro will.

thecheatscalc

well I disagree a bit... the 36 is a great begginers heli, personally I'm learning ground effect hovering, and am getting quite good at it. now if you do get the 36 it won't work unless you get a brushless system (align 420LF with 25A+ esc). ABS blades, 11.1v lipoly (above 1500mAh) spare pair of landing gear, TRex ALIGN 11T?,13T?,15T? (that's how it's labled), 2 main shafts (shogun), new main gear (shogun) spare blade grips, and finally a pair of tail rotors. now all that from grand rc/ebay with the ebay being the heli, training gear, 2200mAh lipo (contrary to popular belief the free ones work just fune with a good brushless system), the rest from grand rc. get all that and it adds up to around $350usd get that and download fms and you're good to go, fms is just for orientation training, so, yes just use the keyboard.

good luck, you shouldn't need it if you buy from a trustworthy seller!

jh4db536

My Feedback: (2)

let me remind you. the heli are not what make it cost $500+

a NEW x400 kit can be had for $100 which is very cheap. or the trex XL for a little under 2bills.

this is considering you use higher end components that the cost rises. when something fails you during flight, youre gonna regret going budget (not implying it cant happen with futaba, castle, hitec, etc - it's a lot less likely).

by the time you go seperates you might as well just bought a (kit) component heli rather than upgrading the crap it came with. i recommend a Head hold gyro for beginners it's so worth it and youll never get it in a RTF. it makes things way easier to learn, it's basically like autopilot for 1 entire control surface of the heli so you can focus on the cyclic controls.

so yeah a trex or x400, gyro, esc, servos, lipoly + charger, rx/tx, motor it's not that complex. if you want to put an align esc and motor on there, that's fine, they work very well for the price. rx/tx is up to you (im never going back to FM). servos dont really matter except the tail servo. you can probably get away with a cheap but good 8c lipoly to start with it will hover and do the basics.