Beam in the UK

[DannyMak]

Hi all

My first post woop!!

Ive been looking at getting a Beam E4 SE as there is a lot of good comments and being an engineer I love the machined parts.

Can anyone recommend a shop / distrubuter in the UK as it seems neither FastLad and EVORC have them listed on there sites?


All the best

Dan

[debrooker]

Welcome Dan.

think your going to struggle to source any Beam stuff in the UK.

EDIT EVO looks your best bet. But No SE model

RCFerret : Search for beam e4 in all your favourite RC stores in one go

[DannyMak]

hmm that sucks, any reasons in particular?

[debrooker]

hmm that sucks, any reasons in particular?

just not a popular brand here. Technically the kit has always been highly regarded. Note, i've edited my original post, hope it helps

[DannyMak]

Id be interest to hear what other 450 size helis people rate similar?

[trillian]

I have the original E4, still flybarred in fact, and it's great. I haven't been flying 450s much in the last year or so but used to fly it all the time. Evo RC originally stocked the Beam kits and parts and then Fastlad started carrying them for a while but I guess they didn't sell well enough to justify the space so they seem to be clearing out the Beam stuff. There are still parts on the FL site (last time I looked anyway). Otherwise there are some US shops, I have bought from AMain when I couldn't get something for the Avantgarde from FL.

[DannyMak]

Thanks for that Trillian, What kind of delivery times do you get from the states? the last thing I want t odo is buy a heli that i can find spares for however I have yet to see a 450 that I think is built to the same quality IMO.

[trillian]

Thanks for that Trillian, What kind of delivery times do you get from the states? the last thing I want t odo is buy a heli that i can find spares for however I have yet to see a 450 that I think is built to the same quality IMO.

I have ordered a couple times from A Main Hobbies and one got here pretty quick, I think less than a week, and the other took longer but that is generally my experience with things posted from the US sometimes they get here very quick and sometimes take a while. There is a fairly active Beam E4 forum on Helifreaks. After having the E4 a while I was keen to check out the Avantgarde when it came out and I eventually got one early last year and hoped Beam would gain some followers here but it does not appear to have happened. As far as I can tell from everything I've read the company itself is doing well and there is a new model the Archon 500 coming out soon. So my impression is that parts will be made and existing models will be supported it just will mean that after whatever UK stock is gone we will have to get spares from elsewhere.

[DannyMak]

Thanks for that, guess that is an option, I have contact a couple of places to see if they can source also.
I don't suppose you have any experience with the Gaui products x3 / x5 in comparison to the Beam, knowing very litel about there flying characteristics they seem another nicely put together product??

[trillian]

Thanks for that, guess that is an option, I have contact a couple of places to see if they can source also.
I don't suppose you have any experience with the Gaui products x3 / x5 in comparison to the Beam, knowing very litel about there flying characteristics they seem another nicely put together product??

I don't unfortunately. I just haven't kept up with that heli class (450s) lately. I hear good things about all the Gauis as well as the Compass Warp 360. There's also the JR Forza and something from MinAir but I forgot the name, plus of course the Align 450L.

[Martind]

Hi Dan I have had the beam, trex 450 pro and warp. The beam had some lovely alloy parts but was let down by a small canopy, very week one-way sleeve and the skids were screwed to a carbon plate. Trex well it works but no room for electronics. The warp is a totally different ball game easy to work on, dual belt drive and room to work plus its built like a tank! All I have ever broke in a crash are blades, boom skids and canopy posts !
Oh and I just so happen to have one for sale ;-)

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

[DaveJones]

I don't have a Warp for sale (so no risk of bias), reason it's not for sale is simply that I love flying it. Feels like a big step above align in terms of quality and a big plus for me is different from everything else at the field

Spares are a little limited in the UK, FL sell them but often are out of stock, Weston on the other hand seem to always have what I want and have been helpful when I've had questions.

[DannyMak]

Thank you for all the replies, I guess it's decision time now to get a beam from the state or eu or go for the Warp etc. is this the general feeling that the Warp is best 450 heli available in the uk? I'm actually a composite design engineer for an automotive/ motorsport manufacturer so admire there efforts to use CF wherever possible on the Warp but almost miss cnc'd aluminium parts of the others.

[scallybert]

As a beginner, you will need spare parts.

That's a good reason to avoid unusual and exotic helis; and (though some people will hate this) a good reason to look at Align.

[Dave Rand]

Have to say the Beam cost me a fortune I had it though the crash every week phase and kept Evo Rc in business for a good year lol, cost me about £60 per crash, most of the head parts would bend (you could bend them straight again most of the time)
Now my Align 450pro what an amazing Heli, crashes amazingly well plus you can get bits anywhere and not to dear

Tbh I don't like the Warp just looks cheap to me.