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Revell Fire Strike Pro 4 Rotor Heli RTF Review
By Michael Heer
Aug 11, 2008, 08:52 PM
Introduction
A few years back at the AMA show in Southern California I saw a Chinook helicopter demonstrated and was very impressed. The only thing that stopped me from getting one was the price tag ($1,400.00) and my lack of funds. Revell has removed that hurdle with their admittedly much smaller and simpler Fire Stroke Pro 4 Rotor Heli that sells for just under $70.00. It is an affordable 4 rotor helicopter, and is a lot of fun to operate.
Kit Contents
The foam covered helicopter comes ready to fly with receiver, motors and lipoly battery all installed in the helicopter. The transmitter is infrared and also serves as the charger for the helicopter and comes with the charging cord on the bottom of the transmitter.
I provided:
Assembly
There is no assembly! Simply install 6 AA batteries into the transmitter, connect the charging cord from the transmitter to the helicopter, and charge it up. In 15-20 minutes the copter was ready to fly. Later charges sometimes were closer to 30 minutes.
Completion
I was ready to fly within 22 minutes of opening the box since I had batteries and screwdriver handy. 18 of those minutes were charging time.
Infrared Control
The Fire Strike Pro 4 Rotor Helicopter is controlled by infrared signals sent from the top of the transmitter. It is necessary to point the top of the transmitter toward the helicopter so that the copter can be bathed in the infrared light. It is a line of sight control system, so if I flew behind a door or cabinet the helicopter lost the signal, and the Fire Strike stopped operating and fell to the floor. Bright light, especially strong sun light, could drastically limit or effect the range from which the helicopter could receive the signal from the transmitter. The bottom side of the infrared transmitting device does not send anything out. From 10 feet away, if I had the Fire Strike on the floor and the transmitter aimed at belt level outward I had no control of the helicopter. Once I tilted the transmitter down toward the copter I gained control. I never tested to see the optimum range, but at our church's Fellowship Hall I did fly it slightly over thirty feet away and 18 feet up, and I still had control. I was impressed with that range since admittedly our hall is somewhat dark.
Flying
WARNING! Always turn on the transmitter first, and have the left stick, throttle control all the way down. If the left stick is up, the blades might start turning when the helicopter is turned on or if the transmitter isn't on (I tried both of these several times for review purposes, and the helicopter never started operating until I 1. turned on the transmitter and/or 2. took the stick down, and only then it armed).
Basics
My Military Camouflage paint scheme model came on Band A. The model with the Special Operations paint scheme comes on Band B. Thus, 2 helicopters with the different paint schemes can be flown together at the same time. Remember, these are line of sight controlled, so keep the copter within 30 feet and in sight. Range is greater indoors than outdoors during the daytime. The copters are easily effected by ANY breeze so they are intended for indoor flight only. They are so light that any breeze at all pushed mine around causing it to tilt sideways. When properly trimmed using the trim tabs on the outside of the right control stick, the helicopter had a very nice hover. It was very stable in calm air. Moving the right stick to either side caused the helicopter to turn or spin if held long enough in place. I needed to apply more throttle to maintain altitude if I held the right stick to the side for more then a 1/4 turn. If I induced a spin it required a lot more throttle. Forward and reverse is controlled by the right stick. The helicopter was SLOW to respond, but it would respond. It will move in both directions but not at a high rate of speed. Keeping movements small, slow and smooth, the Fire Strike remained very stable and controllable. Decelerating too quickly with the left stick caused the Fire Strike to fall and go sideways. If I reaccelerated quickly, the Fire Strike might start flying somewhat sideways with the body at an angle, and side flight can be amazingly quick. I have had little luck thus far regaining control when I have done this. However, when I kept the descent under control I didn't have this problem.
Taking Off and Landing
Applying throttle, I was usually rewarded with a nice smooth lift off into a controlled hover. Occasionally I would have some spin but that could be stopped by adjusting the trim tab. The hover is amongst the most stable of any helicopter I have flown (In calm indoor conditions). Landings were best performed from a slowly descending hover, and I was usually rewarded by a three point landing on the three "wheels." Landings attempted with a spin or other turning movement often ended with a tip over. Landings while moving forward or reverse very slowly were normally successful.
Aerobatics/Special Flight Performance
The four rotors that make the Fire Strike very stable and easy to hover make it difficult to do much in the way of aerobatics or any fast directional flight under control. Flight control improves with practice and makes it easier to control the copter so flying under tables and landing on small tables became easier. The key with the Fire Strike is to keep the stick movements small. Avoid flying too near a spouse's plants as the copter can do a short impression of Edward Scissorhands with very thin growth. (the plant will survive, but I rotated its position to hide the damage to help insure my own survival).
Is This For a Beginner?
YES! This The Fire Strike is a great helicopter for a beginner and Revell recommends if for ages 8 and up. Its body is made of lightweight, durable foam that holds up well to use and some abuse. The twin rotors on each end of the copter give it great stability that allows a beginner to be successful right from the start. Peter Gothold was able to fly it with only a few seconds of instruction from me as shown in a short clip below. It was his first RC anything.
Flight Video/Photo Gallery
I apologize about the hum on the next two videos.
Conclusion
I was very impressed with it and have very much enjoyed flying the Fire Strike Pro 4 Rotor helicopter. If controlled flying from point to point in a room sounds good to you then the Fire Strike will fit that need.
Pluses
Minuses
Last edited by Angela H; Aug 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM.. |
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Aug 12, 2008, 10:30 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,007
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Nice review
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Aug 12, 2008, 12:44 PM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Western New york
Posts: 455
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Thanks for the review
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Aug 12, 2008, 03:59 PM
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#4 |
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kick the tires+light the fires
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: In the vicinity of the midwest.... home of large lots of land to fly in!!
Posts: 2,189
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gah! just need to save 70$!
no fear! the vapor will hold me over! 
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Aug 12, 2008, 05:47 PM
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#5 |
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21st Century Space Cowboy
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chipping, Lancs, UK
Posts: 2,918
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Good stuff! Would you say this is a reasonable, cheaper alternative to a twister skylift?
Thank you. Tach. |
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Aug 12, 2008, 06:18 PM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Stockton, Ca. USA
Posts: 6,628
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Tach I haven't flown the Twister Skylift so I have no basis to compare. That said. My control has gotten better and better with practice. Vent fan did catch me off card once. Had to shut off the air conditioning to get back my helicopter at the fellowship hall. Felt a little stupid as I was demo flying at the time. Mike
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Aug 12, 2008, 06:45 PM
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#7 | |
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: North Bend, WA.
Posts: 1,798
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Quote:
I've been flying mine for a few weeks now and I really like it. Does take a little pactice and skill though. It however is the most stable in hands off hover heli I have flown. Todd www.toddsmodels.com |
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Aug 12, 2008, 06:47 PM
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#8 |
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kick the tires+light the fires
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: In the vicinity of the midwest.... home of large lots of land to fly in!!
Posts: 2,189
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you're the guy behind todds models!?!?
what an honor! |
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Aug 12, 2008, 10:31 PM
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#9 |
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What the Pfotenhauer?
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 127
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Yeah we've been selling these at East R/C for a couple of weeks now and everyone loves them....including me, lol. Yeah I couldn't resist is....I had to get one, and I've been flying the heck out of it ever since. But your right, it definitely does not like ANY breeze at all. I was flying it in the receiving area one day and had to turn off the AC and fans for it to fly right. I'd say it's still well worth $69.99.
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Aug 13, 2008, 02:56 AM
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| rc-fever |
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This post is temporarily hidden while rc-fever edits it.
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Aug 13, 2008, 03:09 AM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: WA
Posts: 185
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Two of my local LHS stores had the fire strike for $40.
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Aug 13, 2008, 12:34 PM
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#12 | ||
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+
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: London, UK
Posts: 727
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Here is a video of my Fire Strike; I changed the paint scheme by sanding the camo paint off and used Sharpies to do the color. I removed the stock landing gear and replaced them with more authentic (and moving) wheels. My advice to tame this wild beast is to make sure you fly it where there are no moving air currents, this chopper is highly sensitive and will toilet bowl if you over control or let the moving air get the best off it. Go easy with the sticks and be gentle, the heli will offer plenty of controlled fun in the house (or underground car park).
It is well worth the money and has lots of room for modifications. Mine has more than 30 flights and plenty of crashes so far and still going strong.
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Aug 13, 2008, 04:40 PM
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#13 |
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Mark 12:30
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: In Gods Grace.
Posts: 551
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Nice vid, very nice paint scheme !
 I noticed that some of the vehicles in the garage were covered. Is that normal or were they trying to fend off some "rotor rash " ? 
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Aug 13, 2008, 05:33 PM
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 377
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I own a few Havoc/PicooZ helis. The nice thing about them is the IR transmitter is strong and the helicopter can be flown will little regard as to where the transmitter is pointing. It won't work around objects though, but the nice thing about it is you can focus on the flying without worrying whether the transmitter emitters are pointed towards the heli.
I flew a friends brand-x PicooZ knockoff that had a transmitter that had to be pointed at the heli otherwise the heli would cut off and fall. I looked at his and my transmitter to compare differences and noticed that his only had one IR emitter and the my Havoc's had a cluster of three. Marlin |
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Aug 14, 2008, 06:51 AM
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NY State
Posts: 2,822
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Looks like these mini-rtfs have come far. The picco Zs were fun but pretty darn hard to control. This looks a lot better.
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