RE: What to avoid when purchasing a 90?
Quote;
The LHS owner says it is just run in, very little use, never wrecked and total when built topped 5,000,000 Won (about U.S. $5,500). It is being offered to me for around $2200 complete (everything needed to turn Key fly it except experience) and included in the deal, the LHS owners son is going to teach me to fly it. Apparently said son is the South Korean National Champ for 3D RC Helicopters
Let me first say DO NOT BUY THIS HELO TOMORROW!!!!!
I say this because of a few things.
First, like you say you have absolutely no idea what you're looking at. Take a pad of paper and a camera and write down what he says is in it, as specific as possible. Take pictures, a general whole picture and close ups of the mechanics, head, tail, motor area, and the radio area from both sides. Then come back here and post it all. What radio on what frequency (it might not be on a freq you can use stateside). Also find out exactly what support equipment you'll get, battery, starter, fuel pump, flight box, tools.
Second, while you may be getting a really good deal (MAYBE) odds are you are looking at a helo that you might be able to learn on but odds are it is a very high performance machine that is not as user friendly as a normal 90 helo and WHEN you break something it WILL cost many $$$, many people spend more than the cost of the original helo in repacement parts during the ownership of a helo. Odds are you'll be able to buy a NEW cheaper 90 helo for the cost of a crash with this helo. Blades are in the hundreds of dollars, frames are too...
Third, While the owner says "just run in, very little use, never wrecked" I would be warry, while it may not be crashed it may easily be very used or have used parts from other helos. Where he says "total when built topped 5,000,000 Won (about U.S. $5,500)" he is talking full retail not what he paid for it which was probably half that amount or less. That does not mean that it is not worth the asking price and you could also get the price down some, after all you are in the haggling capital of the world.
Do your home work, don't be pressured to buy it and if you do get it down to a cheaper price I would consider buying a cheaper helo to learn on, still a 90 size as they are easier to learn on when set up for a beginner (which the HOt helo won't be). If you buy it have the son fly it before you do so yo usee that it flys, do this with the understanding that if he crashes it you are not responsible to buy it. Then put it away, learn on something cheaper, and in a year bring this out and try it. You'll be able to use the radio and support equipment for a cheaper helo so you are starting off cheaper still and I would suspect the hoby shop owner would be happy to sell yo a beginers 90 like a Raptor in addition to the HOT helo. If yo udo that use the radio, but leave the HoOT helo as is, don't muck up the servos in it or pull anything off it for the cheaper helo so yo know all yo uhave to do is fuel it and fly when you decide it's time to fly it.
Good luck!