Hey everyone, I am starting into the r/c helicopter area and have messed around with a friends chopper to the point i'm comfortable with the controls of one but I'm trying to decide on my own to start out. My local hobby shop has a few models and my first I do not want to spend a great deal of money on. They have the following two models I have been looking at and would appreciate any advice on them, Thanks.

Heli-Max Rotofly EX
E-Flite Blade CP

Thanks for the help.

Jason

umm, are they even in the same price range? the rotofly seems quite a bit cheaper.

I don't actually like either of them (have the cp) and I suggest you try to get something without a tail motor, they tend to burn out quickly.

I think the cp sells for over $200 doesn't it? If so think about getting one of the esky products online, the esky honey bee king2 (with brushless upgrade) will cost about the same as the blade cp but has a belt driven tail and the replacement parts are cheaper, mostly only online but cheaper.

well right now my hobby shop is having a deal on alot of the choppers, the rotofly is going for 190 and the blade cp was normally 250 but they have it for 160 right now.

ahhh, that's because the cp is discontinued... although the cp+ that replaced it isn't really all that much different. they love selling the cp, people keep coming back to get parts for when they crash it.

Jetski,

I can tell you for sure that if you buy a rotofly you should be sorely dissapointed. Not easily controlled and the head design is horrible. I have seen them flown well but every time you have a blade strike or a little tip over, there are two miniscule bearings up top that pop out and go flying off into oblivion never to be found.

I have seen two different people with very little to no stick time try and fly these and withing two weeks both of them ended up on ebay.

190 bucks for it is simply outrageous. Anything more than 50 for a rotofly is a rip IMO. Indoor only on the rotofly too, I'm sure it could be taken outside but it's not going to perform well and if you lose the bearings out there.....well maybe you would want to add a metal detector to your heli tool bag.

The blade cp....not to shoot down both your choices but if you don't mind replacing lots of parts and complaining about your heli then go for it.

These small cp's are a pita for controls because of the simple electronics and the tail rotor being driven by a motor. You will fight with it and it will make your early ventures into the hobby more frustrating than they should be.

If you really want to go for it, maybe build a mx400 and use some cheaper components. You should end up witha way better machine though it will cost a bit more.

Maybe check the ads on this site and pick one up used...