Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2011 16:49:34 GMT
Good thinking, Chris. Most people CUT the power in panic and going with the flow is definitely the easiest thing to do.
As soon as I get into trouble, the first thing I do is cut the power right off. (with little helis anyway, not the bigger ones)
In the summer, I had an infa red heli which I stupidly flew outside and the sun cam out. It then stopped responding to my remote, flew off and cut its power right above the swimming pool. I had to dive in to the bottom to get it. 12 feet down. Dried it off and it still worked.
There was a video on YouTube which had me cringing..... this guy flew a coaxial very high and it sailed away at height. It disappeared over a building so he upped the throttle more in order to see it. Sure enough, it rose into view; even higher in the sky and moving off like a racing car.
He never got it back but I dread to think what it hit when it finally came down from a great height.
Trouble is, if the authorities see a load of those, it won't be long before it's banned outside or we'll all need a licence.
I took the Sky Taxi to a little park up the road here, but if there are people around, it gets grounded because it's too big to have an accident with. It also reacts to wind currents because it's a coaxial which is why I'm keen to learn a collective pitch single rotor and be able to fly with less fear of wind currents.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2011 17:08:49 GMT
Bang on there Ian. There's always some brainless. irresponsible pillocks that ruin things for the rest. Some local "Bazaars" (mostly chinese run cheap everything stores) have started selling the Syma choppers, undercutting the big boys, who are shamelessly over-priced, by 50% or more. This equates roughly to best internet prices without carriage
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2011 17:20:45 GMT
It looks to me that most of the Syma range are just three channels, Chris.
The one you have looks great, I think. If you're flying it outside, you must be ready to move on to something more challenging. A nice single blade that will react a bit less to wind?
Mind you, my 120 sr needs a lot of holding in a hint of wind.
I've a feeling that my new Blade MSRx will be better but it's a bugger to fly.
Chris, if you want something bought here and sent, just say if it's cheaper for you.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2011 17:33:03 GMT
Ian, I think you're right on the Symas but the increased availability and better prices shows the increase in interest here in Spain Many thanks for the offer, if I decide to buy another I'll keep that in mind in case of any large differences in pricing. (having trouble staying logged in, maybe heavy holiday usage my end?)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 19:40:15 GMT
Remember I said this whirly wouldn't hover at height?
Well, I remembered somthing Ian mentioned on one of his birds.
He tightened the screws that hold the blades so that they could still move, sort of freely but not flop about.
I tried it out, a litlle bit of trim adjusting later and Ta Dah! I can hover almost perfectly at any height! Cooooooool
Unfortunately, during the ensuing escalation of aerobatics, I got carried away and crashed it into a chair, almost breaking off the last 1.5cm tip of an A blade. Not cool.
For now a bit of insulation tape is holding that with the same amount applied to the opposing blade. Flies the same! Of course, if I strike it again it'll be grounded for sure. So back to the supplier for some spares.
TBC ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 20:39:02 GMT
Well done, Chris. And a repair job too!! Very often with blade repairs, it can start to wobble due to slight inconsistencies on each side.
I keep spare blades all over the place but so far, I've been really lucky and only had to replace the Sky Taxi set because I didn't like the look of the chips in them!!
What happens when you slightly tighten the blades is they don't flex. (slightly out of time with each other) The first blade gets held back by the air while the other blade catches up so it gives a tiny boomerang shape with some helis. They're not flying opposite each other so you don't get proper lift or smoothness of flight.
If you overtighten, the heli wil probably shake. After a while, they'll loosen again.
You're doing well with that heli. Actually, I saw it in a shop in Norwich last weekend. I went off for a couple of days and so in my spare time, I took a wander around the shopping centre which is rather nice with a market and all. I found a model shop and yours was in there.
You know, I was tempted. The only thing that put me off was the three channel thing. I can't afford to go back now I'm flying these devil machines.
You know, the Nine Eagles pro V2 is an ideal upgrade for you. A single blade that is fast and flies well. It just about flies outside as long as there are only tiny puffs of wind but it sounds to me like you're pretty secure with that one now.
I do like the Falcon. It's a nice looking heli.
Mine are mostly killer machines that will take off your privates in a second. I hit myself in the nipple recently and it bloody well marked me!!
I love the challenge of the difficult ones if I'm honest. I enjoy learning what it does and getting it under control. I think being a musician makes you slightly OCD and your brain kind of focuses on minutia that many would say leave it out!! But for me that's the pleasure and also the relaxation.
I don't push my flying style. I just relax and learn slowly as I'm going along.
I went on an American heli site where someone was having trouble with a heli and keeping it in the air. Even the most experienced people were telling him to give up and get something else. Then I said about patience and observation and small steps, one at a time and suddenly out of the woodwork, they all joined in saying, well, yes, you can do it that way but it's boring!!! For me that's the pleasure of flying.
Once you've mastered one, you kind of feel the urge to move on to the next challenge!!
Well done on the repair job. Now if that was me, I'd be on the blower ordering new blades!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 22:40:45 GMT
Aha, Ian, It is a 4 channel! That was my undoing, it's a demon when it banks
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 22:52:48 GMT
Oh, sorry. Maybe I wasn't looking at the same model? It's quite large isn't it? Maybe I'll have another look then!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 23:17:41 GMT
Hi Ian, No, it's on the small side, 21cm nose to tail tip. There are other AI Falcon XVIII xxxx which are different. Now I'm flying more stably I think I may be hooked, oh god, not another fanatical hobby
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2012 13:35:47 GMT
@ Mike and Ian especially. I think I've reached the point of outgrowing the Falcon. Soooooo, I'm thinking of going on to a better coaxial (rather than jumping to a single blade), one with tighter control but sticking to 4 channel, and easy change batteries, multi charger available etc. e.g. the falcon will only hold a stable-ish hover during the first two mins of battery time. After that it needs constant power adjustment which is pain when getting into turns and especially banking, making it unpredictable. It was a very cheap and fun experiment, now it's time for more Basically, from your collective fleet experience, what is the best 4ch coaxial, decent value bird to go for taking the above into consideration. My idea being that once I get reeeeally confident I may upgrade to an outdoor worthy model TIA PS I have sets of new blades (mine are pretty chopped up plus the broken one) and a stabilising bar (i noticed mine is quite scuffed up so JIC) on the way, with a view of letting No.1 son loose on this one.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2012 13:58:52 GMT
That's what happens, Chris. You get to the point where you wonder if you want to repair or replace!!
If you want to progress up the coaxial route you may not progress as much. For instance, the MCX2 which is a lovely coaxial represents such a small challenge to me nowadays that it doesn't get flown as much. It's a small coaxial.
You could go up to something bigger which would give you more of a challenge and also give you a bit more 'thrill' factor.
I really enjoy the Blade CX3 in spite of its weird foibles. It is a big coaxial - about a foot long. It tends to have a twitchy tail which can be tamed to an extent, but it doesn't alter the way it flys. It's a big thing in the house but is impressive. Problem though is on crashes, it would crack the body because of its size. It flys outside in calm weather rather nicely too.
I have two of them. One in a standard body and another that I repaired after a friend gave it to me so I stuck a Navy body on it in the end after doing the repairs to anything that I could see that was broken/missing or bent.
That's an impressive coaxial but takes a bit more skill.
Personally Chris, I'd think about moving on to single blades. A really good cheap one is the Nine Eagles Pro Solo or the Nine Eagles sx. Really good fliers as Mike has shown in the case of the V2 and would do little damage to the house when crashed. I'll have an sx here soon which is like the Solo Pro with a scaled body. (Which is more prone to damage on crashing)
I think a lot of it depends on your own psyche. If you are a risk taker and don't mind crashing, then the fast little ones are the route.
If you're like me - pedantic and work at minutia- then you could take more of a chance on the bigger ones or single blades.
Most coaxials will be much the same so the only real way to progress with them is get bigger.
I really enjoy the Sky Taxi but that's because I can fly outside and also I can use a big hall. It's a thrilling fly mainly because of its size.
I would like to get a Big Lama. A big fruity coaxial. Cheap too, but one crash and it'll be repairs. (Like the Sky Taxi)
I know that it sounds excessive when I go through what I have here, but if I'm honest, I really like the idea of chossing the heli according to how I want to fly.
For just poodling around I use the MCX2 and the MCX. (Actually, the MCX is amazing value) Both dead easy to fly.
For faster but in control flight, I love the Blade MSR. No longer available. I have two of those. One outside one in. They go quite a lot faster than the MCX types.
For manic indoor, as you probably know - the MSRx. It's a difficult one to fly but gives me something to aim for and learn. Scary indoors is the 120 sr because of its size.
Going the coaxial route - for thrills, just get bigger. They all fly pretty much the same. They just get more scary as you get bigger.
However, I did see a video of a Walkera coaxial that was pretty fast on youtube!!
I'm wondering about going from the Sky Taxi to the Big Lama to something massive in the coaxial line. (A three footer)
So basically, do you want to fly outside or mostly inside and how do you feel about bigger ones?
Or else, go single blade as we all do eventually!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2012 14:10:20 GMT
Thanks for that Ian. I was looking at staying indoor for now, getting a ton of fly-time under my belt to get proficient and then head for the skies, literally That's why I mentioned easy change batteries that last a little longer as the built in one on the Falcon is cramping my style maaaan
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2012 16:27:17 GMT
OK Chris, not cheap but the best imo -
Blade MCX Blade MCX2
Single Blade - Nine Eagles Solo Pro.
Ideal for indoors.
Have at least 4 batteries and you'll be able to fly for longer. 24 minutes or so. When the first has been used - put it straight on charge.
I have about 16 batteries!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2012 23:26:04 GMT
Ian, I've taken your recommendations and had a good surf around the myriad of RC forums out there. As a total cheap skate I was in search for the same thing but cheaper There were two that come up time after time; Firstly the HL V911 which is supposed to be a rip-off of the NE Solo Pro and is less than half the price, backed up by great reports. e.g. www.hobby-wing.com/wl-v911-4ch-helicopter.htmlThen there is the Art tech Firefox, soon to be the Version 2 which is reported to add a fast-mode once the normal is mastered and it's bigger www.xheli.com/at-11321-firefox-rtf-24g-red.htmlI'm not in any rush so may hang to see what the latter is like. With spares on the way I'm taking liberties with the Falcon, managed a few banked turns without slamming into fixed objects ;D After flying that 450 the next step will buzzing up to bonnie Scotland and landing in Mikes garden!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2012 8:43:46 GMT
Chris, they both look really nice. You have a knack for pulling some rather nice helis out of the bag.
The first one is REALLY cheap. The second is quite big. It might be a handful indoors but wonderful outside.
Both of these will be fast. Much faster than you're used to but a real step up in terms of flying.
You're right in that the fisrt one reminds me of a Nine Eagles Solo Pro and if it flies like one - they go like a rocket.
Good idea to use the old one to experiment with. Much like what I did. Once you push yourself, you'll start to see what they can really do but you have to lose that fear of crashing and breaking it I guess.
I'm over careful in the way that I fly and push in little bits, one thing at a time.
My guess is that if you get one of those helis, you're going to spend quite a lot of time getting them safely off the ground!!! That's a skill in itself.
It's likely that they will shoot off to the left on take off because of the way the rotors spin. You have to give a right 'twitch' on the aileron and quickly let go as it goes and then it stays straight. It's a common thing with them all.
IMO, they both look great and I must admit, the second one has my interest.
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 10, 2012 10:50:31 GMT
I would go with a blade MCX / MCX2, they are quality and you get good flight times out of them, especially using the miniaviation or Turnigy Nano batteries... superb helicopters, very well built and they want fall apart after a few weeks like some of the cheaper types do.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2012 12:02:43 GMT
Chris, you do realise that they're single blades don't you? Just saying because they will be a lot less stable than what you're used to ......
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2012 15:55:20 GMT
Ian, Yes, single blades with fly bars. I've been told my coaxial is tougher than normal to control and the Firefox in particular is a very easy single. Hopefully making the learning gap more bridgeable. My finger is getting a bit twitchy for the V911 though. Mike, I fully appreciate what you're saying and take that into account when looking at the alternatives. In the case of the V911 many of its parts are replaceable with NE or Align spares I'm currently popping the question with various suppliers in regards to spares availability on both models.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2012 16:54:12 GMT
I must admit, Chris, the V911 looks beautiful and it's a good size. Quite a handful for a beginner and its size can intimidate; respecially indoors. For me, I'd fancy that one myself. The other one is a small, buzzy one like the msr or the V2. How2ever, you still learn really good flight skills on them and they are small and light enough to take knocks while you're learning. The bigger one may do damage to itself if you crash. That's the biggest disadvantage of the bigger ones. One crash and they can become defunct whereas the little ones almost bounce. The Blade 120 sr is supposed to be tough while still being quite big, but my feeling is that it wouldn't take a knock like the msr. The cx3's or Sky Taxi would become ex-helis on a fall from the sky. That's why I'm so careful because the repair job would be quite extensive. However, the bigger ones aren't so fiddly to repair. I put a CX3 together from a crashed one and a different body and now it's flying really well!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2012 17:52:45 GMT
Ian,
DON'T go for the larger one ( AT Firefox )!
I've had several responses from suppliers, all are the same; No spares available and the battery charges on board only.
Two replies on the V911, one can't be bothered to help (keen sales man eh?) and the other says he can obtain spares to order.
Chris
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2012 21:02:04 GMT
The 911 looks good too. It's just that I've been spoilt with bigger helis!! I took my CX3 out today and had a good fly for half an hour, but now it feels so slow ..........
I'm absolutely loving the MSRx but it's an advanced flier tbh and you need real control to get it to behave.
The little one that you're looking at has replaceable batteries which is good. They do actually look like the Solo Pro batteries as well. I wonder if the V2 spares would fit. If they do, it's a bargain, Chris.
The Solo Pro and Bravo are a very easy fly and almost have built in airbrakes. No other heli that I have responds in the same way!! So for a newbie, I guess it'll be fine.
If I'm honest, my feeling is the Blades are expensive, but they are built better than these but at the prices you're looking at, you could buy two or three instead of one Blade.
Mind you, I think Blade have shot themselves in the foot by stopping the msr. The msrx comes as a great shock to anyone coaxial based so I guess that only really leaves the Solo Pro and the copies.
If I'm honest, the msr really taught me holding skills that have got me able to hold much harder helis but I'm not sure the V2 and its clones would. They're so damned stable.
Anyway, I think you'd enjoy the challenge and be able to fly it pretty easily.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 14:59:10 GMT
Hoorah! New blades for the Falcon arrived today. Just in time I reckon Attachments:
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2012 15:41:30 GMT
Blimey Chris, they've taken a bit of a beating!!! You have to learn to park.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2012 17:36:27 GMT
Blimey Chris, they've taken a bit of a beating!!! You have to learn to park. It is my learner Ian I made another discovery for the Falcon today. During some mooshing around the web for opinions & tweaks on various models I found the idea of addding a small amount of weight to the flybar, this can be used on its own for extra stability or coupled with shifting the centre of balance slightly forward to increase forward speed. I tried the flybar mod on its own. I coiled equal amounts of solder around the end of the bar, about 8 turns each, butted up to the existing weights, which on mine are minimal, and held in place by equal amounts of insulating tape. The Falcons stability was increased very noticably, far less fiddling on the throttle to keep the height even. The pay off was an obviously heavy take off and reduced fly time. I tried again with half the amount of solder, four turns each, all the stability remaind, it really floats and wafts around beautifully with minimal twiddling and now far less effect on take off and battery time.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2012 18:43:18 GMT
Good grief, it'll be flying itself soon. Chris, if you get a single blade, you're gonna meet instability big time!! Have you tied it outside? Probably, if a little puff gets it, it'll twitch but by god, the blades will stay there!!! I took the Sky Taxi to the park today and sent it up and a long way off. A nice gust of wind and boy did I have a job getting it back!!! At least I know no that my transmitter works at long distance but I had a helluva job trying to fight the wind. The answer is so simple as well. Fly with the wind in your face and then it won't fly away from you; it'll dive AT you instead!!! Got it back, but boy, do you appreciate having a big sized heli 300 or 400 yards away. At least you can see which way it's going!! So, if I decide to do a lot of flying outside - it'll have to be big or I'm going to lose sight of it. First time I've sent it so far .... or should I say, the wind took it so far. Getting it back was almost as bad as getting that bass I caught in the Summer. I didn't control it, it controlled me!! Have you decided on a single blade yet?
|
|