Already two threads on here for this. Good times coming. The price though.

Originally Posted by Thickfog

Already two threads on here for this. Good times coming. The price though.

Agree....expensive heli, expensive parts...add a few USD and get a 450.....

Originally Posted by ChespiIker

Agree....expensive heli, expensive parts...add a few USD and get a 450.....

Good luck flying a 450 in a small gym or large basement.

Originally Posted by mawz

Good luck flying a 450 in a small gym or large basement.

No, we get it. It's just so insane the prices on this little thing.

Originally Posted by Thickfog

No, we get it. It's just so insane the prices on this little thing.

I never understood why people think smaller = cheaper. It's often the opposite. Complexity drives cost, and smaller often means more complex.

Sure the highly-integrated micro's are cheaper, but for the larger stuff, there's really little in the way of difference in parts count or complexity between a 130S and a 230S. Unsurprisingly there's also little cost difference.

There's never going to be a huge price spread between a 130 and a 450, and most of the difference is going to be in the tail. The bigger stuff gets wildly more expensive largely because of tiny production runs, not size.

Originally Posted by mawz

I never understood why people think smaller = cheaper. It's often the opposite. Complexity drives cost, and smaller often means more complex.

Sure the highly-integrated micro's are cheaper, but for the larger stuff, there's really little in the way of difference in parts count or complexity between a 130S and a 230S. Unsurprisingly there's also little cost difference.

There's never going to be a huge price spread between a 130 and a 450, and most of the difference is going to be in the tail. The bigger stuff gets wildly more expensive largely because of tiny production runs, not size.

Roflcopter 101

http://www.bladehelis.com/Products/D...ProdID=BLH3450

Though to be fair I've had to replace the tail servo, $36, and the motor, $50. The tail still wags a little, and I get 3:30 of flight time with crazy power. This might be worth it if it doesn't rely on "end user fixes" like the majority of blade products.

Originally Posted by davidfoosh

Roflcopter 101

http://www.bladehelis.com/Products/D...ProdID=BLH3450

Though to be fair I've had to replace the tail servo, $36, and the motor, $50. The tail still wags a little, and I get 3:30 of flight time with crazy power. This might be worth it if it doesn't rely on "end user fixes" like the majority of blade products.

Same size category (the 180 is just a 130 stretch), same price (MSRP on the 180CFX is $10 higher, but they're both getting a street price of $199). That for an aircraft 2 years old vs one just being introduced.

Give the 130S 6 months and it will be selling cheaper than the 180 (and always will be cheaper in stores that sell at MSRP)

Originally Posted by mawz

I never understood why people think smaller = cheaper. It's often the opposite. Complexity drives cost, and smaller often means more complex.

Sure the highly-integrated micro's are cheaper, but for the larger stuff, there's really little in the way of difference in parts count or complexity between a 130S and a 230S. Unsurprisingly there's also little cost difference.

There's never going to be a huge price spread between a 130 and a 450, and most of the difference is going to be in the tail. The bigger stuff gets wildly more expensive largely because of tiny production runs, not size.

Not really. This is just in the helicopter world. In the quadcopter world i can get brushless motors and esc for 6 bucks. Good ones. Flight control boards for 15 bucks. Amazing ones. Good carbon frames for 20 bucks.

But in the heli world that esc costs 50 bucks, the tiny brushless motor 30 and the flight controller 100 to 400! The carbonated frame half is 20 to 50. Half!

From a mechanical side, fhe heli is more complex and expensive to manufacture. Molds must be made, machining of exacting parts etc.

But they are screwing us on electronics costs. It's a joke and the manufacturers wonder why heli sales have died and quads are taking over.

Don't keep believing the small is not any cheaper. It already is in the quad world. Just brainwashing us in the heli world.


Also if tiny is so expensive, why can I get a hcp60 for 30 bucks and an awesome k100 for 35 and a k110 for 45?

Answer: Blade is a rip off. Plain and simple.

So it doesn't even come with a battery.

Yes. Rtf does and usually their bnf always do, but not this one. Odd.
Sounds insane but if this guy flies like their 230s and is as reliable, I'll get one. I need bnf only as it will save me 8 bucks. Lol.

Originally Posted by Thickfog

a k110 for 45?

Can you share the link please? I bought my k110 for $65

Originally Posted by Wrecking Ball

Can you share the link please? I bought my k110 for $65

You just have to keep looking. This was back in November. The prices go up and down constantly. They are hovering (lol) around 80 now. I bought two at the cheap price-- couldn't resist.

I got a rtf xk x251 for 70 shipped back in August. They go for for 110 to 130 now.

Just the other night I grabbed a Trex 470Lp for 337 plus 25 off shipped from amain. Now they have it at 375!

I also found it for 327 now at Lower! RC shipped.
Pain in the butt.

I grabbed a gew bnf hcp60s back in fall for around 30.

Well, I expect to buy the 130S. I'm not put off by the motor driven tail as I have a 230S, which has been fine for all the 3D I'm capable of.

I also have two 130X's (one with almost everything upgraded with metal and carbon, only the linear servos left, bought at a steal price, and a 180CFX.

The 230S is bog Std and no faults. The 130X gained metal gears early on and has not been touched other than the occasional wash out of the servo tracks with contact cleaner when it gets jittery, and the 180 has not had to be touched.

The 180 is a bit aggressive and high head speed to fly around others in UK sized halls, the 230S a little large though a lot less aggressive sounding.

The 130X is the mark that I and others tend to use, so as long as they hold their promise of not making it overly limited (like the replacement Nano!) it'll be good.

Motor driven tails are now proven such as on the rock stable k110 and k120 platforms. And as you say the 230s.