heli-jack

Syma 2-Channel DragonFly V2 R/C Radio Remote Control Helicopter Ready to Fly

I am thinking of buying this one first for practice. And once i am comfortable with it , i want to buy t-rex 400 SE v2.

would appreciate your input/recommendations on my first heli.

thanks
jack

Cagedvr6

I wouldn't waste time on it and go directly to the trex. Its a 450btw.

Go to www.helifreak.com and watch all of Finless's videos on the 450SE. It takes alot of time and patience to set one up, but when you crash it helps out a ton knowing how everything is put together.

Buy a sim.

heli-jack

are you recommending that i buy a sim , get some practice on it and only then buy a 450 se trex?

thanks

Cagedvr6

Defiantly.
A sim will save you lots of money in the long run. I had G4 since christmas, and just now bought my heli last week.
Also you dont HAVE to get the SE V2, i went with the SA kit which is already mostly assembled, and about half the price as the SE kit. I figure on crashes, i will replace the broken plastic with metal. Its up to you though.
450SE kit was $270 with Motor and ESC.

heli-jack

what sim (simulator?) would you recommend/

thanks

Cagedvr6

http://www.towerhobbies.com/products...gpmz4420m.html

heli-jack

I am glad i met you.

Thanks very very much.

btw,

1) should i buy from the same place/limk/tower hobbies -- or do you recommend any other place ?
2) I am in NYC -- do you know of any clubs or can you suggest any place i can search (I have tried google -- but i had limited results)

thanks again

Cagedvr6

Tower hobbies is fine, the prices are pretty much the same no matter where you shop.
Not sure of any clubs or how to find them, as i don't even know any here in MI.

I just recommend joining www.helifreak.com
Its all Helis there, and there are tons of people there with more info than you would ever want to know
Watch ALL of Finless videos here on the trex
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=11373
Ive watched them all at least twice.

heli-jack

G4 -- is a computer based simulator.

Do you suggest keyboard or a real hardware controller?

thanks

Cagedvr6

what do you mean?

heli-jack

I mean to actually use the software you have to have a controller (futuba) or use the keyboard.

Which controller do you recommend that i can use it later ?

Also when doing a search i came across an other sotware called

http://www.phoenix-sim.com/welcome.htm

are you familiar with this one and how would you rate it compared to the G4?

thanks again

Cagedvr6

Both get good reviews, ive only used realflight G4.
BTW G4 comes with a controller for the sim use only.

jaketrouble

you dont want to use a keyboard to learn because your not goingto use a keyboard to fly the real thing... buy the sim and it comes with a controller. i am selling my realflight v3.5 on the forums. selling it for 150 dollars shipped. the version 4 is around 200 dollars and the only difference is it has a few more landscapes/ plus you need a pretty good computer to run it.

version 3.5 will be just fine. you may even find one cheaper on ebay. i bought mine in november 2007.. i used it about 10 times. it did help me to hover but i would rather just crash and burn the real thing. i also have one of those 2 ch dragonflies you mentioned.. save your money!!! they are not that good. they will get up there about 100' but you can only move it left/right.. it does not have forwrd/reverse so once the wind takes it you end up chasing it or climbing trees to retrieve it.

they also make a cheap 20 dollar sim. but the graphics are not that great. if you decide to buy the new version of the realflight check it out here.. these guys ship same day or next and their customer service is outstanding. butn like i said,,the only difference between v4 and v3.5 is a couple different landscapes and maybe a new heli or plane. which you can download for free anyway.

here is the place i recomend.. i have placed at least 20 orders with these guys and never had a probelm.
[link=http://ka-planes.com/inc/sdetail/2092]http://ka-planes.com/inc/sdetail/2092[/link]

here is a cheap 20 dollar sim. it will help you to get to know how the sticks work but it is not that great. this was my first sim. i used it about a month and it didnt teach me anything. then i got the realflight.. it 4 days i was able to hover for a few seconds.

[link=http://www.raidentech.com/e4chflsitrki.html]http://www.raidentech.com/e4chflsitrki.html[/link]



this is the one i am selling.. it is just like brand new, i have the receipt, all paper work,all the cables and the box.. everything that came with it.. your saving 50 dollars plus shipping and will be getting the same sim.. ask around..the realflight 3.5 sim is a very good sim.. just thought i'd run it by you. if you dont buy it someone will so no hard feelings if you should decide to buy the newer version.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemID=367030]http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemID=367030[/link]

Cagedvr6

He is right, and you do need a pretty darn good computer to run G4, and G3.5 is fine, and another option as well and also comes with a controller, just not as nice as the G4 controller but you will learn everything just a well.

HeliTB

Cagedvr6..You meant to say the 450SA w/ESC and motor is $270, not the SE V2. Actually you can find the 450SA for about $230 with ESC and Motor.

Cagedvr6

Yes my bad

SirTravers

Just a word from someone who actually has the little dragonfly by Syma. IT's a fun toy, but there's the catch it's a toy. Yes it's a tough lil bugger with the rubberized rotor, but being two channel only gives up/down and tail left/right control. It comes with a slightly rearward weight setup so you have to tweak it's balance with some putty in the nose to get a hover or forward flight. Straight out of the box it kinda doea a pendulum swing manouver when it's in the air. If you want something cheap to play with I'd say heck yeah have a blast, but it's not set up like the 4 or 6 channels as far as realism.