Anyone into RC Helicopters?

djpathfinder · 01-10-2012, 10:26 AM

Well, if you get brand new and decent equipment, it can be a pretty penny especially when you're starting up. For instance, the most basic transmitter (e.g. Spektrum DX6) will cost about $200. An upgraded 7 ch. transmitter like a DX 7 is about $300. Then you can get really insane with a 10 ch (to operate scale model lights, retractable landing gear, etc) that's over $1000.

450 sized heli kits are $200-350 for the basic airframe. 600 or 0.50 sized heli frames are around $450, then you have the servos and electronics, motor upgrades (yes, there are different mods and upgrades you can buy for RC helis, like for real enthusiast cars). CF blades for a 600 sized helis cost $75-100. You can go fancy and get illuminated night blades. So, after a crash, you could be spending as little as $3 to fix damaged landing gear to $100 for blades alone, to several hundred if you have extensive damage. LiPo batteries range from $30 (cheap ones from HK) to $200 if you fly electric...and you're going to want to have 3 or 4 of these. If you fly nitro, you need to buy fuel.

There's specialty equipment like aerial photography rigs and equipment you can buy and make for yourself, if you're into that. Scale helis are cool and some people go all out...lots of possibilities to spend your money on. :-)

I enjoy scale flying and was practicing a lot of slow flight, trying to make my heli look like a real helicopter. I had bought an Airwolf fuselage but never got to finish the build. Others like 3D/stunt flying.

A first time set-up and 450 bird will likely cost you $1100-$1500 (including a new transmitter). An electric 600 bird will be more into the $2000 range. Not a cheap hobby, but hella fun!

RiCharlie · 01-10-2012, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

A first time set-up and 450 bird will likely cost you $1100-$1500 (including a new transmitter). An electric 600 bird will be more into the $2000 range. Not a cheap hobby, but hella fun!

I saw one with a camera and all that cost around $200 ..what's wrong with that??

djpathfinder · 01-10-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiCharlie

I saw one with a camera and all that cost around $200 ..what's wrong with that??

We're talking about two different animals. People do up rigs to bring up dSLRs or high end video cameras and set up remote gimbals and firing.

RiCharlie · 01-11-2012, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

We're talking about two different animals. People do up rigs to bring up dSLRs or high end video cameras and set up remote gimbals and firing.

so what do you think? Think a cheap copter like this would be worthwhile or just a piece of junk?

You know I also like to write..perhaps you read my stories posted on this site...now that is a really cheap hobby!!!

01-10-2012, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 735	Well, if you get brand new and decent equipment, it can be a pretty penny especially when you're starting up. For instance, the most basic transmitter (e.g. Spektrum DX6) will cost about $200. An upgraded 7 ch. transmitter like a DX 7 is about $300. Then you can get really insane with a 10 ch (to operate scale model lights, retractable landing gear, etc) that's over $1000. 450 sized heli kits are $200-350 for the basic airframe. 600 or 0.50 sized heli frames are around $450, then you have the servos and electronics, motor upgrades (yes, there are different mods and upgrades you can buy for RC helis, like for real enthusiast cars). CF blades for a 600 sized helis cost $75-100. You can go fancy and get illuminated night blades. So, after a crash, you could be spending as little as $3 to fix damaged landing gear to $100 for blades alone, to several hundred if you have extensive damage. LiPo batteries range from $30 (cheap ones from HK) to $200 if you fly electric...and you're going to want to have 3 or 4 of these. If you fly nitro, you need to buy fuel. There's specialty equipment like aerial photography rigs and equipment you can buy and make for yourself, if you're into that. Scale helis are cool and some people go all out...lots of possibilities to spend your money on. :-) I enjoy scale flying and was practicing a lot of slow flight, trying to make my heli look like a real helicopter. I had bought an Airwolf fuselage but never got to finish the build. Others like 3D/stunt flying. A first time set-up and 450 bird will likely cost you $1100-$1500 (including a new transmitter). An electric 600 bird will be more into the $2000 range. Not a cheap hobby, but hella fun! __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD