trex 500 or forza 450???

[kevcov30]

Looking to move up from my 300x and have shortlisted either a trex 500 or forza 450. Struggling to decide as i want something more reliable and with less vibration issues than the 300 and something with a little more presence in the air whilst not to big I cant fly it near home. Would also like a bit more go in it than the 300. Like the forza but will it be that much of a step up for the money and is bigger gonna be better?? all suggestions welcome.Thanks.

[iceuk]

If I was looking at a Trex 500 size machine I would pick the Gaui X4 II Super Combo 215010
The Gaui is newer and looks like you can use 3500-4500 MAH packs if in time you go even bigger you can use the same batteries in 12S set up and you can use quite a wide range of size main blade, looks a really nice machine that i am tempted to sell trex 500 and buy a gaui instead...

[highlightshadow]

A 500 size heli feels much more grown-up in the air compared to a 450 .... as long as you're outside of course

The 500 handles wind a lot better too and the crash costs aren't significantly more..... if i was doing my time over again with this hobby i wouldn't have done 450 at all.

[tomatwalden]

Strange shortlist to be honest as different helis entirely. The 450 won't be THAT much bigger than your 300x ... albeit a lot more powerful. The 500 will definitely feel like the next step up. When I got my first Trex 500, it felt huge to me!

You haven't mentioned budget, flying style or flying location - so accurate advice is hard to give. I would second the suggestion of the Gaui X4II as an alternative to the Trex500 though. But that's largely because I'm not a fan of DFC style rotor heads ... Other people like them, so that's just personal preference.

All things being equal though - I'd go for the larger heli.

[simon1]

Trex 500 would get my vote flies much bigger than a 450

[iceuk]

The gaui x4 ii looks really nice tom, i like how it can run a range of different packs and blade sizes, i bet you
Could get some decent flight times.

[Mark_T]

Maybe add the Logo 480 to that list as well ...

[Malc1]

Are repair costs an option?
Just looking at the two canopy parts for the Forza 450 on the Midlands site - £90.90p plus postage.

[trillian]

A 500 size heli feels much more grown-up in the air compared to a 450 .... as long as you're outside of course

The 500 handles wind a lot better too and the crash costs aren't significantly more..... if i was doing my time over again with this hobby i wouldn't have done 450 at all.

Indeed. My only regret regarding my Trex 500 is that I didn't get one sooner, it has been amazingly useful and so low maintenance.

[Jez N]

Maybe add the Logo 480 to that list as well ...

Amazing heli but f you are still learning and crashing regularly then the trex 500 is a fantastic choice and cheap to repair.

£90 for the forza canopy parts. Wow that's prohibitive for a 450 sized heli. I paid less for an entire gaui x3 kit off eBay. I'm out!!

[helijohn]

Wow that's prohibitive for a 450 sized heli.

I tend to agree, I bought an HK500 and for the cost it is brilliant value but if I were to have my time again I'd go to 550s/600s.

[kevcov30]

Thanks for the input guys-have to agree the forza isnt much bigger than my 300 and for future proofing i think a 500 size is a minimum step up really-get to fly on those windier days for starters. Have noticed a blade 550x is within my budget too now-any opinions on one of those versus the trex 500?? seen one for 499 plus the cost of an esc and battery which seems good value for a supposed premium quality heli.Changing to an ar7200 on the trex was going to cost me an extra 100 quid anyhow.

[tomatwalden]

trex 500 or forza 450???

I really like my 550x. It is a BIG 550. By that I mean that in reality, it's a shortened 600 really as it shares 95% of parts with a 600x. So the frames, main rotor assembly, etc. are all incredibly beefy. It is built like a tank and the quality of the parts is very good overall. There are some that would advise against it because it's a "Blade", but usually they've never owned or flown one.

It is a good heli, and flies very well. It has two faults on my opinion, both cosmetic. One is the stock canopy mounts which are too weak. The other is the canopy itself which isn't the greatest. Fusuno and microheli make nice alternatives though.

The actual guts of it though is very good quality and the build is very simple.

When I first built mine, I did a little review. ... http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/showthread.php?t=95842

[kevcov30]

Thanks Tom. Almost sold on the idea of the blade now. Which ESC would you recommend?? Do you think the 550x is reasonably future proof?

[tomatwalden]

I use a Castle Edge 130LV on mine. To be honest though, any ESC around 120A would be OK. YGE, YEP, Castle, Kontronic ... take your pick!

As for future proof - as much as any heli is - yes! I think Horizon Hobby as a global enterprise is probably fairly financial secure.