| First Time Buyer's
First of all radio controlled helicopters can be very
dangerous and you should be aware of the do's and don’ts.
As you are looking into starting this great hobby,
listed are items that are ideal for the begineer, you don’t have to spend loads to
start, but it can be worth while in the long run.
BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING
Locate your local Model Helicopter club . See
the SAA or BMFA web site which list all the clubs in the UK.
SAA
Model
Clubs Scotland
BMFA http://www.bmfa.org/clubs/clist.php
Pick a club and go along and speak with the club members.. There is a
wealth of knowledge there ready to be tapped into.
Picking your first Helicopter
Model
Helicopters come in different sizes typically 30 , 50, 60 & 90. These numbers refer to
the engine size. Naturally the larger the engine size the bigger the model. It is
recommended that the beginner looks only at 30 and 50 size helicopters.50 size helis tend
to be easier to fly than a 30 size and this should be considered before committing
to buy .
Two mainly used 50 sized models are the Raptor 50 and the T-rex
600, these helicopter are ideal for starting out and will take you to full 3D flying. Both
these helicopters are available in kit or almost ready to fly. I would recommend
that you go for a kit, at least you'll know how it all goes together.This can be very
useful after you have a crash and have to put it back together again. There are
other good makes of helicopter available but check out availability and price
of spare parts and there suitability for training before buying.
Radio
Next we have the radio choice. Again you have a very wide choice to pick
from. If I was starting out again in this hobby, I would pick either a Spektrum DX 7 or
the Futaba 7C. Both radios are available with servos and receiver.
As there are lots of different makes of radio it's best check out at your local club what
is being used there as it will make it easier to set your radio up if someone already
knows it. You will be less likely to get help setting up your radio if no one at your
chosen club has ever seen the radio type before.
Engine
Ok now you will need an engine. There are 3 main makes on
the market at the moment for 50 sized helicopters and have had
very good write ups. They are the Os50 hyper, Ys 50 and the Thunder Tiger red
redline 53 . All are very good engines to use so it won't matter which you
pick, There are other engine manufacturers out there who make engines for helis just be
aware that the majority of heli pilots have opted for the makes I have stated because of
their reliability.. I’m sure price will pay a big part in your decision.
Gyro
You will need to buy a gyro for your helicopter and it will come as no
surprise that there are a lot of Gyros available, at this point having spent a lot
on the heli and engine etc., most people will tend to buy the cheapest , thinking a gyro
is a gyro . Stop right there. get the best you can . Go for a heading hold gyro like the
futaba 401 and if your budget can stretch to it get a fast servo like the
futaba 9254, they both come as a package deal. and it's well worth it. A good Gyro will
assit learning and make controlled flight easier.
Fuel
Model
helicopter engines tend to run hotter than Fixed wing aircraft engines . This is
because cooling the engine is by a fan and is not directly in an air flow. To help keep
the engine cool special fuels have been formulated . Such as Cool Power, Magnum,
Bekra,Tornado,Wildcat, Optifuel etc., These fuels are made up from totally synthetic
subtances . That is they do not contain Castor oil as most of the fixed wing engine
fuels do. Synthetic fuels will keep your helicopter engine cooler and cleaner
as well as give it a longer running life. The down side is Synthetic heli fuel is
that it tends to be a little bit more expensive than fixed wing engine Fuels ..
As a rule
of thumb the more Nitromethame contained in the fuel the more power and the more
expensive it will be. You should use 10 to 20 percent nitro fuel unless the engine
manufacturer states something different.
Starting equipment
Well you need the following items 12V Battery, Usually a Lead acid type of
7 ampere hour or more.( Cost £12 to £18) 12V Starter, (cost £21.) Glow Stick +
Charger,(cost £15.) Fuel Pump,(Cost £8-£10) Hex Starter Extension with one
way bearing (Cost £17- 40) and a pitch gauge.
(cost £14-£19) All these prices are approximates . Shop around for the best deals.
Other tools
When building your helicopter you'll need some other tools, which most of us
have around the house, but if not it'll only be a couple of pounds.
Typical costs
Many hobby shops have starter package deals. my local hobby shop has a package
deal it includes
Raptor 30 v2, radio control set: Futaba 6EXA-H Computer radio with 5 servos,
gyro, thunder tiger engine: ..39Pro H . all for £479.99. this does not included starting
gear. So shop around. you may save pounds by not purchasing from the on place.. SHOP
AROUND!!
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