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All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> E-Flite Helicopters >> Noob and Blade 400
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Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 2:44:10 PM   
Doahh



Posts: 4282
Joined: 6/29/2004
From: Loomis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Is this a good heli to learn on?
I'm a car guy and have gotten interested in Helis and want one that I won't grow out of (Can do 3d etc) but I want it to be decently easy to fly. I'm learning to fly the RADDS way

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Racing Cars: FT 18T with Mamba 8000kv system, XXX-S with 24T Birdman Pro Pro motor and Novak GTB, FT RC10T4 with Chamelion and GTB
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       Post #: 1

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 5:23:56 PM   
rotarydoc


 

Posts: 1108
Joined: 3/17/2008
From: Laurel, MD, USA
Status: online 		Hi Doahh,

Well, as far as collective pitch helis go, it's as good as any to start on, and you won't outgrow it anytime soon...but there are many who will argue for and against starting out with a collective pitch heli, vs a coaxial...like the CX2.

The collective pitch helis are quite a challenge for someone with zero heli experince, for sure! Do you maybe have access to a simulator at your local hobby shop? If so, it would be a good idea to try to fly a collective pitch heli on the sim, to give you some idea of the degree of difficulty involved.

There have been many who start on a collective pitch, and you are definately doing the right thing with RADD's...if you can be patient enough to stick with it, you should be OK.

The B400 is a fairly complex heli, and when you crash, will be a bit more involved to fix...notice I said when you crash, not if...it is inevitable, and sometimes somewhat costly...

I'll let the others chime in, just my 2 cents...

My short heli pilot career so far has been like this...started with the CX2, got bored/pretty good with it...got the CP Pro, still flying it, but realizing the downsides of a motor driven tail...and now have 2 B400's...they fly sooo much better than the micro CP size helis...much easier to fly....

Hope that helps...by the way...this hobby is very addicitive, don't say I didn't warn you!! LOL !!

Glenn

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 2

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 5:35:11 PM   
rotarydoc


 

Posts: 1108
Joined: 3/17/2008
From: Laurel, MD, USA
Status: online 		Hi Doahh,

I almost forgot, plan to replace the servos on the B400 sooner, rather than later...they WILL fail, sometimes with disasterous results....the only drawback to the B400 that I have seen so far. I replaced all of mine with JR DS285 metal gear servos, and have not had a problem since.

It may be fine for a while on the stock servos, but look on this forum about the issue, some have had mid-flight servo failures, causing an unexpected loss of control, followed by a crash...

Glenn

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 3

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 8:31:53 PM   
gnd2


 

Posts: 401
Joined: 5/23/2007
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		If you have the patience and mechanical aptitude you should be able to learn on it just fine. I learned to hover on a Blade CP+ using radds and then went to a trex when I realized motor driven tails suck, but the B400 should be fine. The only thing is, I learned to hover the Blade CP in my garage but I don't think that's a good idea with something the size of the 400. Go outside when the wind is calm.

(in reply to rotarydoc)
       Post #: 4

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 10:38:39 PM   
Doahh



Posts: 4282
Joined: 6/29/2004
From: Loomis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Sweet... Yeah I played with the Realflight 3.5 and something clicked and I could mostly hover the CP heli steady... It was a .60 size Nitro thought so that probably made a difference. I'm almost posative that I have the mechanical aptitude for this... how hard is it to fly 3D with one of these birds once I get used to it?

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Racing Cars: FT 18T with Mamba 8000kv system, XXX-S with 24T Birdman Pro Pro motor and Novak GTB, FT RC10T4 with Chamelion and GTB
Sponsored by: Driven Pro
Performance Devices
BoomBoomBatteries

(in reply to gnd2)
       Post #: 5

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 11:07:19 PM   
jp473


 

Posts: 123
Joined: 2/8/2008
From: Dallas, TX, USA
Status: offline 		As hard as the ground you crash on. Just kidding. But seriously, it looks easy when someone else is doing it. Someday I hope to make it loop but right now I can’t. Best advice I have is find some people you can watch and ask questions of. I’m lucky to have a lhs that has a place to fly indoors and out and we can use it for free. All the owner asks is you buy the parts from him. Fair enough I think.

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Gravity works, now overcome it!
JP

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 6

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/28/2008 11:25:51 PM   
Doahh



Posts: 4282
Joined: 6/29/2004
From: Loomis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Sweet... Blade 400 it is.
Picking up today tomorow friday or saturday...

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Racing Cars: FT 18T with Mamba 8000kv system, XXX-S with 24T Birdman Pro Pro motor and Novak GTB, FT RC10T4 with Chamelion and GTB
Sponsored by: Driven Pro
Performance Devices
BoomBoomBatteries

(in reply to jp473)
       Post #: 7

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 3:11:31 AM   
rotarydoc


 

Posts: 1108
Joined: 3/17/2008
From: Laurel, MD, USA
Status: online 		Hey Doahh,

Sounds good! You won't regret it...I sometimes wish I had just had the #$%#% to go for the B400 to begin with....but I have learned alot from the other helis too...

I actually started with an Airhogs Havoc Heli...back in January! LOL I don't like to admit it, but there it is, for the world to see ! Now I have not one, but two B400's in my ever growing fleet! This hobby is extremely addictive, be careful !!

It has a habit of draining the bank account too...lol !! But it's worth it !!

Hope you enjoy the new heli...keep us posted on your progress!

Glenn

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 8

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 3:29:45 AM   
casey_lamm


 

Posts: 136
Joined: 3/16/2008
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Status: offline 		yes you can. I am learning on it. Get some 5mm carbon fiber dows and some plastic practice golf balls. Make some training gear. Its well work it.

Parts to stock up on

Extra set of blade or 2
Feather shaft
main shaft
fly bar

(in reply to rotarydoc)
       Post #: 9

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 3:48:26 AM   
rotarydoc


 

Posts: 1108
Joined: 3/17/2008
From: Laurel, MD, USA
Status: online 		I have to second Casey's post. save yourself lots of cash and make or buy some training gear! You WILL need them for a while, at first! They may look dumb, but they'll save your heli alot of damage! Also second the parts list...a good start.

Good luck with the new heli!

Glenn

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 10

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 5:28:28 AM   
evdreamer


 

Posts: 2377
Joined: 8/12/2007
From: Lincoln, NE, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Doahh

how hard is it to fly 3D with one of these birds once I get used to it?


I have around 300 flights total with my helicopters and I am still flying right side up. But I am trying to do it in a way that doesn't involve crashing.

Nick

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Since I started this hobby money seems to keep disappearing. :)
T-Rex 450SEV2, Gaui 200 SD

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 11

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 6:10:54 AM   
Doahh



Posts: 4282
Joined: 6/29/2004
From: Loomis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Yeah Training gear was a duh for me...
Extra set of blade or 2
Feather shaft
main shaft
fly bar
got it

_____________________________

Racing Cars: FT 18T with Mamba 8000kv system, XXX-S with 24T Birdman Pro Pro motor and Novak GTB, FT RC10T4 with Chamelion and GTB
Sponsored by: Driven Pro
Performance Devices
BoomBoomBatteries

(in reply to evdreamer)
       Post #: 12

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 2:19:25 PM   
H3li


 

Posts: 136
Joined: 12/19/2007
From: UK, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Doahh, I know you posted in an E-Flite specific forum, but have you considered other 400 / 450 size Heli's ?

A belt driven model is a logical/great choice (over a motor driven tail) - You might also consider the E-Sky Belt CP , or the Thunder Tiger Mini Titan (what I opted for - far superior over the 400 - I did look into both!).
However, if you are looking for 'cheap and cheerful' then the Blade 400 will do the job (you will also have a decent Tx thrown in + 2.4Ghz technology).

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- Thunder Tiger Mini Titan (450, e-CCPM)
- E-Flite Blade CX2 (micro, Coaxial)

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 13

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 2:52:44 PM   
Doahh



Posts: 4282
Joined: 6/29/2004
From: Loomis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		The feeling of dropping $600+ into this hobby at once kinda leaves that pit in my stomach...
I'll need a new laptop in a few months and this chopper would make the money situation perfect... It fits my budget
Does the Mini Titan come in RTF form with a DX6i, DX7 or some other tx?

_____________________________

Racing Cars: FT 18T with Mamba 8000kv system, XXX-S with 24T Birdman Pro Pro motor and Novak GTB, FT RC10T4 with Chamelion and GTB
Sponsored by: Driven Pro
Performance Devices
BoomBoomBatteries

(in reply to H3li)
       Post #: 14

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 3:11:58 PM   
rotarydoc


 

Posts: 1108
Joined: 3/17/2008
From: Laurel, MD, USA
Status: online 		Hey Doaah,

Not knocking the suggestion of other helis at all, by all means, keep an open mind...but that being said, also keep in mind parts availability at your LHS, there's nothing much worse than being grounded for days waiting for simple parts...a big plus for the Eflite helis in most areas...

Just my 2 cents, again!

Glenn

(in reply to Doahh)
       Post #: 15

RE: Noob and Blade 400 - 5/29/2008 3:18:40 PM   
Doahh



Posts: 4282
Joined: 6/29/2004
From: Loomis, CA, USA
Status: offline 		E-Flite is majorly stocked at my local Hobbytown...
That's what I was thhinking too but I'm not sure if the MT has parts at my LFS...

I think I'm going with the blade for sure

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Racing Cars: FT 18T with Mamba 8000kv system, XXX-S with 24T Birdman Pro Pro motor an