choosing my 2nd Heli ; T-Rex or HB King II

[caflyerinuk]

Hi to my fellow RC fans. Need little help in choosing my Second RC Heli ( no plans for 3D flying at this time)

I have a blade CP/Pro and I hate it.

I learned to fly with it, but I am tired of replacing tail motor and my flying is limited in the Family room as it can not take Wind at all in the parks

So... , i am planning to buy a bigger Heli, that I don't have to replace tail motor everyday and can handle little Wind , So I can take it to the Park.



I saw the Esky Honeybee II, which is much heavier than the BCP/Pro and has belt drive. Its dirt cheap. I can easily find one online for $150 + extra batteries and spares for around $250

My other choice was to go to a T-Rex. But there are so many variables in the T-rex world including the so many T-Rex models to choose from and associated accessories, tx/rx/ gyro etc etc.

While searching different forum, I found T-Rex SE sounds very impressive for a reasonable 2nd heli, though it is going to cost me much more than the HB King II

Any recommendations ? Thanks in advance

[cflight]

I too went from a CP Pro to a Trex and the differance is amazing.
My advise is to go with the 450 size heli. I know the exspence is significant but you would be very impressed compared to the Honey Bee.
There are alot of options in the 450 size, my advise is to go for aluminum from the begining,
http://www.heliwarehouse.com/

http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-512/%28Hot%29AAAAA-star-dsh--dsh-trex-eccpm-frame/Detail this is the same as HDX 450

http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/index.php?cPath=173_174&osCsid=0317f1fd939e4f9477a510db99cc4286 this one is identical to an Align 450SE

Almost all parts if not all part are interchangable with Align stuff.
If you prefer to stick with Align check out GrandRC for combos.

I would also suggest Hitek HS65MG servos for swash and Futaba 401 gyro with 9650 tail servo, with the Align35X ESC, which has a 6V BEC if you go this route be sure your servos can handle 6V if you detter from the above.

If you don't have a radio I strongly recomend the Spektrum Dx7, it can now be had as a microlite system with ds285 servos and AR6100 Rx from Horizon Hobby part number SPM2720 or you peice it together from grand rc, they sell the Dx7 seperatly.
You'll get what you pay for, my advice is to step into a 450 before spending more on your way there.

[caflyerinuk]

Thanks Cflight

Good to know about the Phoenix 450 SE

Is it a similar product like T-Rex 450 SE or a modifiled version of T-REX 450 SE?

Also, does it make any sense getting DX6 radio system instead of DX7?
Reason I am asking is, I am still considered a very beginner to the RC heli world. by the time I start to do the 3D stuff, DX7 can be obsolete , may be a DX8 or DX9 out?

I know DX6 will save me $150 compared to DX7
You know if DX6 comes with servos that I can use on my Blade CP

[cflight]

The Phoenix is said to be identical to the CopterX which is very similar / a clone,to the Trex. I've seen the CopterX head first hand and it is identical to the Align V1 head. Good quality for the money.
The Dx6 is alright, and has s75 servos with the package, but for the money I strongly suggest going with the Dx7 microlite package, you'll get better programing options, swash interactions, and DSM2, I can't see ever out growing it. If you compare the price of a Dx6 and decent servos for the 450, your going to save and have better equipment going with the Dx7.

[caflyerinuk]

thanks again.

What is the best price for DX7 these days?
any link to a retailer would be great.

[cflight]

http://www.grandrc.com/inc/sdetail/59626 it maybe had cheaper on E-bay, but I prefer to deal with a vendor I know I can get support from.
Not to many places offer the Dx7 and charger,bat. alone. Esprit model has it seperate as well but don't have the best refferances.

[caflyerinuk]

This is a great price , but noticed this is only transmitter.

You happened to know what receiver should I buy? how much it usually cost?

Thanks

[Tinman]

Im pretty sure the DX7 comes with receiver. I just bought the DX6, it came with 4 servos, a receiver and a battery/charger for the tx.

A lot of people use the DX6 with a T-Rex, it works out fine, but if you have the extra money and will need a seventh channel someday go for the DX7.

[caflyerinuk]

Tinman. DX7 also comes with a package with receiver and servos for around $330

But here is the catch. I believe the servos that comes with it can not be used in a T-Rex.

[Tinman]

Doesnt the DX6 and DX7 come with the same servos? Im not sure....

[caflyerinuk]

nope it is not

[cflight]

You can get the DX7 in a microlite kit 3-ds285 servos and ar6100 Rx for $330 now from horrizon hobby # SPM2720 these servos fit in the Trex, but are digital and will tax your Bec requiring a seperate Bec.
If you preffer to go with the Hitek hs65mg (faster and more torque as well as metal gears) you can just get the ar6100 Rx seperate for $50.
The s75 servos with the DX6 are weak and strip easy, more suited to a 300 size heli.
The original DX7 package comes with ds821 servos and ar7000 Rx, the servos are to big for the Trex, and the ar6100 is better suited in size for a Trex with plenty of range, beyond vision.

[redgiki]

I use the DS821 servos that came with my DX7 in my .40-sized aircraft. They are a good match for a .30-sized nitro heli, 600-size electric, or .40-.60-sized airplane.

[caflyerinuk]

is there any major difference between ar6100 and ar700 RX?

[redgiki]

The AR6100 has two receivers oriented at 180 degrees to one another with one-quarter-wavelength antennas in a single case, has six channels, and weighs 3.5 grams. The AR7000 has two receivers which can be located several inches from each other in two separate cases, with one-half-wavelength antennas, has seven channels, and weighs substantially more.

You should not fly the AR6100 in anything requiring lots of range, or which is larger than about a 400-class (.15-.25 in glow terms) machine. Those itty-bitty antennas are more subject to shadowing by equipment than any other receiver in the Spektrum line.

However, the 6100 would be a good match for Honey Bee King 2 or T-Rex. The 6100 is basically a smaller, lighter, shorter-antennaed version of the AR6000, which many flyers are using in this class of heli.

[caflyerinuk]

redgiki, That was a pretty good explanation of the features.

So if I you are planning to get an additional channel for the airwolf landing gear type of thing then it is better to go with ar7000 i believe?

[redgiki]

Yes, if you need a seventh channel, go for a 7-channel Rx. However, you could make do with a 6-channel by eliminating the gyro gain channel and adjusting gain manually on the gyro itself. It's a bit more labor-intensive to set up, but the fact is once you have it set up, you rarely need to adjust it. The main reason I adjust gain is to hold the tail in backwards flight at different throttle settings; for scale work rather than aerobatics, that's not such a big deal.

So both work, it's just a matter of what you're willing to sacrifice for the retracts :) Money and weight (AR7000) or your gain channel (AR6100/AR6000).

[caflyerinuk]

Thanks redgiki. I am going to go with the DX7 and AR6100.