R/C Helicopters

AkimboEG

My sister and I decided to buy my brother a R/C copter for his birthday (32), but we're both entirely clueless as to what makes one good.
We're looking for the best model a money can buy. (and by money I mean up to $60)
I'd love to get some recommendation as to specific models, or even what the check.

bwanie

Real R/C helicopters are a bitch and a half to control.

The ones you can buy for 60 bucks are not equipped with all the tools to make them fly like an actual helicopter. They're pretty much unsteerable.

Really the most fun in that pricerange is to be had with silverlight aeroplanes. (they are rudderless, but can steer by increasing/decreaseing the prop spreed on either side.)

I've had two for about 6 years now and i still take them out on calm days.

TankJitsu

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with that. R/C Helicopters are fun, and awesome for indoor spaces. They are relatively easy to fly, with the dual-rotor types being extremely stable and durable. I have crashed mine dozens of times with no damage to it. With today's battery and motor tech, you get flight times in about the 7-10 minute range.

With a $60 budget, you have a large selection of 2 and 3 channel-type copters. That usually means it can go up/down, turn left/right, and with a 3rd channel, control forward/backward movement. Here's an awesome website that I used to get started. It has an entire section on Toy Helicopters, most of which cost well under $60.
http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/toy-helicopters.html
They seem to like the Airhogs, which go for around $40 on Amazon.

For $80, you can get a 4-channel copter, which has much of the same control-ability as a real chopper. The E-Flight Blade mCX:
http://www.amazon.com/BLADE-MCX-Blade-Mode-2/dp/B001D7O6JK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1314456018&sr=1-1
is a great choice, for alittle more money.

I've got my Blade mCX 2, which I love to fly around the house and terrorize the wife with!

AkimboEG

Just to clarify, the price tag should include the radio controller.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Go to a model store and try them all out. Some of the cheaper models come with a controller that is flat-out useless. My sister got me a little 3 channel toy helicopter for my birthday this year, and it is awesome! Shame about the useless fucking controller though, the left stick (height) works about half of the time. So I can go forward, back, left and right perfectly fine for about 3 seconds, up until the heli either falls to the floor, or smashes into the ceiling and drops to the floor.

Djeet

This one comes as well reviewed, inexpensive, and tough: http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

However it's IR-based, and comes with IR-based limitations.

My understand is the 3/3.5 channel or lesser models are easier to control/start on.

Donovan Puppyfucker

IR models are fine for indoors. If you can see it, you can control it - if you want to mount a camera on it and fly it through air ducts and stuff, you'll need a better model, obviously.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Actually I checked Djeet's link, and it's the exact same controller as mine. The heli is almost identical as well. Just make sure you buy one from a place that takes returns on faulty products in case you get one with a control stick that sucks.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Maybe try something like this instead?

Barrakketh

TankJitsu wrote: »

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with that. R/C Helicopters are fun, and awesome for indoor spaces. They are relatively easy to fly, with the dual-rotor types being extremely stable and durable. I have crashed mine dozens of times with no damage to it.

Coax helicopters don't fly like a collective pitch heli.

When you see someone who is really interested in the hobby discussing their heli, they are almost always talking about a collective pitch helicopter. Those are the kind that are a bitch to fly.

TankJitsu

Barrakketh is correct: coaxial or "co-ax" heli's (or as I call them, "dual rotor") are the way to go when you are starting out. If and when you want to move up to a more dynamic helicopter, then you move to collective pitch. But don't start there, as it's usually more expensive, harder to control, and easier to crash.

Ego

Yeah, I wouldn't start with a collective pitch heli --it'll get broken so many times before your brother is good at flying it. Coax's are a whole world easier. Only downside is that using them outdoors pretty much requires a windless day --if you fly them into more than the gentlest of breezes, they'll just climb and climb and climb. Till they come crashing down.

I have the Syma chrishallet83 linked. Lasted me quite some time before I somehow bent the rotor shaft.

Speaking of cheap RC stuff, as bwanie mentioned you can get cheap RC planes that control themselves just through prop speed adjustment. I have a couple 'airhogs' F-18s that, while very much 'toys', are really enjoyable and easy to fly around outside.

AkimboEG

I appreciate the advice so far, but I ended going with something a bit cheaper, and not really of a known a brand. Having to import (since local prices are at least triple those you guys get in the states) pretty much narrowed me down to Deal Extreme due to added shipping costs.

The specific model seems to be getting quite a few positive reviews on DX and at $26, I really haven't lost much if it turns out bad.

Ego

That looks like it'll work just fine . Bet your brother loves it.

Grimm

Once your past the coaxil stage, i suggest you take a look at the blade msr. I started out on one. At first i had no idea what i was doing and hated how twitchy it was due to the small size. After i got the hang of it, i loved how i could beat the crap out of it and get it right back in the air. If you want something a little bigger, you could go with the blade sr or the blade 120. Pretty much the same thing just bigger sizes. I also highly recommend getting a flight sim. I went with phoenix but i have heard good things about real flight too. You can also check out http://www.helifreak.com/