Slough Model Shop has me in a quandry!

[LipolyGone]

no get the 500 more stable flys bigger that a 450 kit can be got for the same price . good batterys ie outrage nrg 2500 35c only £65. and nrg 2500 25 arount the same.

The 500 is alot more intimidating alot more expensive in a crash
cant realy be flown on el cheepo lipos most definately cant be flown indoors.
450 sport can be flown on packs costing £20 that can be charged on a charger costing under £50.
Will be nice & relaxing to fly indoors & takes a crash well.
were not talking about what you would like or need mate were talking about whats best for the OP.

[xygax]

Just get all three.... B400..rex450 and a rex500.... You woll bust he blade repeatadly but its cheep to fix and then the 450 is reasonably strong dont bust so easy but its more stable than the blade and it will run the same £10 batteries and will fly a bit easyer than the blade Then there is the 500 for best or windy days... That will fill a few muddle memories in that DX7...

STevve

[scallybert]

I really started to make good and positive progress when I got the Thunder Tiger Innovator MD530 - and I really rate this as the best beginner 400/450 machine currently available. Very strong. Very stable. Easy to fix and repair. Definitely a way better 'investment' then a Blade 400 IMHO - it cirtainly did, and continues to do, the business for me.

Reading your earlier piece on these, what sounded really interesting was the way the MD350 sets itself up after having pieces replaced.

I think this is a really great idea if someone is buying an RTF heli because they don't know how to set up a heli. After all, an RTF heli is only RTF until you crash it.

[BigBeard]

After all, an RTF heli is only RTF until you crash it.

Heed these words.

[sacko]

..and my blade was barely RTF anyway.

[dam74]

Sacko I'd have to agree. I think mine has flown better after I've crashed it and rebuilt

Something Slough would of failed to have informed you is that there is a UK (not sure if worldwide) shortage of spares. Sussex Helis haven't had feathering shafts in for about 2-4 weeks now and when I've asked it's because Horizon Hobbies haven't supplied. The rumour is that they've spent lots of money on the MSR and have been neglecting their other products. At the moment I'm using Trex 450 spindles on my Blade with extra shims/spacers to make them fit.

[marky]

Blade 400 is a nice package I owned one and enjoyed it but I would agree with others that if you have a decent radio already it might not be the best buy. I replaced mine with a 450 Pro and a DX7 when funds permitted and it is certianly a much nicer and easier heli to fly. The 450 Pro feels more stable and despite being sold as a Pro heli it made a beginner feel much more at home than the good old 400.

The 450 can be flown outdoors if weather is reasonably calm but obviously not as stable as a 500 size but for outdoors a 50 size nitro might be a better plan being even more stable. Batteries for 450 size are much more reasonably priced so it would get my vote over the 500.

Bad news is you may end up with an indoor heli and later an outdoor heli.

Good luck with your decision and hope you enjoy flying whatever you get.

[simon1]

Get a 450 sport.
Forget about the 500 as battery costs make it far more
economical to get a 50 size nitro which you will want eventualy.
I've had a 500 and to be honest they are something and nothing.
Especialy when a decent charger will be another £120
and each battery in the region of £100 and you will need 2 as a minimum.

I agree with the above, 450 then get a raptor 30 (you will want a nitro eventually) then convert to a 50.
Maybe pickup a good 2nd hand eg. of a trex 450sev2?, the model the sport replaced? Or a mini titan 325? i have one and very stable setup right.

[cyberman]

I'm actually really looking forward to the build process. I think I'm going to learn a lot while putting it all together and I'm going to feel a great deal more 'ownership' of the heli once it's done.

That is sort of what i feel, whilst I like the idea of the Blade, I think building something could be more instructional as long as I get help to finish the setup and for the first flight.

[sacko]

The Sport is the machine for you, I am right, and everyone else who disagress is wrong

No doubt you will get a nitro soon too, so best of both worlds

[EtheAv8r]

Reading your earlier piece on these, what sounded really interesting was the way the MD350 sets itself up after having pieces replaced.

I think this is a really great idea if someone is buying an RTF heli because they don't know how to set up a heli. After all, an RTF heli is only RTF until you crash it.

Yes plus I have had mine completely to bits - replaced the main frames, and servo gears. The 3D eMaintenance eManual is quite something for seeing how to take apart and put back together. So you can learn how to repair, and the head and tail setup process is automatic. I can now replace the tail-boom in about 10 minutes!

[Twisted]

Dont like to bad mouth shops off but every time i use Slough Model Shop, and ask on advise on some thing i feel like they are trying to push some thing i dont want on me

when i was looking from going from a fixed pitch heli to a VP heli and stated that was what a was looking for all they wanted to do was try sell me a Coaxial heli! dont have time for that shop only use it if i realy need some thing quick like blades ect! its a shame as its the closest model shop to me, and would love to support them with my cash, but i feel they dont have any thing to offer me in advice or help and only want to push what they want to get rid of.

[Sao]

I don't like to bad mouth shops off but every time I use Slough Model Shop, and ask on advise on something I feel like they are trying to push something I don't want on me

I feel they don't have any thing to offer me in advice or help and only want to push what they want to get rid of.

I tend to agree here, nobby will sell you what he has in stock or needs to shift. I stopped using them a long time ago and will now drive another 50 or 60 miles to pick up a tube of CA rather than spend my hard earned in that place again.

Back on topic:
Another vote for the Trex 450 be it pro or sport you cant go far wrong with either, spares are plentiful and well priced and the 450 flies very nicely when set up and can still be flown at indoor events.

[crash-alot]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Slough model shop. My first visit to the shop resulted in spending more than twice I bargained for on my first heli (Trex450+DX7). At the time I felt like being pushed into buying the trex rather then they respect my preference and budget I laid out.

At the end it all worked out well because after almost two years I still got the 450 plus a boot load of other helis.


I hope it not true that they want to push what they want to get rid of because they will potentially loose a customer. They should know better because we all know that you will come back to buy spares off them!

I would I thought they would pitch an Align product at you because Bill is a big fan!

Jaco

Dont like to bad mouth shops off but every time i use Slough Model Shop, and ask on advise on some thing i feel like they are trying to push some thing i dont want on me

when i was looking from going from a fixed pitch heli to a VP heli and stated that was what a was looking for all they wanted to do was try sell me a Coaxial heli! dont have time for that shop only use it if i realy need some thing quick like blades ect! its a shame as its the closest model shop to me, and would love to support them with my cash, but i feel they dont have any thing to offer me in advice or help and only want to push what they want to get rid of.

[Gate88]

I use Slough models for spares & equipment etc but I have to admit their advice is not always the best, i have been in there when they've been trying to push people into buying what they have "on the shelf" and their sales pitch was riddled with inacuracies & exageration.

If you come down to the club you can get a totally unbiased view. Sure we all have our favorites but we've got no incentive to make false claims!