Should I buy a Corona?  
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Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 11:52:40 AM   
Jam Rectified


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/14/2005
From: Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi everyone,

I got a piccolo about a year or so ago and could nevr get to grips with it - just too damn small and temperamental and ended up spending a fortune on spares etc and trying to upgrade to make it better but decided to just leave it and maybe come back to it. Anyway, decided that I just couldn't face it but want to get something a bit bigger and more durable - hence why I am looking at the corona. Now I am based in the UK so I am not even sure if anyone stocks them over here or if I should just order from helihobby.
Guess that my questions is whether I should buy a whole set up - I see that helihobby do a complete brushless set up for about $500, or is it worth me hand picking the best items and hopefully saving some money or at least not wasting money on parts I won't need.
Is there any upgrade parts I should get straight away to better the experience. Would very much appreciate your thoughts and opinions. I have a futaba skysport 6 trannie so I am guessing that that would be OK but what do you recommend for the rest of the kit - motor, ESC, servos, upgrades, batts etc
Any help / opinions woul be greatly appreciated. I also notice that someone is selling their set up currently in the buy/sale section for $250 - would this be a good way for me to start?

Thanks
       Post #: 1

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 5:09:00 PM   
Lifes a Drag



Posts: 941
Joined: 1/10/2003
From: Whittier, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi!

Used is a great way to start. Especially if you can get a used brushless setup. If you end up not liking it you won't be risking a huge investment and if you want to upgrade later the loss will likewise as minimal. Not to mention the savings out of pocket for the initial investment.


(in reply to Jam Rectified)
       Post #: 2

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 5:17:11 PM   
darthdrk



Posts: 1051
Joined: 12/7/2002
From: Munford, TN, USA
Status: offline 		We've all just about walked down this road. I bought a Gas LMH 110/116,thewn I upgraded to the electric Corona 120, then Ive went to the BT Upgrades. During this time Ive tried the aerohawk micro Helicopter. Personally without quite a few upgrades needed,the heli (aerohawk) is junk. Its 3-1 board fried, the mainrotor would always fly off, swashplate always seperated. I havent got rid of it because I do plan on getting if flying again. The Corona is by far the best FP heli out there. Its very durable and rugged. I stock Corona when properly set up flys good and stable. Much easier than the smaller micro helis. I learned on the gas heli but after experiencing the 120 electric, I dont fly gas anymore. The BT (Ballistic Technology) upgrades only make a good helicopter better. BallisticTechnology.com (Add the WWW.) If youre into sport flying or scale flying and want to stay with a neighborhood size parkflyer heli,Id say go for the Corona without a second guess. If you want to go 3D The Corona will not fly sustained upside down. It will loop,and roll,Piro, stall turn,fly forward, backwards and sideways. Want skins for the Corona checkout Darthdrk.4t.com add the WWW.

_____________________________

Owner/OEO/Mastercraftsman of Darth's
Helibodies Darthdrk@juno.com

(in reply to Jam Rectified)
       Post #: 3

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 5:18:00 PM   
Jam Rectified


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/14/2005
From: Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Reno,

Had a quick look in the for sale bit of this forum but there weren't too many in there....I guess that at the moment I am looking at getting new stuff but also with a mind to possibly upgrading in the future. If I bought the bare bones kit, what would be the best motor / servos / receiver / gyro etc to kit it out with, with upgradeability also in mind...?

Cheers

(in reply to Lifes a Drag)
       Post #: 4

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 5:26:36 PM   
Jam Rectified


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/14/2005
From: Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Darthdrk,

Thanks for your opinion, and don't worry, I have spent a bit of time at your webpage - just love the Hughes 500D shell you have on there and that is definitely on my wish listbut need to keep telling myself to start small and get the thing flying before I spend a fortine on upgrades and nice to haves - plus the missus would kill me. Am interested in knowing what motor, esc, receiver etc stuff would be best to put together with the Corona bare bones kit. Any thoughts very welcome.
Cheers, and I seriously do want a 500D shell......must resist!

(in reply to darthdrk)
       Post #: 5

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 5:33:32 PM   
darthdrk



Posts: 1051
Joined: 12/7/2002
From: Munford, TN, USA
Status: offline 		Mega 16-15-3 is the most popular with a cc-45 brushless controller
Im running a astro 020 brushless with cc-45 controller and Im very satisfied
most popular gyro is the futaba 401/240
Im using the hitec optic 6 radio with a standard reciever and seems to work great for me

_____________________________

Owner/OEO/Mastercraftsman of Darth's
Helibodies Darthdrk@juno.com

(in reply to Jam Rectified)
       Post #: 6

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 5:46:41 PM   
Jam Rectified


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/14/2005
From: Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		I would be OK using my Skysport 6 trannie wouldn't I? I have seen a few mentions about a hitec 555 receiver aswell and some hitec servos. I have no idea what batts to us either - would I need to go lipo or could I just stick with 7 or 8 cell NiCd or whatever the bigger ones are?

(in reply to darthdrk)
       Post #: 7

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/15/2005 7:40:06 PM   
beaner


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 12/18/2004
From: Orland Park, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Jam R,
I had a Piccolo too, as well as other micros. And as you said too temperamental, too sloppy, too fragile. My Corona survived crashes which would have put some of my other helicopters in the garbage can. I now own 2 Corona 120's which I highly recommend. They fly fine right out of the box stock. However as you gain experience you will want to upgrade some parts. Probably the best power upgrade I made was going brushless. I am using an Astro 20 (voyager), I tried the Astro 20 (Corona) but the Voyager has a little more power. A Castle Creations Phoenix 45 ESC and a 8 cell GP3300 battery.To improve flying characteristics a cnc swash plate,5 mm main rotor shaft, and belt driven tail rotor really makes a difference. Those I purchased from Ballistic Technology. Good luck, Hope this helps.

_____________________________

My Helicopters: Corona 120 stock, Logo 10 3D, Corona 120 upgraded to the max :)

(in reply to Jam Rectified)
       Post #: 8

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/16/2005 9:33:11 AM   
Jam Rectified


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/14/2005
From: Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Beaner,

Glad to know I am heading in the right direction and moving away from the Piccolo - I do need to flog some of that gear though to fund the Corona. When you say it flys well stock out of the box - when I have seen it on the helihobby web page they seem to do a bare bones kit (which I am assuming is without the motor etc) then they do kits with a trannie and everything which I don't need so are getting a bit expensive. I have to consider the postage costs as I am in the UK. Would you say the an HH gyro like the futaba GY240 would be something that would be beneficial to me as well?
Goodd to speak to someone else who knows where I want to get away from on the Piccolo Front!

Cheers

Jam R

(in reply to beaner)
       Post #: 9

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/16/2005 6:59:38 PM   
Jam Rectified


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/14/2005
From: Cheshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Darthdrk - Just a quick queston - You mention that the Mega 16-15-3 motor is popular with a CC 45 ESC, Well I was just looking around on the WWW and found some place selling one with a CC 35 esc, is the 45 really necessary or could I make do with a 45?? Thanks.

(in reply to darthdrk)
       Post #: 10

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/16/2005 7:12:22 PM   
darthdrk



Posts: 1051
Joined: 12/7/2002
From: Munford, TN, USA
Status: offline 		Id go with the 45 which would allow a higher amperage burst rate. Better safe than sorry.

_____________________________

Owner/OEO/Mastercraftsman of Darth's
Helibodies Darthdrk@juno.com

(in reply to Jam Rectified)
       Post #: 11

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/17/2005 8:52:35 AM   
beaner


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 12/18/2004
From: Orland Park, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Jam R,
I would guess Heli Hobby is allowing the buyer to have more choices by selling a ‘bare bones’ package. However, if you go to the Lite Machines web site you will see that they offer several prepackaged kits (although their prices are a bit high). I purchased my 120’s at the LHS. I got the Lite Machines ’standard combo’ which comes with an Electro-Fusion 7 brushed motor and an Electro-Fusion 35 ESC. Everything I needed to get this model airborne was in the box except for the battery, gyro and of course radio gear. The kit cost $249.00 USD. As for the gyro, if your asking specifically about the 240, I don’t have any experience with it. Although, I know people who fly the 240 and are happy with it. If your asking about HH gyros in general, I think they make the model easier to fly. Especially in windy conditions or for backward flying. I have a JR410T in one Corona and a JR500T in the other. The tail holds well on both. But the 500T has a remote gain adjustment (5th channel on my TX). Hope this helps.

Beaner

_____________________________

My Helicopters: Corona 120 stock, Logo 10 3D, Corona 120 upgraded to the max :)

(in reply to darthdrk)
       Post #: 12

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/17/2005 2:52:18 PM   
RK-Aircraft


 

Posts: 383
Joined: 11/25/2002
From: Arlington Heights, IL, USA
Status: offline 		If its balance correctly, you will not be disappointed with the CORONA 120. Make sure you get metal gear servos. HITEC HS81-MG are good.

_____________________________

Mmm, the smell of spent glow fuel in the morning....

(in reply to Jam Rectified)
       Post #: 13

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/17/2005 9:57:57 PM   
Lifes a Drag



Posts: 941
Joined: 1/10/2003
From: Whittier, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Jam,

Yeap! What they said!



All great advice. I am running a CC35 in one of my brushless setups and it works fine, but the copter came wit it.
If buying all new stuff I'd buy the CC45 just for the extra added insurance.



Remember one thing, if you wanna play, you're gonna pay when it comes to helicopters. I've got nearly $2,000 in my BT Corona. My only point here is to ask yourself how far you want to take this so you get an idea how much you can figure the investment.
Reno.

(in reply to RK-Aircraft)
       Post #: 14

RE: Should I buy a Corona? - 10/18/2005 5:09:52 AM