Large Scale Central

R/C Helicopters

Other Hobbies
#1

In the process of learning about 2.4GHZ Hobby radios for use with my RailBoss R/C system for large scale trains, I discovered R/C helicopters. I have always wanted to fly R/C planes, but the cost and learning curve has always held me back.

Now, they have Ultra-Micro R/C helicopters that you can fly indoors. There are several different versions that allow you to learn to fly in a controlled manner. And even though you will crash many times, the little critters are very durable. They only weigh 1.o ounces, with Li-Po battery installed. They are easy to fly and a bunch of fun. You can get started for a little over $100.

I got a Blade mcx for Christmas. It is a coaxial helicopter, the easiest to fly. I just received my new Blade msr, a fixed pitch helicopter with tail rotor motor. It has much faster response and is quite a handful so far. Anytime I need a break from G-Scale Graphics, I now just pick up the transmitter (the same Spektrum DX5e I use for the trains), and fly a heli !

If you are interested in this, just do a search for Blade mcx, or Blade msr. You will find an abundance of information and You Tube videos.

#2

My son Matt has the coaxial rotor Blade. He goes through a lot of parts :smiley:

#3

YEah I got a Honeybee that I’ve never sucessfully gotten off the ground…

#4

For some reason, the manuals and learn to fly web pages tell you to start out by hovering a few inches off the ground. The idea is to just get off the ground and then trim the transmitter so you can maintain a hover with hands-off the controls, or nearly so. The problem is … “Ground Effect”. While I don’t know the technical details, basically, everything is screwed up due to the backwash of the blades. You can’t really hover inches off the ground.

If you just pop the throttle a bit and jump it up a couple of feet off the ground, then it will be very stable, and you can see what really needs to be trimmed. When trying to make a soft landing, you will see the ground effect take over, and again, it gets real squirrely.

#5
Bart Salmons said:
YEah I got a Honeybee that I've never sucessfully gotten off the ground........
Me Three Bart, I never have either and I don't even have a Honeybee!! Hee Hee LOL Regal
#6

I flew R/C helicopters in the early 80’s. Wow, they’re totally different now. The slightest mishap and you’d be repairing for days.

#7

Well I have been spending the winter flying inside and really enjoying them .

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/E-Flite%20Blade%20MCX/MCXfleet%20clseup%204.JPG)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/E-Flite%20Blade%20MCX/MCXfleet%20front%203.JPG)

Also have CX2 and two MSR helis and a CP Pro2 , although I cannot fly the CP Pro2 yet , but maybe someday . Do not have to go anywhere or leave the house , just fly and enjoy them . The Eflite Blade MCX only weighs a ounce , IF you shut off the throttle whenever you are in over your head , most likely nothing breaks on these . So far , one landing gear replaced and a flybar . Really tuff little helis And iwhen you are good enough to fly and spot land whereever you want , then get the hooks and pickups and try flying and picking these up and setting them down , this will take you a bit to get good at this …

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/E-Flite%20Blade%20MCX/MCX%20flying%20pick%20up.JPG)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/E-Flite%20Blade%20MCX/MCX%20with%20hook%20plus.JPG)

#8

Wow Dennis! Your definitely into it. Do you have a nice large room to fly in? I’m hoping to get outdoors when it warms up a bit and try the msr outdoors. I’d really like to find a gym or some other large place to fly in. The mcx is great inside, but the msr is a handful so far. I’m waiting for a DX6i Tx that I can tune it up with. That should help.

Where do you get the grappling hooks?

#9

No , just small rooms in this small 1946 house .

Get the DX6i xmtr , program in as Acro , 4 channel , add some D/R & EXPO values to Ail , rud , elev …and it calms the MSR down to a MCX …almost . The DX6i makes it so much easier .
like this
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2037

Hooks and etc from Boomtown hobbies .

http://www.boomtownhobbies.com/Heli_grapple_micro_MCX_S300_p/bth012.htm

PS I also think that I will use the small xmtrs 2.4 that comes with all of these Blades and also the small vapor plane
to control my trains with , when what I am useing craps out . The 2.4 Spektrums really work well , small cheap and light weight , and will lay whereever you put them down without falling over .
these Spektrum xmtrs and receivers work so well inside the metal building where I race rc trucks at , and in all of these aircraft , and in boats , good product and range .

#10

Just got an mSR for my birthday, and am learning to fly all over again after finally figuring out the coaxs. Don;t think I’ll go back to them, but they were sure fun! Looking at getting a DX6i at some point with the same idea of using the same TX fo locos and helis.

#11
Bart Salmons said:
Just got an mSR for my birthday, and am learning to fly all over again after finally figuring out the coaxs. Don;t think I'll go back to them, but they were sure fun! Looking at getting a DX6i at some point with the same idea of using the same TX fo locos and helis.
The MSR is a kick, although I still can't land it anywhere near as accurately as I can the MCX. I'm toying with the idea of getting the Blade SR so I can fly outdoors. The challenge will be to keep it out of the pond :)
#12

I fly the mSR outside too, just on fairly windless days, it really zips! I’ve got an Esky Honeybee thats been the reccomended trainer for “moving up” fairly easy to fly and parts are cheap…I’ll beat it to death then get a nicer bird. Mind does have an upggraded skid package on her though.

#13
Del Tapparo said:
Bart Salmons said:
Just got an mSR for my birthday, and am learning to fly all over again after finally figuring out the coaxs. Don;t think I'll go back to them, but they were sure fun! Looking at getting a DX6i at some point with the same idea of using the same TX fo locos and helis.
The MSR is a kick, although I still can't land it anywhere near as accurately as I can the MCX. I'm toying with the idea of getting the Blade SR so I can fly outdoors. The challenge will be to keep it out of the pond :)
I also got the SR , and can now hover for the entire battery , 9 mins , ...............then land , still learning , but it can be done . Really enjoying the helis , and went ahead and got a Blade 400 , thinking someday , someday , I will be able to fly it also . The blade 400 is 28 " rotor dia , and sounds BAD , winding it up to speed .

Lots of fun , can stay here and run trains or fly helicopters .

#14

OK. That does it. If Dennis has an SR, I need one too!

#15

400 class…sorta like flying a ceiling fan…They say that a 4 channel fixed pitch can do anything a cp can do except fly upside down…and I really don;t think I’m interested in flying upside down. Didja know you can get scale fuselages for the mSRs a micro Airwolf would be really neat…

#16

Go for it Del , get some spare blades and make yourself the training gear , CF rod and ping pong balls , ty wraps . Bart I have no 3D or upside down flying wants , scale seems better for me , and yes I am always looking at the various scale bodys for the helis , but do not have any …yet . possible choice

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/helibody.jpg)

So many bodies to select from http://www.heliartist.com/product.htm

#17

Mt lovely bride gave me an R/C helo for indoor flight. I can’t get it to stop spinning on the tabletop, no matter which stick I move.

Sigh.

#18

Steve is it one of the really small ones like the ones on tv ?

There were several of us flying our small E-Flites in a big 4 car garage this winter , [ 3 of us have large scale outdoor LAYOUTS ] and a guys wife had bought him a small heli , it could not be taken off the floor , so I had him to rev it up and I let it go out of my hand up about chest high .
Worked great he flys it all the time now , but no taking it off from the floor .
Good luck

Consider a E-Flite Blade MCX , anybody can fly one , especially if you push ‘IN’ on the RIGHT stick for a click , and the red led will continue to blink off and on , indication that you are in low rate for easy flying for a begineer .

OH yes , then this transmitter that come with the heli can be used with a receiver and THE RAILBOSS from Del T.

#19

Shipping by rail

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/Helicopter%20transport/SR%20layout%20a%20rezd.JPG)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/Helicopter%20transport/CX2%20layout%20A%20rezd.JPG)

Their not Lionel or MTH …but they really do fly ! E-Flite Blades SR and CX2s

#20

Del Tapparo said:
For some reason, the manuals and learn to fly web pages tell you to start out by hovering a few inches off the ground. The idea is to just get off the ground and then trim the transmitter so you can maintain a hover with hands-off the controls, or nearly so. The problem is … “Ground Effect”. While I don’t know the technical details, basically, everything is screwed up due to the backwash of the blades. You can’t really hover inches off the ground. If you just pop the throttle a bit and jump it up a couple of feet off the ground, then it will be very stable, and you can see what really needs to be trimmed. When trying to make a soft landing, you will see the ground effect take over, and again, it gets real squirrely.

There is one web site that Bart pointed me to when I bought mine. Radd’s School of Rotary Flight. http://www.dream-models.com/eco/index.html In the picture I posted you can see a red square that the chopper is sitting in. What the course instructs you in is “CONTROL”! Without lifting off the ground, you have to keep your chopper inside that 1 foot square. It’s not as easy as it looks. The course emphasizes repetition, keeping it under control inside that box. I’ve had this thing for 2 years and haven’t gotten it off the ground yet. Then again, I haven’t been persistent in my training either as it’s mostly during the winter months in the basement.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/kenbrunt/_forumfiles/chop02.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/kenbrunt/_forumfiles/0802080004.jpg)