Micro Helicopters in Review

Micro Helicopters in Review
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Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/22/2005 9:16:47 PM

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From: Las Vegas, NV, USA
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If any of you guys out their were thinking of getting one of those small micro helis, Such as the Dragonfly 5, the Housefly or the Hirobo XRB, Here is my review of them, I had em all.........

Dragonfly 5:
Very poor control responses, Poor electronics slugish response, Poor charging instructions Some models work better than others, It's basically a crap shoot! I had 2, one worked okay, the other completely sucked! both models glitched and intermittenly lost their signal during flight.

Megatech Housefly:
It's pretty much a clone of the Dragonfly, I found almost the Same faults!

Hirobo XRB Wireless
Now this Heli is the Rolls Royce of micro helis WOW!!!!!! The motors are coreless and the blades rotate with zero resistance, you can probably do an auto rotation the blades move so easy! Talk about ROCK SOLID PERFORMANCE! This thing will almost hang in the air right were you leave it. Almost Zero Drift! Turns properly and gracefully like a full size heli & holds the transmitter signal without any glitches. Very Good Quality charger with safe clear charging instructions! Hirobo went all out on this model and is well worth the $350 Price tag. If it takes you longer to save the extra money, then wait to get the Hirobo, Dont settle for the Cheaper Knock offs!

Hirobo Lama Teather Heli
An Excellent trainer with the same qualitys as the Hirobo XRB Wireless! The only down fall was that the teather cord limited your ability to really let this bird go!!!!!

< Message edited by FlyingFish -- 1/22/2005 9:33:05 PM >

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/22/2005 10:41:02 PM

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From: Palisades Park, NJ, USA
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FF,

Excellent, I was hoping to hear from someone who had both the HouseFly and the XRB. The XRBs are completely sold out in quite a few places I've checked. Mine is on back order. Will post a review after I've had a chance to fly it.

Thx for the reviews!

(in reply to FlyingFish)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/23/2005 12:55:20 AM

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From: LA, CA, USA
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I had the X-Effect. Basically is the exact same helicopter as the Dragonfly D5 and Housefly. I was totally disappointed. It had no lift and and just spun to the right.

(in reply to turboBB)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/23/2005 2:42:52 AM

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Basically the Dragonfly5 the Housefly and the X-Effect are all the same JUNK! But I still cant beleive the performance of the Hirobo XRB wireless. If you dont have the money to get the wireless Hirobo XRB, Then the Teathered Hirobo lama is still a better Choice than the Dragonfly5, Housefly or X-Effect! And if you think about it your really wasting more money in the long run unless you just go out & Buy the Hirobo Wireless first from the start!

< Message edited by FlyingFish -- 1/23/2005 2:44:15 AM >

(in reply to JohnY2004)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/23/2005 4:53:29 PM

bwanna

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Joined: 7/19/2004
From: Magna, UT, USA
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Here is another one to check out, this one might turn out to be pretty decent! Time will tell! Just thought I would point this one out.
Found it on Ebay
Guess I should include the link !!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2563&item=5951806740&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

< Message edited by bwanna -- 1/23/2005 4:56:13 PM >

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(in reply to FlyingFish)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/23/2005 6:14:09 PM

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You see, this is part of the problem bwanna, They take the same junk heli and put a "New and Improved" Label on it or call it a different name to move the product, but it's all the same crap! The ebay version you linked is nothing more than a Dragonfly 5 !
If it's being imported from Hong Kong that's your tip off. I would only buy from a store. To many amatures on ebay with no business skills. I'm still trying to get my money back from some Asian guy in california that had lots of Dragonfly 5's listed on Ebay! Nothing against asians, but this guy list his phone number on the auction and he can't speak a word of English. So now AMERICAN EXPRESS will step in with buyer protection to refund my money........

any way if anybody wants a reliable supplyer of the Hirobo XRB Wireless heres the company, They offer free shipping!

http://www.modelrectifier.com/products/rcHelicopters/product.asp?ID=1810&Subcategory=XRB

< Message edited by FlyingFish -- 1/23/2005 6:15:54 PM >

(in reply to bwanna)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/24/2005 4:15:51 AM

bwanna

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From: Magna, UT, USA
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I am aware that it will not be the same quality as the Hirobo, but if you look at the pictures at the bottom of the auction, you will see that the entire head assembly is different, the swash plate is different, the servo's are different, the blade holders are different, etc. i only point this stuff out because some people either can't afford or don't want to pay the extreme prices that the name brand companies charge, you can almost buy three of these things for what some shops charge for the Hirobo, I won't even get into the price of replacement parts. I for one will be watching this new Dragonfly 5-2 to see if it turns out to be any good or just a piece of junk like the original.

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(in reply to FlyingFish)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/24/2005 11:32:48 AM

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On that new Dragonfly 5-2, the canopy is exactly the same shape as the original one with orange, red, blue colours, etc. It uses the standard servos instead of the tiny motors. Unlike the motor-servos, the standard servos would probably help controlling the movements of the helicopter with better precision. Other than that, it uses the exact same junks (ESC, mixer, etc) from the original D5.

(in reply to bwanna)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/24/2005 12:12:42 PM

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From: Westerville, OH, USA
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FlyingFish, thank you for your review! I agree that the XRB is very good and worth the money due to the better electronics. I have a House-Fly and it flies great! Though it is not problem free, when set up right it hovers rock solid and has good control. It took me a while to learn the mechanics, but once I understood how it needed to be set up I am very happy with it. Plus Megatech has been excellent with support. Also I have read on other forums that the XRB is not free from problems. Anyone who is new to these heli's will have problems until experience is gained no matter what the model. I agree with FlyingFish...if you have the money get the XRB. If you have patience and don't mind taking the time to learn how to set these models up then buy the clones. In my experience I think that Megatech has the best support of the other two, but that is just my exoerience.

Bwanna, I saw that new version too and am looking forward for a review from someone. It looks like a good design.

(in reply to JohnY2004)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/24/2005 3:32:54 PM

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Well, One point I would like to stress is, which ever heli you buy, be sure you get it at a store that will give you a trouble free replacement or refund if need to! Also heres a tip, if you are going to use a credit card, if possible use american express, they have buyer protection which means that if the seller of the heli wont give you a refund or give you a hard time with your purchase, American Express will give you a FULL refund on your purchase and the AMEX deals with the Vendor!........

< Message edited by FlyingFish -- 1/24/2005 3:36:35 PM >

(in reply to humveecrusher)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/30/2005 3:16:30 AM

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From: cincinnati, OH, USA
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Flying fish, I want an electric heli I can fly in my house and everyone I've considered has been called junk by someone. My definition of junk would be parts like a rear motor wearing out in 10 flights. Does the Sky Robo have a rear motor and does it wear out in 10 flights? I want a RTF that I can eventuallly fly outside and scare squirrels on a calm day. I don't want to spend half of my time repairing crap that I didn't break with my crash landing.
Any thoughts? Anyone?
Sky Robo XRB, House Fly by Megatech, M24 Kyosho Caliber, Rotofly Heli-Max, DragonFlyer II, Honey Bee/Humble Bee.

I'm seriosly considering not buying any of them if they all crap out after 10 flights!

Helpful String Thanks Everyone!
Carl

(in reply to FlyingFish)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/30/2005 3:38:47 AM

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The sky robo XRB does not have a tail motor, it has 2 main rotors that run in opposite directions! That's what makes the Sky Robo so stable. Also the tiny motors are CORELESS, Which makes them run smoother. Unfortunatly most people don't get the chance to see how good the XRB is because the $350 price tag scares them away, and so they settle for the copy cat junk clones that are half the price. As far as the Kyosho Caliber & Rotofly are concerned, I never had those helis, But I can tell you that they are not really small enough to fly in the house, and just simply avoid ANYTHING WITH A SEPERATE TAIL MOTOR! The XRB is the only heli I've seen that truly is small enought to fly in the house, Works Well, and is already assembled! Too bad it's so much money, But I guess if you want something good it dont come cheap! However, I would love it if Horobo made the XRB Sky Robo in a Much bigger outdoor version! Like a 30" Rotor Diameter, Maybe someday. But I've taken My little Hirobo Outdoors on a calm day and it's pretty cool.

< Message edited by FlyingFish -- 1/30/2005 3:43:02 AM >

(in reply to carlrich)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/30/2005 3:39:29 AM

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keeping away from anything made by walkera is a good head start,if its under a 100 bucks treat it as a toy.
century hummingbird seems like a solid heli with a reasonable price tag.

< Message edited by chronus -- 1/30/2005 3:41:35 AM >

(in reply to carlrich)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/30/2005 2:33:24 PM

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From: Wentworth, MO, USA
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I wish I had only listened !
I have a Housefly and can relate to all the problems mentioned
I have only had 1 minor (chipped rotor blade) crash but have replaced many parts.
I'm afraid that I am learning more about how to repair heli's then to fly them.
Latest problem was when the bearings went out with less then 2 hours of flight time.
Have contacted Megatech and waiting to see if this thing will ever fly

(in reply to chronus)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/30/2005 7:31:27 PM

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The Amazing thing about the XRB sky Robo is that you can actually HEAR the difference in Quality. Because the motors are Coreless, when the main Rotors Run and spool up, It's so Cool, it sounds like a Tiny Turbine engine Running, Has that same kinda Whistle or hum, Rather than the Gear grind noise of Convention Motors! Dam I love this Little Heli....

< Message edited by FlyingFish -- 1/30/2005 7:42:32 PM >

(in reply to canmann)

RE: Micro Helicopters in Review - 1/30/2005 8:48:28 PM