RC Helicopters

Mr. Peri Peri · 11 May 2012 at 23:15

arknor said:
build a hobbyking 450 you can get all the bits minus the radio gear for around £150 or less.

buy a cheap radio to start with on the hobbyking site for around $25 like the HK-16a 6 channel radio (ive got one and it works great just a pain because you can only alter all the trims and throttle curves with a pc)

the larger the heli the more stable and less twitch they are, i started with a 250 clone but wish i went with a 450 now.

theres a huge thread on the 450 clone here http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335980

ive been thinking of getting a flybarless 450
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Tube_Helicopter_Kit_Align_T_Rex_Compat_.html
instead of a tail gyro you use
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20996__Hobbyking_ZYX_3_Axis_Flybarless_System_.html

Thanks for that.

So which 450 model would be good for a beginner? The flybarless 450 you linked to?

I put together a components list for that one and it's looking to be about £180 including shipping for everything including the Turnigy 9X transmitter.

Just a bit unsure of which model is best for a beginner as there are so many to choose from in the 450 model alone.

EDIT: These were the parts selected. I think the only other bits I would need are some tools and a charger?

Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 07:29:05 +0000

Quantity Stock Product description Price Weight
OK 155000030 - HK-450TT PRO V2 Flybarless 3D Torque-Tub.. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Tube_Helicopter_Kit_Align_T_Rex_Compat_.html
*This item usually ships within 3 days $62.99 997
OK TR_P40A - TURNIGY Plush 40amp Speed Controller http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2165__TURNIGY_Plush_40amp_Speed_Controller.html $17.80 79
OK TY2218-3450 - Turnigy Typhoon 450H 2218H Heli Motor 34.. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._450H_2218H_Heli_Motor_3450kv_450_class_.html $14.34 101
OK N2200.3S.25 - Turnigy nano-tech 2200mah 3S 25~50C Lipo.. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__11911__Turnigy_nano_tech_2200mah_3S_25_50C_Lipo_Pack.html $13.43 237
OK HK-CS929MG - HobbyKing 929MG Metal Gear Servo 2.2kg/ .. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...9MG_Metal_Gear_Servo_2_2kg_12_5g_0_10sec.html $13.53 99
BK 297000001 - Hobbyking ZYX 3-Axis Flybarless System http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20996__Hobbyking_ZYX_3_Axis_Flybarless_System_.html
This item is on backorder* $49.80 159
OK 9297000002 - Hobbyking ZYX 3-Axis Flybarless System U.. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...s_Flybarless_System_USB_Program_Adapter_.html $3.85 25
BK TX-9X-M2 - Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8.. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Module_8ch_Receiver_Mode_2_v2_Firmware_.html
This item is on backorder* $53.95 1289
OK BOX-439g - Extra Length Cardboard Box and Packing 4.. $0.00 439
TOTAL: $229.69 3425g

arknor · 12 May 2012 at 00:25

items on backorder at hobbyking can take an age so you would probbaly be better of buying the tarot 3 axis flybarless system from elsewhere.

its probbaly exactly the same anyway.

flybarless is probbaly easiest tbh as tuning a regular tail gyro is a pain in the bum.

Reality Bites · 12 May 2012 at 09:26

if you wanted a 450, wouldn't something like this be money better spent as it comes with a DX6i worth £100 alone

http://www.probuild-uk.co.uk/e-flite-blade-450-3d-rtf?language=en&currency=GBP

Just thinking that for £100 more, you're sure all the bits are there and it works. The HK kit does look very good value but is it good value for a reason?

Bigpops · 12 May 2012 at 10:37

The Blade 450 is a good all round heli. It's light, great spares availability, decent spares costs.

The electronics and radio aren't the best, but they are totally adequate. You really can go from mild to wild depending on how you set up.

Reality Bites · 12 May 2012 at 10:59

Bigpops said:
The Blade 450 is a good all round heli. It's light, great spares availability, decent spares costs.

The electronics and radio aren't the best, but they are totally adequate. You really can go from mild to wild depending on how you set up.

I guess I was comparing it to building your own from hk parts. I'm almost overloaded from reading heliadicts the last few days and not many like the clones on there. I can see the benefit from a crash fix point of view but how would they handle in comparison?

arknor · 12 May 2012 at 11:08

Reality Bites said:
Just thinking that for £100 more, you're sure all the bits are there and it works. The HK kit does look very good value but is it good value for a reason?

they are identical to the align trex that cost twice as much.

theres a huge thread on the 450 here http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335980

Reality Bites · 12 May 2012 at 13:01

arknor said:
they are identical to the align trex that cost twice as much.

theres a huge thread on the 450 here http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335980

Are they really identical? If they were, no one would buy the align model surely?

rhysduck · 12 May 2012 at 13:38

Gotta fit my new Quark gyro today.
Might take the 250 for a fly later too if the wind doesn't pick up!

Edit: You CANNOT compare the cheap HK stuff to the Align stuff! The 450 clones are exactly that, a clone. Not the same quality.

Addicted · 12 May 2012 at 13:42

arknor said:
they are identical to the align trex that cost twice as much.

theres a huge thread on the 450 here http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335980

They are NOT identical.

They may look identical but the parts are a lot weaker and the quality is not as good.

I have a 450 from HK and Align and I can say without a doubt the Align one is just better, and I learnt the hard way from this: Buy cheap buy twice.

That's my two cents, take it on board or not but I really would recommend Align over HK stuff.

Reality Bites · 12 May 2012 at 13:53

Just been looking for a receiver and sim (again) .... And found this. Seems it would give me a slightly better receiver than the dx6 and the sim for an extra 25quid?

http://www.align-trex.co.uk/7ch-dx7s-free-phoneix-3-with-ar8000-rx-spm7800eu-p-3155.html

Bigpops · 12 May 2012 at 13:56

Okay, so the Blade 450 and the Trex 450 Sport and Pro are all mechanically different in every way. The only things you could swap between the three airframes, are the electronics and the blades.

There's probably very little difference in their ability with a top pilot throwing them around the sky, so you pay your money and take your choice. The only thing I would say, is that you might need a better tail servo on the Blade once you start getting into 3D stuff.

If you want to splash the cash, then the Blade 450 X is a ridiculously capable helicopter. Even more so than the Trex 450 pro, due to it being so light.

Check this out:

They don't come with a radio, so you'll need to buy a Spektrum radio to go with it.

If you want a clone Trex, then Tarot are the ones to buy. I have two of them myself, and I've had copter X clones, and Hobby King clones in the past, and the Tarot are much better. Very little between them and the Align. I had to buy a £5 Align part for both my Tarots, as I found the tail to be a little sloppy. After that, they're great, and you can fit any Align 450 part you want.

arknor · 12 May 2012 at 15:15

rhysduck said:
Gotta fit my new Quark gyro today.
Might take the 250 for a fly later too if the wind doesn't pick up!

Edit: You CANNOT compare the cheap HK stuff to the Align stuff! The 450 clones are exactly that, a clone. Not the same quality.

explain why some align people have the hk frame then

a lot have the boom aswell, oh and whats this why are all these trex converted to flybarless using hk heads?

spankingtexan · 12 May 2012 at 16:19

rhysduck said:
Heh the 500 is very nice in FBL! If you need any help with the Sim let me know, we can jump on for a fly too. Bit boring on my own
I've never had any BNF models as I'm a Futaba user but that's good price for such a good little heli.
If you get the DX6i and the Sims 2nd hand, you'd be able to sell them for more or less what you paid for them If you find the hobby isn't for you.

Sorry but thats utter horse poo.
You flew your heli without issue, but so many things can go wrong with them?
As long as the "regular checks" are thorough and correct then I see little to go wrong with them. Obviously there are things that you can't check or foresee going wrong, like a motor failing or a battery dying mid flight. But if the heli and Tx is setup properly then the heli is savable to some degree. Like you said, even the pro's have crashes. It's part and parcel of the hobby.
Let's not go giving the guy advice based on your own bad experience?
There's absolutely no need to "stick to the £40 jobs". Where's the fun in flying the boring micro'copter 'round the living room?

You are entitled to your opinion of course

rhysduck · 12 May 2012 at 19:43

Just had a quick blast in Phoenix before a few pints;
Reality BItes, here's the 500 in Phoenix

phoenixRC 2012-05-12 19-11-19-27 by rhys_rdpstudios, on Flickr

Reality Bites · 12 May 2012 at 19:56

rhysduck said:
Just had a quick blast in Phoenix before a few pints;
Reality BItes, here's the 500 in Phoenix

Looks like a FB version ;-)

Can you record flights in Phoenix too?

rhysduck · 12 May 2012 at 20:17

Theres only a 550 FBL

Yup course it does. It has instructional videos too. And things like balloon popping and such.

Reality Bites · 13 May 2012 at 11:26

arknor said:
explain why some align people have the hk frame then a lot have the boom aswell, oh and whats this why are all these trex converted to flybarless using hk heads?

Just been reading a thread a thread on heliadics about the hk450 kits and other clones.

In one breath they tell you bits are missing, they are poorly put together and the screws are wrong or rounded and then tell you it's a good kit for 150 odd quid. I don't understand why people would go down this route. They spend so much time making stuff fit, replacing parts with better bits anyway to save just a few quid.

That blade 450 kit I listed was 300? And that came with a dx6!

arknor · 13 May 2012 at 11:53

Reality Bites said:
Just been reading a thread a thread on heliadics about the hk450 kits and other clones.

In one breath they tell you bits are missing, they are poorly put together and the screws are wrong or rounded and then tell you it's a good kit for 150 odd quid. I don't understand why people would go down this route. They spend so much time making stuff fit, replacing parts with better bits anyway to save just a few quid.

That blade 450 kit I listed was 300? And that came with a dx6!

you would have to be very unlucky to find bits misisng as they come mostly assembled.
they are NOT sold as RTF so you have to disassemble all the head and grease the bearings, theadlock all the screws etc. (which is why they are poorly assembled)

most of the stuff your talking about is probably from early on in the thread when there was indeed a lot of QA issues with the v1 kits

you should be able to get everything you need minus he controller for around 150$ not £150

dx are overrated and loads of people happily use the turnigy 9x over them.

if building a heli seems daunting to you get a blade but make sure you watch the reviews on youtube.

theres a reason trex helis are cloned and blade arent

imo better to crash a clone worth around $150 than a trex worth around £250-300

Reality Bites · 13 May 2012 at 12:19

arknor said:
you would have to be very unlucky to find bits misisng as they come mostly assembled.
they are NOT sold as RTF so you have to disassemble all the head and grease the bearings, theadlock all the screws etc. (which is why they are poorly assembled)

most of the stuff your talking about is probably from early on in the thread when there was indeed a lot of QA issues with the v1 kits

you should be able to get everything you need minus he controller for around 150$ not £150

dx are overrated and loads of people happily use the turnigy 9x over them.

if building a heli seems daunting to you get a blade but make sure you watch the reviews on youtube.

theres a reason trex helis are cloned and blade arent

imo better to crash a clone worth around $150 than a trex worth around £250-300

It may provide cheaper crashes but it would appear to be more common with cheaper clones which are made with poorer parts etc which would bring more of them. Each to their own i guess.

Starting out, I'd want to make sure everything fitted, all parts were there and 100% etc. my opinion is that the are cheap for a reason, but it's just that, an opinion.

arknor · 13 May 2012 at 14:46

most clone crashes are because people buy cheap servos that cost 2$ and expect them to be able to handle 3d without stripping gears

if you dont skimp on the servos and gyro then you get a heli that is just as good as an align.

if people want to buy align go ahead i just dont see the point in paying a premium for a 450, anything larger go align! , anything nitro go align.

but for 250/450 hk or tarot are almost perfect