Anybody else here fly r/c Helicopters...?
Discussion
Recently built a Shuttle Sceadu 30, then found I didn't have the necessary time to learn to fly the thing... so I sold it! 
May well get another one day when I have a bit more time. It was indeed a thing of beauty and I longed to fly it, but I know you need a lot of time!
>> Edited by pstruck on Friday 21st January 18:48
May well get another one day when I have a bit more time. It was indeed a thing of beauty and I longed to fly it, but I know you need a lot of time!
>> Edited by pstruck on Friday 21st January 18:48
No. Started on Rotary wing training which was bloody hard work. Started to drop behind, and it's pretty much guaranteed curtains at that stage.
The workload is so heavy, it's almost impossible to catch up, so we parted company.
Still, I could have been in Iraq by now (or even first time round), so it's not all bad.
The workload is so heavy, it's almost impossible to catch up, so we parted company.
Still, I could have been in Iraq by now (or even first time round), so it's not all bad.
)is retrieveing was about 21 feet long...pstruck said:
Recently built a Shuttle Sceadu 30, then found I didn't have the necessary time to learn to fly the thing... so I sold it!
Shame - you'd have been better hanging onto it and using it as a conversation piece for visitors. Must have been gutted to sell it...!
dibble said:
I (briefly) flew real helicopters for the Royal Navy
That is just far too cool. I have a great video of a Lynx doing some 3D stuff, will try post it later if I can get it hosted.
kitt said:
Tried it once but only with a Piccofly indoor jobby. Very tricky and could only hover it and bring it down again.
I mainly fly gliders, especially the EPP flying combat wings. Good laugh trying to knock each other out the sky
I got a JP Bullet EPP thing. Complete load of crap. Should have bought a flying wing like yours. Bullit flew about as well as a brick. I now have a JP blow-moulded thing with electric power. Slopes quite nicely though.
sccbishop said:
I've ALWAYS wanted to learn to do this but have heard it's very difficult. I've heard it suggested you should start off with an electric (rather than petrol) model to learn with? What would be a good total beginners' kit?
Quite the opposite oddly enough. The electrics are more fickle, and the smaller ones significantly less stable due to their low inertia. Your best bet is a .30 size (glow engine) training helicopter. Either a Thunder Tiger Raptor or Hirobo Shuttle would be a good place to start. I might well have my Shuttle up for sale soon (don't need 2x .30 trainers) so give me a shout if you like. It's only had 3 tanks of fuel through it (therefore about half way through run-in) and has never been crashed, so it's a nice piece.
If you must go electric, avoid the Piccolo unless it's a Pro. The others don't have any collective and therefore don't fly anything like a 'proper' r/c helicopter. This goes for most of the micro helis, although if you don't want to progress to the bigger ones, the electrics are superb fun to fly in your living room and are a great challenge for those wet winter days. Just make sure you have lots of super glue. The Zoom 400 electric I have is an absolute pile of the proverbial, avoid like the plague. It flies beautifully for about 15 minutes then the tail drive shears and all hell breaks loose.
The glow engine helis are noisy and yes they do smell and you have to wipe the fuel residue off afterwards BUT they are MILES better to fly, I mean leagues ahead. There's nothing like flying your heli round the field at 40+ mph with the blades 'chopping' away sounding just like the real thing. The quality of the bigger kits tends to be better (it has to be given the forces involved and consequences if something fails).
Pics on my heli website at : www.raptorv2.co.uk
Edited to fix typos and add links to movies... :
First ever flight of the Piccolo and first ever flight of an r/c heli : http://movies.fastasfunk.co.uk/aero_hawk_final.wmv
Flying the Raptor : http://movies.fastasfunk.co.uk/raptor_practice_hq.wmv
First flight of the Shuttle Plus : http://movies.fastasfunk.co.uk/shuttle_plus_hq.wmv
>> Edited by roop on Friday 21st January 19:25
mechsympathy said:
Still, I could have been in Iraq by now (or even first time round), so it's not all bad.
OhDoes that mean you can fly fixed wing, or do they not get you through that before you start rotary? (IYSWIM)
It's been 15 or so years since I did fixed wing (in a DeHavilland Chipmunk, FFS), so you wouldn't really want me taking the controls of your holiday Jumbo if the driver and his mate got food poisining...
I got one of these for Xmas
www.draganfly.com/draganflyer5.php
Only hovered a bit in the basement so far. Need to wait for the annual Canadian glaciers to recede before I can fly outside.
www.draganfly.com/draganflyer5.php
Only hovered a bit in the basement so far. Need to wait for the annual Canadian glaciers to recede before I can fly outside.
I have had a Raptor 30 V2 for a year. i havent had much time to learn, done most of it on my simulator but to get the heli out in the right weather has turned into a right PITA! if i have time the weather is crap, if its fine, well, i dont have the time
I'm getting back into cars now so i may sell it its probably only had about 10 tanks through it!
They take a lot of dedication to learn to fly them!
I'm getting back into cars now so i may sell it
its probably only had about 10 tanks through it! They take a lot of dedication to learn to fly them!
Mikey G said:
I'm getting back into cars now so i may sell it
Noooooo...! Fill it up get out there and fly it. You'll soon pick up the bug. Cars are boring in comparison (although at the last count, my r/c car collection comfortably exceeded 40). Also you'll take a hammering on the price. Both my Shuttle and Raptor are worth around £350 - both cost in excess of £700 new. The Shuttle's only had 3 tanks, the Raptor almost 2 gallons.
Mikey G said:
They take a lot of dedication to learn to fly them!
Yep, but the thrill and sense of achievement when you crack it is fantastic...! Stick at it fella...!
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