Which Heli Next ? Kasama Dune 600 or Agile 5.5

[sparts]

I would like opinions on what pilots out there think is the best model out of the Dune 600 and the Agile 5.5.
No 3D only Sport Flying.
I know one is 6s and one is 12s,so not really bothered which way I go.
I like to build heli's so I would really like one to get stuck into.
All response greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

[trillian]

I haven't even seen the Agile up close so I can only comment on the Dune. In my humble opinion it's pretty much in a class by itself. All the Kasamas are extremely well thought-out and wonderfully eccentric and all have parts finish second to none. To me the Dune is just slightly more evolved in a few design features, slightly simpler but still very elegant. I remember when I first saw the way everything is laid out I just thought it was needlessly indulgent and seemed to be strange for the sake of it. But for whatever reason it all comes together to make a machine that flies extremely well and things like the placement of the LiPos that may seem odd actually works really well and is very practical.

What divides opinion most is the stock canopy but it's well worth looking beyond that. I didn't really mind the look of the stock canopy but I have a couple modded Faifa style canopies that I like slightly better, plus there are some very cool painted canopies out that really overcome anything you may not like about the factory graphics.

It can be built for 6s by the way and can be made to work quite well. I prefer 12s because I can share packs with the Trex 500, the amps are lower so I use really ordinary C rated packs etc.

I will be trying to run low headspeeds on mine and I really think it should be great for that (not crazy low but lower than I used to run on a 600, so maybe 1600/1700 instead of 2000).

If you want something super precise feeling, very slippery in the air, the Dune is great for that. And it can just as easily do crazy 3D. To me it flies 'bigger' than it actually is, but that kind of thing is very subjective (and my other 600 is quite small).

[sparts]

Thanks trillian.

I've decided to go for the Dune600 as I've not heard a bad thing against them,but one or two problems with the Agile 5.5.
The build quality on the Dune looks fabulous and looks like it will be an enjoyable build.
Also Ben from Kasama UK has been brilliant in replying to my emails,so that gives me confidence when and if something goes wrong.
I'm thinking about doing a build thread when I receive my new Dune.

[George J]

You'll not regret buying a Dune as it's a top quality heli.

[trillian]

Thanks trillian.

I've decided to go for the Dune600 as I've not heard a bad thing against them,but one or two problems with the Agile 5.5.
The build quality on the Dune looks fabulous and looks like it will be an enjoyable build.
Also Ben from Kasama UK has been brilliant in replying to my emails,so that gives me confidence when and if something goes wrong.
I'm thinking about doing a build thread when I receive my new Dune.

Hey you're welcome . I hope you like it as much as myself and the other Dune owners on here. It's one of a few helicopters that I actually don't have any gripes about at all. Most helis have some little niggling thing that you just think 'if only they'd done this differently'. Actually I take that back but it's past-tense now, I had only one gripe and it was about the canopy fitting really tight and I started thinking about some alternate type of mount but I eventually was able to shave just a bit of material off the rubber grommets so they're plenty snug but not so tight that I feel like I'm going to damage the canopy.

Little practical things I appreciate like the way you can connect and disconnect one of the packs without removing the canopy. And I know it's trivial but it all adds up to the owning / flying experience. I love the Minicopter Triabolo, for example, but the sliding battery tray is very fiddly due to the placement of a couple of frame braces that always snag the battery wires and I'm having a think about the best way to deal with that.

[Rob Barnes]

I have built and flown the Agile 5.5 and it flies very well and is an easy build with good quality parts. I cant comment on the Dune but ive seen a couple fly and im very impressed with what I have seen. The only thing that really puts me off is the canopy sorry ! The build quality is superb and they sound really smooth a quiet in the air which I always love. One of the days ill end up buying one, Ben does a really good job of promoting this heli an is very helpful with everything he does.

[Jamin_00]

Cant compare a Dune to a Agile 5.5

Had both, get over the looks of the canopy and the Dune is one awesome machine. Or do what Ross has done and cut another canopy up to make one for the Dune

[JoeBailey]

When I got built my faifa I couldn't stop asking why?. Why are the batteries split? why are the servos stuck out the back? why is the motor in the centre of the heli?.

The whole concept looks completely bonkers, until you fly it. The faifa is old school. You can take a poorly designed airframe and put a good fbl unit on it and it will fly nice, but take an almost perfect airframe and put a good fbl unit on it and it's in another world altogether.

It flips right on the upper bearing block and rolls dead centre on the boom with no effort. Piros are flat and bang on the main shaft.

It may look bonkers but boy does it work so well. I think mine may well end up as my set piece machine.

[Rob Barnes]

[QUOTE=Jamin_00;1130781]Cant compare a Dune to a Agile 5.5

Had both, get over the looks of the canopy and the Dune is one awesome machine. Or do what Ross has done and cut another canopy up to make one for the Dune [/QUOTE
I agree. it flies really well and Ross made a superb job of the custom canopy.

[wadders248]

If you want any help with the Dune build, or to meet-up, I'm only just over the hill near Brighouse!

Paul

[trillian]

When I got built my faifa I couldn't stop asking why?. Why are the batteries split? why are the servos stuck out the back? why is the motor in the centre of the heli?.

The whole concept looks completely bonkers, until you fly it.

Yeah this was my thinking as well when seeing them originally. But as you look closely you can see (what appears at least) to be some of the goals he was prioritising. Like getting the servo movement as close to a parallel with the swash movement - servo shafts as close to the pivot point of the swash etc. And once you've placed the servos there you can no longer mount the motor on top, so one thing leads to another. Some of the frame slots and cut-outs are still a mystery but I assume he was testing extensively for low vibes.

[Planehazza]

I've always wanted a Srimok or Dune but the parts prices are astronomical :/ So are the G4 to be fair but I got that kit at a great price.

£400 for a Dune 600 straight from Kasama UK is a cracking deal though!!

[wadders248]

I've always wanted a Srimok or Dune but the parts prices are astronomical :/ So are the G4 to be fair but I got that kit at a great price.

What are you comparing the prices to?

[Planehazza]

What are you comparing the prices to?

Actually when I look at them again, they're not that bad. Canopy at £80 is quite a lot for a 50 size, and crown gears at £35 each is quite a lot. Everything else however seems to be at the going rate. I haven't really looked at the spares prices for mine as touch wood, I've never needed any yet...

[wadders248]

Sorry, it sounds like I was being a bit defensive! A stock gear is actually £17.06 though...

There seems to be quite a stigma around the cost of Kasama helis, though they're easily comparable with helis of the same build quality.

My experience of crashing a few also shows how robust they are and so you don't always need as many replacement parts.

Actually when I look at them again, they're not that bad. Canopy at £80 is quite a lot for a 50 size, and crown gears at £35 each is quite a lot. Everything else however seems to be at the going rate. I haven't really looked at the spares prices for mine as touch wood, I've never needed any yet...