Discussion Clueless Wife Needs Help

[lincsmama]

You guys have all been really helpful. Thank you so much. I am trying to decide if it would be cool to buy him just part of what he would need for the copterx and let him get the rest himself.

I just want it to be a better helicopter, but I am glad that I at least have some options now of what I could get instead for less $ that wouldn't be complete crap. It's overwhelming how many weird off-brand--but claiming to be good--helicopters there are available, I have a lot to go off of now, so thanks.

I still want him to have the copterx though. but we'll see.... Would it be lame to get him just part of the set-up? Like the kit, and maybe the electric parts? What do you husbands think? Would that be a major disappointment or still cool? (he might have to buy the rest of it over the next two or three months) Or if you were him would you rather just get a lower end but rtf?

[frac]

Originally Posted by 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.

i was thinking the same


frac

[riyadiari]

Originally Posted by frac

i was thinking the same


frac

so do i

[ipjodan]

Hello Lincsmama,

My advice would be to buy him a copterx kit and i promise his eyes will light up if he is mechaniclly minded. This is what i bought after having a belt CP which never flew right. No need to buy him everything but im wondering what else you could get him along with that. If you think he will be in the hobby for the long haul then i suppose a decent radio (DX7 with receiver or at least a DX6i with receiver) would be needed next because this would be needed to setup all the electronics that is needed to get in the air. Which can be built up over the next months. And of course direct him to Finless bobs trex450 heli build vids over on helifreak. And lastly be prepared for lonely nights!!

[wzak29]

I learned on a esky belt cp v2 nice to learn on but I was disappointed with the mechanics, I now have a CopterX, being a mechanical engineering student he will love the all metal copter. (plastic sucks)

[lyclyc]

Lincsmama, you only need to buy him a copterx kit for $60 and send him this link:

http://www.rcgroups.com/mini-helis-374/

the rest, leave to the experts...

[Kadath]

My advice is to buy him an all-inclusive very cheap package, the HoneyBee FP v2:
http://www.xheli.com/4ches2grhobe.html

It's a cheap way to learn before investing big money in an expensive helicopter (without even knowing if he'll enjoy it). My wife actually bought me a 450-class helicopter as a gift but I had lots of frustration with the crash-repair-crash-repair process. I ended up buying a HoneyBee FP as a trainer and I'm glad I did.

Get him a pair of those blades (SuperBlades EZ) along with the HoneyBee and he's all set:
http://www.super-skids.com/superblades.htm

[MakMov]

I agree a HB would be a good place to start if he has no experience.

As far as a Trex. Having owned the real deal and the clones as well. In the long run the real deal is the better way to go.

I have had cheap helis start out to be every bit as good as the real thing or a more expensive heli, however, you get what you pay for holds true. The cheap/clone helis just don't have the durablitly as the expensive counter-part. They just wear out faster and don't survive crashes as well. So over the longer run it will eventually cost a lot more to set up, and run a cheap heli than the other.

If he wants a Trex 450 get a Trex. There is a difference.

[Flip 465]

Originally Posted by lincsmama

You guys have all been really helpful. Thank you so much. I am trying to decide if it would be cool to buy him just part of what he would need for the copterx and let him get the rest himself.

I just want it to be a better helicopter, but I am glad that I at least have some options now of what I could get instead for less $ that wouldn't be complete crap. It's overwhelming how many weird off-brand--but claiming to be good--helicopters there are available, I have a lot to go off of now, so thanks.

I still want him to have the copterx though. but we'll see.... Would it be lame to get him just part of the set-up? Like the kit, and maybe the electric parts? What do you husbands think? Would that be a major disappointment or still cool? (he might have to buy the rest of it over the next two or three months) Or if you were him would you rather just get a lower end but rtf?

For my 2 cents worth - get him the CopterX or an HDX450 ! AND a good simulator to start with.
A good simulator will save him a small fortune in repairs while learning to fly helis.
Don't waste your $$$ on a Belt CP or any smaller sized Esky heli.

I started with a Belt CP - thought it was great right up to the time I had to put it in the air.

First thing the ESC was replaced before during the first assembly - the Esky ESC has the worse reputation I've come across for burning out or bursting into flames. NOT WORTH THE RISK !

Belt CP's main gear is about as strong as cheese & strips all the time at the slightest provocation.

Started learning to hover - with the help of other guys in my club - came down hard a few times, each time replacing the bent, broken plastic parts with Esky's purple CNC Metal parts (CR*P) thinking they would do a better job than the plastic parts they replaced. - - - Didn't know those metal parts where about as strong as re-cycled pepsi cans !

Asked a lot of questions & read a heap on heli forums.

Now, nearly 3 years on, the only parts left on my 450 that are from the Belt CP are the tail boom & it's support struts.
The rest is a SuperFrame (from HeliDirect), CopterX & Trex450 main head gear & tail gear box units, Trex main gears, Align 325 main blades & tail blades, Hitec HG-65MG cyclic servos, Logitec 2100T gyro with a JR 5084 servo for the tail, HobbyWings 40A ESC. & Gorilla landing struts.

Just replaced the motor with a Tonic-X Z10A 3700 motor. MAJIC power increase.
Cheaper than a Scorpion motor of the same output & just as good for power out-put.
Don't have to be continually lubing or replacing the bearings, aka Scorpion motors. ( YES YOU DO ! )

I'm still a bloody awful pilot, BUT at least my heli does exactly what the Tx. tells it to do every time.
It flies, is wonderfully stable and parts are not expensive to replace on the odd time they are needed.

IF I'd brought a CopterX 450 / HDX450 to start with, I'd have spent 1/2 the $$$ I wasted on Esky parts & been in the air 10 times longer !

Started by replacing the main head & tail units with CopterX units & every time something went wrong it was replaced with a better designed & made part. (IMHO)

So much for my 2 cents worth !

[MakMov]

Originally Posted by Flip 465

For my 2 cents worth - get him the CopterX or an HDX450 ! AND a good simulator to start with.
A good simulator will save him a small fortune in repairs while learning to fly helis.
Don't waste your $$$ on a Belt CP or any smaller sized Esky heli.

I started with a Belt CP - thought it was great right up to the time I had to put it in the air.

First thing the ESC was replaced before during the first assembly - the Esky ESC has the worse reputation I've come across for burning out or bursting into flames. NOT WORTH THE RISK !

Belt CP's main gear is about as strong as cheese & strips all the time at the slightest provocation.

Started learning to hover - with the help of other guys in my club - came down hard a few times, each time replacing the bent, broken plastic parts with Esky's purple CNC Metal parts (CR*P) thinking they would do a better job than the plastic parts they replaced. - - - Didn't know those metal parts where about as strong as re-cycled pepsi cans !

Asked a lot of questions & read a heap on heli forums.

Now, nearly 3 years on, the only parts left on my 450 that are from the Belt CP are the tail boom & it's support struts.
The rest is a SuperFrame (from HeliDirect), CopterX & Trex450 main head gear & tail gear box units, Trex main gears, Align 325 main blades & tail blades, Hitec HG-65MG cyclic servos, Logitec 2100T gyro with a JR 5084 servo for the tail, HobbyWings 40A ESC. & Gorilla landing struts.

Just replaced the motor with a Tonic-X Z10A 3700 motor. MAJIC power increase.
Cheaper than a Scorpion motor of the same output & just as good for power out-put.
Don't have to be continually lubing or replacing the bearings, aka Scorpion motors. ( YES YOU DO ! )

I'm still a bloody awful pilot, BUT at least my heli does exactly what the Tx. tells it to do every time.
It flies, is wonderfully stable and parts are not expensive to replace on the odd time they are needed.

IF I'd brought a CopterX 450 / HDX450 to start with, I'd have spent 1/2 the $$$ I wasted on Esky parts & been in the air 10 times longer !

Started by replacing the main head & tail units with CopterX units & every time something went wrong it was replaced with a better designed & made part. (IMHO)

So much for my 2 cents worth !

+1

That's exactly what I am saying. There is a difference.

[SidewaysLS4]

You'll have to do a bit of searching for a link, but here it goes...

CopterX 450AE...$60+ship from eHirobo
HDX 450 motor $20 Helidirect
35A speed controller...Turnegy Plush or similar...cheap from HobbyCity
MG-14 servos (3x)...$7ea from HobbyCity
A bunch of Flightmax 3s 2200mah 20C batteries...$15 from HobbyCity (on sale now)
Deal Extreme Mystery 401B gyro $20 from Deal Extreme
Tail servo...never bought a cheap one, so someone else will suggest something
Charger...Thunder AC6 from Xheli.com...$50
Radio...DX6i (comes with RX) (check Big Sky Hobbies...very good prices on radio stuff I've found)
Spare parts...main shafts, feathering shafts, main gear, boom, blades, skids, and the list goes on, lol.



Or check flying-hobby.com for a once a week special on a Trex450 Sport super combo (~$450 or so if I recall)...just add DX6i radio system batteries and charger to the package and fly

[Kadath]

Seriously guys, buying individual parts?? That really doesn't seem the best option in that particular situation. A ready-to-fly (RTF) kit of reasonnable quality is much more appropriate. When the husband is ready for a custom kit, he'll enjoy shopping around for the best components himself.

I still recommend the HBFP but if you absolutely want to get him a 450-size 3D-capable helicopter, and still fit within your students budget, check this RTF Typhoon helicopter on sale for 170$ (not quite 450-size, it's slightly smaller):
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/typhoon.htm

It's basically an upgraded Falcon 3D which was popular a year or two ago. Is it the best helicopter around? Certainly not. The bang-for-your-buck-in-your-current-situation ratio on the other hand is very good.

[Kadath]

Originally Posted by SidewaysLS4

Or check flying-hobby.com for a once a week special on a Trex450 Sport super combo (~$450 or so if I recall)...just add DX6i radio system batteries and charger to the package and fly

Let's see:
Helicopter: 450$
DX6i + rx : 200$
Batt + charger: 60$
Total: 710$.

That would be an awesome gift for sure but there's no way he'd be able to appreciate the quality of the components at his beginner level. If you've got money to spare, go ahead and buy him this kind of kit. There are cheaper options to start with however.

If you're going to get a spanking new T-rex 450, at least buy him a simulator too so he doesn't crash within the first few seconds of his first flight.

[tonyastro]

If he has no experience flying then a T rex/ Copter X would be a complete waste of money as I guarantee he'll crash on his 1st flight. If he has a little experience with let's say a coaxial (double bladed) heli then a fixed pitch heli like Honey Bee would a be good choice. It all depends on his experience.

OR get him a simulator so while he's building his CopterX he can get the feel of flying a CP heli

[p4ddy]

No one should crash on there 1st flight if they use training gear, go very very slow (ie just skoot around on the TG) & use a bit of common sence. Having seen a CopterX for the 1st time a few weeks back (a learner flying it) i was pleasantly suprised by it.