Beam Avant Garde, I'm about to push the button

[trillian]

As soon as some funds I'm moving arrive in my bank account I am planning to buy a Beam Avant Garde.

Earlier in the year after my first flights with the Hirobo SDX on 12s using the Gens Ace 2600mah packs it worked so well that I began thinking a new, lighter, flybarless 600 electric is possibly the 'sweet spot' in terms of being just big enough and yet still really manageable on the weight and bulk of the LiPos, charge time etc.

So I had narrowed it down to the Beam or the Compass 6HV. The Beam I just loved the look of from the start and really anticipated it when it was announced as I have a Beam E4 and it's great. The Compass has a very similar layout and seems well liked so it was a natural contender to look at as well.

Now I am almost ready to push the buy button but before I do is there anything else I should look at (in a similar price range) or anything that might make me think twice about the Beam?

[Planehazza]

Fusion 50. Very light, spares are cheap. I'm not familiar with the two you're torn between so I can't give you any useful advice sorry.

[Stanley Speel]

Re: Beam Avant Garde, I'm about to push the button

Out of the two Id go with the compass as the beam looks very expensive to crash.

However the compass is a small 600. If you are going to be using 2600mah packs then what about a 12s gaui x5 formula from flying hobby.

I have a 6s one and it flies amazing and really really cheap to crash too. Dont think its much smaller than a 6hv.

[Martind]

Re: Beam Avant Garde, I'm about to push the button

The 6hv is quite small as its a squat heli, spares are cheap and run a max of 3300 lipos. Loads of power to. Think I would stay away from the beam as it seem FL are the parts supplier! Or theres the fusion for a shameless plug.

[trillian]

Fusion 50. Very light, spares are cheap. I'm not familiar with the two you're torn between so I can't give you any useful advice sorry.

Yeah I like the Fusion, I had a flybarred one for a while and it flew very well. In fact I was quite surprised how straight and precise it felt. The only reason I don't still have it is because of three things that are related. I had built it as a 6s setup and was not getting near enough power so it was sitting on the shelf and not being flown, then I coverted my SDX to electric which meant the Fusion was even more un-flown. Then lastly, someone offered to swap the Fusion for another Avro and since I wasn't flying the Fusion anyway I went for it.

But one of the things like about the Beam and the Compass (also shared by the 600efl, the Logos and the Ely.Q 50e) is the direct to swash servo layout. I just like the low moving parts and cleanness of that design.

'Speaking of which, there is the Ely.Q Vision 50e and it's £150.00 cheaper than the Beam. It doesn't have as sleek a profile but it does actually look pretty good. On Helifreaks they were talking like the Ely.Q spares are expensive but they don't seem to be more than the Beam spares.

[cupracing]

Beam Avant Garde, I'm about to push the button

Hi Sheryl, give the beam a go. The kit is a bargain at the moment and the quality will be above a the 6hv if that's important to you. If you decide to go for the 6hv I would wait a few months as they are bringing out a new uversion.

[Planehazza]

Yeah I like the Fusion, I had a flybarred one for a while and it flew very well. In fact I was quite surprised how straight and precise it felt. The only reason I don't still have it is because of three things that are related. I had built it as a 6s setup and was not getting near enough power so it was sitting on the shelf and not being flown, then I coverted my SDX to electric which meant the Fusion was even more un-flown. Then lastly, someone offered to swap the Fusion for another Avro and since I wasn't flying the Fusion anyway I went for it.

But one of the things like about the Beam and the Compass (also shared by the 600efl, the Logos and the Ely.Q 50e) is the direct to swash servo layout. I just like the low moving parts and cleanness of that design.

'Speaking of which, there is the Ely.Q Vision 50e and it's £150.00 cheaper than the Beam. It doesn't have as sleek a profile but it does actually look pretty good. On Helifreaks they were talking like the Ely.Q spares are expensive but they don't seem to be more than the Beam spares.

The Vision ̀50E does look nice. Fast lads have ElyQ spares very cheap atm as they're not popular - they have reassured me however that they are continuing to stock them as normal. I know what you mean about Direct To Swash, however the only time I found bellcranks to be a problem was on my Vision 50. The geometry was off so I could never get the right balance between throw and resolution without balls binding etc. Not a problem with the Direct to Swash as you say. My Fusion 50 bellcranks are spot on though

[trillian]

The Vision ̀50E does look nice. Fast lads have ElyQ spares very cheap atm as they're not popular - they have reassured me however that they are continuing to stock them as normal. I know what you mean about Direct To Swash, however the only time I found bellcranks to be a problem was on my Vision 50. The geometry was off so I could never get the right balance between throw and resolution without balls binding etc. Not a problem with the Direct to Swash as you say. My Fusion 50 bellcranks are spot on though

Yeah, it's not a total 'deal killer' really. The Fusion build was fairly smooth (the only snags were due to me using Fusuno frames instead of the stock frames) and all the linkage worked well. The simplicity was one thing I liked about the Vision Ultimate though. The Hirobo SDX is the opposite, it's bellcrank city, very complicated but it does all work very well.

I do hope Ely.Q hangs in there because variety and choice is good. There are lots of choices now especially if the 550 size was considered as well because there's the Gaui, the Logo 500 and 550x and then JR has the NEX8 (or something like that). Then of course there's the TT Titan 50e.

One thing is for sure and that is, it's going to run on 12s using the packs I already have (Gens Ace 2600mah) and an Align 600mx motor.

[Planehazza]

Yeah, it's not a total 'deal killer' really. The Fusion build was fairly smooth (the only snags were due to me using Fusuno frames instead of the stock frames) and all the linkage worked well. The simplicity was one thing I liked about the Vision Ultimate though. The Hirobo SDX is the opposite, it's bellcrank city, very complicated but it does all work very well.

I do hope Ely.Q hangs in there because variety and choice is good. There are lots of choices now especially if the 550 size was considered as well because there's the Gaui, the Logo 500 and 550x and then JR has the NEX8 (or something like that). Then of course there's the TT Titan 50e.

One thing is for sure and that is, it's going to run on 12s using the packs I already have (Gens Ace 2600mah) and an Align 600mx motor.

On my fusion, I get 6:45 on 3300, but that's at 2300RPM and my noobish collective. You're a better pilot than me so you might still get 5mins on 2600s on a Fusion 50

[trillian]

The 6hv is quite small as its a squat heli, spares are cheap and run a max of 3300 lipos. Loads of power to. Think I would stay away from the beam as it seem FL are the parts supplier! Or theres the fusion for a shameless plug.

It does worry me a little bit that there's only one UK dealer but as long as Beam is gonna stay in business and keep supplying parts it isn't too big of an issue because If I had to wait for parts I'd just fly something else in the meantime. It's not ideal for sure and that's one thing Align always has going for it. If it was going to be my only heli it would definitely make me think twice.

[trillian]

On my fusion, I get 6:45 on 3300, but that's at 2300RPM and my noobish collective. You're a better pilot than me so you might still get 5mins on 2600s on a Fusion 50

Weeeeeeell, I don't know if I'm a better pilot but thanks for saying so. I'll be happy with anything over 5 minutes on the 2600mah packs and could probably run at a bit lower headspeed given the lighter weight, prob 2150 ish as a guess. (The Hirobo weighs 4.2kg ready to fly)

[cupracing]

Plus Sheryl, you hardly crash so parts aren't an issue. I believe Fabien graces this forum occasionally who IIRC is the manufacturer/supplier so support should be good

as you say the beam e4 is so good it would be rude not to give the bigger one a go ;-)

[trillian]

Plus Sheryl, you hardly crash so parts aren't an issue. I believe Fabien graces this forum occasionally who IIRC is the manufacturer/supplier so support should be good

as you say the beam e4 is so good it would be rude not to give the bigger one a go ;-)

Yeah, silly as it may seem, I kinda like the idea of having the two Beams.

[KevDavies]

if you want a "quality" heli Sheryl, and a 600 class electric is what you want. Surely you must be looking at the JR's? I know my two Vibes OOOOOZE quality.

JR Vibe NEX E8 Flybarless Kit NEXE8FBL

If I was looking for an electric 600 this is where id look.

[Mike Sanders]

Go with your heart. You can analyse these things too much. It's not as if it is your only heli. Do what feels right.