Edmund Comber

HI Jon Thanks for the reply, now I understand, and that is a really good way to get a reasonable machine for what is effectively pocket money. Windows alone costs a big lump in a new machine build. My current machine is just over 5 years old and I am thinking of building a new one, so I was very interested in your spec.

I used to be interested in Flight Sims, I have dabbled with MS FSX and CF3 (for which Kevin Fairgrieve kindly sent me a bunch of updates and add-ons on CDs) and Lock-On Gold, but even though I had a good spec home built PC, I could not get them to run really well and I got bored with them. I was using Phoenix with my RC Tx up until I went to Windows 10, when it would no longer work because of requirements to run old DirectX version. I still have the CFS3 and FSX but not installed as I don't know if they would work with Win 10, but I guess they should fly with my current spec machine. I am looking for a replacement for Phoenix to practice RC flying, but still not settled on any. I subscribed to AccuRC on Steam, but although the flying physics are good, the interaction interface between the model and the scenery and landing surfaces are very poor compared to Phoenix -it is a pity that Phoenix development has stopped. Maybe the new RealFlight will be the one...... Would love to know the spec for a £250 gaming machine as I can't imagine what it would be when you have to pay more than that for a good Graphics card, let alone motherboard + CPU + PSU + case.

Well I ordered 8 Lipos from what I thought was the UK warehouse for my Outrage G5 - but they actually came from China so I got hit with a £34 bill VAT and collection bill from FedEx - on top of £30 postage. I will not be trusting Hobby King again unless they make the source clearer - unfortunate that no one else seems to do that size Lipo any more.

1. Inwood Models  2. Fast Lad  3. Align TREX 500 ESP  4. Horizon Hobbies

Posted by Richard Carpenter on 02/04/2010 19:56:30: Hehe, yeah, thanks Peter : ) I'm really looking for a ccpm heli that I can properly get to grips with and learn on. E-flite have launched a new website just for the blade helis and revamped the mcx. I guess the brand is getting popular. http://www.bladehelis.com/   Then that would be the Thunder tiger Innovator.  Having spent some time crashing CCPM helicopters ! was about to give up. As a last ditch I got and Hirobo XRB – expensive, but it taught me to hover and forward and backward flight, got me through the basics of orientation. I then got an Hirobo Quark – fantastic little machine, but again it enabled me to really fly a single rotor fixed pitch helicopter all over the place in the meadow next door, and was tough and very cheap to run, if expensive to buy.   I then thought I was ready for collective pitch, and like to be different so did not go T-REX 450, I nearly went Thunder Tiger Mini Titan, but actually bought an Outrage G5. Lovely machine, but way too big a step, and back to crashing. Paused for thought, and then got a Thunder Tiger Innovator MD530. Never looked back! Brilliant 1st CP helicopter. Sold both Hirobo XRB and Quark. Innovator got me hovering well in all orientations, forward, backward, sideways, piros, circuits, proper banked turns, even loops.   I now also fly my G5, and a Trex 250 and a Trex 500. I sold the Innovator MD 530 but still have an Innovator EXP. All down to the Innovator. I was on the verge of packing it all in – or sticking to the Quark as it was great fun, but weather limited.  

Posted by Eric Bray on 09/08/2009 18:20:01: Tim - re my emails - should have looked on the forum first! Ooops! Never mind! Will the mSR be the first micro heli that can be flown outside in a light breeze, and not blow away?  No; at under 1oz it will not be able to handle much wind methinks.  As for the first that could - that would be the Hirobo Quark; good for up to 5mph wind.

Yes indeed - 4s is plenty for many.....  I have 12 off 3S Lipos... but now also 3 off 6S lipos for my Outrage G5 Helicopter - so I am glad I went for the BC8 - who knows what the future holds, and hopefull;y a charger will last for many years.

Yes please - will look good pictured against Isaacs Fury II G-BWWN that I am lucky to fly.....

Count me in - not for me this time, but for a friend who I would give the prize to, to get them started!

I to have written to Graupner regarding issues with the new Graupner Ultra Duo Plus 50, I got a totally unacceptable response to my first letter which did not address the issues, was factually incorrect and was generally most unhelpful - however they did sent a CD with their product marketing stuff.  I wrote a second letter seeking clarification, and requesting help but nothing back - and that was mid August.  Seems once they got your £270 quid for a charger - they don't care about you any more!  Customer service is not on their agenda. I for one will never buy another Graupner product......

If I do go for the smaller heli - I am currently favoring the Mini Titan SE.  However I won't be buying till Christmas / New year - maybe February when I have a birthday.... by then the 'credit crunch' might mean that vendors are willing to reduce their high (40-45%?) margin to secure sales and there may be 'bargains' to be had.....

Thanks for the help and advice.  As I said ain the original post - I am not interested in 3D - don't ever expect to get that good!  so the longer times would be welcome.  The Lipo's for the 500 are a concern cost wise - so the T-REX 450SE v2 and the Mini Titan SE are back on the agenda - remember I want to fly in a small meadow.

Yet another hard luck story.... gimmee gimmee!

Having taken advice from a number of places, I was just about to order (literally as I was about to click the ‘Buy’ button having input all the details for the online order – my friend phoned so I decided to hold off) a HoneyBee Fixed Pitch (HBFP) as an intermediary step as they seem to fair well from ‘incidents’ and are simple and  robust such that often all you need to do is straighten out and carry on flying.  The HBFP draws strong opinions from two opposite camps, but seems to be a good trainer option.  However yesterday a friend brought round a new Hirobo Quark FP micro helicopter and we (I hade 4 flights) flew it in my meadow.   I loved it.  It will do exactly for what I want in terms of intermediate training, and I can fly it safely indoors, and outdoors in calm weather or light winds at weekends (getting dark earlier now and I don’t get home from work).  It is tweakable to make it more demanding to fly as my skills progress, beautifully engineered, robust (sacrificial blades) during incidents.  I plan to get a T-REX 500 kit at Christmas, but this Quark is just perfect for my current requirements – yes it is expensive, but it is quality, and it works!  I will have mine this evening! as my pal is getting it for me as I type!

OK I have made the decision to cut the Mini-Titan from the short list and it is now a two horse race between the T-REX 450 or the T-REX 500.

Hello Owen I know where you are coming from - my wife does not like surprises and likes to choose her own Christmas and Birthday presents......  sometimes she even chooses not to have anything (waiting until she sees something she really wants).   We have been together over 33 years and this works well.  I am lucky - she is very cheap to run and rarely wants anything - so when she does I move heaven and earth to get it ASAP.  Normally it is about plants / gardens etc..... (never jewellery... arn't I lucky???). I on the other-hand am rather expensive to run as I also fly full size (google G-EWBC)....  

Hi Owen  Yes exaclty why I am going kit - not to save money, but to understand how it goes together - and putting it together is part of the fun and learning curve, plus when disaster strikes I should have the confidence and ability to to repair it properly. Purchase may be some time off whilst I research and diliberate....  probably my Christmas present to me? (but Santa may come early.....)

I have decided to keep the focus on the Minit Titan kit, The T-REX 450 SE V2 kit or the TREX-500 kit

Thank you, for your input.  I will also check out the Belt-CP. IC is out not only for the iol and fuel and starting issues, but also because the flying in the small meadow (50m x 65m) is in my garden and the noise factor is a major issue here (women are funny about engine noise).  I take on board the number of Lipos issue - I have 3 or 4 Lipos for each of my RC fixed wing planes, so that a flying session can have lots of flights, with the lipos being changed and the plances being sequenced so the motors can cool before their next flight.  So I plan to start with 3 for the helicopter to give me scope.

Yes I did consider the T-REX 600 - but think that is getting a bit too big...  the 500 seems to be generally considered the better option looking at opinions of people who had a 450 and then moved up to a 500.  I feel if I get a Mini-Titan, that I will then move up to something a bit bigger like the T-REX 500, but if I go direct for the T-REX 500 I will have a more stable learning platform that I will keep for a long time, and the cost of the Mini-Titan will cover a fair lot of spares for the T-REX 500. I have RealFlight G3.5 - is that any good?  I find I can hover some of the models, and others I crash a lot! Still not decided yet......

Food for thought.... I had been leaning toward the T-REX 500 - bigger, more stability, and likely to be the only helicopter I will need.....    Titan looks a possibility, but so far my research on the GL450 is very much a mixed bag - with many tales of variable/poor quality and reliability issues - I don't want to go there - I don't need to save money - not at the cost of potential quality problems.

Interestingly my local model shop (not heli experts they admit) have suggested the Mini Titan.  I already have Spectrum DX7 so would just add another Rx and servos for the Helicopter.  I like the sound of 'tougher' - will they be easier to learn on?  More forgiving?  Better stability?  Not really worried about saving £s on the initial purchase, quite happy to spend what it takes to get the best machine for the job.

Interesting response to go fixed pitch as I have been advised by the model shop not to go fixed pitch....  However I will investigate all suggestions

I am a returnee to RC modelling early this year after a break of some 25 years, (and my how it has changed).  I currently have a couple of aircraft (Multiplex AcroMaster and Precision Aerobatics Addiction, with a PA Extra 260 under assembly) which I have somehow managed to keep in one piece.   I really fancy a helicopter – and got myself an Hirobo XRB SR Lama on the advice of my local model shop and have managed to keep it pretty much in one piece for the past 6 months.  I appreciate that single rotor helicopters are a different kettle of fish, but I want something I can fly outdoors.  I have got RealFlight G3.5 R/C simulator.  R/C model flying is not my main hobby, so I cannot devote all my spare time to it.   It must be electric – I am all electric and don’t want noisy, oily, dirty ic engines.  I want it to be stable (not twitchy) and reliable and have high quality components, with readily available spares.  I have little choice but to self-teach, but do have access to an experienced heli-pilot who is willing help set up the model – it is just a long trek to get to him.   I have had advice to get a T-REX but which one will give me the best chance of success – or should it be something different altogether?  I do not have ambitions to fly 3D, just hovering, circuits, figures of 8, moving up to chandelles/wingovers, maybe loops in good time.  I want to fly in a small meadow (50m x 65m).   Thoughts and advice welcome – initial cost is not really an issue – but I don’t want expensive ongoing costs.

Yes please - count me in.