SR or MCP X

skydver · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:01 pm Post subject: SR or MCP X

I'm looking for anyone who has experience with both of these helis who can give help me with a question or two.

I have heard that they are both good "intermediate" type helis. The SR is a little bigger and a little better for outdoors. The MCP X is smaller but capable of 3D and would be a good 3D type trainer.

My specific question has to do with repair. I was told that the MCP X can take a bit of a beating and holds up well but the SR is harder to keep in tune after a crash and repair.

I have Blade 120 SR am on the verge of getting my next heli and I appreciate any input you may have.

Thanx
Mark

nick_onelove · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:28 am Post subject:

I've only flown the SR once and it was back when I didn't have much skill yet so I didn't do much more than hover, but I've heard a lot about it from a lot of different people. On the other hand, I own 3 mCP X's, one stock and the other two with various mods and upgrades, and I fly them everyday.

The tail motor on the SR is terrible. It burns out over time, it causes irregular and inconsistent pirouette rates, and it causes tail blowout with dramatic throttle/pitch changes. It just isn't efficient for a CP heli of that size to have a direct-drive tail motor.

You may think that the SR will handle the wind better because it's bigger, but just the opposite the mCP X handles wind better because it's flybarless. I often fly my mCP X in the same or more wind than my Blade 450 or Walkera V500. The kind of wind that would just carry the 120 SR away.

The mCP X also has a tail motor and as such also suffers from mild tail blowout, however that's only with extremely dramatic pitch changes, and even then it's only about 30 degrees of blowout at most. Because the heli is smaller the tail motor doesn't have to work as hard and doesn't just routinely wear out like the SR tail motor. The sophisticated 3-axis gyro in the mCP X also keeps pirouette rates nice and consistent.

So anyway if you couldn't tell, I highly recommend the mCP X over the SR. Either way it would be ideal if you could the heli BNF and get a DX6i computerized transmitter. Dual rates will make either heli, especially the mCP X infinitely easier to fly. But I understand money doesn't grow on trees, and I believe the RTF transmitters do come with a rudimentary form of dual rates anyway, it's just not customizable.

The mCP X's small size also makes it incredibly durable as you mentioned, if you want a bigger heli go for the Blade 450 3D. That would also get a DX6i in your hands.

Sorry to crush you with a wall of text, I guess I had a lot to say about this. Laughing

_________________
Align: Trex 250 3GX + Trex 450 Pro with Vbar
Blade: 450 X, mCP X, 120 SR, mSR X, CX3, mCX2
Esky: Belt-CP X and V2 - Futaba: Heli-Max Axe 400
Walkera: V500D01, M120D01, V100D08, DEVO 8
Spektrum: DX8 - AMA #967873 - IRCHA #4095

admiral · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:39 am Post subject:

Hi skydver,

I own both, and will agree with everything that Nick has said except I would be a bit harder on the SR, it may just be mine but its a dog to fly, seems to have a mind of its own, thinking of putting the electrics into a 250 clone frame to see how that flys.

The mCp X on the other hand is brilliant and tough as boot leather.
_________________
Keep your rotors spinning

Keith

skydver · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:57 am Post subject:

Perfect, thanks for the information, And Nick, the "wall of text" was very helpful. I was leaning towards the mcp x but its nice to have some outside information.

Cheers,
Mark

nick_onelove · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:43 am Post subject:

Good to hear, I don't think you'll regret it!

Keep us posted!
_________________
Align: Trex 250 3GX + Trex 450 Pro with Vbar
Blade: 450 X, mCP X, 120 SR, mSR X, CX3, mCX2
Esky: Belt-CP X and V2 - Futaba: Heli-Max Axe 400
Walkera: V500D01, M120D01, V100D08, DEVO 8
Spektrum: DX8 - AMA #967873 - IRCHA #4095

Hawzzy · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:30 am Post subject:

I cant disagree with anything either said...i have an mcp x...it was/is my first CP heli...in fact its my FIRST single rotor heli.

It is quite easy to hover IMO, its quite durable, its VERY fast and agile, the TX does have a dual rate switch. One of the crappy things about the TX is that the TH (throttle hold) is a push button that you have to push AND release, not a toggle like most....not only that, but the first couple times i was going to crash..i INSTINCTIVELY pushed and HELD that button (forgetting to release)and the heli flopped around a little like a "fish outta water"

Just my observations and 2 cents worth

Tye
_________________
Handful of Air hogs, Multiple Litehawk 3ch co-ax
Interceptor 3ch outdoor co-ax (my son's)
Nine Eagles Free Spirit Micro 4ch co-ax
Blade mCP X
More to come.....
"twirly side up" and "rubber side down" i always say...
Tye

nick_onelove · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:50 am Post subject:

Yeah if at all possible get a DX6i and the BNF version of the mCP X. Believe it or not it will save you money in the long run.

The DX6i will also increase your control, customization, and enjoyment of your 120 SR.
_________________
Align: Trex 250 3GX + Trex 450 Pro with Vbar
Blade: 450 X, mCP X, 120 SR, mSR X, CX3, mCX2
Esky: Belt-CP X and V2 - Futaba: Heli-Max Axe 400
Walkera: V500D01, M120D01, V100D08, DEVO 8
Spektrum: DX8 - AMA #967873 - IRCHA #4095

carr52 · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:27 pm Post subject:

Howdy Nick, Tom from SC here. I know I'm not even close to being ready for a CP helicopter yet but the way youmtalk about the MCPX it make me wonder if I shouldn't just get one and give it a shot. My goal in life is to die broke not in a nursing home with a fat savings account. I still need alot of time on 4 channel before I feel I'd be ready for CP. I found the manual in a pdf version so I guess thats where I start. I get the controls on a 4 channel but on a heli with CP is the throttle still the throttle and where does the pitch change come from. And throttle hold? I can seem just from the questions I just asked I have some reading to do. Any help would be very welcomed.

Tom
_________________
Esky Big Lama
Blade-MSR-X, Blade-MCX, Blade MCPX,
Esky-Nano
Art-Tech MD500
A lot of Syma's
Novus 125 FP

nick_onelove · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject:

Sheesh, I was quite the author when I first started posting here, that post is ridiculously long. >_<

But anyway yes, altitude is still controlled by the left stick. Both the pitch and throttle channels are tied to the left stick, but you program your pitch curve beforehand so you don't really have to think about it in flight. You could even program it to simulate a FP model.

Pitch management isn't what makes CPs more difficult though to fly though. They have much higher head-speeds so they react to your inputs more quickly and when you start to lose control they slide away from you faster.

You're actually at a distinct advantage having experience on the mSR X, which I would describe is like flying sluggish mCP X.
_________________
Align: Trex 250 3GX + Trex 450 Pro with Vbar
Blade: 450 X, mCP X, 120 SR, mSR X, CX3, mCX2
Esky: Belt-CP X and V2 - Futaba: Heli-Max Axe 400
Walkera: V500D01, M120D01, V100D08, DEVO 8
Spektrum: DX8 - AMA #967873 - IRCHA #4095

carr52 · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:38 am Post subject:

Sorry for being long winded. Couldn't think of how to say what I wanted.
Tom
_________________
Esky Big Lama
Blade-MSR-X, Blade-MCX, Blade MCPX,
Esky-Nano
Art-Tech MD500
A lot of Syma's
Novus 125 FP

nick_onelove · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:41 am Post subject:

Nah man, you're fine! I was talking about my original reply to this thread.
_________________
Align: Trex 250 3GX + Trex 450 Pro with Vbar
Blade: 450 X, mCP X, 120 SR, mSR X, CX3, mCX2
Esky: Belt-CP X and V2 - Futaba: Heli-Max Axe 400
Walkera: V500D01, M120D01, V100D08, DEVO 8
Spektrum: DX8 - AMA #967873 - IRCHA #4095

carr52 · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:32 am Post subject:

Something I've been wondering about. On a 4 channel the left stick is rudder and throttle and the right stick is aileron and elevator. So on a CP heli where does the collective come in? I know in a real helicopter the RPM is constant and the collective is brought up to increase blade pitch and take off. Or something like that.

Tom
_________________
Esky Big Lama
Blade-MSR-X, Blade-MCX, Blade MCPX,
Esky-Nano
Art-Tech MD500
A lot of Syma's
Novus 125 FP

nick_onelove · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:01 am Post subject:

The pitch is tied to the same control as the throttle. You program your pitch curve before flight so you don't really have to think about it in flight.

For stunt flying, you program the throttle curve for constant RPM like you mentioned, so that altitude is controlled solely by the pitch.
_________________
Align: Trex 250 3GX + Trex 450 Pro with Vbar
Blade: 450 X, mCP X, 120 SR, mSR X, CX3, mCX2
Esky: Belt-CP X and V2 - Futaba: Heli-Max Axe 400
Walkera: V500D01, M120D01, V100D08, DEVO 8
Spektrum: DX8 - AMA #967873 - IRCHA #4095

carr52 · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:27 am Post subject:

I can see that I still have a lot to learn. My MCPX should be here this weekend but I won't be doing anything other than learning to hover it. I'll work on that for the next week or two. As soon as the cable for my TX comesin I can start on the sim. I down loaded the manual as a pdf so I can read up on it. Can I start setting the TX up for it now or do I have to wait till the heli arrives so I can bind it to to the TX. Thanks Nick.

Tom
_________________
Esky Big Lama
Blade-MSR-X, Blade-MCX, Blade MCPX,
Esky-Nano
Art-Tech MD500
A lot of Syma's
Novus 125 FP