Blade 400 3D vs T-Rex 450

[DrSteve]

Hi,

I'm very new to this, and looking to move on from my Twister Aggressor2.4 to something a little bigger that I can fly outdoors.

I have been looking a various models with blades around the 325mm length: Blade 400, Mini Titan E325 or Align T-Rex 450 Pro. The first two models can be purchased for around £300 all in RTF. But the T-Rex is significantly more expensive, £300 will get the heli, but radio, servos, gyro etc are extra.

Are these models all in the same class? Will the T-Rex be 'better' than the other two?

In the future I'd love to move on to a nitro powered model. If I understand this correctly, the 6-channel transmitter included with either of the Blade or Mini Titan packages will be insufficient (7-channels required for nitro).

Thanks in advance,
Stephen

[Paulice]

Hi,

I'm very new to this, and looking to move on from my Twister Aggressor2.4 to something a little bigger that I can fly outdoors.

But the T-Rex is significantly more expensive, £300 will get the heli, but radio, servos, gyro etc are extra.
1.

Are these models all in the same class? Will the T-Rex be 'better' than the other two?
2.
In the future I'd love to move on to a nitro powered model. If I understand this correctly, the 6-channel transmitter included with either of the Blade or Mini Titan packages will be insufficient (7-channels required for nitro).
3.

Thanks in advance,
Stephen

1.The Trex pro has all servos and the gyro included in the kit price, All you need is lipo and TX/RX

2. It has a torque tube driven tail and if you touch the tail blades when landing it will/can break the teeth of the gears, If you can land softly then a great little heli.

3.For most helis a 6 channel is all that is needed but on a cheap transmitter included with some kits you won't have the mixing needed for a other heli's setup.

[acwman]

I would seriously consider the 450 Sport super combo over the Pro

Cheaper than the 450 Pro.. and will be a bit tougher due to having a belt driven tail.

[Sqwidge]

Buy the blade, perfect starter heli and it comes with 2.4ghz Spektrum radio gear which will see you through a lot of heli's and maybe even planks in the future, I wouldnt say the trex was 'better' as like everything in life its down to personal choice and the size of your pocket, I think the build quality is better but not the heli as a whole, after all what makes it better?? Who determines whether your heli is better than mine or vice versa?? The blade will do everything that a trex will do and there is no significant difference, to me I think your paying extra because it has a 'label', at the end of the day you can hover, fly and 3d both so why spend more than is necessary, you can always upgrade your blade like I have and then buy a cheap trex airframe down the line saving you money, however this only works if your blade was cheap to start with, I bought second hand for £145 rtf with over £100 of spares and then bought a gy401 from here a 9257 from ebay and then put ino lab digi servos on cyclic, I also bought my dx6i here for around £50 and altogether its still cheaper than a new blade.

*edit* I just worked it out and my total comes to £337 making it slightly over the cost of an RTF kit but considering the upgrades its still damn cheap compared to buying a trex that needs a £45-£50 rx usually an AR6200, a £30 UK battery (I would advise importing from Hong Kong as I get 2x2450mah for the same price) and a suitable tx which is usually over £100

[acwman]

£290 will get the sport combo which has the esc, motor all servos, and gyro.
LINKY

never have to upgrade...

[Tom Burgess]

Dont buy the blade go for the 450. you will spend more time faffing with the poor stock electronics on the blade when you could be having a great time with the 450 makes it as easy as you can for yourself

you can always upgrade your blade like I have and then buy a cheap trex airframe down the line saving you money,

exactly absoulte wast of time getting a blade if thats what your gona do

cut out the blade and save yourself the hastle IMO

[Holst]

£290 will get the sport combo which has the esc, motor all servos, and gyro.
LINKY

never have to upgrade...

That will make for a great starter heli, the electronics included are very capable.

The main problem with alot of cheaper RTF kits (esky) is that the electronics, specifically the gyro are on the cheap side.
A bad gyro and servos makes setting the heli up more difficult and more importantly makes it harder to fly.

[acwman]

imho the servos in the blade are too fragile. The teeth go in the slightest of knocks, and the gyro/tail servo combination is really not very good. You will be looking to change them fairly early on.. I know I did...

..By that time you start looking at a metal rotorhead, tail.. and maybe some carbon frames??

Not worth it.. just buy once, and buy right

[DrSteve]

Thanks for the replies, the T-Rex Sport Combo does look good.

Maybe will invest in a DX7 radio too, then will be set for the future!

Thanks.

[Sqwidge]

Dont buy the blade go for the 450. you will spend more time faffing with the poor stock electronics on the blade when you could be having a great time with the 450 makes it as easy as you can for yourself



exactly absoulte wast of time getting a blade if thats what your gona do

cut out the blade and save yourself the hastle IMO

I haven't bought a trex frame and still have an upgraded Blade but the upgrades can be switched over and I can sell the Blade stock, as said the gears etc are pants although I found the stock gyro ok and only upgraded after a crash damaged the stock, I'm happy with mine though as its still cheaper in the long run.
The £290 deal is a good one but factor in your radio gear and a battery and you may aswell get the blade, £300 for everything and then buy the 3 servo's for £40 in the for sale bit you'll have a decent heli and still cheaper than the others, If I still had my 2nd Blade I'd sell it you on principal to show you how good they are and considering the heli your upgrading from, I can get you a stock boxed Blade now for £100 in excellent condition but its minus RX/TX and a battery, surely if your buying it all seperately and you have a budget this would be more suited as you could be flying for as little as £200.

[Tom Burgess]

its a fact the gyro and servos in the blade are crap. the real sensible thing to do is get the 450 sport and from the outset you have a good base to learn on.

[Sqwidge]

Lol this could go on forever,

Steve, there are pro's and con's to both and a very good argument for both here, bottom line is this:

You don't have to listen to any of us really, it's your money, spend it as you wish but spend it on what you need to buy to get where your going.

[Tom Burgess]

Lol this could go on forever,

Steve, there are pro's and con's to both and a very good argument for both here, bottom line is this:

You don't have to listen to any of us really, it's your money, spend it as you wish but spend it on what you need to buy to get where your going.

but you will do better by buying the Trex.................

just kidding, just kidding

yeah, Sqwidge is right, you need to have a think yourself about what you want, not what everyone else thinks you should get

[DrSteve]

I think you have answered my original question, it appears yes you get more for your money if buying the T-Rex over the Blade - if only in respect to having to replace less reliable parts sometime in the future.

The initial outlay maybe more to buy the T-Rex and Tx/Rx, but if I choose wisely now, the Tx/Rx should last me several models - and a nitro heli in the future.

[Sqwidge]

Good idea, Beers all round.