I have had a Blade Cx-2 for 6 months or so now and am wanting to take a step forward in RC helicopters. I dont know much about non co-axials so I am looking for advice. Budget is $300-400. Should I look at FP or CP? I buy all my stuff online since there is no LHS anywhere close to me. Is a 2.4GHZ system neccessary? I dont ever fly around anyone else. Also, I have to be able to fly it outdoors, thats my main problem with CX2 is if a small breeze comes, say bye-bye. Fixing them is not a problem, I did plenty of repairs to my CX2 and understand electronics and mechanics very well. I have looked at some of the King Bees. A belt drive tail seems like a good ideas considering how many people say their tail motors go out, but Im not sure. Some say that FP is the next step and others say I can skip it and go CP. I just would like some advice on what models to start looking at because it can get overwhelming really fast, and I want to buy something that other people have had luck with. Thanks in advance.

Here is what I recommend, but the caveat is that I do understand money can be an issue and prohibitive:
If you want to learn without major frustration....if you want something that is easy to learn on get a heli at least 450 size or larger. The difference in stability between a 450 size and a small micro heli is like night and day. The minimum I would get is a Blade 400...it comes with everything you need. But the downside to the B400 is that it's a RTF heli and you won't get the build/repair experience for when you crash. If you truly believe you will stay in this hobby, I recommend you get a Trex 450 or Mini Titan or Dragonus 450, etc. You will build it yourself and put your own electronics in it. Yes, the initial cost will give you sticker shock, but it is well worth it. You will not be as frustrated, you won't have to upgrade anything, and you will crash less!

I also highly recommend a simulator...Phoenix is generally the preffered one for heli's but Realflight isn't bad either. There's a basic free one over at helifreak as well in the simulator section. Lastly do a search on RADDs School of Rotary Flight and folllow it to a 'T'.

Good luck!
Skarn

I have looked at quite a few different model helis. How are the Exceed G2's? is that considered a micro? I wont mind getting a RTF, I crashed my cx2 so fast and often I learned quick on how to repair, however I can see the pride that could be there in building it up from a ARF. where is a good online source for the models you mentioned? I will spend the $, I know this is an expensive hobby but I race motorcycles and am going to school to work on aircraft so, in perspective it isnt that bad.

i would NOT buy an exceed heli
you would be better off with a e-flite or esky heli.
the blade 400 comes with a very user freindly radio. makes the learning curve easier.

if you get the g2 you will spend most of your time repairing it. its a cheap walkera knock off

ps.
walkera has the creata and 60 now with the 2801 radio,this would make adjusting these helis really nice

+1 for the blade 400

hbk2 brushless with belt drive?

If Iwere to build a TREX450, which model should I get, there are so many!

I personally would get the Trex 450 SE v2...it's the newest one with all the upgrades and metal. CopterX has a clone version as well.

Skarn

the se-v2 has the most parts support of the t-rex.
now after building a 450se v2 and then the radio/reciever, your almost 800 dollars in
with the blade 400 ready to fly, your out the door for about 450 dollars or less depending on where you got it

is the hbk not a good heli? Plus I need the best outdoors heli I can get, I have no room inside...

The copter x stuff looks nice too!

no matter how you look at it.
when building a kit from scratch can get very exspincive. unless you already have a good radio/reciever package.

i hear good thing`s about the belt cp v2 esky heli. and its not a bad price.

if you want a good out door heli you really need atleast a 450 class heli

Is the HBK a 450 class? whaat determines the diference between a 400 and 450, 500?? Also is the 2.4 GHZ setup necessary or is the old system still decent in comparison? I found a HBKV2 with 2.4GHZ and a belt driven tail for 149.99 or a HBKV3 with 2.4 ghz and a brushless motor for 234.99

Or how is the Esky belt CP2? thats 450 class right?

im thinking the kings are a 300 or 350 class,maybe even a 400 class. not real sure.
but for 20 dollars more you can have the belt cp v2, i believe its a 450 class heli.
im not realy up on esky heli`s to be honest, you may want to jump over on the bely cp thread and ask for a comparison on there

the size classifacation is in the blades and frame size i believe

yea i see the difference in size now. I have been reading up on belt cp stuff too. thanks for all the help.

anyone know of a good place to buy a belt cp2? Both x-heli and nitroplanes are out of stock.

try helidirect.com
or
ushobbysupply.com

So I found a used blade cp and a axe cpl for under 100 bucks that have upgrades and are all complete. oddly enough they were both xmas presents to these guys and they couldnt fly em so they just want to get rid of them. are they 400 series helis?

also do I need a 2.4ghz system if I am always flying alone? or is the 72mhz ok?

i can tell you you wont like a motor tail rotor.
they are very unreliable, the tail motors burn out VERY fast, and are some of the most unstable heli`s made.
now with that being said some folk`s say if you can master a tail motored heli than you can fly any heli on the market, but these same people will tell you if they had it to do over again, they would have NEVER have bought a tail motored heli.

but thats on you man, if you want to spend lots of money repairing a heli than get the tail motored heli.
honestly i would get a belt driven tail. much more stable and reliable.

Not even close! Those are micro heli's with motor driven tails....there's a reason those guys are selling them and couldn't fly them! Yes, it CAN be done, but with MUCH frustration and cash.....

You don't NEED 2.4ghz....I fly 72mhz and don't plan on chaning. However if I were to buy today, I'd get 2.4

Skarn

alright 10-4 on that one. I am looking at getting a CPv2 from us hobby supply today.

i dont have this heli, but i do have a belt driven heli and can say this thing is very flyable, and have not had to buy parts because they have burned out.
i had to buy parts cause ive crashed alot,

well I am still waffling. If I bought the copter x kit, what else do I need to get it flyable? A gyro, Tx, Rx and servos, anything else?

Then again there is the EXI450 for 70.00, looks like it needs a bit more but would still come in at least a 100 under copter x.

thats the thing with most kits. you need motor,esc,servo`s,gyro,batteries,charger,radio/reciever combo
when you start buying these things seperate it gets quit exspincive.

some kits come with everything except the radio/reciever combo.

you really just have to look around.

there are some t-rex kits out that only need the radio/reciever

Other folks can check my numbers but if you buy any ARF kit, say that $70 T-Rex, that will have ZERO electronics you'll still have to spend:

3 cyclic servos.....say $15/each: $45
1 gyro with a tail servo: $90
3cell LiPo, say 1800 mAh min: $45
LiPo charger (decent one w/balancer): $85
35 A ESC w/2 or 3A BEC : $45
25A BL motor: $45
Decent Tx/Rx 6CH (72 MHz): $100
or a Decent Rx/Rx 6CH (2.4 MHz): $250
Shipping because I doubt you'll get this all in 1 online store: $25 to $50

So you're looking at a total of $550 or more to get something that is ready to fly (RTF) from one of those kits. Maybe you can cut $50 or even up to $100 off that number, but to me that Esky Belt CP V2 for $229 looks real damn good which is why I bought it.

About 1/3 of the ppl who buy esky products are not happy with the servos & the 25A ESC, but you can upgrade all of that for $150 and still spend less than on a ARF kit.