Best mini RC helicopter design

Giacomo

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Jan 2, 2012, 11:30:23 PM1/2/12

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Hi all,

I guess here you are all dealing with "serious" RC models, and I'm not
sure if you want to waste your time with my question, but let's give
it a try. I want to buy one of this tiny (about 20 cm long), cheap
(about 30-40 dollars) indoor helicopters. I already had couple of them
in the past (a 2 ch and a 3 ch one) and they are fun to fly indoor and
show to friends. Now, I'm going for a 4 ch, but I'm a bit confused by
the multitude of designs out there. In particular, I have seen:
- single propeller, vertical tale rotor, servos acting on the
balancing bar.
(example: http://tinyurl.com/7r6f3bj)
- counter rotating main rotors, horizontal tale rotor, side horizontal
auxiliary rotors (Avatar style!)
(example: http://tinyurl.com/6tga84f)
- counter rotating main rotors, horizontal tale rotor (no sure how
side motion is actuated)
(example: http://tinyurl.com/7yn52a8)
- counter rotating main rotors, vertical tale rotor, servos on lower
blades
(example: http://tinyurl.com/775wx6v)
- counter rotating main rotors, servos on lower blades, no tale rotor
(example: http://tinyurl.com/7a4mswh)

Given the price, I don;t want to be too picky, but just out of
curiosity, do you have any comment/suggestion/experience with pros and
cons of the various mechanical designs?

Thanks

Giacomo

Larry Farrell

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Jan 2, 2012, 11:56:39 PM1/2/12

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On 1/2/2012 9:30 PM, Giacomo wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I guess here you are all dealing with "serious" RC models, and I'm not
> sure if you want to waste your time with my question, but let's give
> it a try. I want to buy one of this tiny (about 20 cm long), cheap
> (about 30-40 dollars) indoor helicopters.

Based on what I have read, I suggest that you bump your limit to $50 and
buy the Blade Scout CX. It is a coaxial with a good gyro, and it
received a very good review in the latest issue of Electric Flight. It
comes with everything needed to fly, including a 2.4 Ghz transmitter.
This is still only a 3-channel heli, but it is getting into the "hobby
quality" and away from the "toy helis" that you appear to have had in
the past, most of which don't fly all that well and self-destruct pretty
quickly.

Go to

bladescoutcx.com

for more information. I am not affiliated with any brand/dealer, just a
satisfied owner of several Blade helis.

Giacomo Ciani

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Jan 5, 2012, 11:04:36 PM1/5/12

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> Based on what I have read, I suggest that you bump your limit to $50 and
> buy the Blade Scout CX. It is a coaxial with a good gyro, and it
> received a very good review in the latest issue of Electric Flight. It
> comes with everything needed to fly, including a 2.4 Ghz transmitter.
> This is still only a 3-channel heli, but it is getting into the "hobby
> quality" and away from the "toy helis" that you appear to have had in
> the past, most of which don't fly all that well and self-destruct pretty
> quickly.
>
> Go to
>
> bladescoutcx.com
>
> for more information. I am not affiliated with any brand/dealer, just a
> satisfied owner of several Blade helis.

Thanks Larry. I really would like to stay within the budget, and
actually I've been pretty happy with the two hely I got so far (both
well under $50) for what I want to do with them. So, I'll probably
take the risk and go for a fixed pitch, non coaxial one...

Thanks for the advice anyhow! I'll let you know if mine will turn out
to be a mistake! :-)

Giacomo

cadetwhite

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Jan 17, 2012, 8:17:52 PM1/17/12

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I just bought a 4 channel JXD 340 from amazon for $22 ($30 with
shipping) and it is a very nice little heli. It is comparable to the
popular Syma s107 in size and quality but with the added bonus of a
4th channel wich allows the helicopter to strafe left and right.

Larry Farrell

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Jan 18, 2012, 10:18:43 AM1/18/12

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On 1/17/2012 6:17 PM, cadetwhite wrote:
> On Jan 5, 9:04 pm, Giacomo Ciani<giacomo.ci...@gmail.com> wrote:

[snip]

>
> I just bought a 4 channel JXD 340 from amazon for $22 ($30 with
> shipping) and it is a very nice little heli. It is comparable to the
> popular Syma s107 in size and quality but with the added bonus of a
> 4th channel wich allows the helicopter to strafe left and right.

Just remember that the infrared controller for that heli will *not*
maintain control if you turn away from it or fly the heli behind
something. That is, if you do not have direct line-of-sight between the
controller and the heli, there is no signal going to the heli and it
will do whatever it wants, usually dropping directly to the ground
because there is no signal directing the motors to continue turning.