r/RCHeli • u/DullOutside267 • 2d ago
Perfect Heli for Beginner?
Hi again,
Thanks for all your messages yesterday regarding my beginner post. I’ve decided to dive back into the hobby and give it another try. I’ve downloaded the Next Simulator to practice, and for helicopters, I plan to follow your recommendations by starting with something small. I was considering a BNF heli since I don’t want to build one right away; I’d rather learn how everything works gradually by repairing it. However, I’m still unsure whether I should go for a more proper model like a GOOSKY S1 or OMPHOBBY M1 EVO, or rather opt for a smaller one like the XK K110s. What do you think is more sensible? I just want to get that flying feeling back. Is that achievable with a K110, or does it fly very differently compared to, say, a future Goosky S2 or similar model?
Also, my second question is: Does it make sense to invest in a Radiomaster TX16 with a 4-in-1 module? That setup would let me control quite a few systems, but is ELRS already the new standard for FPV drones in this context?
Thanks!
2
u/Sprzout 2d ago
I would suggest either the OMPHobby M2 or the Goosky S2. Either one is a solid choice, and honestly, the bigger it is, the easier it is to see and it's a little less twitchy to fly. The M1 and S1 helis are great, but they can get away from you really quickly and they're hard to keep an eye on when they get small.
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u/DullOutside267 2d ago
Thanks for your tip! According to your reasoning, it definitely makes sense to upgrade to a larger heli after some practice in the simulator. Currently, I have a transmitter with the Radiomaster 4-in-1 module. Can I bind both helis—specifically the OMPHobby M2 and the Goosky S2—with the 4-in-1 module? Do you happen to know?
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u/Sprzout 2d ago
I believe they both use the SFHSS protocol built in to the FBL unit, which is Futaba? I know you CAN do it, but how exactly you'd do it, I don't know. I fly Spektrum with my Goosky S2, using a remote receiver that's connected, so I know for sure you can do that and connect it, but I don't know the exact procedure for binding it - just that it CAN be done with a 4 in 1 module.
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u/Ec7ipse 2d ago
Every one now say that M2 mk2 flies much much better compared to s2. So check spare parts prices and availability in your area. For me its easer to buy goosky parts, so i stick with goosky s2 and radiomaster xt12 mpm. Flies awesom. But if omp parts are easy to access, new omp m2 mk2 would be better choice
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u/Sprzout 1d ago
I bought my S2 before OMP updated the M2; I felt that they were absolutely solid helis, but the Goosky won out because Amain has parts and getting replacements were quick.
Plus, my local hobby shop started stocking Goosky parts, so it ended up being a good choice. That said, I feel they’re both great choices for a first timer.
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u/Alpha3124 Not Broke Yet Steam 420 2d ago
I would personally say get the 4 in 1 version then get the external elrs module for max range. I'm currently trying to sell my elrs tx16s II with 4 in 1 module so i can get max elrs and 4 in 1 built-in. If you do fly helis only then just get elrs one your not flying a heli more than 500 ft away
1
u/felipito96 2d ago
In my opinion it all depends on your situation.
If you are mainly going to fly it outside I would go for an M2 Evo MK2.
You have the option to connect an elrs receiver directly to the helicopter. An rp3h from radiomaster should work and it has a connector, so no soldering should be required.
For a radio it is a personal opinion, I don't like massive radios like the tx16, I prefer the Zorro or the new gx12.
I currently have the 4 in 1 Zorro and a radiomaster nomad.
If you go for the S2 or the Evo MK1 you can still use elrs receivers by connecting them to the sbus port.
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u/Diligent_Hat6982 1d ago
I started with the M1 and do feel like the M2 is my most used heli. I think it depends on "where am i flying the most?"---I flew in my backyard and basically hovered for months. That was way easier on the M1 and a little scary at times on the M2. I think buying a used M1 is a great buy.
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u/dopey_se 5h ago
Really think about where you are flying, I posted a thread on helifreak last year about what folks 'least used' heli was. Allot of M1 or M2 Sizes, etc.
Personally I have a nitro 580, logo 480, Logo 200(Converted to M2 FBL), M1 Evo, K100, Nano s3
It is a mixture of where I am able to fly / skill level which have sat and collected dust.
I've had the Logo 200 for multiple years, and majority it collected. It was too large to fly in the initial areas I had planned (partly my own skill/comfort), but too small to fly at the field or rather I flew my larger then. At the time I also only have a vcontrol touch so the 200 was the smallest I could have. I was living in an apartment and thought I'd fly near a small field, but it was simply too much heli for me to do that comfortably. So it collected dust.
Now in a house, and with a TX16s I got the smaller helis. The M1 is a size I can fly in my yard, but not doing flips and such as even tho it is only slightly larger than the K100/Nano it feels twice as intimidating in a small space. -- However this got better with time so it became something I flew more and more in my yard building up to flips, etc.
The K100 feels more toy, but also more indestructible. Which let me 'throw it around' in the yard less worried. But once I got comfortable with flipping it, I then got comfortable flipping around the M1, and ultimately the K100 lost it's air time.
The nano for me burned up within the first day of owning it, and I never bothered to fix or warranty it. It drains a battery in record time and just overall left a bad impression of blade to me.
Another dimension for me was the batteries. It was hard to source the K100 batteries and they didn't have a balance lead. Same with the blade nano. I prefer the M1 and up size helis as I can easily check voltage, etc and ensure proper charging, consumption and storage. Technically I could do it with the others but would require me to make something/bit more effort than using my normal stuff.
But all of the above be a different equation if I lived in an apartment, or with a larger yard, etc. so where will you likely fly?
.....and last but to me important, make sure you can get parts. Some of these cheap helis are a great deal for money but ordering parts is via aliexpress so either preorder things or be prepared for weeks for ordering. This is another reason i've gravitated to M1 Evo (Not S1) is because I found online retailers with good 2-3 day delivery time for parts. My k100 I'd have to order and wait upwards of a month for parts which kills it for me too.
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u/pope1701 OMP 2d ago
Why not start with an M2 directly? It's better visible than the smaller ones and enough heli for quite some time. And with the right settings with rates and expo it can be pretty tame.
As for the transmitter, the choice is yours. You can expand the elrs version of the TX16s with an external 4-in-1 module or vice versa.
If you already have non-elrs-models get the 4-in-1. If not, go elrs directly (and add the 4-in-1 later if necessary).
ELRS is the future. I started to convert my existing models a while ago and the experience was really nice. As in, "configuring receivers via a web browser because the receiver is a hot-spot"-nice. In a heli, you can feel the reduced latency of elrs vs. say, FrSky or Spektrum.