Which RC helicopter?
Discussion
I'd like to buy an RC helicopter, just for a bit of fun round the garden, not as a hobby, not as a build project, and hopefully not as a pastime which will see me ordering spares and broken parts from crashes.
I know there are a few planes which come virtually ready to fly out of the box, designed for beginners. What about helicopters?
I got one for Xmas once, it was tiny, a bit of a gimmick as it required an iPhone to control it via an app, and it was very hard to fly. Probably £30 quids worth. I'd be willing to invest much more than that.
I haven't yet started googling. Are larger choppers more stable? Does any model spring to mind as being a good starting point, bearing in mind my needs mentioned above? Thanks in advance for advice, recommendations and buying tips.
I know there are a few planes which come virtually ready to fly out of the box, designed for beginners. What about helicopters?
I got one for Xmas once, it was tiny, a bit of a gimmick as it required an iPhone to control it via an app, and it was very hard to fly. Probably £30 quids worth. I'd be willing to invest much more than that.
I haven't yet started googling. Are larger choppers more stable? Does any model spring to mind as being a good starting point, bearing in mind my needs mentioned above? Thanks in advance for advice, recommendations and buying tips.
Ive been doing some reading, there isnt much out there.
Most RC entry level helicopters appear to be sub £50, most around £30, with infrared which isnt ideal in bright sunlight.
There seems to be a big jump up to a proper outdoor beginners helicopter, in price. Also in skill as they mostly seem to be 4 channel, not 3...
Most RC entry level helicopters appear to be sub £50, most around £30, with infrared which isnt ideal in bright sunlight.
There seems to be a big jump up to a proper outdoor beginners helicopter, in price. Also in skill as they mostly seem to be 4 channel, not 3...
The bigger they are the 'easier' they are to fly. However the bigger they are the more expensive they become, especially the leccy ones as the batteries can be silly money.
I fly a Trex 450 and a 500. The 500 is much nicer to fly, the 600 better still and the 700 more so. There are of course many other types out there of which I have little experience, however the guy I fly with, (Ash Davies), does a lot of testing so I can ask him and report back if ya like?
ETA depending on the size of your back garden anything bigger then the 500 is a no no to fly there! You could take a look on youtube as there are loads of vids on there for all of the above and more. Could also look at the Blade msr which is possible to fly indoors and is not IR controlled.
I fly a Trex 450 and a 500. The 500 is much nicer to fly, the 600 better still and the 700 more so. There are of course many other types out there of which I have little experience, however the guy I fly with, (Ash Davies), does a lot of testing so I can ask him and report back if ya like?
ETA depending on the size of your back garden anything bigger then the 500 is a no no to fly there! You could take a look on youtube as there are loads of vids on there for all of the above and more. Could also look at the Blade msr which is possible to fly indoors and is not IR controlled.
Edited by iiyama on Sunday 23 June 09:55
Thanks iiyama.
What I'm after is a 3 channel, which falls into the category of toy.
There just aren't any big ones.
I bought two micro copters yesterday, I've only tried one (highly rated on the modelzone website) and it flies superbly indoors. I thought it might fare ok outside but the slightest breath of air blows it off course like a hurricane! I didn't realise to what extent, so a bigger toy would be ideal.
Chap at model zone said repeatedly, the jump up from a 3chan to 4chan helicopter was a big one in terms of skill required.
I'll post the model name later. I'm very pleased with it, but it is limited to indoor use.
What I'm after is a 3 channel, which falls into the category of toy.
There just aren't any big ones.
I bought two micro copters yesterday, I've only tried one (highly rated on the modelzone website) and it flies superbly indoors. I thought it might fare ok outside but the slightest breath of air blows it off course like a hurricane! I didn't realise to what extent, so a bigger toy would be ideal.
Chap at model zone said repeatedly, the jump up from a 3chan to 4chan helicopter was a big one in terms of skill required.
I'll post the model name later. I'm very pleased with it, but it is limited to indoor use.
dave_s13 said:
I was in Aldi yesterday and they had some large indoor /outdoor helis for £30 looked very cool but know nothing if the spec or if any good.
You could take a photo and do what I ended up doing, finding and buying based on review scores. How big were they?I bought this: http://www.modelzone.co.uk/beginners-rc-helicopter...
I will probably exchange the other one for another one of these, as its perfect, performs brilliantly. Model zone have a buy one get one half price offer on at the moment.
The crash kit of spares was only a fiver, too!
I will probably exchange the other one for another one of these, as its perfect, performs brilliantly. Model zone have a buy one get one half price offer on at the moment.
The crash kit of spares was only a fiver, too!
A 'proper' helicopter is very difficult to fly for a beginner. Been there, done it, wasted a lot of money and eventually gave up...
The more advanced helicopters are no doubt fun if you can fly it, prepare for a lot of patience, going through blades etc. Investing in training software/practice controller would be a good move and a training landing gear is also a wise move (will help save rotors). Sadly I struggled to get mine to hover properly and gave up, wouldn't mind trying again but not sure I have the patience.
I started out on the one below, it was fine in the garden, really easy to control and great fun.
http://www.kooltoyz.co.uk/esky-robins-blue-p-18.ht...
The more advanced helicopters are no doubt fun if you can fly it, prepare for a lot of patience, going through blades etc. Investing in training software/practice controller would be a good move and a training landing gear is also a wise move (will help save rotors). Sadly I struggled to get mine to hover properly and gave up, wouldn't mind trying again but not sure I have the patience.
I started out on the one below, it was fine in the garden, really easy to control and great fun.
http://www.kooltoyz.co.uk/esky-robins-blue-p-18.ht...
Edited by Nick_MSM on Sunday 23 June 12:29
What about a quadcopter? Easier to control and not too expensive for a decent beginner one.
I ordered one of these after reading seeing a recommendation on here.
The camera quality isn't great but it makes a nice addition. It flies well outside and the range is impressive. Just make sure there is no wind!
I've owned a few small helicopters in the past and they are no where near as stable as this quadcopter. If you do buy one, get some spare batteries. You can get 5 spares for only a few pounds.
I ordered one of these after reading seeing a recommendation on here.
The camera quality isn't great but it makes a nice addition. It flies well outside and the range is impressive. Just make sure there is no wind!
I've owned a few small helicopters in the past and they are no where near as stable as this quadcopter. If you do buy one, get some spare batteries. You can get 5 spares for only a few pounds.
Have a look at some of the micro 4 channel ones. I've got a heliguy atom. It's about 50 quid and batteries and any a five I think so you can have a few and fly non stop. It's 4 channel so all the proper controls but pretty unbreakable but cheap if you do.I can fly out around the living room quite easily and had been outside on still days. I've got an esky honey bee as well which is a fair bit bigger, and the fear factor really kicks in, I can barely hover it whereas the smaller one I have the confidence to fly it. A good crash with the bigger heli can pretty much write it off.
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