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View Full Version : Indoor RC Helicopters - China does it again...


Aitch
24-01-2010, 23:32
A couple of years ago, we were all buzzing (if you'll pardon the pun) about the Picoo Z 2ch indoor helicopters. Some upgraded and moved to bigger and better things. My neighbour, enamoured by my simple Picoo Z went the whole hog and is now running petrol powered helicopters. Me, I don't like to fly only when the weather allows me and prefer to fly from the comfort of my sofa. So I've kept it miniature and mainly 3ch. My favourites so far have been a 3ch Airwolf...

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2701/54/84/672047320/n672047320_2184039_553961.jpg

And my 3ch Chinook...

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs050.snc1/4462_104096672320_672047320_2396185_3478398_n.jpg

But now, those industrious little chappies in China have come up with an easy to fly 4ch indoor helicopter in the form of the Qifei Free Bird...

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs122.snc3/16951_289223542320_672047320_4027007_1449845_n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJnWBLTjXBI

It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of pressing buttons instead of moving levers, man the thing can fly wherever you want it to :notworthy

It's the best £16 I've ever spent :nod:
Easy007
25-01-2010, 00:15
Cool but where did you get it from?
riske
25-01-2010, 00:25
loving the last pic esp with sxoc on the laptop...
Aitch
25-01-2010, 08:58
Cool but where did you get it from?

It washed up on my shores from the Bay of E :)
rd200sx
25-01-2010, 09:15
these are good little gadgets.ive got a 3chan alloy shark but find it hard to stop the thing spinning everytime you try to give it more height.
Aitch
25-01-2010, 12:44
these are good little gadgets.ive got a 3chan alloy shark but find it hard to stop the thing spinning everytime you try to give it more height.

Ie got one of those too - I am really disappointed with it because it doesn't fly well at all :(
Jon_H
25-01-2010, 12:50
Why does the Chinook need contra-rotating rotors at each end? I thought the whole point of a Chinook was that it already had contra-rotation... :wack:
AP2
25-01-2010, 17:18
Nice Helis Aitch, couple of mine for you.

Little Walkera 4#3b 4ch Micro good general knock around

http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss137/alan449/Helis/SDC12995.jpg

And his slightly larger brother Walkera 4G3 6 ch Micro good for indoor 3D :D

http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss137/alan449/Helis/SDC12997.jpg

And there Big grown up Brother X-cell Tempest, not very good for indoors as the exhaust fumes get you :wack:

http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss137/alan449/Helis/SDC12999.jpg
Grim
25-01-2010, 18:01
the important question is, can you get spares?
Aitch
25-01-2010, 18:03
I had a 4#3 - it was too delicate and a bit too difficult to get the hang of in a small room. By the time I had realised I was doing something wrong it was in the fireplace, usually in bits :wack:. I made all my money back selling it on eBay for spares and bought a couple of cheap Chinese jobbies and I have had more fun with those the 4#3. And if they break, it doesn't matter - it's only £16-£20 to replace them :)
AP2
25-01-2010, 19:10
I had a 4#3 - it was too delicate and a bit too difficult to get the hang of in a small room. By the time I had realised I was doing something wrong it was in the fireplace, usually in bits :wack:. I made all my money back selling it on eBay for spares and bought a couple of cheap Chinese jobbies and I have had more fun with those the 4#3. And if they break, it doesn't matter - it's only £16-£20 to replace them :)

Yes I hear what you are saying, a large room is definately in order to get the best from them.
I personally use the 4G3 more as it is far more stable and good for practicing nose in and inverted hovering but then I have been flying RC heli's for some 18 years :nod: so you get a feel for what the heli is about to do rather than dealing with what it has done if you know what I mean :)

I must be honest though the 4#3b has been very robust it has had some pretty big bangs and knocks not to mention being pulled out of the air by the cat on more than one occasion:D I think that the metal head helps quite a lot though :thumbs:
Aitch
25-01-2010, 19:49
A couple of shots of the alloy one I got recently...

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs122.snc3/16951_290549147320_672047320_4031729_3529582_n.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs142.snc3/16951_290549167320_672047320_4031731_3367757_n.jpg

It's a pain because it needs constant trimming to fly and it's hard to place it where you want it with any sort of precision. It's one of the few of the really cheap ones that I really don't like, which is a shame because it looks good.
SuperMonkeyKong
25-01-2010, 20:14
Is this the good cheap one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Ch-4Ch-Micro-Remote-Control-Mini-RC-Helicopter-Toy_W0QQitemZ300389538619QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Toy sGames_RadioControlled_JN?hash=item45f09c9b3b#ht_2 963wt_1165
Aitch
25-01-2010, 20:48
Is this the good cheap one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Ch-4Ch-Micro-Remote-Control-Mini-RC-Helicopter-Toy_W0QQitemZ300389538619QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Toy sGames_RadioControlled_JN?hash=item45f09c9b3b#ht_2 963wt_1165

That uses the same system as the green one I've posted up. I think it's a great little machine, especially for the money. They do feel a bit cheap, but that's because it is :nod:

I can't wait until Syma have developed this cheap 4ch technology - their chinook that I've pictured above is one of their products and it a great value bit of kit for £20 :nod:
Egon
26-01-2010, 20:25
my mate bought me a twin engined plane a while ago, might have to dig it out and have a go in my warehouse at work! no wind!! :wack: :D
Marcos
26-01-2010, 20:39
I got one of these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220495452660) which flys pretty well. The only thing I was a bit disapointed with was my workmate has exactly the same model but his has a gyro!:annoyed: Still, nothing some skill can't overcome!:D
Slipstream_ian
27-01-2010, 17:19
my alloy shark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S9NnUNSj34
jony9
02-03-2010, 18:53
are these any good?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Z503-JXD-Alloy-3ch-Metal-Micro-RC-Helicopter-with-Gyro_W0QQitemZ120520539698QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_To ysGames_RadioControlled_JN?hash=item1c0f957e32
Aitch
02-03-2010, 22:31
are these any good?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Z503-JXD-Alloy-3ch-Metal-Micro-RC-Helicopter-with-Gyro_W0QQitemZ120520539698QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_To ysGames_RadioControlled_JN?hash=item1c0f957e32

Mine doesn't fly anything like the one in the video. Maybe I got a duff one :confused:
jony9
03-03-2010, 10:29
what are the best for the house,
Aitch
03-03-2010, 11:36
The Syma Chinnook is my favourite. The helicopter you linked to has a gyro, which mine doesn't, so it might be okay. In fact I might buy one just to find out :wack:
jony9
03-03-2010, 11:53
so whats the diff, i dont really know much about them i have got one of these http://www.geniestuff.co.uk/htdocs/esky-co-comanche-4-channel-rc-helicopter.htm but i still aint tryed it just incase i brake it lol,,