Discussion Clueless Wife Needs Help

[lincsmama]

Hi Guys,
I'm trying to get some advice from someone who can talk to me in layman's terms. I'm thinking of buying my husband an outdoor helicopter for Christmas, but I'm clueless. He really wants one but I want to keep it a surprise...I decided on the T-Rex 450 but I think I will actually probably go with the Copterx because of the cost, and this is also the first outdoor helicopter he will have. I'm not worried about him figuring out how to assemble or fly it, (he's a mechanical engineering major in school right now) but I need to know what I need to buy for the set up to be fly-able. I'll probably buy the kit and all the parts on eBay. I can also go to a shop if I need to pick something up, but I want to get a good deal (we're students). Is there anyway I can get it all without knowing a ding dang thing about helicopters? I did find some threads that were helpful, but some of the lingo is going over my head. What extra parts and tools will he need to have to put it together? Thanks for taking the time to read this, I would love if you have the time to reply

[tigermoth]

Go to Xheli and get him an Esky Belt cp ready to fly. About $150 or so.

[darthdrk]

Originally Posted by tigermoth

Go to Xheli and get him an Esky Belt cp ready to fly. About $150 or so.

I was thinking the same exact thing

[shizack]

lincsmama, be warned: helicopters tend to multiply spontaneously. A BeltCP (or Blueray RTF - much better than the Belt CP kit if you can afford it) will split into 3 or more helis in all sizes and states of repair and flyability within 6 months to a year. Please do not take your wrath out upon your spouse; he will be an innocent victim.

They will appear without warning, and all people associated will be powerless to stop it. They're like Gremlins jumping into a pool.

This may sound like hyperbole, but trust me - only those with the willpower of a statue or the purse of a pauper can resist "heli kudzu" from engulfing the "mancave" (formerly the spare room or garage).

[dze]

I think things look positive when the GF/wife is the one starting the process

[FLYING-HIGH]

i would get him the copterx he can get parts at the local hobby shop.
look at the copterx thread

[lincsmama]

Haha, my husband is a tightwad, so I think it will be on the more moderate scale. If he does go buck wild then I can use it to my advantage I don't know if he will ever get one for himself, so I could surprise him or watch him drool forever. But I am taking the warning seriously. I'm looking into the tips... One thing I liked about the trex or CX was the ability to fix it (it looked easy to acquire and replace parts--to me anyway) Is the one you guys recommended also relatively easy to repair?

[sk8teradam2003]

Yeah I would say the Belt CP is fairly easy to repair. You can get full parts support from Esky.

A CopterX 450 (or a trex) would be much, much, better. However it would be $700-$800 to get a RTF bird instead of $150. (kit, electronics, radio, charger, lipos, ect.).

So it basically comes down to your budget.

You could also get him a trex 450 v2 from the classifieds on this site. They can be had fairly cheaply since the Pro is out. But you would still need a radio and a charger.

[shizack]

Most 450 sized helis are a pain to work on. I have worked on a TREX, an EXI, and a Belt CP. They were all a pin, but the Belt seemed to be the worst. Not by much, but definitely harder.

Over the Belt CP, any of the TREX "clones" would be a somewhat better acquisition.

- CopterX $350 http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/product_...oducts_id=5671 (overseas)

- Blueray $190 http://www.xheli.com/exrc2450sert.html

There are others, but they come as kits or empty frames needing electronics, battery, transmitter, etc.

You say this is first "outdoor" heli - what does he have now? We may be recommending something that'll be too much a handful for someone new with larger helis.

[nsg]

This is a surprisingly nice kit:

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...Helicopter_Kit

You will (obviously) still need a transmitter, receiver, 4 servos, gyro, motor and an ESC (motor control unit).

This is a useful resource to help you understand the terminology:

http://www.swashplate.co.uk/ehbg-v18/ehbg_index.html

Last but not the least, what is your budget?

[dze]

i would go for the belt cp (v2 with brushless) to .. see if he gets into it or not before investing more .. next would be a good simulator, clearview would do, theres plenty of parts support for the beltcp online right to the mailbox in 2-4 days so not a problem there .. its a long process getting good at flying a heli he will need your support seriously .. a exi or copterx (trex 450 clones) would be better but thats a lot to chew off to start with. Try the belt on him, see if helis are for him.

[Gino CP]

Wow, a housewife has heard of rcrgoups, knows about Trex 450s and Copterx, and then goes to the correct forum section to ask about it.

[MrRetro]

I wish my wife would buy me a helicopter..........or at least pretend to be interested in my hobby! :-/

[bad400]

i wouldnt waste a dime on the esky belt cp, total crap.
very very poor electronic`s and even worse local part supplier`s.
the copterX even though i wouldnt buy it either, can use align t-rex part`s that`s in almost EVERY local hobby shop

the t-rex itself is a good heli, but really heavy for it`s size.

now with my belt cp comment you`ll see a few people wanting to ARGUE.
they are NOT the one`s haveing to repair it and buy another 200 or 300 buck`s worth of ESC,GYRO,MOTOR,& SERVO`S for it, you are.

i have the e-flite blade400. but again, i HAD to spend another 400 buck`s on quality part`s just to have a decent not awsome but decent heli. i`m already over 1000 buck`s just in quality part`s and the initial cost of the heli. plus atleast another 250 buck`s in batteries and charger, then another 1000 in crash`s

there are con`s in EVERY heli, BUT with the copterX for 60 buck`s you can build/buy you`r own componet`s to go init.
it`s the transmitter and reciever that`s really going to put an OUCH in this question of you`rs
sure you can buy USED, but you dont know what you are getting in a USED radio/receiver.
buying NEW is best, but can get really pricey. a spektrum dx6i/6100e receiver combo alone is 200 buck`s NEW.

let`s run this down.
NEW copterX kit----60 plus
NEW GOOD ESC-------55 plus
NEW GOOD motor----55 plus ( i have a 15 dollar Emax NEW off ebay, awsome motor)
NEW GOOD gyro------ futaba gy401 at the cheapest but very good end, 140 buck`s
NEW GOOD cyclic servo`s---- 60 buck`s
NEW GOOD tail servo---- 40 buck`s
NEW batteries---- 18 buck`s each (atleast 2 just to start)
NEW GOOD charger---- 50 buck`s
and mind you, all these price`s are close to the lowest end, these price`s can be doubled easily if you want the BIG name brand stuff
so when you do the math you have what? over 600 buck`s, and this doesnt include spare part`s,pitch guage, and other what not`s that add up QUICK

this hobby isnt cheap.

now someone will post a kit and price`s cheaper, and it`s cheaper because all the part`s they will price out are JUNK.
so ofcourse it can be done cheaper, but cheaper get`s REAL EXsPENCIVE QUICK

[prop bender]

Originally Posted by bad400

i wouldnt waste a dime on the esky belt cp, total crap.
very very poor electronic`s and even worse local part supplier`s.
the copterX even though i wouldnt buy it either, can use align t-rex part`s that`s in almost EVERY local hobby shop

the t-rex itself is a good heli, but really heavy for it`s size.

now with my belt cp comment you`ll see a few people wanting to ARGUE.
they are NOT the one`s haveing to repair it and buy another 200 or 300 buck`s worth of ESC,GYRO,MOTOR,& SERVO`S for it, you are.

i have the e-flite blade400. but again, i HAD to spend another 400 buck`s on quality part`s just to have a decent not awsome but decent heli. i`m already over 1000 buck`s just in quality part`s and the initial cost of the heli. plus atleast another 250 buck`s in batteries and charger, then another 1000 in crash`s

there are con`s in EVERY heli, BUT with the copterX for 60 buck`s you can build/buy you`r own componet`s to go init.
it`s the transmitter and reciever that`s really going to put an OUCH in this question of you`rs
sure you can buy USED, but you dont know what you are getting in a USED radio/receiver.
buying NEW is best, but can get really pricey. a spektrum dx6i/6100e receiver combo alone is 200 buck`s NEW.

let`s run this down.
NEW copterX kit----60 plus
NEW GOOD ESC-------55 plus
NEW GOOD motor----55 plus ( i have a 15 dollar Emax NEW off ebay, awsome motor)
NEW GOOD gyro------ futaba gy401 at the cheapest but very good end, 140 buck`s
NEW GOOD cyclic servo`s---- 60 buck`s
NEW GOOD tail servo---- 40 buck`s
NEW batteries---- 18 buck`s each (atleast 2 just to start)
NEW GOOD charger---- 50 buck`s
and mind you, all these price`s are close to the lowest end, these price`s can be doubled easily if you want the BIG name brand stuff
so when you do the math you have what? over 600 buck`s, and this doesnt include spare part`s,pitch guage, and other what not`s that add up QUICK

this hobby isnt cheap.

now someone will post a kit and price`s cheaper, and it`s cheaper because all the part`s they will price out are JUNK.
so ofcourse it can be done cheaper, but cheaper get`s REAL EXsPENCIVE QUICK

If I follow your line of thinking right( and please correct me if I am not) You are saying that the only way to get into helies is top dollar! I respectivly disagree You are right in this respect though" this hobby is not cheap" But there is no reason to lay out a thousand bucks to get into a hobby that you might find is not what you expected.

You mentioned Copter-X OK A copter-X kit costs $69.95 An electronic package for it runs another $69.95 round that of to $140.00 plus shipping which I believe is another $12.00. Batterys add another $40.00 (about $18.00 apiece) OK Theres the bird Now another $200.00 for the Dx6I plus a battery charger--a good one for about $80.00 Thats means around $500 for a flyable bird. True it does not have the prestigious componants that an Aline has! but it will fly And it is not an E-flight 400 that runs over $400 and I think you said you put another $400 in it in up grades. Come on!! this hobby is about haveing fun and most of us are doing that on very small budgets There differant ways to get into helies. My advise is to serf the foroms and find out what people are useing and make your desision from what you learn from that. Just my 15 cents PB