Comments on: Brando Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter Review

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:10:59 +0000

I’ve had good luck with this inexpensive chopper. Survived several “minor” crashes. Would like to find an attachment like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oceC9DzDLlE

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:06:22 +0000

It’s unfortunate that yours broke so quickly! I’ve thrashed mine over and over, flew it straight into walls and the ground, and it never broke! and still flys the same. It’s important to immediately shut the throttle off if you crash. If you know you will fly into a wall just shut it down and let it fall to the ground. It’s going to fall anyways.

By: Rob O.

Rob O. — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:59:45 +0000

I was really stoked to receive one of these for Christmas, but after just 3 or 4 flights and some minor bumps, one of the weighted gyroscope arms snapped off. I tried Gorilla Glue & Super Glue, but neither held for long – probably since there’s just not much material to bond with. I think the gyroscope arm should have built out of metal too so it could withstand a little abuse.

I’m going to order a replacement wing set but I’m a little antsy about how difficult it’ll be to swap that assembly.

I’m a bit bummed about the flight vs. charging time too. And the included USB cable does work, but it causes Windows to give an error about the USB port being overloaded.

Overall, a pricey and limited toy, but fun while it lasted.

By: Jackie Cheng

Jackie Cheng — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:37:40 +0000

@dan What happen? I enjoyed this heli.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:34:52 +0000

@dan a little more detail on your comments would be appreciated.

By: dan

dan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:51:46 +0000

Never buy this heli! it sucks!

By: jake

jake — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:01:51 +0000

its pretty awkward that it only last 10 mins for 45 mins of charge

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:14:15 +0000

I bought a pair of these about 2 months ago and took them into the office as ‘destressing’ tools. The co-workers and I have given them a pretty good beating. Crashing into cubicals, crashing into the ceiling, crashing into the floor. One tail rotor needed to be replaced. But now on one unit a small pin has come lose and gone missing. The pin held the weighted gyroscope in place and since thats missing its practically unflyable. But the other unit keeps going fine. They wont last forever (the way I fly anyway) but at the price I think its worth it.

By: Jackie Cheng

Jackie Cheng — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:44:54 +0000

@Jerry : The tail rotor motor is nicely held in place. The only thing that could break from the tail rotor is the plastic blade. And Brando was nice enough to provide extras. I really wished that they actually made the part where the main blades held down with metal composite instead of plastic. That would probably prevented damage when crashing on a hard surface.

By: Jerry Danzig

Jerry Danzig — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:54:08 +0000

I’m a bit skeptical about the claims of durability, given that one of the blade support pieces broke on the first day. In my experience, the Achilles’ Heel of these little choppers is the tail rotor motor — they seem to get fouled after one or two crash landings in my dusty apartment. The only chopper I’ve found to be durable — even though it has a foam body — is the Reflex unit with a pair of directional rotors midship protected by plastic cowls. This little guy takes a crashing and keeps on thrashing. I think the reviewer owes us more follow-ups to see how durable the Brando really is…