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Hoomi
03-09-2007, 03:13 PM
Nope, this isn't a post with links to porn sites or other such vices. This is actually ON TOPIC!

Silly idea, huh?

I swung into the LHS last weekend to pick up the April issue of RCH. Now, even though I'm still learning the nuances of flying my Axe EZ, I'm already starting to get the urge for a step-up heli.

You know how it goes; a few successful flights with the trainer, and that little voice on your shoulder starts whispering. "You're ready for the big leagues! Nitro helis! Spektrum Radio! Youtube videos! Writing for RC Heli magazine!"

Granted, on the other shoulder is the opposing little voice that watches you land and whispers, "Don't quit the day job just yet."

Anyway; while I'm at the LHS, I'm looking over the currently sparse selection of helis in stock (Can you say "Inventory Tax time", boys and girls? I knew you could!), and what to my coveting eyes should appear but an MX400, blow-out priced at $75.

Seventy-five smackeroos for a new-in-box MX400! Holy leapfrogs, Batman! That's like a step-up from the step-up I've been jonesing for!

The little voice of temptation was doing backflips on my shoulder. "$75?! $75?!" he yelled. "You can't pass that up! You've spent more than that on gasoline in a weekend before!" He was more excited than a Labrador Retriever with its own tennis-ball pitching machine.

My practical voice was a bit more reserved. "That is a good price," he said. "But what does it include?"

The temptation guy was swinging from my beard. In his excitement, he'd fallen right off my shoulder. "Who cares what it includes? We can always buy the other stuff later!"

"What's this 'we' stuff?" Practical said. "You're too busy playing to earn any money. Besides, look at the package. This is an unassembled helicopter kit that recommends the buyer have experience in assembling and setting up an RC helicopter. We don't have any of that!"

"We can learn!" Temptation said, hanging from my beard with one hand while trying to poke at Practical with the pitchfork in his other hand. "We didn't have any experience in flying an RC heli at all, and as I recall, you thought that was a good reason to not buy the Axe EZ! If it were up to you, we wouldn't even have that to play with!"

"You cheated on that one; you recruited help." Practical dodged the flailing pitchfork by climbing up on my ear.

"Did you say something?" the LHS guy said. "I thought I heard a squeaky voice."

"Um, no," I said. "I think maybe it was just an odd harmonic from the nitro cars outside." I headed to the back of the shop to look at the additional parts the MX 400 would need.

"RC heli: $75," Temptation said. "Brushless motor: $55. Speed Control: $35. 6 Channel Helicopter RC radio: $220. Having an MX400 to fly: Priceless."

"You left out some parts," Practical pointed out.

"Shut up," Temptation hissed, stretching as far as he could with the pitchfork.

"Axe CP, ready to fly: $200," Practical whispered into the ear he was hanging on. "Besides; isn't that the heli you wanted to read the review on in the magazine anyway?"

"Don't listen to him!" Temptation yelled. He lost his grip on my beard and fell into my shirt pocket.

"Why don't we just get the magazine and go?" Practical settled back onto my shoulder, speaking with a soothing voice. "Wouldn't you rather read reviews and make sure that what you buy is really what you want first, anyway?"

I carried my magazine to the check-out counter, ignoring the angry swearing coming from my shirt pocket.

"Is someone getting cussed out?" the LHS guy asked as he scanned the magazine's barcode. He looked around for the source of the noise.

"Probably just someone playing their rap too loud," I said. "Say, are you guys going to be getting any more Axe CP's in stock soon?"

"They're on backorder, but we will be getting some. They're a nice little helicopter."

"That's what I hear." I smiled and took my change, stuffing it in my shirt pocket atop Temptation.

Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Practical making a rude gesture towards the pocket. Say, was that an RC Heli sticker stuck on the back of his robe?

tdswan
03-09-2007, 03:30 PM
LOL! :p
Very entertaining, Hoomi!
I'm an impulse buyer, myself. I always go through the consumer guilt once I get home. Luckily, the internet has alleviated some of this syndrome because I'm already at home when I order, so I can get the guilt over with sooner! ;)
Luckily, I have a VERY understanding and supportive wife, even if she's indifferent to the helis. She at least knows that it's my outlet and helps to keep my sanity.
So, to your story I say GO FOR IT! That IS a screamin' price and the fact that your LHS probably stocks parts for it it also a plus. :D

Hoomi
03-09-2007, 05:42 PM
It's probably sold already, but if it's still there the next time I go in...

;)

Helifino
03-09-2007, 07:37 PM
LMAO :D :D

I said it before and I'll say it again....You crack me up!
I say go for it also, that's a heck of a price to turn down.

mongoose
03-09-2007, 07:56 PM
just think of how much you'll want to kick "practical" around if you go back to your LHS and you find out it's gone. Because admit it, you want to go back and see if it's still there?! :D

cbflys
03-10-2007, 12:25 AM
I built and test flew an MX-400 Pro for a buddy of mine. The difference between the base model and the Pro is just a little bling in the places that don't really affect performance. I gotta say, it's a real nice flying heli. Only complaint I had was the tail rotor pitch slider assembly - but you can replace it with an Align part (which I did) and it works MUCH better.

Read the ARK X-400 / MX-400 threads on RunRyder - there's much to read there on this heli.

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/f98p1/

Parts for the Heli Max helis are quite a bit more expensive than the Align parts. Also, not very many sources for them.

heli-cuzz
03-10-2007, 12:56 AM
WoooHoooo

`encore.... `encore

That was great, but you should have listened to temptation instead of practical. :D

Rappy1
03-10-2007, 02:24 AM
Great reading for a boring Saturdays afternoon
Just remember buy first, ask questions later

Hoomi
03-10-2007, 02:56 AM
It would be more tempting to go buy as well were I not leaving Sunday morning for California. My Dad is having surgery Monday morning to remove a cancerous tumor from his brain, and while the prognosis is good considering the circumstances, the cost of gas, motel, and so on for the weekend is getting considered first before new toys.

I will, however, likely be taking the Axe EZ out with me, just in case I happen to find a good place to fly.

cbflys
03-10-2007, 03:24 AM
The best of wishes to you, your family, and for your dad's speedy recovery.

Regards,
Chuck

blax1
03-10-2007, 07:40 AM
The best of wishes to you, your family, and for your dad's speedy recovery.

Regards,
Chuck
Ditto to that Hoomi :)
From down under all the best!!
Cheers Ralph

heli-cuzz
03-10-2007, 10:04 AM
sorry to hear the news, hoomi. Hope all is well.
That's the beauty of helicopters, they can be flown just about anywhere.

Best wishes go out to you and your family.

Rappy1
03-10-2007, 10:37 AM
Take it easy bud and hopefully all is well.

Hoomi
03-10-2007, 05:01 PM
Thank you for the good wishes. As I mentioned before, considering the circumstances the prognosis is good. The tumor is one that they're pretty sure metasticized from the cancer in his lungs a couple of years ago. All the tests so far show that it's just the one tumor in his brain, and it's in a place that is sufficiently accessible that they can remove most of it without much risk of damage to the surrounding tissue. The type of cancer responds well to current treatments, and the plan is to use targeted radiation on the area to kill off any remaining cancer cells.

At least, that's what I've been told. I'm guessing I'll find out more tomorrow evening when I visit with my parents before the surgery.

*cue Gollum voice*

Nasssssssty tumors. We hates it.

mongoose
03-10-2007, 05:35 PM
We'll be praying for you on our end! :)

tdswan
03-10-2007, 06:55 PM
Best of luck, Hoomi.

Helifino
03-10-2007, 11:21 PM
I wish your dad well and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Hoomi
03-11-2007, 05:40 AM
I won't be around much until later tomorrow. I'll have the laptop with me, but 8 hours on the road to drive from here to there doesn't offer much in the way of chances to check the forums.

I did take a little while today to get my Axe EZ out and fly a bit. The basketball court was occupied, but the attendant at the rec center suggested I use the Dance and Aerobics room. Lower ceiling (8 foot), which kept me on my toes to be sure I didn't climb too high, but it was enough to try out the new positioning of the control links to the swashplate. Much more responsive. Still no crashes (knock on wood).

I'll pop in from the motel tomorrow evening, and again after the surgery is over to post an update. Considering the surgery is about 35 hours from now, I doubt we'll have any more information for at least another 40 hours.

Hoomi
03-13-2007, 05:20 AM
Just a quick update, since I'm on AOHell dial-up here in the motel (my son-in-law works for AOL, so I have a piggy-back sign-in on one of his free accounts for the rare occasions I need a dial-up account).

Dad came through the surgery fine today. The neurosurgeon is confident they were able to remove as much of the tumor as humanly possible without damage to the surrounding tissue, and Dad was able to speak, remember his name, and move his arms in post-op (good signs when they've popped open the skull). When we saw him in ICU just before 8 this evening, he was on pain meds and was pretty out of it. He'd look at us, but not really respond otherwise. Been there, done that in post-op myself, so I know how it goes. My son and I will stop back by the hospital tomorrow morning before heading back to Tucson, and hopefully he'll be more cognizant then.

My family thanks you for the prayers and thoughts, and I'll post further updates as they reach me.

P.S. My son didn't think it would be a good idea to try flying the heli at the hospital. No sense of adventure, I guess.

redlegtu
03-13-2007, 06:34 AM
Good to hear that the surgery wen off without any complications. Best of luck on the road to recovery! :)

-Sean

mongoose
03-13-2007, 07:09 AM
That's great news Hoomi! We'll continue the prayers on this end!

tdswan
03-13-2007, 01:13 PM
Glad to hear all is well, Hoomi! I wish your father many happy years....and you too!

Helifino
03-13-2007, 08:32 PM
Good news Hoomi!

Jeff Bulmer
03-17-2007, 04:15 AM
GREAT news on your dads surgery,. keep your head up, the mx400 will be there when you get back in town.. things have a strange way of working out that way.. sounds like you deserve it after all you been through. best wishes.