Graham Ashby 123 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I'm looking for a small-ish brushless / Li-Po powered machine that delivers a reasonable performance (doesn't have to be 3D capable) and duration, comes RTF, isn't loaded with anodised aluminium (reasonably priced) and handles a bit of a blow. Anyone got a favourite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nasa_steve Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 hi graham how much do you want to spend??? and what sort of size 400/600???regardssteve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Ashby 123 Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 Hi Steve, about £300 max. 400 or 600? Don't really mind if it's a tidy machine, although duration and an ability to fly gentle aerobatics straight from the box is more important to me than out-and-out performance (I'm never going to be a 3D flyer!). Obviously I'm aware of the T-Rex, Twister, Century Swift, Zoom etc., but was interested in general feedback on other examples. Heck there's so many out there. If I'm honest I guess the bigger the better and if there's a scale fuselage conversion in the offing that would probably swing it. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Graham,Me too.........exactly my "want"Have Medevac, Mk 1 Bell, and Twister CP.......Need to be able to also fly outdoors in more wind than above stud offer, basically......and also would like it to look more "real world" if poss....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Ashby 123 Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Dave, I'm hunting around at the moment and whilst there appears to be a few examples that fit the bill in terms of size, price and performance, precious few look very scale. I'm sure there's a small hole in the market here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Dickens Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 GrahamThere are quit a few scale bodies for the Trex450, I've got a Bell222 one fitted to my ARK400 that I bought over 12 months ago from from East Lancs Models (www.trex450.co.uk)It was a clear moulding that I had to spray but it looks good. They have a nice looking Airwolf that comes prepainted (It's also on Midland heli site) a bit expensive at £70+ but it may be worth it!As for the model I think it's a matter of personal choice as ther's not much to choose between them and there are upgrades appearing all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Knight Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Hi GrahamJust bought a 3d capable (raptor G2) mini copter off the web comes complete with 35mz radio, not a toy complete with servos rx and gyro, have a look at www.xheli.com/index based in LA, from order to delivery to the door seven days, paid $235 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Lewzey Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I'm looking at the Hummingbird Elite 3D Pro. It's sort of in between an indoor and outdoor heli and is designed for 3D. This doesn't necessarily mean you would have to fly 3D indeed the large throws and collective pitch would help outdoors. They are only £200 without tx from either centuryuk.co.uk or SMC so they represent excellent value for money. As I said, I'm looking at one to replace my training model (Twister Bell 47) that has been flying for over a year now. The only trouble is I'm bored with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Ashby 123 Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 Thanks you guys. Quite like the sound of the T-Rex scale body shell option, Chris. Do you have a pic that you could email or post in the gallery? As you know, I'm a sucker for a scale helicopter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kam24 Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Thunder Tiger Mini Titan every time! Very stable, mine when flown indoors will hover "hands off sticks" for a while. Parts are very cheap. And the Heli can be got ARTF compleat with BLess mtotr and 40 Amp ESC for around £190. Check the forums Helifreak and runryder and you wiil see the same story, people selling there T Rex 450s and buying the Mini Titan.By the way I dont have any thing against Align Helicoptors, After learning to fly with my Mini Titan next up is a T Rex 600! Just the battery packs holding me back at the mo at £200 a time!!!A friend has a scale Airwolf with retracts on a trex heli and it does not fly well, It seems to heavy for a heli that size (450 size) you need to be thinking larger for scale. But then I did see a everything in the box jet ranger micro size heli for about £100! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Lewzey Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Pete,I've just bought an Esky Honeybee cp2 of www.rcscale.co.uk. They do many of the products xheli.com do but the postage is cheaper and everything is availabele in 35 Mhz. I bought my Honeybee for £91 including p&p, an awful lot of heli for your money!Jonathan L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelholic Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Hi Graham,I have the E-Sky Belt CP and this has proven a great heli for me. This would seem to meet the criteria you specify in the first post though can be upgraded later with the shiny aluminium bits. Scale bodies are available either E-sky brand or aftermarket producers. I'm in the middle of putting a Jet Ranger body on mine (vac formed by Darth). Simple bodies and light but can be very effective. See here. I don't think you will find any heli in this size that is really comfortable in the wind. The Mini Titan and T-Rex are both very good platforms but the Belt is worth considering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Twister 3D is a good little machine - and cheap. I believe hightorqueuk (see ebay) sell scale body kits for lots of small machines ................. GG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hailey Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Hi there Graham. I would say do not spend lots of money at the moment find one that the parts are cheap like E Sky or Walkera as every one has the odd mishap. Do not go for one with a tail motor as these seam to have a limited life spane, belt or saft are best, or maybe a cx.happy flying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Ellis Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Hi graham, I would be interested in knowing what you eventually go for - I have pretty much the same requirement for getting started on R/C heli's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom tilley 2 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 esky belt cpmy wife purchased one for me for xmas brilliant machine based on the costi also fly a raptor v2 30 fixed wing harrier 3dand slowly building a flair puppatteerits really down to personal choice but the belt cp does really fly straight from the box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlfk Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Does that £300 include batteries, Tx etc?Gyro + tail servo: £100Cyclic servos: £602100mAh 3s battery: £30T-Rex 450X: from revolution models: £100 An old model, but would still fly OKTotal: £290 not including the radio and charger. Probably £40 for a PCM or 2.4 ghz Rx. I don't think I've missed anything - the T-Rex should come with blades, ESC and motor.You can build one considerably cheaper than that - perhaps £20 for cyclic servos and £50 for a cheap gyro and tail servo. But I think this would be false economy. I've never broken a 65mg servo, whereas other people seem to break cheap servos all the time. Metal parts on the small helis break or bend very rarely - the main shafts bend and the feathering spindles can end up like spaghetti. Plastic parts break much more frequently. Ebay for cheap tailbooms and other parts - often costs 2-3x less and quality is fine for us beginners. K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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