CopterX or Trex 450 or Something Else?

[vtrnutter]

So if this has come up before, but searches have not really revealed anything.

Very shortly, I am looking to upgrade from my MCX / MSR to a full monty 6 channel heli. I have been flying on my simulator (Realflight 4.5) for about 2 years now and am fairly competent. I think I could control a real heli fairly well in basic controls and my experience with my MSR outside tends to show that as well (accepting that a 4 channel is quite different to a 6 channel beast).

Like most people, I don't have unlimited funds, but I don't mind spending a reasonable sum if it is worth it. As this is my first large(ish) heli I am sure that I will crash it on more than one occasion. So I need something that I can get back into the air fairly cheaply, but also a heli that will last me a while.

Like most people, I have looked at the Trex 450, but also the clones such as HK450, CopterX etc. From what I have read so far, the choice seems to come down to either the Trex or CopterX. From here, I do not know which to choose. Apart from the obvious different in price and specification in the combos, I do not know which is the better one to buy as a beginner, plus for either choice there are a variety of models to choose from.

PLease could I have some advice on which is the better airframe to buy. My choices so far seem to be:

* Trex 450 Sport
* Trex 450 Pro
* CopterX CX450 SE V2
* CopterX Black Angel

On top of this, I have a number of choices around electronics etc. In either of the models above, I can get combo deals that ship with pre-selected servos, gyros etc. Or I could buy the kit and spec up my own. Again, don't really know which way to go. At £296 on Align Trex site, I can get the 450 Sport combo which seems like a good deal. I already have a transmitter / receiver (DX7) and lipo's / chargers due to my RC car collection.

Or is there something else recommended instead?

Thanks for your help.

[tiddler]

You wont go far wrong with a TRex 450

There's one in the "For sale" section on here right now http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/sale/5...0-se-sale.html

[Skipper Billy]

I would avoid the Pro - torque tube tail drive - you will spend your early heli career replacing gears!

The 450 SE thats for sale is mine - I wouldnt advertise it on here if it wasnt perfect. If you are interested I will chuck in a load of spares that you might need - feathering spindles, main shaft, blades etc etc.

I have been flying it just 10 mins ago - its great!!

[noddyflyer]

hi i got hold of a copterx 450 pro belt drive £55 deliverd it had a couple of defects ,main bering housing m/s wouldnt fit right but the rest of the bird carcass was fine went togather nice verry happy with it. cant afford align frames too much money in one go mick

[aaron-88]

Hi i own a copterx cx450se and i am VERY happy with it!it came ready to fly for less than a trex and pretty much all the parts are interchangable,Plus it comes with all the electrics needed and half the price of a trex rtf.
A no brainer for me as when i do crash i repkace with align parts.but also the copterx spares are a good quality and cheaper than align.

You wont regret a copterx i didnt.

[pk-surfing]

I got my Trex 450 Sport as a combo (with Align servo's, gyro, motor and esc) about 11 months ago and it was the heli I flew most, and learnt most on, through spring and summer before getting my Raptors.

If you go with the Trex 450 Sport you will not be disappointed.



.

[Hawkeye]

As already said, you can't go wrong with a t-rex. I started with one and loved it, trouble is i loved it so much, i didnt want to break it lol. so i got a flasher 450 from wings wheels & rotors and guess what, i didnt wanna break that either

The 450 range of heli's dont seem to be holding their price very well, so its worth looking to buy a used one, look on here and on the bmfa webiste, and you will find some amazing deals, take your time and look for a good one.

whatever you buy new or used, you will still have to take it apart and make sure its all lock tighted.

The clones like the hk and flasher all fly as good as the original its all in the setup take your time to read all you can and watch as many videos as you can and get the setup perfect, and you should be in with a fighting chance.

Good luck.

[PeteStewardson]

Just to throw a slight curve ball in here as this is now my intended purchase so thought I'd share. I'm in the same position as yourself apart from the sim time as I don't have any.

How about a Phoenixtech TT360? PhoenixTechUK

I've just seen one of these in the flesh, both flying and static, and I have to say it's where my money is now going for my first real heli. It's slightly larger than a 450, and the 360 blades are bigger which apparently makes it handle more like a 500 size heli. So it should fly better in mild wind. It doesn't cost any more than the Align 450 Sport either.

Pete

[vtrnutter]

Just to throw a slight curve ball in here as this is now my intended purchase so thought I'd share. I'm in the same position as yourself apart from the sim time as I don't have any.

How about a Phoenixtech TT360? PhoenixTechUK

I've just seen one of these in the flesh, both flying and static, and I have to say it's where my money is now going for my first real heli. It's slightly larger than a 450, and the 360 blades are bigger which apparently makes it handle more like a 500 size heli. So it should fly better in mild wind. It doesn't cost any more than the Align 450 Sport either.

Pete

Great curve ball, but that is exactly what I was hoping for! I am a bit narrow minded at the moment towards the Trex 450 / clones as I dont know much about anything else out there. I'll take a look and see what I can find out. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[NEAGRON]

Hi All,I have the Phoenixtech TT360,Am flying it on 3cell 2200swith 325blades and scorpian 8 motor lovely heli,have other 450s but using this as it suits me flys like 500,parts are well priced,Andy good to deal with,one downside it is easy to strip a TT front drive gear if you touch the tail blades(only£2-50)the other one to consider is the Flasher 450 sport belt drive,go on to there web site and read Russ Deakins report and speak to Andy or pm him.No connection with either Andy or Phoenixtech just passing my thoughts on.
Good Flying,
marty.

[PeteStewardson]

Great curve ball, but that is exactly what I was hoping for! I am a bit narrow minded at the moment towards the Trex 450 / clones as I dont know much about anything else out there. I'll take a look and see what I can find out. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I was exactly the same until today. I had originally been recommended by email a Flasher 450 sport by FlyinFish due to it having a belt tail and being an Align 450 Sport clone. After chatting with Dave himself today after my lesson he said that as long as I was comfortable with something a little more complicated mechanicaly to fix when the worst happens, a torque drive tail is fine. His reasoning seemed to be that if you just clip the tail rotor it'll just be a few gears needing replacing. But if you do more than that you'll have to take it all apart regardless of it being a belt or TT tail.

The fact that the TT360 is "bigger" flight wise than the 450 sport, and will take a much more substantial training gear to begin with ( I watched him flying 3D with pretty much the same training gear we used on the 600 without any problems ) outweighs the fact that it's not a belt driven tail for me. But that was just me, don't just go with my word as I may be completely wrong in my reasoning, I've only had about 1 1/2 hours of real flying time under my belt

Pete

[Brian Gifford]

There's a lot of comment on here about avoiding Torque Tubes for inexperienced pilots. There's a couple of points here - I've flown a T/T since day one, and yes, in the early days I stripped a few umbrella gears. First off, I learnt to land gently & accurately quite soon. The other thing is, there are lots of outsize tailfins out there that are 10mm-20mm bigger than standard, and will protect the tail.

My 2p's worth.

[vtrnutter]

So I looked at the Phoenixtech at i have to admit it looks great. I love the idea of something a bit bigger as I have thoought about buying a 500 instead of a 450.

Does anybody have a link on where to buy? Wings, Wheels & Rotors are out of stock, and with other places there seems to be a large price variation, and most places do not seem to stock the Super Combo package.

If I bought just the basic kit, any recommendations on what servos, gyro etc would do the job? I assume it takes micro servos all round (what about tail?). Thanks for any help.

[graycbr]

how about a blade 120 or a mSR before a 450 ?

[vtrnutter]

how about a blade 120 or a mSR before a 450 ?

I already have an msr