Need Help Choosing
 

Hey

Which Heli is good for beginners and intermediate? And which one is can do 3D stuff (loops, invert flying)?

Thunder Tiger Raptor 30 V2 ($700 USD +S&H new)
Kyosho Calibar 5 (unknown...)
Century Hawk Pro ($700 USD +S&H new)
Kyosho Nexus 30 $700 CND (preowned)

Thanks

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

First off, don't buy a Nexus. They no longer make them and parts are getting harder to come by anymore.

Secondly, you have a 50 sized machine (Caliber 5) and two 30's in the Raptor and Hawk. Most veterans would tell you to buy a 50 size heli (Caliber 5, Tiger 50, Raptor 50) as you won't outgrow it anytime soon.

I will tell you that I bought a Caliber 5 and have not regretted it one bit. It's $299 plus another $150 or so for the engine. To put that in perspective, you will spend about the same on a Raptor 30 (not 50) with engine yet buying the Caliber 5 gets you into a 50 size machine for the same costs. The downside to that equation is that Raptor parts are everywhere and I mean everywhere. Since the Caliber 5 is a new model (released this month), parts are still scarce at this point although, should be avaliable very soon.

The Hawk is a great machine too, but you come back to the same point I was making above in that it's a 30 size vs. a 50 size in the Caliber. Parts support is very good on the Hawk just like the Raptor.

IMO, the Caliber 5 can't be beat for the price but you will probably get 10 more different opinions than mine. Good luck and all of the above are really great choices (except for the Nexus).

Derek

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

I can't agree more, get a 50 size machine from the beginning. WHY? Because this is where you will end up in 6 months. Save the money up front and get it early. The 50 will be a fine machine to learn on as well. The nice thing is the parts are ususally the same as you get with a 30.

My choices would be in this order:
Sceadu Evo 50
Raptor 50

I would not take a nexus even if it was given to me. I don't care for the Hawk, lots of reasons. No nothing about hte Kyosho so can't help you there.

Good luck!

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

If the new caliber 5 is as good as my Caliber 30 was, then it should be a very good helicopter. I have a Sceadu 50 and love it. Either one will be a good beginner/intermediate helicopter, as long as you have an experienced heli pilot help you learn to set it up and fly it.

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

since my hobby shop carries some calibar 5 parts and alot of raptor stuff... and some guys down the flying field recommended a raptor 50.. then i think i should get a raptor 50 cause product support is pretty good down my LHS and lots of guys are flying raptors 30,60 and some 90s...but i dunno which raptor 50 to choose from... the raptor 50 v2, SE, or the new TItanium one? I dunno the difference between the V2. and SE.. please help me out.. also do you think this is a good price? i think it comes with a engine and muffler.. tell me if i'm wrong http://www.heli-world.com/Merchant2/...ry_Code=hk30tt is this a good heli to start off with and would it be good for me when i'm a "pro"? i might add some hopups after i master hovering, turning and stuff....

THanks

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

ok i got this off heli world do you think it'll last me long and is it a good price?

RAPTOR 50 V2 PRO KIT W/TTR 50H ENGINE $529.99
Futaba 7CHF FM W/R127DF,4-S3151 CH#15 $259.99
Futaba 401 Gyro W/9254 SERVO $209.95


Total: $999.93

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

You should also check Heliproz out, I don't know about the bird and radio price you have up there but I believe that they have that gyro combo for $189 w/free shipping. Good luck.

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

Some suggestions.

Stick with an OS engine.

3151's are on the low end of the servo totem pole, they are glorified S148s. They will get you in the air but its cheaper to buy decent servos than it is to rebuild after a crash because sub standard servos aren't up to the task.

Heliproz web site prices on Futaba and OS are higher than they actually charge because of minimum advertised pricing agreements so it would pay to give them an email or call and find out what you will be actually paying. I know 9252 servos which are perfect for a Raptor 50 are about 69/each when you buy 4 of them and as stated the gyro/servo is only 185 or so.

http://www.heliproz.com A R50 V2 with an OS50 would get you pretty far with decent servos and a 401.

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

I agree with barracudahockey - stick with an OS engine. I have seen many a newbie give up on this woderful hooby because they put an engine in their heli that was difficult to set properly or was overly tempermental. In my 20 years of flying helis I can tell you that the OS engines have always been very easy to use, last a long time and take a lot of abuse relative to many others.

As most of uss are on a budget, I would take a Hawk Pro/OS37 engine over any50 combo that would cost me the same that did not have the OS50 engine. e.g. The Hawk Pro/OS37 combo at Heli-world would be $200 plus $140 for the engine for a total of $340.00. This combo has a great power to weight ratio and is a very potent 3D flyer. I would take it over the $540.00 Rappy50 you pointed to which does not come with an OS engine. That would also leave me with an extra $200.00 that may well be better spent on better radio and gyro.

Maybe what I am trying to say is without knowing how much you have budgeted for the heli/motor/radio/gyro. It is really hard to say what is best for you. IMHO, the whole package is more important then the sum of its parts.

As you are from Canada, you may also want to compare apples with aplles dollar wise (what you would pay in Canadian $$$) so you may want to check pricing at some canadian mail order shops e.g.

www.hobbywholesale.com

RE: Need Help Choosing
 

ok i'm planning to get a calibar 5... it looks good and its cheaper than the Raptor v2 for some odd reason.... Maybe after the calibar 5 i might get a raptor 90... that'll show them