Getting Started
or "why an X-Cell Custom???"

I began my search in the early part of spring 1996, by dusting off a valuable RC helicopter resource, Ray's Complete Helicopter Manual, I had purchased when it was first published in 1989. Although this book is now slightly out of date (even in its current third printing), I would consider it as a good, inexpensive place start for the prospective heli builder. Before I could think about building, I had to make a few critical decisions about the radio and engine to mate with the X-Cell.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, why, an X-Cell, you ask? Aren't there other inexpensive helicopters out there and aren't they the best ships to learn on....especially if you say there's a high probability of a crash at some point during the learning process?

Several established pilots told me...

• 60-size helicopters are, arguably, easier to hover because they have greater stability due to their larger rotor size and greater weight. The X-Cell line includes a smaller, 46 size helicopter which shares some of the 60-size ship's traits, but I decided on the 60 because of its popularity, especially with contest fliers.
• While a 30 size helicopter will be less expensive initially, its parts, some of which can be rather expensive when purchased separately, tend to wear out faster. In other words, the serious helicopter pilot who flies his ship on a regular basis will wind up spending more money in the long run. This wisdom also applies to kit upgrades. While the basic ship may be a reasonable price, the addition of upgrades necessary to mold your machine into the next model in the series often results in a price higher than that of the next model. I was initially interested in the base-model X-Cell 60, but several experienced builders strongly recommended I get the next model up in the line, the Custom, for this reason.
• Fly what your local pilots fly. All helicopters can be difficult for the newbie to configure, so it helps to have local support that is experienced with your ship. While all helicopters aim to produce flight, not all do it in exactly the same way, so a particular main rotor pitch setting, for example, might be great for one ship (and engine) but a recipe for disaster on another. I decided to go X-Cell because that's what I knew best in college and the few people I know that fly helis in my area fly X-Cell's.
• Overall quality in the X-Cell line is higher than other ships and the line is being continually improved. A case in point: after I purchased my Custom, I first noticed that many of the "fixes" Ray was forced to implement on the original X-Cell 60 were now included as standard equipment in the Custom, and this has significantly decreased its building time.
  
  For example, MA now supplies a plastic servo tray in the custom. Previously, the builder was required to build a servo tray out of balsa/plywood and prime it with fuel-resistant paint prior to use. Although the plastic servo tray is not as durable as the wood tray, it takes less time to return the bird to service in the event of a crash.
  
  Another example would be the wood rotor blades provided in the kit. Most builders deem it best to place lead weight in the leading edges of the blades to increase their rotational momentum during an autorotation manuever in the event of an engine failure, but to accomplish this, the builder previously had to meticulously cut the groove in the leading edge of the blade with a Dremel tool. This, in turn, usually required the fabrication and/or use of a jig that would prevent the cutter from digging too deep a channel in the soft balsa. Now, MA precuts their blades and includes the lead strip weight necessary to cleanly and precisely add weight to your blades. Heck, they even include a thin strip of balsa milled to the depth necessary to cover the weight in the slots and ultimately produce a smooth surface flush with the remainder of the blade.