Potential New RC Helicopter Pilot...

[Flyer_One]

I am interested in purchasing an RC Helicopter, but needed some assistance in narrowing down my choices.

I am considering the Blade CX2. Read a lot of good things about it.

I would prefer a Bind n' Fly, since I have a DX5E transmitter which is sitting in the box unused at the moment and I don't want the hassle of selling a transmitter I don't really need in the first place.

Any advice would be welcome.

[FlyingMonkey]

I know someone will argue the point, but in my opinion, for a fun beginner helicopter, on the cheap, you can't beat one of these...

http://www.xheli.com/56h-s107-gs100-yellow.html

This is an indoor only helicopter. It will all but fly itself once you get it in the air, so it makes it easier to learn some orientation. It's cheap enough, that even if you managed to damage it somehow, you can replace the whole system for the price of a few happy meals.

Once you're comfortable with that, I'd avoid coax helicopters and move on up to something like the Blade mSR, or the SR120

The mSR is pretty much JUST an indoor flyer. The SR can handle a little and I mean, little, breeze. It's also a bit bigger, so easier to see. Both are easy to fly, and rather forgiving to the new pilot.

[xmech2k]

I have the CX2, the MCX S300, and MSR. If you're just planning on flying around your living room, the CX2 (Or I guess they're up to the CX3 or 4 now?) is a bit big. And it won't handle any wind, either, so it won't be any good outside anyways. I know, I tried!

So for a first helo I would look for something like the Blade MCX. For a cheaper alternative, there's the Revell Proto CX. My only case for the Blades, and against the Proto, is parts availability. You can find Blade parts at your local hobby shop. I've only seen Revell online.

As far as helo's like FlyingMonkey linked, they are neat, but very limited being only 3 channels. They can only go up-down, forward-aft, and yaw left-right. They don't have cyclic control, so you can't roll, to 'slide' left and right, and that really limits your maneuverability. I just tried one a few days ago, and while it does fly allright, that limitation is a huge difference. Also, it's infra-red controlled, so bright light, or any intervening objects block your control signal. Those little helos are fun for the money, and I'll admit, with the metal construction, and hinged blades, look really nice, better than the Blades made of plastic. But they lack cyclic control. If you drift sideways near some obstacle, you have to point the nose away from it and move forward to get away from it. You have to lear orientation from the start. With a 4 channel, you can hover tail-in all the time and move fwd, back, left right, without changing the direction it's facing.

If you're serious into learning helo's, make sure it's 4 channel, and a regular radio. Even the Proto has a 2.4G system.

Good luck!

[Flyer_One]

Oops sorry, just looked it up and saw that the Blade MCX is a bind n fly.

Is there anything like the CX2 that is bind n fly? Been looking but not sure what I am looking at.

[xmech2k]

Well, there's the CX3 BNF from Blade, or are you for something other than Blade? I think the CX3 is just a CX2 with a body, lights, and aluminum head parts that were upgrades for the CX2.

One other thing that just came to mind. With the CX2 (And then it'll be the same on the CX3?) you'll need replacement rotor blades as they will break. I've never needed those for my MCX and MSR, and trust me, I've crashed those in ways I thought they were toast!

I'm sure there must be similar ones to the CX2/3 out there from other makers, but I'm only familiar with the Blade stuff.

[tampaflyer]

the good thing about the blade helis, is that parts are everywhere. if you get a clone.. the blades are usually that of the Heli-max line. ethier on is fine. the clones are fine.. if you are going to get a clone from xheli.. just get a set of uppers and lowers at the same time .

[zeta30]

I started out on a CX2. The good thing is that parts are everywhere. It is large enough to take outside and if you want it to be more responsive you just remove the weights from the flybar.

The bad thing about it is that in less than a month I was completely bored with it. There is only so much it will do; up, down, bank left, bank right, forward, back it takes very little skill to fly one. When I was bored with it I sold it and went directly to a 450 sized CP heli.

[Flyer_One]

Originally Posted by xmech2k

Well, there's the CX3 BNF from Blade, or are you for something other than Blade? I think the CX3 is just a CX2 with a body, lights, and aluminum head parts that were upgrades for the CX2.

One other thing that just came to mind. With the CX2 (And then it'll be the same on the CX3?) you'll need replacement rotor blades as they will break. I've never needed those for my MCX and MSR, and trust me, I've crashed those in ways I thought they were toast!

I'm sure there must be similar ones to the CX2/3 out there from other makers, but I'm only familiar with the Blade stuff.

I called Horizon and asked about the CX3, apparently, from what I was told, they are discontinuing the CX3...maybe a CX4 in the works that I should wait for?

[FlyingMonkey]

Originally Posted by Flyer_One

I called Horizon and asked about the CX3, apparently, from what I was told, they are discontinuing the CX3...maybe a CX4 in the works that I should wait for?

Check craigslist. People get bored with them, and sell them off quite regularly.

[Heli Jim]

I have one for sale. See this link

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63174

If you truly want bind & fly, I would sell it without the Transmitter
for $80 shipped in CONUS

PM me if you have questions.

thanks.

jr