As requested I've thrown this together for the benefit of novice heli fliers please feel free to chip in with comments and amendments.
And I will adorn it with some photo's of the various models.
Which Discipline?People fly helicopters for a variety of reasons but they all fall into three main categories.
Scale model fliers, who fly replicas of real helicopters. They take great care in the details, appearance and flight characteristics of their models and tend to limit their flying to controlled circuits and only basic aerobatics.
F3C fliers, who mainly concentrate on precise, exact manoeuvres and controlled aerobatics.
3D / Sport fliers who fly “Pod & Boom” performance helicopters through fast aerobatic routines often on the physical limits of the model.
What Power?One of the first things to consider is the choice between electric (Lipo) and I.C. (Nitro) powered models. Both types have their advantages & their drawbacks and it ultimately boils down to individual preference, so I have tried to list the main pros & cons below.
Internal Combustion or Nitro Power.Although there are some 4- stroke (Gasser) models on the market the vast majority are 2-Stroke Nitro powered. The main advantage to these is the length of flight times and the fact that flying sessions are only limited by the amount of fuel you have. However, whilst the modern engines do produce a massive amount of power they require a fair degree of understanding, setup, tuning & maintenance to keep them at their peak. You also have to carry a significant amount of field kit in terms of starter, starter power supply, glow ignition, & a fuel pump. They are also noisy and require more cleaning in comparison to electric models.
Electric PowerPeople often opt for electric models over nitro as a matter of convenience, the “plug in & go” option sounds better in principle, they are much quieter, cleaner and the motors require little or no maintenance. However there are some downsides. On average a lipo battery will only give a runtime of 6 minutes and can take up to an hour to re-charge. The simple answer is to carry more batteries but even though costs have come down they are still expensive. A reasonable quality lipo for a 450 size model is around £25, a 500 size £40 - £60, and for 600 you can expect to pay over £150 each. You will also need to factor in a balance charger which even at entry level will cost upwards of £70. So for example someone buying an Align T-Rex 500 or similar could expect an additional outlay of £250 to achieve 18 minute flight sessions.
What Size?A common misconception is that the smaller the helicopter the easier it is to fly, but this is not actually the case, because of the physics involved a smaller model displays far more “twitchy” characteristics and will react much quicker to any inputs intended or otherwise. They are also affected to a far greater degree by the wind than a larger equivalent. It would make sense for a novice to steer towards a larger model, however larger models are more expensive to buy and repair and as crashes are an inevitable part of the hobby the choice is not always as simple as it may seem.
There are various sizes available the most popular are detailed here.
Micro helicopters are usually between 4 and 7 inches long and are only capable of indoor flight.
400/450 size are around 25 inches long and are capable outdoor flight in calm conditions.
500/30 size at 33 inches long these are very stable yet agile models that will fly in most conditions.
600/50 size these are generally 42 inches in length and as a result of their size and weight they are very stable in any conditions.
700/90 size make up the larger end of the mass market at approximately 53 inches these will fly in any conditions and because they can carry larger engines have a very high power to weight ratio.
New or Second Hand?There are a few pre assembled models available but most of the popular options come in kit form, so it’s tempting for the novice pilot to buy a used helicopter so as not to have to go through the build process. While it does mean you can get in the air quicker you are losing out on a valuable insight into the way that these machines work and fly. You will have to have an understanding of the mechanics of your model and the best way to get a fast track insight is put one together from scratch. Although this may seem daunting at first the instructions manuals are very clear and there is a wealth of additional information on the internet including forums and step by step videos dedicated to most models.
If you are on a budget a second hand "ready to fly" (RTF) heli would probably be the most cost effective option. The main manufacturers like to keep their sales up by regularly introducing new versions of existing models. This means as a new version hits the stores the older models come up for sale. Perfectly good helis often change hands at bargain prices just because they are not the very latest product. Providing you take advice and do your homework you can unearth some gems out there.
Where to buy?Overseas internet shops in the USA and especially the Far East do offer good value for money but the downside is that their models come with little or no warranty, delivery can take quite a long time and you could end up paying import duty and tax on top of the original price.
Internet auction sites are a tempting prospect and although there are bargains to be had it should be remembered that they are seen as a place to get a good price for damaged or badly repaired models. Due to the complex nature of helicopters it is very easy for a vendor to deny knowledge of any problems that you may inherit. If you are tempted by one of these bargains you should at least collect in person and ask to see it fly before parting with any money.
Clubs are usually a good place to buy a second hand helicopter, especially if it is from a fellow member as not many people is would want to pass on something sub standard to someone they are going to be running into on a regular basis and so you will get a “warts and all” description of any purchase.
Model Shops offer another option, most of them offer good advice and solid back up if you have any problems, but it is worth noting that in some cases their advice is not always impartial, they may be wanting to move on old stock or shift models with a higher profit margin so it is worth doing your research before paying out.
What Model?There is a baffling choice of models on the market at present but one of the most important factors is the availability and cost of spare parts, there is no point in buying a model that does not have a readily available supply as even the most careful pilot will need to regularly replace worn items. It is well worth researching this area as it should form an important part of your decision making process.
There are almost as many RC helicopters as there are opinions and the amount of choices is bewildering but it ultimately ends up as personal preference, there is no best or worst there is just what is best for an individual, I can only comment on models that I have had experience with and while there are many more available out there here is my take on the best options.
At a very basic entry level there is the E-Flite Blade MCX and the MSR both best suited to indoor use. The MCX is a very stable micro heli with contra rotating main blades, it is incredibly stable and ideal for learning control in all orientations, the downside is that because it is so slow and stable it is quickly out grown. The MSR which is similar in size does behave more like a larger heli as the head & blade setup is similar, this makes it a more challenging machine to fly, it’s fast and furious and does require more space and skill to master than the MCX. They are both relatively cheap to buy, come with a transmitter and everything you need to fly straight out of the box and there are lots of outlets for spare parts.
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Once you decide to venture outdoors the E-Flite Blade 400 is a popular and cost effective option, it comes pre built with a transmitter, batteries and charger, everything you need to fly straight out of the box and parts are easily sourced and cheap. Although they are a good introduction to RC Helis they are somewhat light and fragile and don’t perform well in anything above a mild breeze.
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The Align TRex 450 comes in kit form, and will cost twice as much as a Blade 400 it’s similar in size but vastly superior in terms of quality and flight characteristics, it is more manoeuvrable than the Blade but that makes it a little less stable. There are currently two versions the “Sport” and the “Pro” although they look very similar the main difference is that the sport has a belt driven tail and the pro has a shaft drive (Torque Tube) as well as the pro having several metal (Alloy) parts where the sport has plastic, but for a novice pilot the sport makes a cheaper option in terms of purchase and parts prices which are readily available. It handles wind better than the Blade 400 but is still skittish in windy conditions.
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Align T-Rex 500 is essentially a larger version of the T-Rex 450, they’re heavier and as a result far more stable and capable of outperforming most of the rivals in its class. It flies like a lot of the larger models, solid in firm wind yet very manoeuvrable, 3D capable and relatively cheap to repair as there are plenty of spares available.
The Thunder Tiger Raptor 30 is about the smallest widely available nitro machine available, it’s built on a strong frame and is renowned for being solid, robust & forgiving which makes it a good entry level I.C. model. They are slightly underpowered for sport & 3D flying but relatively cheap second hand and although parts are readily available they are a little dearer than the Align equivalent.
The Align T-Rex 600 is one of the best selling helicopters on the market available in both nitro & electric, sport & pro versions. Being large & powerful they will fly in almost any conditions, they are solid in a hover and extremely dextrous in flight. They are easy to build & maintain and are reasonably priced to buy and repair with a plentiful supply of replacement parts.
The Thunder Tiger Raptor 50 was a market leader before the T-Rex 600, the current versions are built on an old but well proven design and like the Raptor 30 they are solid, dependable and relatively forgiving yet capable of very advanced aerobatics in the right hands. They are a popular basis for scale machines and cheaper than the T-Rex to buy. Parts are available but more expensive than its main competitor.
Of course there are larger and many more specialist models than those listed but they would probably not suit a novice and therefore have not been detailed here.
There is also the question of radio gear, servos, gyros, regulators, starters and other items and these will be covered in the electrics & equipment section.
There's some more useful info here.......
http://www.align-trex.co.uk/beginners-start-here-i-1.htmlhttp://www.align-trex.co.uk/terminology-i-7.html
