Help with model selection after long break

[Simon Green 1]

Hi all,

After an eternity away I'd really appreciate if someone could point me in the right direction as sooo much as changed!

I'm looking for a 32 size heli (if that means anything these days!) that's good for sport/3d flying in the good old British weather. I used to fly Kyosho Concepts years ago so something along those lines would be ideal. Happy to look at electric power and quality is more important than price!

My gear is old 35 MHz and so it would be useful if I could use existing servos however one of the advantages of time appears to be that gear costs so much less today!

Really appreciate any advice.

Regards,

Simon

[Robin Kearney]

Hi Simon,

Ive had a few blade helis and all have been brilliant. Currently flying a 450 3d which is great, but on the small side, the wind effects it quite a bit and I find in circuits I can occasionally loose orientation. Currently thinking of the blade 500, certainly I'd have no problems buying blade again.

Align have a lot of fans of their TRex range, tend to be a bit pricier than blades but have more carbon and Ali components. That isn't to say blade helis are cheaply made, far from it. Thunder tiger raptors might be wor looking at, I also know a few guys who swear by them.

All my experience is electric, so I can't comment on IC helis I'm afraid.

[Allan Bennett]

Like Robin, I'm into electrics. I'm more than happy with my Align T-Rex 550 which, I believe, is somewhere close to a .30 size. I started with a T-Rex 500 because it could handle our weather -- I sometimes had to shelter in the lee of a hedge to get my hover practice, but the wind never actually stopped me. Align are readily available, as are their spares. That's probably true of other brands, but it might be worth checking to see what your local model shop handles in that respect.

With the recommended battery packs you should be able to get 7-minute flights out of electric helis, and they're so much simpler to work with. In fact, it was electrickery that prompted me to get into helis after 25 or so years flying fixed wing. I'd seen glow models in the past, and was just not interested in the faffing around that their owners seemed to have to suffer.

[tomo55]

Have a look at the Thunder tiger Raptor 30 or 50 loads still about.Sturdy and can handle wind better than small electrics, You do not have to go the electric route, I have a unflown as yet Raptor 30 V@ with OS 32 heli engine i still use 35Mhz gear in all my aircraft it all still works fine.

Check out the model shop websites for availability or you can get some bargains from the bay or bmfa site somtimes.

I have dabbled in electric but prefer I/C engines every time.

Good luck Chris

[Phill @ Elite Workwear UK]

I have a Blade 450 3D that flys great but can be a little smallat distance. If you were looking at the Raptor I would opt for the 50 over the 30 as they are a little heavier and handle the wind better but are just as easy to repair and use many of the same parts (overall better value) - the 50 can be upgraded more readily too.

Electric tend to be cleaner and quicker to get off the ground but you will need several packs for a mornings flying as 7 to 10 mins is what you would expect form somthing like a 3S 2200 in a Blade 450 depending on how hard you fly it.

Have a word with the chaps at any of the well known heli specialists - they might just have a used model that will suit too.

Cheers

P

[LYKA]

I am haveing a long break from flying it called the crap weather

[Mark Stringer]

Kyosho Concept! - Got a brand new one in the loft, not even finshed yet! - Any offers?

I do however now have a T-Rex 500 Clone which is quite nice and am in the process of teaching myself to fly with it

It was really cheap (I think!?) and came as a ready to fly package with 6S Lipo, TX the lot.

I have just checked and they now only sell it as an airframe for $70 and the 9 ch TX I had with it for $85

Postage on those 2 would be $59 then 10% off if you register on the site - so $139 - So about £90 for the lot - you should be able to use your servos with that kit but would need a gyro. ESC and motor to complete it.

Details of both here:

**LINK**

**LINK**

Of course as usual if there is a problem it would cost more to send it back than it cost!

Just a thought if you wanted a cheap startup package

[Simon Green 1]

All,

Really appreciate all of your input on this.

Going to do some research on the suggestions and hopefully be back in the air soon.

Regards,

Simon

[Dave Bran]

If you really want to stick to a 30 size, look around for a Hirobo Shuttle Plus 2+ (usually good ones available secondhand but also currently available new, and even now sold new with an electric option!). Do NOT buy older non-topstart ones!

If you are prepared to go a little bigger then the Hirobo Sceadu is a great secondhand buy, but not the 30, at least unless its got a good 36 in it, go for the 50 and the EVO model.

Hirobo make superbly designed mechanics that never wear out, the manuals are second to none, and are not made of "Cheesium" like others I could mention, but am too polite to, I'm not that Misaligned.............

Having 4 Sceadu's, all bought secondhand with top radio on for little bucks, I took one completely apart and rebuilt it as per the manual as a bit of fun.........and I didn't have to touch a single adjustment again to get blade tracking, etc, etc....and have not since, two years and many flying hours on!!

And yes, I do own TRex Helis, too, 450s and 500's and one 600, but Align helis are made, and Hirobo Helis are engineered.