I'm new to the hobby and have had mine for a month. I just got the dx6i transmitter and can get it to perform nice banked turns, and have even flipped it twice. It doesn't want to flip, but you can make it if you have enough height. It's been great and is building my confidence towards a Control Pitch, I'm thinking mCPx.
yes, it is a great heli for beginners. I would recommend starting with a coaxial like the mCX2, but this is also good, especially if you have some previous stick time.
@MrCF545 it is really up to you. Both are extremely fun. One main thing you should ponder is - where will you fly? If you have a very large field you can fly at, then a larger plane would be fine. If you plan to fly indoors, you may want a dual rotor helicopter to start. I would suggest a mCX, mCX2, or CX3 if you go the helicopter rout. If you start with planes, I would suggest: Ember2, super cub LP, or night vapor.
I do have to say that yes I have broke mine too but considering I never flew before this heli, it has with stood a lot of punishment and still flies, replaced lots of parts but that is to be expected with any heli. I love this little model I would recommend to anyone, very durable.
@brushless55 yeah, I agree brushless and torque tube are nice, but they are really much more needed on a CP heli. Also, when you are learning, you will often crash, that is just the truth... and the torque tube on the 125CP has gears that strip/brake almost everytime you touch the moving tail to anything. This doesn't happen with the 120sr.
I believe this heli has advanced swash plate settings, but I forget if this one did or not. See if the swash plate has longer arms you can connect the control rods to, it will give you more movement. Also make sure to set your rates to high in your transmitter.
@TheChickeneer if you have a lot of plane experience, and at least some experience with a coaxial, this may be a fine choice. just take it slow, don't try to fly this thing in circles around your room before you get the hang of it. I would actually suggest the new msr x, it's a bit smaller, but it is the new flybarless system, and smaller I find is better for indoors, since neither of the helicopters do good in any wind, the smaller msr x allows for more space indoors compared to its size.
@jwtpsu if both are stock, I would take the blade SR. the 125 cp is very underpowered, but it flies ok. The Novus 125 CP has more power, but still I would choose the SR. The SR is about $200, whereas the 125CP is more than that, plus, I put like another $150 into my Novus 125CP to get it flying how it flies now. So the little 125CP costs a lot more.
I've had some walkera heli's in the past, and they were ok. For a FP heli, having a shaft or belt driven tail isn't really all that important, it just adds more that can break really or go wrong. I would say if you want an FP heli to learn on, go with the blade 120sr, blade msr, or blade msrx.
@taurustbolt I don't use dual rates or expo. But I would suggest maybe 10% on the rudder, aileron, and elevator for a beginner. If you want to setup a low rate, set it to maybe 70% for low rates, and 100% for high.
You have some great flying skills. The little guy is kind of hard to control in wind over 5mph. On calm days if it is trimmed well it can be fun. Blades are kind of like traxxas. They take a beating.
@fishinggeek1234 sorry to hear about your misfortune, but it is very hard to transfer from a coaxial to a CP heli. I hope other people read this too. You will be very pleased with the 120sr. Being a FP heli it will help you transition back to your SR over time, and will provide enough fun and chellenge while you learn. Good luck and happy flying!
you want a Fixed Pitch helicopter now. The mCPxV2 is a Collective Pitch helicopter and is a bad choice for after a coaxial. Go with the 120SR or mSR(x). I would say go with the mSR because it is a bit smaller, so it is easier to fly indoors in smaller areas than the 120SR.
mCPX is a Collective Pitch helicopter. The Blade 120SR is a Fixed Pitch helicopter. If you are a beginner, you *do not* want to start with a CP (Collective Pitch) helicopter. You will want to start with a Coaxial like a blade CX or mCX, then move up to a FP (Fixed Pitch) helicopter like the blade mSR, mSRx, or 120SR. Once you master coaxial and FP helicopters, then you can move onto a CP helicopter like the mCPx.
120sr would be a perfect choice if you have a large indoor area to fly. if you play to fly in a large room of your house, you may want to go with the smaller mSR or mSRx
@brushless55 I would say go with the e-flite 120sr. They are both great FP helicopters, but the E-flite 120SR is more popular and parts are available in almost all hobby shops. It is very durable though, as you saw my crash in this video, so parts hopefully won't be needed.
@jwtpsu Hey. Yes it does drift a bit. You could use some elevator / aileron mixing to get that more straight. Well, the 120SR is a FP helicopter. I have never flown the Novus FP or 125FP, so I really can't compare them. I have the Novus CP and 125CP, but those are collective pitch helicopters, to you can't really compare the two.
@theLostTruckerDude it is pretty stable, but just like the msr, quick throttle movements will cause a little tail sway. Both motors(main and tail) need to 'even out'. They are different motors, with different props(rotors) so they take a partial second to get 'in line'.
I have the Blade cmx2 and cx2 and ready for more.......challenges! Thanks for posting these quality vids and you're right Blades take a beating and keep flying. I've broke so many cheap 3 ch helis and haven't even dented my Blades with muliple (read lots and lots of indoor wrecks) I like the fact that parts are cheap and helis are qaulity, even if there are complaints about them.Thanks
@RCHobbiesandMore I'd say stick with FP helis for a while until you are 100% comfortable doing fast flight forwards and backwards, and also able to hover and fly in any direction. then step up to a CP heli like the blade SR.
@standhd awesome! I still just have the widowmaker. I did get a metal prop at least, so no more broken props! But I really don't know all that much about boats. If I get another boat in the future, I will have to get some info from you first :)
Just thought I should say nice vid! There are so many on here that showcase a heli, but don't give such a meaningful experience. I'd love if you could review all beginner helis and try to do the exact same flight pattern and experience - including reversing into trees! After all, besides all the fun in flying, dealing with accidents is what the hobby is all about ;)
this is the best step up from a coaxial.........its extremly durable...as long as you cut the throtttle before you crash......its an excellent hands on trainer
@BrainyBoy7 yeah, they seem to hit a bit when I power up too quick. I might tighten them slightly. The mSR or the 120 SR are both equally good I believe. It really will depend where you want to fly it. If you plan to fly inside your house mainly, the mSR is probably the best choice. If you plan to fly in a large gym, or if you have calm days where you live and want to fly more outside, the 120sr may better suit you.
@brushless55 well, that depends. Sure it is 'better' in the sense that those things supposidly make the helicopter more head locking. The thing is, my mSR and 120SR hold their heading perfect, so no problem there. And like I said, any tail strike will cause you to strip the gears; not a huge deal, but some time and money to fix for every crash. This is important to consider if you are a first time single rotor pilot that will most likely crash often.
@BrainyBoy7 it might be. Everyone is different and learns at different speeds, so what one person could do, another might take more time for. If you have a LOT of simulator time, you probably could learn on the 120 sr, just be sure to take it slow, and don't push your limits too much. First just hover and keep the tail towards you until you get more used to how it flies. Real heli's fly different than the simulator, but the sim is a great learning tool.
@georgeo4412 hey. To trim you need a very calm area(no wind at all) and you need to use the buttons on the transmitter to get the helicopter to fly pretty still in a hover(it won't stay in one exact spot, but you can get it close to that, and steady). If the trim buttons on the transmitter aren't doing enough, then you may have to adjust the linkages attached to the swashplate.
it just takes some time to get used to it. You just use the cyclic and make it turn. use for forward and left movement to turn left, and opposite for right. If you start moving to fast, or turning too much, do the opposite to correct it.
My 200srx is a fun little heli to fly, but a similar tree strike bent the tailboom almost completely around, and removed a blade from the tail rotor. It's heavy for its size, which is good for a lot of things... but gravity is a harsh teacher.
ok i was leaning more towards the msrx thinking it may be more durable than the 120. i plan on getting the msrx and just go to a big field and just send it up high and practice from high up. thanks man love your vids
I am still wrapped up in this boat hobby, but my helis are on top of my TV in my bedroom so I see them everyday....I am not flying them right now....but your review makes me want to add to my fleet....I have five so far....not including two low quality toys/clones.
I've gotten really good at CP helis in Phoenix. And to me models are a lot bigger in real life than it looks in the simulator, and that is my main problem. Nice reviews!
@XYZslayer well the falcon 40 is a FP heli right? If you can fly FP helicopters well enough, you may want to step up to something like the mCP X 2; however, it may be best to get a little more practice on a FP heli like the 120SR. I'd suggest getting the 120SR or the mSR X and getting a bit more practice on a quality FP heli.
Thanks I now relize that jumping from a mcx to a 450 would of been a crash waiting to happen. I am just starting to get to know how to operate my new 120sr and loving it.I am saving for a dx6i right now then after that i will save for the 450. That will be the heli i will stay with,I think, well its my goal anyway.Thanks for your advice!
@puffmonster689 best to start with a coaxial like the mCX or mCX2, or CX3. But this heli is what some people start with, and many people have great luck.
This thing is more or less indestructible. I've had mine for like 2 days (my first heli ever and my first rc anything in like 5 years), and I've managed at least 10 major crashes into trees, fences, our house etc (should probably go look for a more open area), and the only thing I've managed so far is to bend the tail rotor. Fairly durable, just bend it back and it works again.
ITs a great heli. Taught myself to fly a heli from scratch with it and have crashed it a LOT. 90% of the time no damage. For the other 10% spares are cheap! :)
@MrCF545 lol, well then, if you won't take my advice about starting with a dual rotor helicopter; at least take this advice: Start SLOW, and don't try to fly fast for a long time! Get used to just hovering the helicopter in one spot. Do that for like 10 batteries! Seriously, like 10 or more batteries just hovering. Then, start doing very slow movements. After a while, you will start going faster. But just know, the faster you go, the more chance of crash/damage, so slow at first! GL!!!
@Rapierky1 once you get used to the CP's, they are very smooth, but I agree, it takes time and practice to get good at them. I know walkera makes a heli called the UFly which I believe is a larger sized FP heli of pretty good quality. I know they used to sell it on the wowhobbies website.
Bad idea. If you get a 450 after only flying an mCX you are going to destroy the 450 on the first flight. You should step up from your coaxial mCX to a micro Fixed Pitch helicopter like the mSR, mSRx, or the 120SR. Once you master a FP heli, then move to a 6ch CCPM helicopter like the 450.
I have a little toy RC heli my grandkid and I would fly in the garage...decided to grad up to the next level. Got the 120 RS recommended by the local hobby shop. Think it will be a blast in the field.
@earthling1984 DX6i works fine, however note you might want some mixing because turning left requires pushing cyclic to front, and turning right requires cyclic to back. Otherwise, the heli does not turn on the spot, but tends to drift while you turn. You can do this using the mixer in your brain, or using the DX6i mixing functions. (The MSR, for example, behaves exactly the same, but does the mixing in the 5+1. The 120 SR does not do that.)
I enjoyed watching your video, even the crash! I do have a newbie type question for you. I am decent at hovering and some basic outside flight. Definitely better when there is no wind and lots of open space. As I progress, can you explain the stick movements for doing forward circuit flying? Is it just forward cyclic and use the rudder to navigate with, or do you also throw in some left or right cyclic when you make the turns? It seems when I try it, my turns are different left Vs. turning Right
@gemhunter99 if you are talking about the 120 sr then yes you can but there is a blade sr that is a collective pitch heli and for that one you will need a 6 channel transmitter.
Just got my 120 and had a crash second fright. Broke the skids and lost the tail fin. Thought having a MCX 2 for a year that I can land it on a dime would make flying the 120 a breeze. No such luck! The first 120 I bought had circuit board problems but they took it back.
@earthling and Darevids trim it in as near to calm conditions, maybe spooling it up without taking off and trim against which way heli has a tendancy to move with it light on skids then when you do take off its not likely to go off in any direction drastically but you'll still need to fine tune the trim in the air. Best way is take off, get into a hover, check way its going, land minor adjustment on trim and then try again. you'll soon get her stable enough to fly
@bizzy420 I always set my timer for 5mins and have never hit the battery cutoff. I have never flown the nine eaglea. I would choose the eflite over the nine eagles tho
@standhd hehe. That happens. I have rc cars, boats, planes, helis... and I sometimes go from one of them to another. My boat hasn't been driven in about 2 months! And my cars have been left without a drive for about 3 weeks now. But my planes and helis have been flying like crazy! I'm sure I'll take my boat and cars out more though, they are all ready to drive when I want them :)
Hey man, been watching a few of your vids. You clearly know your stuff. Just got into this hobby and was told to get a blade mcx, so i did. I caught on to it quickly and want to grab the blade 450 3d. Good or Bad idea? Thanks for the vids there man they are well done!!!
Is it possible, sure. But the problem is, you are trying to go from a micro coaxial to a larger scale 450 CCPM heli. Honestly, you are going to end up damaging the 450 on every flight, causing you more money spent to fix it. I would go with a FP heli first that you won't damage. Fly that for a couple months as you save up for the 450 again.
Hi, Great videos by the way. Couple questions... Did you have any issues with your 120Sr flying to the right during forward flight? If yes..How did you correct? Next question is how you you compare the novus 125 to the blade 120sr. Likes and dislikes? which one do you prefer? Thanks
I think the reason your 120 SR jerks so much when you power it up is because your blades are too loose. And do you think that this is more worth the money (BNF) over the MSR? I have a lot of practice on Phoenix Flight Sim and was hoping I could skip a coaxial to a single rotor. I'm going to go pick one up tomorrow! By the way, nice reviews and you have a lot of money to spend on models! LOL!
@FryedBurntOut hehe, well I have many helis, but yes, the Erazor was a bad one. It just has crappy parts that make it very hard to get setup smooth. If you want something better, try an EXI kit(still not great, but better than erazor), or get a trex 250 kit and then you'll have a nice heli :)
@trunksss5 alot of the time its just the servo gear, just replace the gear, saves ya time, and keep the servo as a spare. at least this is my prob, the servo gear melts or a tooth gets broke, and it sucks that they dont sell just the gear.
@earthling1984 I've got the MCPx and a Blade 450. The CP birds are just too twitchy for me. Not what you can call relaxing to fly. You've got to stay on your toes with the CP. I'd like to have a bigger version of a fixed pitch. Can you recommend one?
I agree, blade heli's are pretty durable. I also have the mcx2 and msr and they sure take a beating. Let's face it there's always gonna be those that complain and some people have more problems than others but with the cheap parts and easy rebuilds, blades can't be beat. Horizon hobby has the best customer service too.
I just bought one today, seem a little to big to fly indoors. Going to test it out tomorrow. How is it flying in the wind? I have the E-Flight Blade MCX which is a micro and is to small and light to handle any wind.
Great flight. I watched your videos on your experience with xheli.com I was wondering if you ever resolved those issues? I was thinking about ordering until I saw some of the reviews. Your input would be appreciated. Thx
@earthling1984 Have you ever seen or flew the Funcoptor V2? Its a lot of money, but it looks pretty slick. I also saw where you've flown the Honey Bee V2. From your comments is doesn't sound like you think much of it?
Ok man I will take your advice. Not to toot my own horn but I have great handeye and learn things quickly. What would you suggest for my next heli, Looking for some speed and challenge... Would the blade120SR be the best fit. Again I am greatfull for your advice and time!!!
I want to advance to the 6ch micro mcpx but so many problems with it right now. How is yours doing? blade holders, bearing oh my. I want to learn some basic 3D with it but when sh..t falls apart without crashing that's not good. I might stick with first choice and get another 4ch like the 120sr. Would be best and cheapest for outdoor flight beginner. Cheers!!
