Clones are not all bad

[Dannyyy]

I dont get the big deal with clone, and how there crap and dont fly good... Look,

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9GZOOeXTXE]YouTube - Exceed Rc BlueRay 450 RTF 3-D Brushless Helicopter in Action[/ame]




and no its not out of control.

A clone is the same as the thing being copyed...even the metal is the same...ect...

[Britflyer]

I would prefer to buy the Original Version as I know that company is more likely to be in the game long term rather than just making a fast buck by copying somebody elses model.

With all the Align clones actually available I never see them at flyins and such, or maybe I can't tell 'cus they just look the same!

Paul

[Mark_T]

A clone is the same as the thing being copyed...even the metal is the same...ect...

Sadly that is not always the case.

The clone makers steal the designs from other companies then aim to produce for the lowest possible cost which means they do not always use exactly the same raw materials, it may be metal but not the same metal, or parts may be stamped or cast instead of machined.

Support the companies who actually invest in the long term survival of our hobby not those who steal their work to make a fast profit.

[Stuart]

Danny whilst I appreciate what your saying there I would still have issues with a clone.

1. The metals are usually not to the same grade (all alloys etc are gradeable in terms of hardness, quality etc)
2. They usually use a machine that laser copies off the original so by default any flaw in the original hits the clone also.
3. Why should they benefit - they didn't design it I doubt they have permission to re-produce therrfore under IP its an illegal copy.

Far east companies are very clever making clones as its cheap and easy to them - where's the back up - support warranty.

As much as it flys nice the vid looks great - I wouldn't be surprised if they were made in some sweatshop where a guy's paying peanuts to his staff who are feeding a family off a few quid a week.

I'm not a fan of Align quaility and I think they are taking note - but atleast they have a long standing reputation in the hobby.

[sacko]

Danny, buy one and report back

[Dannyyy]

errr no lol but i will one day

[GravityKills]

I know several people who are very happy with their clones. CopterX is pretty good, HDX even beats Align with their frame design (maybe the "Pro" fixes that, but it's very very expensive).

I don't buy into ideas of "supporting" any vendor, but that's a personal thing.

Here you can see me fooling around (very carefully) with a friend's $35 HK-450:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff9DFTUuibE]YouTube - Marcus lennättää mun " FERRARIA"[/ame]
flies well enough.

[Twisted]

I have a HK450 great heli imo, you have to update a few items like the plastic tail gears!
I also have put some high spec stuff inside, that was got from companys here in the UK. i could not afford to get a trex and the same quality parts on the inside, so for me was a good buy.

[Nipster]

We have two HK 450 clones which are used as hack heli's. Why? Simple economics...we can write off the entire heli for a little more than the cost of a frame for one of our Align 450's (Have two of those as well)

Do they perform as well as the Align - nope but it's marginal, probably more down to the electronics fitted masking our lack of talent in the Align heli's and the cheaper electronics fitted to the clones.

Is there quality issues, absolutely, cheesey screws, stripping gears, oh where have we heard this before? Perhaps they cloned a bit too accurately.

Are there more serious quality issues which are a safety concern, well apparently yes, not on the HK450 but on the newer HK 500 clone, main shaft made of alloy, servo mounts suffering metal fatigue, binding swash, flexi blade grips...seems the list is growing. Is it actually Align 500 compatible...erm no seems not, shorter boom and quite a few other bits and pieces. Some of the Align 500 parts are patented and can't be copied verbatim. (Main shaft, main gear for example)

Do the clones bring more people into the hobby? That's got to be a yes hasn't it? And what do these people aspire too? Usually one of the major brands, what do they upgrade with to get a better heli? Usually one of the major brands spares.

To be honest I can see both sides of the argument, we have a small forune invested in our various heli's, so who can blame me for wanted to save a few quid when they meet the ground coming the wrong way?

Spot the T-Rex in the attachment

PS. I believe the first Align 450X was a clone of something else? Ark 400 rings a bell. Could be wrong.

[Made2Fade]

Personally i wouldnt bother with a clone (going from my experience when a complete beginner). Crap metal and quality components in general. You'll be messing on with it rather than flying. Better off paying a little extra and going for the original model IMO.

[Twisted]

Spot the T-Rex in the attachment

1 in the middle cant see anouth of it but would guess thats not a HK if you have 1 in there that is not a HK450?

[sacko]

Twisted - Did your wife ever let you buy that HK500 in the end?

[Nipster]

1 in the middle cant see anouth of it but would guess thats not a HK if you have 1 in there that is not a HK450?

Correct, give that man a cookie. It's an Align XL HDE.

On the subject of clones, here's a bit of a chicken and egg scenario...what came first?

Blade 400
Esky Belt CP
Twister Storm

Have a look at the main frame...remarkably similar.

[sacko]

i know that the B400 and the Twister all share the same parts. The frames are pretty much the same on them other than the battery mounting tray.

As having used both spares, the Blade parts are of much better quality.

[Twisted]

sako Nope and not sure i will now if i cant use spares from align parts as thats what attracted to me if i have to spend mony on a 500 now not sure what would be best going trex or logo now :/ thing is i dont like the logo frame.

have a friend with a twister storm and not much left of it now, first thing was to use the blade 400 feathering shaft to replace the stome one, then he put a align speed controller in changed the tail servo and put a trex 500 skids on it (belive it or not works very well) he also put a trex 450 canopy on it. hooo yea and got a spartan gyro on the back.... think that it lol one confused heli but flys very well.