Fixed pitch heli questions

[HomeDaddy]

I'm thinking of trying a non-coax heli again. Got discouraged by a CP Pro and sold it. Are there any fixed pitch kits out there or possibly a reciever ready version? I was looking at the HBFP but hate paying for TX and cheap charger. Any better bang for the buck out there? I have a DX7, batteries, and a spare 6100 laying around.

Thanks!!!

[Balr14]

You can buy an HBFP for about $70 at xheli, I don't think you are going to do much better than that even without a charger and radio.

You couldn't have picked a more difficult heli than the BCP Pro.

[racin06]

I'm thinking of trying a non-coax heli again. Got discouraged by a CP Pro and sold it. Are there any fixed pitch kits out there or possibly a reciever ready version? I was looking at the HBFP but hate paying for TX and cheap charger. Any better bang for the buck out there? I have a DX7, batteries, and a spare 6100 laying around.

Thanks!!!

As far as I know, there aren't any RR FP helis out there. However, you do have the option of buying a HBFP Airframe (http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=W262062&pid=B3915414) for $33.41, which includes both motors, main blades and tail blades. Then all you do is to add two micro servos, two brushed ESCs and your AR6100. Another option would be to add a 3-in-1 (ESC, Rate Gyro, Mixer), which would eliminate the need for the two brushed ESCs. I've done both in the past...going with two separate brushed ESCs is the cheapest route, but is more complicated because you will have to do some soldering and then setup throttle/rudder mixing in your DX7, which replaces the mixing function in the 3-in-1. However, setting up the throttle/rudder mixing isn't a huge challenge. If you decide to go that route, I can provide you with some initial settings and you can tweak from there.

If you are interested, below is a video of me flying a "Spektrumized" HBFP with the following setup:

- Stock airframe
- Stock servos
- Stock motors
- Stock blades
- Super Skids
- E-flite 3-in-1
- 7.4v 800mAh 10C lipo
- AR6100 receiver
- DX7 Transmitter

At the time of this video, I had about 8 months of heli flying experience under my belt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KMqYcnSb3c&feature=channel_page

[HomeDaddy]

Any difference in version 3 and 4. Xheli has version 3 for 66 dollars with lipo whereas version 4, costs more, with nimh, and out of stock. Thanks!!

Great flying racin.

[racin06]

Thanks. Version 3 and 4 are the same heli. $66.00 is a heck of a deal including a lipo!

[HomeDaddy]

What spares should I get and do you have and excuse for my wife why i need this when I just built a 47" Yak? :)

BTW, will CX2 batteries work ok with the HBFP?

[racin06]

The most common parts to break in crashes are:

- Rotor Head Set (EK1-0200A)
- Paddle Control Frame (Outer) (EK1-0206)
- Flybar (EK1-0204) - Another option is to purchase some 2 mm CF rod from your local hobby store and make your own flybars. The flybars are 170mm in length.
- Ring-Like Push-rods (EK1-0201)
- Skid Set (EK1-0239)
- Small ring-like push-rods from the Servo Push-rod Set (EK1-0208)

I'm not familiar with the CX2 batteries, but you will be safe with any 2S battery in the 800 - 900mAh range. As far as excuses for your wife is concerned, I can't help you there :D ;) .

[Balr14]

Those batteries are fine. Tell your wife you can fly the HBFP in the yard, so you won't have to leave her home alone so often!

[HomeDaddy]

Ordered a HBFP. No spares or upgrades for $73 shipped from xheli. Now I gotta sell some stuff. :) Thanks guys!!

[1320fastback]

+2 on getting some spare 2mm CF, it can be used to replace almost everything that breaks. Landing struts, battery holder bars, fly bars.

I recommend getting some Super Skids, they sure can take a beating where the stock skids and legs will break.

I get all my parts from UsHobbySupply, they have great prices and low shipping costs. Here's there HBFP page. https://www.ushobbysupply.com/index.php?cPath=31_59&osCsid=130f6fadf8d5a3149ca77e0d7e5ab857

[Blade_Killer]

Ordered a HBFP. No spares or upgrades for $73 shipped from xheli. Now I gotta sell some stuff. :) Thanks guys!!
hummmmm, I think you could have gotten free shipping but it's too late now, oh, you can get a BB HBFP as well for about $35-40

come join us at the HBFP owners thread in the micro forum

[Skarn]

I'm thinking of trying a non-coax heli again. Got discouraged by a CP Pro and sold it. Are there any fixed pitch kits out there or possibly a reciever ready version?

Hey,

I see you already got your HBFP. But I just wanted to warn you that a FP is not any easier to fly than the CP! Any small micro heli is going to be hard to learn on...so don't get discouraged! Go through RADDs and use a simulator!

Good luck,
Skarn

[markarch]

I would also suggest looking into the reinforcement measures to make your parts last a bit longer. Most of us just use thread and ca to beef up some of the weaker parts.

I break my center hub EK1-0203 a bit so you might want to have a couple spares of that too.

[jroffler]

Hey,

I see you already got your HBFP. But I just wanted to warn you that a FP is not any easier to fly than the CP! Any small micro heli is going to be hard to learn on...so don't get discouraged! Go through RADDs and use a simulator!

Good luck,
Skarn


Sort of.. the major advantage micro FPs have is that they're virtually indestructible. You can quickly become discouraged if you have to buy parts after every crash, especially while learning on a relatively unstable helicopter. I crashed my fp in to just about everything while learning and it always either suffered no damage at all, or very minor damage. The only time I ever managed to wreck it was when I crashed it into myself and bent the main shaft on my massive bird-like chest.

That's what really kept me in the hobby though - the fact that 9 out of 10 crashes resulted in no damage and allowed me to keep flying.

[Skarn]

Interesting jroffler.....I'm not arguing at all with you. But everyone has different experiences....check out this guy's experience with a HBFP! Look at post #7!

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=119470&highlight=hbfp

Man, he said he spent over $1000 so far on it! I've never heard of that with a HBFP!

And I do agree with you on them being much cheaper and easier to fix....I was simply talking about FLYING them....a FP is not easier to fly than a CP.

Skarn

[jroffler]

Interesting jroffler.....I'm not arguing at all with you. But everyone has different experiences....check out this guy's experience with a HBFP! Look at post #7!

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=119470&highlight=hbfp

Man, he said he spent over $1000 so far on it! I've never heard of that with a HBFP!

And I do agree with you on them being much cheaper and easier to fix....I was simply talking about FLYING them....a FP is not easier to fly than a CP.

Skarn

Agreed. Man, that's crazy that he spent over a grand on a heli that costs $70 RTF. He must not be married.

[racin06]

Well, I learned to fly helis on a HBFP and I can tell you that I spent a total of less than $50 on spare parts to get to mastering hovering in all four orientations and flying circuits/figure 8s in both directions. If he spent $1000 on parts then he doesn't have the capability or potential to learn to fly RC helis, IMO. I mean you REALLY have to be BAD and have no brains to spend $1000 on HBFP parts.

[Balr14]

Well, I learned to fly helis on a HBFP and I can tell you that I spent a total of less than $50 on spare parts to get to mastering hovering in all four orientations and flying circuits/figure 8s in both directions. Saying that he spent at least $1000 in HBFP parts is ALOT of smoke being blown, IMO. $1000 is ALOT of flybars, rotor heads, paddle control frames and ring-like push-rods being broken, which are the most commonly damaged parts in crashes. It's a bunch of BS for him to even make such a statement. It is simply false. However, if I am incorrect, then he doesn't have the capability or potential to learn to fly RC helis. I mean you REALLY have to be BAD and have no brains to spend $1000 on HBFP parts.

From the videos you have shown and the amount of time you have been flying, I'd say you learned much more quickly than most and have quite a feel for FP helis. On the other hand, if you look at the photo of his broken parts and factor shipping costs, I think he really is that bad and isn't exaggerating all that much.

[HomeDaddy]

Hey,

I see you already got your HBFP. But I just wanted to warn you that a FP is not any easier to fly than the CP! Any small micro heli is going to be hard to learn on...so don't get discouraged! Go through RADDs and use a simulator!

Good luck,
Skarn

I did Radds with the CP and could hover tail in ok. No HH gyro but i did have the GWS direct drive tail. Just got tired of buying 20 dollar blades. Tried the plastic ones but they just made it mushy and hard to recover. I've been messing around with helis in G3 recently and getting better at it all the time. I'm an airplane nut but winds and cold and the closing of our field got me interested again. Thanks for the help. I may have to go back to Radds "boot camp" to save on repairs. :)

[HomeDaddy]

hummmmm, I think you could have gotten free shipping but it's too late now, oh, you can get a BB HBFP as well for about $35-40

come join us at the HBFP owners thread in the micro forum

Free shipping was for $100 plus. I did use the FIVEOFF coupon though :D

[Blade_Killer]

Free shipping was for $100 plus. I did use the FIVEOFF coupon though :D

I got free shipping on my $69 order from radentech and thats the same as Xheli, I would think you could do the same.........but what do I know, I never ordered from the xheli gang

[osterizer]

From the videos you have shown and the amount of time you have been flying, I'd say you learned much more quickly than most and have quite a feel for FP helis. On the other hand, if you look at the photo of his broken parts and factor shipping costs, I think he really is that bad and isn't exaggerating all that much.

Breaking that much on the FP requires dedication. That's amazing.

[Balr14]

Breaking that much on the FP requires dedication. That's amazing.

Hey, I thought I was bad. This guy probably can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

[osterizer]

Hey, I thought I was bad. This guy probably can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Eh, who knows. I wouldn't have replaced that much on a heli, myself, but hopefully he worked out how to fly it.

[HomeDaddy]

Them are some dumb thumbs. :D