While we can see the logic behind this suggestion, there are several practical issues with this.

1.  The starting cost is pretty high, compared the 450/500 clones.

2.  Nitro would be a challenge for beginners with no local help from experienced nitro flyers. Setting up, tuning and maintenance of nitro engines are much more involved than electrics.

3.  Fuel costs and availability are significant issues.  

4.  Spares availability for the 450 class is very good (of course, by stocking up the usual parts from outside).  Hopefully the spares for the clone 500s will also be aplenty soon.

For someone with a local field of nitro heli fliers (and the money to spend), a Raptor 30 is a very good suggestion.

Quote from: anwar on June 29, 2010, 01:27:02 PM
I would suggest you go for a simple 3-ch, and plan for a heli capable radio with sim. If you invest 5k to 7k on a Lama, you will end up upgrading everything later on. 

I see the point here. I can use the 3ch just for a feel and fun, use the sim which would actually help me and if its 6ch/7ch it can be of use for any model cars/heli/plane later. Wow! Good that you guys are around

Just so that others know..The ModelArt is available at bigbazar for 1.5k. They usuall have many 3ch helis but only this was available today.

While we are on the topic of coaxials-

1. Is there any coaxial which can be used outside in anything more that a light breeze?

2. And is the difference between a indoor coaxial like the Lama and an outdoor coaxial like the Big Lama only the motor (180 in V4 and 370 in Big Lama) and the gyro? How is the gyro different? Is it the sensitivity?

1.  The one you mentioned in [2], the "Big Lama" is a common choice.  Even that does not seem to handle any significant amount of wind.  For outdoors, it is not a good idea to plan for a coax.  Just go with a regular CP heli.

2.  Not sure.  Although there are gyros with different performance characteristics (that includes sensitivity, ability to handle vibrations, other software differences etc).  There are fundamental physical differences between various gyros (I am not refering to the Lama ones), like "piezo based" and "SMM/MEMS" ones (just google them if you want details).

When you get a 3ch, get one with a gyro, they tend to be more stable for a few hundred rupees more.

The ones with gyros are very stable... like this one :

Will get the one with the gyro. There are other 3ch helis available but should i stick to ModelArt one as it is easy to get spares? I'v seen a couple of 3ch FP helis as well.

i have same heli but its called 9074 with gyro

ya its very stable but once u fly ccpm heli its like a kids toy and also it flys only for 4-5 mins.

Quote from: rajathv8 on June 29, 2010, 07:22:04 PM
While we are on the topic of coaxials-

1. Is there any coaxial which can be used outside in anything more that a light breeze?

Just saw this "targeted ad" on Youtube (targeted at me )

http://www.xheli.com/s031-heli-yellow.html

Hey, i was looking at that model too.. apparently its really bad at flying outdoors.. I'd still go for the syma 9053 volitation over the s031.. This one comes with only a 800mAh batt that too NiMh i think..

Got myself a ModelArt 3ch heli wth gyro Doesnt seem like much but is a biggggg deal for me

The heli cost Rs.2250 at ModelArt in Forum. Its available in two colours (black and red) for the model with gyro and three colours without gyro (black, red and "white and red") The guys there were helpful and answered all my questions.

What you get:
1. The heli (ofcourse )
2. The IR Tx (batteries not included).
3. Spare tail rotor.
4. Wall charger for heli.
5. USB charger for heli.
6. Instruction manual (paper actually) in the worst possible english

Here's what i have to say about it:
1. The thing is TINY but cool. Its a lot of fun to fly around.

2. It flies pretty well and as suggested in the earlier posts, is very stable.

3. The heli kept spinning initially but was fine after adjustment of the trim on the tx.

4. On a full charge it flies for a little more than 10 mins. Charging from empty to full takes about half an hour. It can also be charged using the usb cable or from the barreries in the tx (refer pics).

5. The charging point on the heli and the on\off switch is very delicate and thats my only complaint.

6. The tail rotor is used for fwd and backward movement. It rotates only when fwd\backward control is provided else remains stationary .

7. I love its durability. So far in 12hrs of owning it i have crashed (and i do mean crash and not a mere bump) into my bed, fish tank, tv, fan , the ModelArt guy (two guys actually ) and dropped it from 5 feet height. Not a scratch. But one should take care not to assert throttle when the rotor blade is not free to move, say when the heli is fallen on the floor. The skids are slightly flexible so falling from a height will not cause any damage.

8. I now see the point in having a small heli. The larger 3ch heli can perform the same movements as the small one at the cost of additional weight,  an hence needs a larger battery which takes longer to charge. So the heli spends more time at the plug than in the air. Makes sense to have a smaller heli (only wrt 3ch case).

1. Charger wire from tx to charge the heli.
2. Charging point on heli and on\off switch.

Quote from: anwar on June 30, 2010, 03:55:44 AM
The ones with gyros are very stable... like this one :

haha! My father would try to fly the big helis I had so I got this Apache for him instead..that is one very stable helicopter..

The heli moves fwd when i try to hover. What can be wrong? It does not have any trim adjustment for fwd anh backward movement.

Rajath, a Modelart 3 ch with Gyro SHOULD have a Trim adjuster or Alignment Trimmer. I have a cheaper model - better looking and flies beautifully from DealExtreme and it has a Trimmer. Easy to miss the trimmer. Not suggesting anything but just recheck. As per this website, the Modelart Gyro heli definitely has a trimmer switch. It may be located somewhere here as shown in the pic.

Sorry, missed the website link :

http://www.rcskyhobby.com/products.php?prd_id=209&main_page=products

There is only ont trim which is for yaw. the other projection is a button and says "accel" on it.

one not ont

The 'accel' button is probably a dummy. I have the same  located on the left hand side of the Tx - it doesn't work. You have to trim it using just the yaw adjuster (Right hand side of Tx and like a wheel?) and your direction stick (right lever). Takes some practice, but once you are set, it's easy!

Yes it is on the right and like a wheel. Direction stick is on the right. I tried adjusting the trim already. The heli kept rotating initially and stopped after trim adjustment. Now the heli does not rotate but it moves fwd very slowly, if i try to correct by applying backward control it moves backward - difficult to keep it howering in one place.
Will try it again tomo, thanks VC

  Don't worry my friend, with a little bit of practice, you will get it right.

All the best and Happy flying!

Hi,

Just an FYI.. to make a heli hover at one place you have to give little inputs every half a second in the opposite direciton of the heli's motion.

Quote from: Hellyflyer on July 26, 2010, 11:36:48 PM
Hi,

Just an FYI.. to make a heli hover at one place you have to give little inputs every half a second in the opposite direciton of the heli's motion.

Thats the key info which I have been missing even after trimming I need a constant movement of joystick to ensure that it hovers above the point it started.

Thanks

@VC even after trim adjustment the heli happily moves fwd. So next i will try applting controls to counter it. The problem is that when the tail rotor starts rotating the heli moves back and when tail rotor is stationary it moves fwd. Creates a pendulum motion

The trim didnt help but applting controls did. Il experiment with adding small weights on the tail to counter the fwd movement and see how that helps.

Fixed the fwd movement problem. I fastened a small bolt to the tail using insulation tape. I experimented by placing it at different positions untill the heli became stable. Now there is no fwd or backward movement. Hovering is possible easily
VC Thanks for your help

Can someone explain what 3.5 channel is? I saw it on a heli at National Market.