quality helis

[andylinney]

There's a simple answer to all of these type of questions;

What heli do YOU want? Can you afford to run, maintain and repair it?

Answer those and you'll know what to buy...

For example: I really want one of those big vario R22's like the one shown on an earlier reply. However, despite the fact that I could, after some rearranging of my current fleet, afford to buy one, the repair costs after a potential mishap make it quite impractical. £90 mainshafts scare me... So, I bought the best models I could that would not only perform as I wanted them to but were manageable in the after costs department.

Oh, and trust me, if you're cack handed or using poor quality tools you'll keep stripping bolts regardless of what you buy.

[Mike W]

Like the others have said you could ask people the same question and get different answers each time ....

Jr ... quality is spot on but then you pay a price for parts
Hirobo .. nice machines ( but is it me or is the drive train always noisy on them ? )
Align... well lets just not go there ... unless its the 700 ... parts are cheap but wear out quickly ...
Thunder Tiger .... old design but work ... parts are plentiful and not that bad to buy and most of the time will not go wrong unless you crash .only real PITA is changing bearings as you have to split the frames
Compass ... well most of you know I love my 3D's but you still have to do some modding to the knights as well ... easy to build and like thunder tiger for day in day out abuse work well .. only ever had to change clutch bell bearings and main hub bearings since I had my knights ... only thing is only one supplier
other makes I not flown/owned so cant comment ....

TBH just have a price in mind and go with the one that you want to buy ... not what others tell you you should buy and above all enjoy it you dont have to have the latest and greatest stuff to enjoy this hobby...

[Jamin_00]

1,Kasama
2,Avant
3,Compass
4,Align

blah blah blah

Just my opinion of course

[SteveH39]

you dont have to have the latest and greatest stuff to enjoy this hobby...

So this hobby ain't all about the bling then?

[Mike W]

So this hobby ain't all about the bling then?

For some it is Steve lol.... for most its about a machine that flies and lasts well ..... now go get that Srimok built lmao

[SteveH39]

For some it is Steve lol.... for most its about a machine that flies and lasts well ..... now go get that Srimok built lmao

I will... I will.....


Need to allocate some funds first, only just built a 600LE and purchased a new radio, heli fund is somewhat dry ATM, will be done though, will be done.

[3Dheliflyer]

thanks guys so from what i gathered align is the lowest of the LOW.

looks like i REALLY need to start saving and buy the best money can buy.

what you pay for is what you get!!saying is true.

so im taking off my avatar and my signature. i believed i can break the saying what you pay for is what you get but lost ! truth prevailed.!!! so hey ..lessoned learned.

despite that i have a an align heli which i love not because of align but because i created it and its "my pride and joy" and i still loves the way it flies and i wouldnt get rid of it.

[Steve]

Don't be put off by the replies here. The TRex 700 is a good reliable heli which is easy to work on and cheap (er than the others) to run. It WILL put a smile on your face.

That doesn't make it a quality piece of engineering design or manufacture, but it does make it a lot of fun, and at the end of the day, aren't most of us in this game for fun?

[Jamin_00]

I have had all the Align family from 250 upto 700 and I have loved every one of them.

The fly great and are well made but you just asked for peoples opinions on quality.
They are good but behind some of the others.

It like, consider them a Ford and then compare them with a BMW (Avant) and a Merc (Synergy) and a Bentley (Kasama )

I still have my 500 and I would go as far as saying it has been one of the top 2 in my favourite helis I have owned and I have owned a lot.

[3Dheliflyer]

I have had all the Align family from 250 upto 700 and I have loved every one of them.

The fly great and are well made but you just asked for peoples opinions on quality.
They are good but behind some of the others.

It like, consider them a Ford and then compare them with a BMW (Avant) and a Merc (Synergy) and a Bentley (Kasama )

I still have my 500 and I would go as far as saying it has been one of the top 2 in my favourite helis I have owned and I have owned a lot.

bentley = kasama (or jr 90 ? as jr kit is more expensive as seen on fastlads for£ 1325 whereas the kasama is £1000 on at midlands)

if kasama is still better why jr more expensive?

[Asid]

thanks guys so from what i gathered align is the lowest of the LOW.

I disagree with you Waz.

Align has its place and is credited with bringing and keeping a lot of people in this expensive hobby.

I have an Align. Most of the stuff i say is in jest . Most not all

It is not the best but it certainly is NOT the worse . Align has a lot of positives going for it:

Reasonable cost
Great availability
Lots of bling/upgrades

and to top it off its good on toast

[GravityKills]

the quality matters, when you have to rely on your heli, when flying competitions or if you practice a lot.
For a beginner it matters very little, as long as you don't buy the cheapest junk. Even worse, you'll be afraid to fly your quality heli when spares prices are insane (N9 main gear: ~ € 50. T-Rex 700 main gear: ~ € 5)
Don't rely on general talk on forums when it comes to flying. Instead, go to a flying field and look what's being used. Excluding my own helis, what I see the most are T-Rex 600, 700, 500, lots of CopterX, T-Rex 450, Protos 500, the occasional Raptor and ElyQ, All those are reasonably cheap!

And don't forget, the equipment is 10 %. The other 90 % are between your ears! Most people would be well advised to learn to make the most out of a cheap heli, before going for the high-end gear.

[Klaus]

Align 450 is one of the far best bashers you can have, cheap to repair and flies decent, there are better flying 450s but more expensive to repair. The day where you get really good at bailouts and don't crash much anymore is the day a quality brand comes into play for you as you will be at a stage where you can appreciate the handling a quality brand gives you.

When it comes to the larger helis I would not choose align. I prefer to have some flavor even if it costs more with a heli that flies fantastic.

There are plenty of brands to choose from and all I researched so far have their weaknesses and their strengths its just learning about it and being on top of it and you'll be a happy puppy. Check out the helis and read their forums and see, then youll get a feel for what to go for... Its also wise to check out your local club if youre not a pro who can handle everything the heli can throw at you so you at least get a brand people know about and can help you with

[Jamin_00]

bentley = kasama (or jr 90 ? as jr kit is more expensive as seen on fastlads for£ 1325 whereas the kasama is £1000 on at midlands)

if kasama is still better why jr more expensive?

Just cos its more expensive does not mean its better.

You can spend £30000 on a new Focus RS or £25000 on a new 320TDi BMW, whcih is better? Focus? I think not lol

[trillian]

'Just to add my proverbial two cents worth to this (as if I don't have work I should be doing );

It has kinda been said but I'll put it a different way, aside from the pure idea of 'quality' in design, materials, finish etc. and we can easily name a few helis that are really works of art in that regard, there is the point of what combination of elements suits you best.

There are different design philosophies at work, different approaches, and this affects the ease of repairs and maintenance and also just personal taste in terms of what makes the most sense to you and you like the look of.

The Align 450s are great little helis.

Less expensive models like the Raptors, Ely.Q Ultimate etc. have their place as well in that you won't be paranoid about the crash costs.

Anyweeeeee, at the end of the day it's what you like best considering everything, and then the practical side of afordability etc. (of course I never gave much thought to the practical side )