Cheap RC Helicopter

Cheap RC Helicopter
September 17th, 2010 by RC Geek
The Interceptor is not a micro or hobby grade RC Helicopter. I’ll categorize this model as a cheap RC helicopter. The price was right at $64.99 Canadian for the size. The LightHawk RC helicopter at $49.99 is comparable to the Interceptor but if you’re looking for something a little more powerful and very very easy to control the Interceptor RC will be a nice upgrade. If you’re used to flying with rudder control on the throttle stick you’ll need to make an adjustment because rudder is controlled on the right stick.



Features- BladeRunner serious Interceptor Outdoor Helicopter
- Includes gyroscope for stable controlled flights
- Includes replacement tail rotor and main rotor linkage
- USB charger
- Digital proportional flight control
- Internal 3.7 LiPo Battery included

Controls- Includes transmitter (9v battery for transmitter not included)
- Rudder trim control
- Normal and Advanced flying mode selection
- Left stick: throttle (up/down). Right stick: Forward/Backward, left/Right rudder.

Specifications
- Coaxial
- 21.6 x 3.7 x 8 inches
- 12 inch main rotor span
- 2 pounds

Charging is done by using the included USB charger. It requires to USB power sources and connects directly to the helicopter. USB charging is nice for electronic components but It’s not convenient for a 2 pound helicopter. Even with the few computers I have throughout my place I would still prefer a simpler power charger. You can buy car adapters that convert to USB. You can also buy USB converters that plug into the wall. They’re easy to find and are usually included with mobile phone packages and Apple products. If you’re geeky enough you can dig through your box of random tech junk and pull one out. That’s what I did!

Charging took 60 minutes (30-60 minutes from the manual) for first flight and I was in the air for 8 minutes stable throttle. Barely any trimming required and my first impression was smiles. It’s definitely got more punch compared to a typical toy RC helicopter. I haven’t crashed in the few flights I’ve had so I can’t tell you how durable it is. The main rotor blades are thick and heavy and will likely do more damage to whatever they hit. It doesn’t come with replacement main blades (only tail rotor) so be extra careful. The body is very durable, almost to durable. I think they could have saved a lot of weight if they cut back on the thick plastics but we’ll see how it tests to time.

You can select normal and pro flying mode from your transmitter. Pro mode will allow the helicopter to go slightly faster with more control, but it will be harder to fly. Overall, flying the helicopter is loads of fun and this model is a better representation of an advanced RC helicopter but of course lacks the components. A hobby grade RC helicopter model will have servos, control units, and a more advanced transmitter, but you will pay a lot more for those features.


cheap rc helicopter, interceptor rc, interceptor rc helicopter, micro rc helicopter, Reviews
Posted in Micro RC Helicopters, Reviews
RC Helicopter Cameras
September 11th, 2010 by RC Geek
Forget about spying on the neighbors. By attaching a wireless video camera to your RC helicopter you’ll have the ability to take incredible aerial photography.



A company specializing in radio controlled flying machines for over 10 years has come out with a model called the Draganflyer. The Draganflyer helicopter is a miniature aircraft for commercial/industrial aerial video and photography. The design utilizes eight main horizontal rotor blades and allows the rc helicopter to hover efficiently and maneuver rapidly using differential thrust. Eight efficient, electric motors allow the Draganflyer to carry heavier and more advanced payloads.

The cost isn’t mentioned on their website but you could be looking at the range of $10,000-$50,000. If you can’t find that many pennies under the couch you could always buy a mini video camera and hook it up to your existing RC helciopter.

This is the Etech Super Mini Fly Cam v3.0. For under $100 you can have a mini HD video camera. It weighs 14grams so you’ll need an RC helicopter powerful enough to support it. It will work on a modified Blade CX2 and up. A 400 size and up helicopter will work best. This camera works by recording video and saving it internally. You can then transfer the video via USB to your devices. It’s also charged by connecting the USB cable to a computer or USB charging device.



Check your local laws before flying an RC helicopter with a camera on it. In Ontario it’s strictly forbidden unless you have a permit. Taking aerial photography could also turn into a business. Taking pictures of real estate for advertising or snapping pictures of a golf course could be examples.

You can also connect wireless video cameras that let you control your RC helicopter from a remote monitor.


rc heli cameras, rc helicopter camera, video camera
Posted in RC Helicopter Cameras
Li’l Flyer Micro RC Helicopter Review
September 11th, 2010 by RC Geek
Micro RC helicopters can’t get much smaller than the Li’l Flyer. For a very good price you can own one and start flying RC helicopters. There’s been some negative feedback on this model but I’ve found it to be almost perfect.



I was first impressed with the repair kit it came with. A little box labeled “repair kit” full of many parts that will likely break. It comes with 8 replacement blades! It’s 2 sets of 4 but you usually just break a couple blades at a time, if any if you’re careful. It also comes with, flybar, screwdriver and hardware.

Charging took about 30 minutes with new batteries. Charging time will be longer as the batteries are used. There’s no forward movement. Some micro RC helicopters will have a tail rotor which can control forward and backwards flight. The Li’l flyer has no just the 2 coaxial blades and the design automatically moves the helicopter forward. If you’re just beginning to fly this is perfect because you’ll learn how to use the rudder. If you have experience flying I would suggest a piece of balled up tape on the front nose to make it faster. It works really well.

The rudder is very sensitive because of the size but the remote is fully capable of controlling fine movements. It also has left/right trim. Take-off is completely wacky but to me it’s a funny feature. The helicopter forces itself to spin when you take off. It’s possible to control but not worth the effort. Once you’re in the air the helicopter will start to move forward. The throttle control stick spring is a little strong but not something to worry about. Flying time is approximately 10 minutes.

Overall, the Li’l Flyer is FUN! I was surprised to see how stable it is in the air, no vibrations at all. Take-off is sketchy but always possible. Flying and landing is very controlled and the LED lights are great for the dark. When I added some weight to the nose it was like putting a new motor on. Definitely try that. I’ve crashed it lightly a few times but there’s not a single scratch! If you’re a beginner flyer, expect to brake some blades and if you’re a hobbyist this one’s fun to mess around with indoors and affordable to promptly add to the collection!

Out of the box:
- Li’l Flyer Ultra Compact RC Helicopter (with LED lights)
- Lipo Battery (charged by transmitter cable directly in helicopter)
- Infra-red Transmitter, single channel (sold A/B/C for up to 3 models in the air at the same time), 80 foot range.
- Repair Kit

No batteries included. Requires 6 AA’s.


lil flyer, micro rc helicopters, rc helicopter, Reviews
Posted in Micro RC Helicopters, Reviews
Micro RC Helicopters
September 10th, 2010 by RC Geek
Some call them micro, some call them miniature, and some just call them small RC helicopters. They all stand in at just under a few grams. The light weight design gives the model flying capabilities with minimum power.

There are several micro RC helicopter models available and I wouldn’t consider them toys. They’re all capable of flying and some have better technologies to improve stability.



There are several items that make up a micro RC helicopter. The picture above represents a cross-section of one. It’s a simple concept that works with a balanced aircraft.

Power
It’s powered by a dense lipo battery that moves the miniature dc-motor. Attached to the motor is the main gear that drives the main rotor. It also powers the Tail motor which moves the tail rotor.

Movement and Control
The infra-red sensor receives the movements from the transmitter which the controller board interprets to use variable power on the tail rotor. There are no servos on most micro RC helicopters. The fly-bar on top helps stabilize the helicopter and it’s all encased in a light Styrofoam body.

Most micro RC helicopters are made for the hobbyist. It’s a perfect introduction model if you’re interested in starting RC helicopter flying. These are also great for the experienced flyer because it’s safe to fly around indoors. The best part about micro RC helicopters is the price it costs to get the feeling of RC flying.


buy, micro rc helicopters
Posted in Micro RC Helicopters
When RC Helicopters Collide
September 10th, 2010 by RC Geek
I trained my friend with a buddy box (LP5DSM) and my DX7 on the E-Flite Blade mSR. Not a single crash and he was ready by himself. He took it by himself and flew it nose out, take off, and land, without crashing. Not bad from only flying coaxial micro RC helicopters. I had my Blade CX2 so I started flying at the same time. We were pretty good hovering them beside each other. Many flights later it happened, they collided. Surprisingly, the Blade mSR won the battle. The Blade CX2 top blade smashed, i think the canopy, of the Blade mSR causing the blade to snap at the end. The Blade mSR, not a scratch. Cool.

I’ve flown the Blade mSR everywhere for the past couple of months and I’ve yet to replace a part. It’s had several careful crashes and falls. The blades are scratched but not cut. I’ve had to clean the motors a few times but other than that it’s been perfect. I would still suggest the Blade CX2 if you want to start flying RC helicopters because it has more power for controlled flight and crashing once will most likely brake it so you’ll try harder to fly with control.


Blade CX2, blade msr, crash, rc helicopter
Posted in Blade CX2, Blade mSR, Crash Report
E-Flite Blade CX2 Outdoor Flying
September 1st, 2010 by RC Geek
Here’s another look at the E-Flite Blade CX2. I’ve been using the Blade mSR and Blade 120 SR and haven’t touched the CX2 in a while. I forgot how nice the extra power and size difference is. The Blade CX2 was the first model I bought and it’s perfect for getting into RC Helicopter flying. Mind the no so smooth landing…




Posted in Blade CX2
How to setup a Buddy Box
September 1st, 2010 by RC Geek


In this video I’ll show you how to connect a second transmitter to use as a “buddy box” when learning how to fly RC Helicopters or RC anything.

You will need a programmable transmitter and another one with a trainer input. The trainer cord can simply be a male to male stereo audio cable like one you would use with a computer. I found mine in a box of audio cables.

Bind your RC Helicopter to your master transmitter.

Depending on your transmitter you’ll need to set specific settings under the Trainer options. For the DX7 connecting to the LP5DSM (blade cx2 trasmitter) you’ll need to set P-Link mode. For connecting a DX7 to a DX6 you’ll need to select NORMAL mode. You also have an option to select which switch is used to give control to buddy box. With the DX7 you can select the left or right rocker switches.

You don’t need to turn on your slave controller. The feed from the cable doesn’t require power. You can also unplug the transmitter from your slave remote as it’s not required.

Plug in the cable to your master transmitter then plug it into the slave.

Test the controls and have fun. Now you can learn how to fly or let a friend try without the fear of